UK News
View All 9Shabana Mahmood hails military bases as ‘the future’ of illegal migrant accommodation in Britain
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has declared that disused military bases represent the future of asylum accommodation in Britain.Speaking before the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee, Ms Mahmood said repurposing former armed forces sites would form a central part of Labour's long-term strategy for housing asylum seekers."So military bases we see as the future for asylum accommodation," Ms Mahmood told peers. "We think that can have a better impact on the ability to crowd in services on a site rather than other models providing accommodation." TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The Home Office is seeking planning permission to convert three former military sites into accommodation for up to 3,750 asylum seekers as part of the Government's pledge to end the use of asylum hotels before the next general election.The proposed sites include the former RAF station at Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, MoD Bicester in Oxfordshire and RAF Barnham in Suffolk, which served as a secret nuclear weapons storage facility during the Cold War.Alongside the three new sites, ministers also plan to expand capacity at two existing Ministry of Defence facilities, creating space for a further 1,750 asylum seekers.The leases at both sites will also be extended by up to four years.Two military sites already being used to accommodate asylum seekers - Wethersfield in Essex and Crowborough in Sussex - have faced repeated protests from local residents.Communities near the proposed new sites have also voiced strong opposition, with campaigners threatening legal action over the plans.Residents argue the former military bases are unsuitable locations for housing hundreds of asylum seekers.The proposal for Linton-on-Ouse is particularly controversial after the previous Conservative government abandoned plans for an asylum centre there in 2022 following fierce local opposition and a successful legal challenge by the local council.MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST:Albanian gangs offer migrants ‘same day’ trips to UK on yachts for £15,000Migrant care workers still bringing dozens of family members to UK despite clampdownAsylum approvals 'likely incorrect' in vast majority of cases, damning review findsCouncil leaders have indicated they could revive legal proceedings against Labour's latest plans, insisting "all options are on the table".Opposition has also emerged at MoD Bicester and RAF Barnham.Only 580 residents call the quaint village of Barnham home - renowned for its thatched cottages and going without even a local pub or shop.Locals have warned that the proposed influx of migrant men would triple their community's size overnight, sparking fears about increased antisocial behaviour, threats to women and children, and plummeting property values.Callum Banthorpe, a 23-year-old who bought his first home in the village for £180,000 in January, expressed deep concern about the lack of local infrastructure to support surging numbers.He said: "We have not got the infrastructure here for a sudden influx of 1,250 people."The Home Secretary said the Government had already made significant progress in reducing its reliance on asylum hotels, with the number in use falling from a peak of 400 to 170.The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels also fell by almost a third to just under 21,000 by the end of March, down from 30,700 at the end of December."I think we're on course to meet our pledge to get out of asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament," Ms Mahmood said.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Neighbour from hell 'attacked' disabled man with hammer while walking to the shops
A neighbour from hell allegedly attacked a disabled man with hammer as he walked to the shops.Paul Dibben, 41, was headed to a Co-op in Poole to pick up items for a family barbecue on July 4, according to his family.Mr Dibben's family alleged he was then attacked by his neighbour with a hammer, resulting in significant head injuries.His daughter, Ruby Dibben, told the Bournemouth Echo she was disappointed in how long it took for Dorset Police to respond to the incident. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say She said her father has a number of health conditions, including Behçet's disease and a walking impairment.Ruby Dibben said: "He has suffered three strokes, and it's impacted his ability to walk and sometimes he is difficult to understand."He would never hurt a fly. I can't help feeling angry and disappointed."Ms Dibben claimed she heard the alleged attacker shouting from her property after returning from the hospital.They then called the police again, but felt it took too long for the force to respond."We called 999 straight away, but despite being told to report her location immediately, we were told to 'please be patient, it takes time to drive' and the police took what felt like far too long to arrive," she said.She alleged it was nearly two hours before Ms Dibben and her uncle went to check on her dad.She said: "Thankfully, my dad is alive, and for that we are so grateful.NEIGHBOUR ROWS - READ MORE:Airbnb owner loses planning row after neighbours accuse guests of ‘debauchery’ in hot tubNeighbour from hell smacks homeowner with rounders bat after she told her 'you've got rats'Neighbour from hell found guilty of murdering homeowner after sitting on top of him"It feels as though vulnerable victims of serious violent crime are not being treated with the urgency they deserve."Dorset Police, however, refuted her claim that it took two hours for officers to arrive.The force said: "We were called at 6.49pm on Saturday 4 July 2026 by a member of the public to say she had been approached by an unknown man, who reported he had been hit on the head with a hammer 15 minutes earlier outside the Co-op store in Northmead Drive in Poole by a woman who was known to him."It was reported that the victim had returned home and the suspect had left the scene."A description of the suspect was taken from the informant and an ambulance was requested. Officers arrived at 7.21pm."The victim was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment to lacerations to his head. His condition is not described as serious or life-threatening."A 57-year-old woman from Poole was arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place."She has been released on conditional police bail while enquiries continue."An investigation is underway, including taking witness statements and carrying out CCTV checks." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Sam Locke tees up exciting opportunity after latest Tartan Pro Tour triumph
Two players now on brink of securing automatic promotion to HotelPlanner Tour
Firefighters remain at scene of industrial estate fire
Firefighters remain at scene of Aberdeenshire industrial estate fire Aberdeenshire, Scotland Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Emergency Scotland (Image: PA) This article is brought to you , and has been written . It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Firefighters remain at the scene of a fire at an industrial estate in Aberdeenshire. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was called to the incident at a site in Tipperty, near Ellon, just before 6.30pm on Tuesday. At the height of the incident, there were nine fire engines as well as specialist resources at the scene. One fire engine remained there at 6.30am on Wednesday to dampen down any hotspots. Woman hospitalised after power bank explodes in Scottish cinema Man arrested after police face off with crowd at Glasgow flat block protest Large fire breaks out in industrial estate as residents given smoke warning There were no reports of any injuries. Nearby residents were advised to close windows and doors due to smoke during the incident while drivers on the A90 were asked to take extra care due to smoke drifting across the road.
World News
View All 10Iran live updates: Iran launches attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain after latest US strikes
Live Iran live updates: Iran launches attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain after latest US strikes The U. S. strikes followed attacks on vessels in the strait, the U. ByDavid Brennan and Nadine El-Bawab Last Updated: July 8, 2026, AM EDT President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U. S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites. S. and Iran entered negotiations last month aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed . S. and Iran nonetheless exchanged limited strikes in late June despite the signing of the memorandum and amid the continuation of peace talks. Key Headlines 5 minutes ago Iran launches attack on Kuwait and Bahrain, Tehran says Jul 07, 2026, PM EDT Lead Iranian negotiator lists 'major MOU violations ' after strikes Jul 07, 2026, PM EDT US hit over 80 targets in airstrikes: CENTCOM Jul 07, 2026, PM EDT US launches 'powerful' airstrikes in response to Iranian attacks in Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM says Here's how the news is developing. 5 minutes ago Iran launches attack on Kuwait and Bahrain, Tehran says Iran's military said it launched on Wednesday attacks targeting 85 U. S. military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, saying they were retaliatory strikes following a wave of U. S. airstrikes on Iranian targets. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that it had targeted Bandar Salman, the Fifth Naval District in Bahrain and Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Bahrain's Interior Ministry said air raid sirens had been activated, adding that all "citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place." Iran also claimed to have destroyed a drone "that intended to interfere with the operation." -ABC News' Joe Simonetti Jul 07, 2026, PM EDT Lead Iranian negotiator lists 'major MOU violations ' after strikes Lead Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the U. S. of "major MOU violations" after U. In a statement on social media, Ghalibaf, who also serves as Iran's Parliament speaker, listed a number of items he claimed as violations of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U. S. that temporarily paused hostilities. Among them: "Violating Iranian adjustments in the Strait"; "Persistent threats of further strikes"; and "Reinstating oil sanctions." The post ended: "The era of bullying and extortion is over. We don’t fold." The U. S. said it carried out the retaliatory airstrikes in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. hits dozens of Iranian targets in retaliatory strikes after ship attacks
New Updates 1m ago Trump ordering strikes on Iran from NATO summit caught alliance leaders off guard President Trump surprised NATO leaders he is meeting with in Turkey when he ordered the launch of a series of strikes on Iran late Tuesday and the revocation of a license that allowed Tehran to sell its oil on the world market. The moves were a major twist for a summit that had been aimed at showcasing how alliance members were stepping up spending on defense and focusing on support for Ukraine's war with Russia. The strikes were retaliation after three merchant ships were struck in the Strait of Hormuz, and underscored the fragility of an interim deal to end months of fighting between the two countries. Trump launched the attacks shortly after leaving a dinner hosted 's 32 member countries had gathered ahead of Wednesday's talks. Trump didn't directly address the strikes Tuesday night. S. presidents to launch military action while outside the U. S., though former President Barack Obama authorized strikes in Libya while on a trip to Brazil in 2011. PM Kuwait and Bahrain say they're facing incoming fire Two U. S.-allied Persian Gulf states reported incoming fire early Wednesday morning, hours after the U. S. struck dozens of targets inside Iran in retaliation for Iranian attacks on tankers. The Kuwaiti Army said its air defenses are "currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks," and Bahrain's Interior Ministry said its alarm sirens have been activated. Neither country specified the source of the threats, but they have faced Iranian drones and missiles during prior U. S.-Iran spats. PM Key Iranian negotiator accuses U. S. of "major" violations of deal Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf — a key negotiator in last month's U. S.-Iran memorandum of understanding — accused the U. S. of several "major" violations late Tuesday. In a post on X, Ghalibaf pointed to the U. S.' s recent strikes on Iran and the revocation of a waiver that allows Iran to sell oil without U. S. sanctions — two actions the Trump administration took after Iran attacked three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. He also criticized the U. S.' s "persistent threats of future strikes" and Israel's conflict with the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. S., meanwhile, has said Iran's attack on the commercial tankers violated the two countries' ceasefire — which was extended for 60 days . The deal also required Iran to allow safe passage of commercial ships. PM Trump invites Lebanese president to White House later this month President Trump has invited Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House on July 21, a White House official confirmed to CBS News.
At UN, Cuba rallies support against ‘ruthless’ US blockade
A general view of Havana is seen during a nationwide blackout [File: AFP] 8 Jul 20268 Jul 2026 Cuba has denounced the “ruthless” US embargo against the island during a United Nations General Assembly debate.
Childhood on hold: How Gaza’s children spend a summer without play
Salsabeel Nabhan skips rope beside her siblings in the building where the family has taken shelter during the war [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] 8 Jul 20268 Jul 2026 Gaza City, Gaza Strip – In a partially destroyed building in western Gaza City, Faten Nabhan sat, surrounded -age children, taking a brief rest after a morning spent filling water containers from the trucks that visit the camp.
Politics
View All 10A Look Back at Trump’s Broadsides Against NATO Allies
President Trump has rarely missed an opportunity to castigate the Western military alliance, whose leaders he’s meeting this week, as weak and ineffective.
Nato allies announce £37bn for new missile project
Yvette Cooper and Sir Keir Starmer arriving in Turkey on Tuesday Twelve countries, including the UK, are set to spend more than £37bn ($50bn) over the next 10 years on a new long-range missile to protect Europe. The Deep Precision Strike project has just been unveiled by No 10 and is due to be discussed later on Wednesday at the Nato summit in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Sir Keir Starmer is there for his final Nato summit as prime minister. He is likely to face some criticism from US President Donald Trump for failing to set out a plan for reaching 3.5% of GDP spent on defence by 2035, a target agreed . But on Wednesday the prime minister will convene around a dozen leaders to discuss the new missile programme. Billed as one Nato's most advanced weapons, it is intended to strike targets nearly 200 miles (300km) away with pinpoint accuracy, possibly extending out to 1,250 miles. Sir Keir said the UK-led initiative would "help bring European allies together to keep Nato safe for years to come". Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the plan was "part of a recognition that we're in a more dangerous world". "This is about how we make sure we have a stronger Europe within a stronger Nato," she told BBC Breakfast from Ankara. But like many planned military projects in the pipeline, Deep Strike is not expected to be ready until the 2030s. In June, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of the presence of US forces in Europe. Trump has repeatedly made clear he wants Nato members to contribute more to defence spending in Europe and at last year's Nato summit, members of the alliance agreed to spend 5% of GDP on defence and security by 2035. Sir Keir said he was "determined" to ensure the safety of the UK and its allies, adding: "We must step up to deliver a stronger, more European Nato." The UK government has already committed £300bn by 2030 in the Defence Investment Plan. Trump looms large as Nato grapples with challenge of rearming Europe Hegseth renews Nato criticism and says US will review presence in Europe Zelensky presses Nato for air defence systems after intense Russian strikes At the summit, Sir Keir is expected to underline the threat posed . The government said Nato had scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian aircraft approaching allied airspace more than 700 times and that Russian military activity around UK waters had surged 30%.
Almost no progress made on UK regional household income divide in 30 years, report finds
Disposable income levels in Kensington and Chelsea were four and a half times greater than those in Leicester. Photograph: Kathy deWitt/Alamy View image in fullscreen Disposable income levels in Kensington and Chelsea were four and a half times greater than those in Leicester. Photograph: Kathy deWitt/Alamy Almost no progress made on UK regional household income divide in 30 years, report finds Despite promises of successive governments, gap between richest and poorest areas consistent since 1997 Britain’s deep regional income divide has barely changed in 30 years despite the promises of successive governments to narrow the gap, according to a report showing the challenge for Andy Burnham. As the prime minister-in-waiting prepares for government, the Resolution Foundation said almost no progress had been made since 1997 to tackle stark divisions in household income, before housing costs are taken into account, between the richest and poorest parts of the country. Burnham has pledged to achieve “good growth in every postcode” as part of a devolution agenda aimed at rebalancing power away from Westminster to help spread prosperity across the country. However, the foundation said the Makerfield MP would need to “get serious” about the level of investment required in transport, housing, and regeneration projects to overcome three decades of failure to tackle regional divisions in household income. According to the report, between 1997 and 2023 the level of gross household disposable income per person in London – at £27,900 – had remained three-fifths higher than in Northern Ireland (at £17,300). It warned that high income inequality had also persisted at local levels. Disposable incomes in the richest area (Kensington and Chelsea) were, at £60,584, four and a half times higher than in the poorest (Leicester) at £13,398 – a gap that had been consistent for almost three decades. Highlighting entrenched divisions, it found that more than half (54%) of local authorities in the poorest fifth of places for income per person in 1997 were still there in 2023. Meanwhile, 82% of the richest places had stayed at the top. The report said the stark income gaps had endured despite the promises of successive governments to rebalance Britain’s lopsided economic geography – including Boris Johnson’s “levelling-up” agenda. It found between 2019 and 2023 the income gap between someone living in the richest tenth of local authorities and someone living in the poorest tenth had stayed the same. However, it said there were some areas where progress in tackling deep regional divisions had been made since the late 1990s, including narrowing gaps in employment and stronger levels of growth in economic productivity in some cities, including Manchester.
Haley Stevens Goes on Attack Against Abdul El-Sayed at Michigan Senate Debate
At their first one-on-one debate in a top Senate race, Representative Haley Stevens accused her progressive rival, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, of being too focused on publicity as he called her a tool of corporate interests.
Business
View All 10New Zealand central bank chief hails growth ‘rebound’
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FTSE 100 Set to Fall on Middle East Tensions
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Lawmakers probe growing use of Chinese AI models in U.S. companies
S. lawmakers are considering strategies to halt the growing adoption of Chinese AI models . Chinese models have gained traction among U. S. firms as they've closed the performance gap with American rivals while being cheaper to use. An ongoing House Committee investigation is probing the risks involved in the rise of AI built in China. S. lawmakers are considering how to curb the growing adoption of Chinese AI models , as geopolitical tensions surrounding the rollout of artificial intelligence ramp up. AI has emerged as a key point of rivalry between the U. S. and China, with both nations vying for supremacy in the field. Chinese models are gaining traction among U. S. firms as they close the performance gap with American rivals while being cheaper to use. In April, the Trump administration accused Chinese entities of waging "industrial-scale campaigns" to rip off U. AI systems, and said it will explore ways to hold foreign actors accountable. Beijing is looking at curbing overseas access to China's leading AI models, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Rising adoption of China-built AI models has led to growing calls from U. S. lawmakers for strategies to combat the trend, including via an ongoing investigation from two U. House Committees. "The growing use of Chinese AI models by U. S. companies raises serious concerns," a State Department spokesperson told CNBC. Those "AI models are designed to advance Beijing's narratives, censor dissent, and reflect CCP ideology and values." A spokesperson for the U. K. embassy of the People's Republic of China said the country "opposes baseless allegations and malicious smears against its AI development." They added that "China's thriving AI sector is built on self-reliance and strength in science and technology." The House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Select Committee on China said in April they will jointly investigate the growing adoption of Chinese-developed AI models. An initial step in the probe was for the chairmen of those committees to send letters to Cursor and Airbnb, over their "use of or exposure to these risks" through AI developed in China. "The Chinese Communist Party is no longer just nipping at our heels in artificial intelligence; it is racing to close the gap in some of the exact capabilities that will shape the future of cybersecurity," Andrew Garbarino, chairman of the U. House Committee on Homeland Security, told CNBC. "Recent reporting that a Chinese open-weight model can match leading U.
Introducing: The Story of Money
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Technology
View All 10Valvoline Coupons and Promo Codes for July 2026
Save StorySave this story Save StorySave this story The nearest oil change facility nearest my house turned out to be a Valvoline Instant Oil Change, and I have been going there ever since, for both that same hybrid SUV, and a second one I bought a few years later. Hybrid vehicles require fully synthetic oil, which costs about twice as much per quart as conventional oil, so having the oil changed by a shop is typically worth it when factoring in the labor—especially if you have a Valvoline Instant Oil Change coupon. Valvoline may be best known for its line of retail automotive products like oil and additives, but it also operates 2,100 US locations of Valvoline Instant Oil Change garages, which perform oil changes at up to 50 percent less than most car dealerships. And faster, too—usually around half an hour in my experience. If you, too, would like to have your oil changed quickly and inexpensively, or get some cash off some quarts of motor oil if you’re still DIY-ing, check out our Valvoline coupons and deals below. Get $10 Off Full-Service Conventional Oil Change If you have a basic, non-hybrid vehicle that you drive in normal conditions (infrequent stop-and-go traffic, no towing), you’re in luck—your oil change will already be relatively inexpensive. And it will be even cheaper with this $10 off Valvoline coupon, which includes 5 quarts of Valvoline brand motor oil (diesel quarts may vary), a filter, lube and maintenance check, and tax. Print it out or save it to your phone so you have it next time you’re out and about. Not valid with other offers or customer-supplied oil (at that point, you may as well do it yourself). Unlock $15 Off with Valvoline Blend Oil Change Coupon This is the coupon I personally use when I get my oil changed. In fact, I’m printing it out right now! Synthetic and synthetic blend oil are best for hybrid vehicles, luxury vehicles, vehicles subjected to a lot of stop-and-go traffic, trucks that tow things, or any car with an engine that needs a little TLC. Because synthetic oil is engineered to be more consistent and uniform, it provides better temperature stability and cleaning power, leading to less wear-and-tear on an engine. It is also, of course, more expensive than conventional oil, so this Valvoline coupon is for a little more off—$15 as opposed to $10.
Lowe’s Promo Codes and Deals: Up to $300 Off Appliances
Save StorySave this story Save StorySave this story Save up to 70% on Select Kitchen and Bathroom Products It’s no secret that kitchen and bathroom remodels are the most costly home improvement projects any homeowner can take on. For those bigger (and much more costly) renovations, Lowe’s is helping you save the more you spend. This means you can get up to an additional: 10% off when you spend $750-$1,999, 20% off when you spend $2,000-$4,999, and 30% off when you spend over $5,000. This Lowe’s savings on kitchen and bath program is ideal for homeowners doing a complete room reno, potentially saving thousands of dollars over the course of the project. Quick Ways to Save at Lowe’s: Text Alerts and Daily Deals Lowe’s wants to be able to tell you about its deals, hoping you’ll be tempted to take advantage of them. If you’re a consistent DIYer, it’s likely worth getting a heads-up on the Lowe’s Deals of the Day, delivered to your phone via text message. This might be anything from drills to snow blowers or lawn mowers, plus the best package deals on appliances, refrigerators, washers, and dryers. Each of these deals is one-day only. If you text messaging about Lowes’ daily deals, you get $5 off a $50 purchase. Join the MyLowe’s Rewards Program, Get Maximum Benefits If you’re planning on doing some major work this year, or just like to putter around, it’s probably worth picking up a MyLowe’s Rewards Program membership. Each eligible purchase accrues points that’ll pay out in increments of $5 in-store credit at Lowe’s. Like a lot of loyalty programs, you get more benefits if you spend more at the store, including free shipping on all purchases including the small ones, member-only discounts, and point boosters for better discounts. There are three tiers of memberships, depending what you buy. One large appliance might already qualify you for the highest tier of rewards, at which point you might as well. These are the three tiers, based on the total cost of what you’ve bought at Lowe’s in the past year. Bronze ($0-$499): $35 minimum for free shipping; 1 point per $1 spent. Silver ($500-$1,999): Free shipping; 1.25 points per $1 spent. Gold ($2,000+): Free shipping; 1.5 points per $1 spent. For contractors, there’s a separate MyLowe’s Pro Rewards Program that offers Lowe’s in-store credit in increments of $1 for every 100 points earned. (Points expire in half-yearly increments, on June 30 and December 31.) Benefits include member-only deals, volume discounts, free standard shipping in the contiguous United States, and a 20% paint discount after annual spend of $3,000 or more.
SpaceXAI Will Reportedly Release a Major New AI Model This Week
Artificial Intelligence SpaceXAI Will Reportedly Release a Major New AI Model This Week A report says this will be the first SpaceXAI-Cursor joint production. 7, 2026, pm ET Reading time 1 minute © BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Read Later Read Later Comments (6) SpaceXAI is reportedly launching what the company purports to be a new frontier AI model as early as Wednesday. This one, according to the Information, is the first SpaceXAI model built jointly with the AI startup Cursor, which SpaceX is currently in the process of acquiring for $60 billion. A version of the Grok AI model that shipped in May did at least incorporate data from Cursor, according to Elon Musk. Last month, Elon Musk posted on X that his company’s latest unreleased model, Grok 4.5, was being beta tested behind the scenes at SpaceX and Tesla. He said its performance was comparable to some unspecified version of Claude Opus—Anthropic’s tier just below the controversially powerful Fable. Grok 4.5, based on our 1.5T V9 foundation model, with Cursor data added in supplemental training, is now in private beta at SpaceX & Tesla. Early evals show performance close to, perhaps exceeding Opus. RL is continuing to significantly improve the model, and the Grok Build… — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 28, 2026 The Information’s report is more specific, saying the model is being compared internally to Claude Opus 4.8, along with OpenAI’s GPT 5.5—the latest GPT model to be released, although GPT-5.6 exists, and is expected to be released soon. Cursor founder Michael Truell made an announcement last month of a model Cursor was working on that would supposedly compete with Frontier models from Anthropic and OpenAI. He referred to this as the “next phase of the company” without directly stating the model was a project directly linked to SpaceXAI at the time. SpaceXAI is a rebranding of the company formerly known as xAI. It was announced Monday. Explore more on these topics cursor Elon Musk SPACEX spacexai Copied! our newsletters Subscribe and interact with our community, get up to date with our customised Newsletters and much more. The Best Tech to Level Up Summer 2026 Stay cool and enjoy the long, sunny days ahead with these gadgets to upgrade your life this summer and beyond. Other Gadgets Kyle Barr and James Pero Jun 25 Commercial Spaceflight Just Entered the Nuclear Age The satellite's maker, City Labs, believes this demonstration mission will be a key step toward putting nuclear power on the Moon.
If You Have a Public Instagram Account, You Might Be Surprised What AI Users Can Now Do With Your Face
Artificial Intelligence If You Have a Public Instagram Account, You Might Be Surprised What AI Users Can Now Do With Your Face Meta's slop generator has arrived late in the game, and you might want to opt-out from it. 7, 2026, pm ET Reading time 3 minutes © Primakov via Shutterstock Read Later Read Later Comments (5) In a blog post on Tuesday, Meta announced the release of an AI image generator called Muse Image, along with an as-yet unreleased video generator called Muse Video. Elon Musk’s X rolled out something very much like this image generator, which features social media integration, about two years ago, and OpenAI released its video generator via the Sora social media app in September of last year. So I guess from a certain standpoint, a social media slop generator from Meta is long overdue. Then again, OpenAI announced it was killing Sora this past March, before pivoting its company’s entire focus. Meanwhile X’s integration of Grok images hasn’t gone all that well either. In case you blocked out this memory, during this past holiday season it became a meme on X to ask Grok to generate sexualized images of people, including minors. You might assume Meta would not want this to be in any way reminiscent of those past AI social media products, but you would be wrong. Muse Image pulls information from your Instagram. If you’re in a browser, the cleanest way to see it in action is to go to the Meta AI web app at meta. ai, log in using your Instagram account, and ask the chatbot interface to generate a picture of yourself. My Instagram account is private, but apparently since I was prompting it about my own account—the one I was logged in as—it was able to dig around in my photos anyway. However, the visible chain-of-reasoning display in the app said there wasn’t enough information in my photo feed about my appearance for Muse Image to draw on, so instead it generated an image of a random guy and explained that it would pretend that was me, and I could alter it later. That was a silly alternative to just saying it couldn’t fulfill my prompt, but it didn’t bother me. © Meta AI Somewhat more worryingly, however, you can also prompt the chatbot to generate an image using details pulled from someone else’s Instagram account.
Science
View All 10More or less protein? The foods to get you through a heatwave
As temperatures exceed 30C (86F) in some parts of the UK this week, the last thing people want to do is turn on the oven. Not only can cooking in hot weather feel like a chore, but many of us find ourselves feeling less hungry altogether. So when the heat gets too much, should we consider changing our diet? Here are four things to think about next time you're hot and hungry. Cooking chicken in an air fryer uses less than half the energy of a conventional oven "There's no need for more protein in a heatwave," says Aisling Daly, senior lecturer in nutrition at Oxford Brookes University. But if you fancy it, most protein will need cooking (like meat, chicken and fish) and that can be off-putting in the heat. Even an outdoor BBQ can be too hot to handle. Cooking a chicken leg or a potato in the worktop device uses less than half the energy of a conventional oven, according to Radio 4's Sliced Bread. And because they are smaller and speedier, they also pump less heat into your kitchen. But experts say don't forget about your slightly less fashionable slow cooker - likely buried in the back of your cupboard. Even though they run for longer, they're typically more energy efficient and release even less heat than the air fryer. The reality, though, is that simply , our bodies produce more heat than other food groups. That's due to the energy needed , intestines and liver to break down and absorb these complex molecules. So that steak you crave will only bring you out in a sweat. Try fruit, veg and carbs instead - as all are easier to digest. Dr Daly recommends pre-cooked meats, alongside things like bean salads, eggs and plenty of Greek yoghurt (frozen too). Making a smoothie , veg and yogurt (while adding in peanut butter for protein) can provide a balanced, nutritious meal in an easy way. And it might also be time to turn to some lighter fish, such as tuna, salmon or prawns. For vegetarians, you can get your protein from lentils, nuts, milk, tofu and cheese too. When it's hot, we lose water when we sweat, so we need to replace it or we become dehydrated. Six to eight glasses of fluid a day is normally recommended ,, external and in a heatwave you could need a lot more. "There is no single amount that suits everyone, because how much fluid your body needs depends on lots of factors like your age, body size, activity levels and health status," says Dr Charlotte Mills, food and nutrition scientist at the University of Reading.
'The water just came so fast': Typhoon triggers floods and rare tornadoes in China
This video can not be played Fatal Typhoon Maysak floods burst dam wall in China On Sunday, heavy rain began falling on Renhe village in the southern Chinese province of Guangxi. The villagers were used to it. But the rain didn't stop - and the water suddenly rose. , the water had reached their knees. By dawn, it had completely submerged the first floor of their homes. "The floods happened so rapidly, the water just came so fast. The villagers didn't have time to take food with them when they were running away," a woman from Renhe, whose surname is Zhou, told the BBC. Zhou's family is among tens of thousands of people in Guangxi displaced from their homes since Typhoon Maysak swept the region over the weekend, causing rivers to swell and dam walls to break. At least four people have died. The typhoon has inundated the city of Nanning and surrounding villages, with residents calling for rescue from their rooftops. It has also triggered thunderstorms, and even tornadoes, in the central province of Hubei - hundreds of kilometres away. At least 17 people have died, hundreds more have been injured and tens of thousands have been evacuated, according to state media. The devastation from days of extreme weather has prompted President Xi Jinping to order "all out" rescue and relief operations. Typhoons that cause widespread flooding are common in China at this time of the year and Maysak is the first to make landfall in the country for the 2026 season. State media said it has been characterised by "its sudden onset and intense, short-duration winds". Another storm, Super Typhoon Bavi, is churning across the Pacific, on course to hit China's eastern coast later this week, according to forecasts. Authorities in Nanning have warned that "extremely heavy rain" could hamper rescue efforts. Extreme weather, which experts link to climate change, have increasingly threatened China's residents and economy - especially its trillion-dollar agriculture sector. Torrents of muddy water swiftly engulfed homes in Nanning city in southern China Residents from Guangxi province have told the BBC that thousands remain trapped on rooftops, some in mountain villages, because of the floods. The official count estimates 60,000 people have been evacuated and at least 90,000 in total are affected . Zhou, who is currently living in another province, said some of her family members are still trapped in their homes in Renhe and have limited food. Her four-month-old niece has gone for more than a day without milk. "Other villagers are gathering at higher ground, but they are running out of supplies as well.
'Extreme' marine heatwave expected for parts of UK
UK fishing communities say shellfish catches have been badly hit as warming seas bring predatory octopus A marine heatwave could reach "extreme" levels around parts of the UK later this week, according to the Met Office, raising concerns for marine life. Long periods of sea heat can trigger mass die-offs among some seagrasses, shellfish and other species, as well as encouraging greater numbers of warm-water creatures including octopus. The heatwave is currently strongest off the coasts of eastern and southern England, and sea temperatures could reach 4-5C above average in places. The marine heatwave has been fuelled by the "heat domes" that brought record-breaking air temperatures in May and June, on top of long-term ocean warming due to climate change. Important marine habitats such as seagrasses and kelp forests are suited to cooler waters and can experience high levels of heat stress when temperatures surge. This can reduce their growth or even lead to mass mortality events, which could have knock-on effects for species that rely on these habitats. The UK has experienced marine heatwaves - prolonged periods of unusually high sea surface temperatures - before. But scientists fear this event could be particularly intense and long-lasting, particularly for parts of the English Channel and the southern North Sea. "We're starting to see temperatures now that we would expect to see at the height of summer, [at the] end of August," said Dr Zoe Jacobs of the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. "So, if this event keeps coming… we might start seeing some serious impacts on ecological systems." Researchers have also noticed longer-term shifts in the UK's marine life. Cool-adapted species such as cod are generally moving further north, while numbers of some warm-water species such as octopus have risen around south-west England. While natural cycles and fishing practices can affect the abundance of these creatures, many scientists point to the crucial role of warming seas. This video can not be played Watch: Warmer waters are bringing increased octopus numbers to UK seas "It can be exciting to see new species arrive and we all enjoy seeing something like an Atlantic bluefin [tuna] or an octopus, but the problem is we've also got the negative impacts of that," said Prof Matt Frost of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. "We're seeing a decline in the numbers of cod and other key species… you're also getting other species that could displace native species.
James Webb Space Telescope celebrates its 4th birthday with stunning image of a galaxy crash site
To celebrate this anniversary of the most powerful space telescope ever launched, NASA has released a stunning image of the strangely shaped galaxy called Centaurus A. Located around 11 million light-years away, Centaurus A owes its unusual structure to a collision between two galaxies around 2 billion years ago. This merger provided the galaxy with an abundance of gas and dust, the raw material for intense star formation. It also supplied the supermassive black hole at the heart of this galaxy with an abundant supply of the same matter to feed upon and power a bright and violent central region, or active galactic nucleus (AGN), as that central area blasts out powerful, high-speed jets of plasma. Though this galaxy is much closer to us than many of the early galaxies that the JWST has studied in its four years of operations, that doesn't mean it's any less useful. In fact, with its ultra-sensitive infrared vision, the JWST has been able to peer into the heart and inner workings of Centaurus A like no telescope that has gone before. "No single telescope tells the whole story," Shawn Domagal-Goldman, division director of Astrophysics at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a statement. "Discoveries build over time, and new observatories expand on the foundations laid . The JWST represents the most powerful step forward yet, opening a window into wavelengths and details never before accessible. "This allows astronomers to examine structures and processes that other telescopes could not see." Building upon the legacy of Spitzer and Hubble The key to the new view of Centaurus A that the JWST has been able to provide is the space telescope's powerful infrared vision. The thick dust that crowds the heart of this galaxy blocks visible light the Hubble Space Telescope previously relied on to study it. Infrared light is able to slip through these dense sheets of gas and dust. The now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope had previously studied Centaurus A in infrared, but while it could resolve larger structures in the galaxy, it lacked the observational power to resolve individual stars and finer details. In the combined mid- and near-infrared view of Centaurus A, the NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope brings out the galaxy’s dense field of millions of stars. (, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Macarena Garcia Marin (ESA Office at STScI))However, even though the JWST has been able to use its MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) and NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) to study Centaurus A like never before, there are still mysteries to be solved about this structure.
Environment
View All 10Ugandan farmers launch UK court case against East African oil pipeline
Share: X (Twitter) Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Print Four Ugandan farmers filed a case with London’s High Court on Tuesday, aiming to stop the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) from starting to operate ’s laws against the project’s UK-registered company. The controversial 1,443-kilometre (897-mile) pipeline, majority-owned TotalEnergies, aims to carry crude from Ugandan fields for export through neighbouring Tanzania. About 80% has been built so far, according to its developers. The pipeline’s first oil exports are expected as soon as October, according to its developers, and the campaign group Avaaz, which is backing the farmers’ crowdfunded lawsuit, called it "one final chance to stop one of the worst oil pipelines on the planet”. The claim, filed , argues that EACOP Ltd's role in developing and operating the pipeline breaches Ugandan laws that protect citizens’ right to a clean and healthy environment. One of the claimants, Racheal Tugume, told a press conference she had been displaced from her land due to the pipeline’s construction, which she said had damaged local rivers, wildlife and ecosystems that communities depend on for their livelihoods just as erratic weather linked to climate change takes an increasing toll. 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. ×Log in to your account Forgot your password? Four Ugandan farmers filed a case with London’s High Court on Tuesday, aiming to stop the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) from starting to operate ’s laws against the project’s UK-registered company. The controversial 1,443-kilometre (897-mile) pipeline, majority-owned TotalEnergies, aims to carry crude from Ugandan fields for export through neighbouring Tanzania. About 80% has been built so far, according to its developers. The pipeline’s first oil exports are expected as soon as October, according to its developers, and the campaign group Avaaz, which is backing the farmers’ crowdfunded lawsuit, called it "one final chance to stop one of the worst oil pipelines on the planet”. The claim, filed , argues that EACOP Ltd's role in developing and operating the pipeline breaches Ugandan laws that protect citizens’ right to a clean and healthy environment. One of the claimants, Racheal Tugume, told a press conference she had been displaced from her land due to the pipeline’s construction, which she said had damaged local rivers, wildlife and ecosystems that communities depend on for their livelihoods just as erratic weather linked to climate change takes an increasing toll. "I am very happy that there are people in countries like the UK who are listening to us, who are behind us and who have come to support us," Tugume said, adding that she hoped the case would bring justice to communities affected .
M&S invests in fridges that can cope with weather as hot as 45C
Marks & Spencer made the decision about fridges because it is ‘assuming it’s going to get hotter’. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Marks & Spencer made the decision about fridges because it is ‘assuming it’s going to get hotter’. Last month the UK recorded its hottest June day ever with provisional highs of 37.7C, nearing the highest ever recorded temperature, in 2022, of 40.3C. A third heatwave of the summer will arrive this week, the Met Office said on Monday. Machin said the group was investing in kit that could cope with 45C heat as the company was “assuming it’s going to get hotter”. It is understood this includes fridges with doors that help them to stay cool in warmer weather. Machin said M&S had also had to order in more ice-cream, prompting one supplier to take on 10 extra staff, after six product lines went out of stock given the pace of demand in recent weeks. His comments come after several retailers admitted that refrigeration units struggled to cope with temperatures during June’s heatwave. Last week the chief executive of Sainsbury’s, Simon Roberts, said staff and suppliers had been “working around the clock” to ensure the chain’s fridges could cope with the high temperatures. He said Sainsbury’s was investing “hundreds of millions of pounds” in new refrigeration kit, with about 100 stores getting upgrades. The UK is expected to experience more spells of extremely hot weather as a result of the climate crisis, so businesses are racing to adapt. In May, the Climate Change Committee said the UK was “built for a climate that no longer exists” and needed urgent changes to survive global heating. Machin also reassured shareholders at the annual meeting that M&S was investing more in security measures amid concerns about a rise in retail crime. He said M&S had invested millions of pounds in increasing the number of security guards employed through a third party, with those workers “trained in how to treat customers”, including saying hello and goodbye. skip past promotion after promotion M&S is also investing in systems to tackle “petty crime”, such as when customers take items they have not scanned and paid for at self-service tills. He added that after feedback from shoppers and his “stylish 78-year-old” mother, M&S was ensuring that its autumn and winter fashion ranges would have items that “cover the tum, tops and bum”, to ensure its products had broad appeal, alongside efforts to attract younger shoppers in their 20s and 30s.
Cited 7 July 2026: ‘Impossible’ heat | Global ocean record | Climate change and the ozone hole
Welcome to Cited, your essential guide to new climate research. ‘HEAT ALERT’: At least 25 people died as a “heat dome” smothered the eastern half of the US, reported the Guardian, with more than 20 states under “stifling temperatures more than 100F (38C)”. More than 140 million people were under heat alerts, the outlet said, with dead bodies found in “homes with no air conditioning, outside their residences, on the street and in parked cars”. Analysis (WWA) found that the combined heat and humidity would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused warming, reported the New York Times. ‘MORTALITY WILL RISE FURTHER’: Meanwhile, extreme heat continued to hit Europe, with Le Monde reporting on temperatures of 40C in France, Portugal and Spain again this past weekend, alongside “devastating” wildfires. Public Health France doubled its preliminary estimate of the “excess deaths” from the extreme heat in late June, from 1,000 to more than 2,000, according to the Guardian. The higher figure was still “probably an underestimate”, the agency said. A WWA attribution study, covered , found that Europe’s June heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” even 50 years ago. ‘BOOST TO GLOBAL TEMPERATURES’: The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) “raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño in the coming months, warning that the phenomenon is likely to drive global temperatures higher”, reported Reuters. A WMO scientist told the newswire that “El Niño conditions have emerged in the equatorial Pacific and there is a remarkable agreement between forecast models that this will be a strong El Niño”. On 21 June, global average sea surface temperature (SST) reached a record high for the day of the year, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Daily SST for the global ocean, excluding polar regions, reached 20.86C on 21 June, exceeding the 20.83C reached on the same day in both 2023 and 2024, the C3S said. Global SST has remained at record levels for every day since. The conditions “could indicate the beginning of a new phase, leading, once more, to uncharted territory”, said C3S director Carlo Buontempo. The amount of time that the average lifespan of tropical cyclones in the north-east and north-west Pacific has shortened, respectively, over 1982-2024, according to a study in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science. This shorter lifespan “compresses the time available for weather forecasting and disaster preparedness”, the authors said. As a new “thought experiment” asks whether the hole in the ozone layer could, theoretically, have been identified decades before it was discovered, Carbon Brief explores the interactions between climate change and the ozone hole.
Guest post: France’s June heatwave caused more than 2,700 heat-related deaths
In June 2026, a record-breaking heatwave swept across Europe, with France among the first and hardest hit countries. In a new analysis, we estimate that the extreme conditions caused more than 2,700 heat-related deaths in France. We also show how France’s extreme temperatures in June exceeded projections from climate models. Our findings illustrate the human toll of extreme weather as the world warms. We also highlight the challenges in projecting the magnitude of future heatwaves and their impacts on people. This is illustrated in the figure below, which shows how France’s average maximum daily high temperature for June recorded in 2026 (black line) compares to climate model projections (blue and orange lines). The downstream impacts of these extreme temperatures are lethal. Scientists are able to estimate the death toll of high temperatures in many locations, depending on the availability of mortality and climate data. There are several ways to do this. One option is to examine death certificates to see which deaths have been directly recorded . However, there is strong evidence that this method significantly undercounts heat-related deaths, as most death certificates do not consider environmental factors such as heat when diagnosing the cause of death. Alternatively, it is possible to calculate the rate of total (“all-cause”) mortality in a given time period relative to previous time periods – for example, 2026 compared to the average of previous Junes. This “excess deaths” figure can be used as an estimate of the deaths from a heat wave. Using this approach, Public Health France attributed around 2,000 deaths in France to the extreme heat in the week of 22-28 June. Finally, scientists can use long-term data on overall mortality and correlate changes in mortality with changes in temperature to understand the statistical relationship between the two. Research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2025 that used this third approach found that mortality rates in France increase rapidly in cold or hot conditions as daily maximum temperatures depart further from approximately 20C. This pattern of a U-shaped response of mortality to temperature – shown in the figure below – is very consistent across time periods and regions around the world. To calculate the death toll of the June 2026 heatwave in France, we compared observed temperatures over 12-29 June to their baseline average over 1980-2025. The difference between these two temperatures helps us understand how many more people died than they would have in the absence of such extreme conditions.
Weather
View All 7Today: Sunny, Minimum Temperature: 15°C (58°F) Maximum Temperature: 28°C (83°F)
Search for a location Search Manchester - Weather warnings issued 14-day forecast Weather warnings issued Forecast - Manchester Day Today , Sunny and light winds Sunny Sunny , High28° 83° Low15° 58° , Wind speed4 mph7 km/h NW4 mph7 km/hnorth-westerly Sunny and light winds Thursday 9th JulyThu 9th , Sunny and light winds Sunny Sunny , High29° 84° Low16° 61° , Wind speed5 mph7 km/h NW5 mph7 km/hnorth-westerly Sunny and light winds Friday 10th JulyFri 10th , Sunny and light winds Sunny Sunny , High32° 90° Low17° 62° , Wind speed5 mph8 km/h E5 mph8 km/heasterly Sunny and light winds Saturday 11th JulySat 11th , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High29° 83° Low15° 59° , Wind speed9 mph15 km/h E9 mph15 km/heasterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunday 12th JulySun 12th , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High26° 79° Low12° 53° , Wind speed11 mph18 km/h E11 mph18 km/heasterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Monday 13th JulyMon 13th , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High25° 78° Low13° 55° , Wind speed11 mph17 km/h NE11 mph17 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Tuesday 14th JulyTue 14th , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High27° 81° Low14° 58° , Wind speed9 mph15 km/h E9 mph15 km/heasterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Wednesday 15th JulyWed 15th , Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High29° 84° Low16° 60° , Wind speed9 mph15 km/h E9 mph15 km/heasterly Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Thursday 16th JulyThu 16th , Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High28° 83° Low16° 61° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h E9 mph14 km/heasterly Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Friday 17th JulyFri 17th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High27° 81° Low15° 58° , Wind speed7 mph12 km/h NE7 mph12 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Saturday 18th JulySat 18th , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High24° 75° Low14° 57° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h NW6 mph10 km/hnorth-westerly Light rain and light winds Sunday 19th JulySun 19th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High23° 74° Low14° 58° , Wind speed8 mph13 km/h NW8 mph13 km/hnorth-westerly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Monday 20th JulyMon 20th , Thundery showers and a gentle breeze Thundery Showers Thundery Showers , High22° 72° Low14° 58° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h W9 mph14 km/hwesterly Thundery showers and a gentle breeze Tuesday 21st JulyTue 21st , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High23° 73° Low15° 59° , Wind speed10 mph16 km/h W10
Thursday: Sunny, Minimum Temperature: 16°C (61°F) Maximum Temperature: 29°C (84°F)
Search for a location Search Manchester - Weather warnings issued 14-day forecast Weather warnings issued Forecast - Manchester Day Today , Sunny and light winds Sunny Sunny , High28° 83° Low15° 58° , Wind speed4 mph7 km/h NW4 mph7 km/hnorth-westerly Sunny and light winds Thursday 9th JulyThu 9th , Sunny and light winds Sunny Sunny , High29° 84° Low16° 61° , Wind speed5 mph7 km/h NW5 mph7 km/hnorth-westerly Sunny and light winds Friday 10th JulyFri 10th , Sunny and light winds Sunny Sunny , High32° 90° Low17° 62° , Wind speed5 mph8 km/h E5 mph8 km/heasterly Sunny and light winds Saturday 11th JulySat 11th , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High29° 83° Low15° 59° , Wind speed9 mph15 km/h E9 mph15 km/heasterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunday 12th JulySun 12th , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High26° 79° Low12° 53° , Wind speed11 mph18 km/h E11 mph18 km/heasterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Monday 13th JulyMon 13th , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High25° 78° Low13° 55° , Wind speed11 mph17 km/h NE11 mph17 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Tuesday 14th JulyTue 14th , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High27° 81° Low14° 58° , Wind speed9 mph15 km/h E9 mph15 km/heasterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Wednesday 15th JulyWed 15th , Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High29° 84° Low16° 60° , Wind speed9 mph15 km/h E9 mph15 km/heasterly Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Thursday 16th JulyThu 16th , Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High28° 83° Low16° 61° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h E9 mph14 km/heasterly Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Friday 17th JulyFri 17th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High27° 81° Low15° 58° , Wind speed7 mph12 km/h NE7 mph12 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Saturday 18th JulySat 18th , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High24° 75° Low14° 57° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h NW6 mph10 km/hnorth-westerly Light rain and light winds Sunday 19th JulySun 19th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High23° 74° Low14° 58° , Wind speed8 mph13 km/h NW8 mph13 km/hnorth-westerly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Monday 20th JulyMon 20th , Thundery showers and a gentle breeze Thundery Showers Thundery Showers , High22° 72° Low14° 58° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h W9 mph14 km/hwesterly Thundery showers and a gentle breeze Tuesday 21st JulyTue 21st , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High23° 73° Low15° 59° , Wind speed10 mph16 km/h W10
Heat Dome Locks Over Western Europe: Extended Run for Excessive Heatwave establishes
July continues with the excessive heat, already widespread across southwestern Europe, gradually expanding northward and eastward this week. A massive upper-level ridge has locked into place over Western and Southwestern Europe, resulting in a highly stable atmospheric Heat Dome. It effectively blocks cooler maritime air inputs from the Atlantic; the Iberian Peninsula and France are already baking in excessive heat. The trapped air mass forced near-surface temperatures into an intensive upward trajectory across Spain, Portugal, and France, while the mid-term trends suggest that a prolonged period of extreme heat and severe regional thermal stress will develop. The daytime high temperatures are consistently 10 to 15 °C above historical normals, with core regions in the Iberian Peninsula and southern France testing the low to mid-40 °C threshold. Similar to June’s historic heatwave, the system’s overnight cooling cycle is failing to reset, resulting in ‘tropical nights’ in major urban centers like Madrid and some others. The lack of precipitation combined with rapid evaporation rates is accelerating soil moisture deficits, elevating the regional wildfire risk vector to critical levels. Major and destructive wildfires are already ongoing from Portugal to Spain and southern France. This is where temperatures rose well above 40s these days, with very low relative humidity. Heat stress and fire dangers are extreme. The current weather forecast models suggest this ridge will remain structurally stable with minimal changes for at least another week, maintaining an extreme heatwave through mid-July. The soil in many regions remains exceptionally dry after a record-breaking hot spell Europe experienced in late May and the historic heatwave in late June, both obliterating hundreds of monthly and also all-time station records. With the forecasted prolonged heat and lack of precipitation, the conditions will worsen in the coming two weeks with multi-day stretches of 35-40 °C for many regions. It will remain extremely hot across France, Spain and Portugal, gradually expanding across the rest of Western and then Central Europe as the Heat Dome strengthens and expands northward and eastward over the weekend and into the following week. The driving force behind this pattern is similar to the one in June, a strengthening upper-level ridge building out of Northwest Africa and expanding a major warm plume across western and central Europe. The following animation delivers a quick overview. Before we dig into the details about the pattern evolution in Europe, lets examine what is the main driver behind these extensive warm waves and heatwaves in general.
Strengthening El Niño and Atlantic cold anomaly in focus for Winter 2026–27 outlook
Forecasters are monitoring a persistent region of below-average sea-surface temperatures in the northern Atlantic Ocean, often referred to informally as the Atlantic cold anomaly or North Atlantic “cold blob.” Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the U. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) indicate that El Niño conditions are expected to persist and strengthen during the second half of 2026. Current multi-model guidance suggests the event could become strong by autumn, although its eventual peak intensity remains uncertain. The cold anomaly combined with the strengthening El Niño, could alter the position and strength of the jet stream during the early stages of Winter 2026–27. Such changes may influence storm tracks and temperature patterns across parts of North America and Europe, although the precise regional impacts remain uncertain several months in advance. Large-scale pressure patterns could favor a more amplified jet stream across the Northern Hemisphere, according to seasonal guidance from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Similar broad signals appear in other long-range forecasting systems, although individual models differ in the placement and intensity of regional temperature and precipitation anomalies. Multi-model ensemble forecasts from leading global producing centers for the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.. Credit: WMO ECMWF and other seasonal forecast systems show an increased probability of colder-than-average conditions across portions of the central and eastern U. S. during the early part of winter, while warmer-than-average conditions may prevail across western Canada and parts of the western U. These projections represent seasonal probabilities rather than forecasts of individual cold outbreaks, winter storms, or snowfall events. The evolving atmospheric pattern could also influence the distribution of winter storms across North America. Depending on how the Pacific jet stream and North Atlantic circulation develop during the season, some regions may experience increased storm activity while others remain comparatively mild. Frecasters note that confidence in regional details remains limited at this time. ECMWF and other seasonal models indicate that the interaction between El Niño and the North Atlantic circulation could favor contrasting conditions between the northern and southern parts of Europe. Some models suggest periods of enhanced Atlantic storm activity over northwestern Europe, while others indicate relatively milder conditions across portions of central and western Europe. Confidence in specific regional winter outcomes, however, remains lower than confidence in the broader large-scale climate signals. Researchers are also closely monitoring the Atlantic cold anomaly because previous studies have associated similar sea-surface temperature patterns with changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), one of the primary drivers of winter weather across Europe and eastern North America.
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