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Temperatures could reach 33C this weekend as heatwave set to hit parts of UK

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Temperatures could hit 33C this weekend as parts of the UK bask in a heatwave. Forecasters are expecting temperatures to climb to a peak of 33C on Sunday in the east of England, approaching the highest ever temperature recorded in June – 35.6C in 1976. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. Temperatures are predicted to reach 27C on Tuesday and Wednesday, 29C on Thursday, 30C by Friday, then 32C on Saturday and peak at 33C on Sunday, the Met Office said. And some thundery showers could be seen across the far west on Friday night into Saturday. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: “Heat is the main story this week, with high pressure building and temperatures rising to heatwave levels in some areas by the weekend. “Today and tomorrow, we could see maximum temperatures of 27C in the south of England, and 29C on Thursday. “The trend for tempe...
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Tear gas deployed against migrants in Calais

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  Police fired tear gas at a group of migrants as they waited on sand dunes in France for a small boat which might ferry them to the UK. Hundreds gathered on the dunes before making dashes towards the Channel at Gravelines beach, north east Calais, all intent on boarding a single dinghy on Tuesday morning. Migrants of all ages who made it to the sea had to wait in waist-deep water for almost an hour before any of them were able to board the small boat. An older man on crutches had to be carried out of the water by two others, who then ran off to re-join the crowd. Many others did not make it to the water, raising their arms in surrender under a thick blanket of tear gas fired by the French Police Nationale. Police Nationale officers were trudging the sands at Gravelines beach before the sun had risen on Tuesday morning, armed with riot shields, tear gas and batons. Pictures taken by the PA news agency show a cloud of smoke as migrants ran from the dunes. A warning cry of “baby, bab...
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Woman found fatally stabbed in house after gas explosion

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  A woman has died after being found with stab wounds inside a house where a gas explosion took place. The 46-year-old was found fatally injured inside a house in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, north-east London, just before 5am on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said. A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and has been taken to hospital to be treated for slash wounds. Two children aged seven and nine were also taken to hospital as a precaution, but are not thought to have been inside the home when the explosion happened. Neighbours described the noise as the explosion tore through the house. A resident on Dumont Road said he heard a crash “like somebody dropped a massive glass cabinet from a crane”. The man, who did not want to be named, added: “I looked out and saw panes of glass on the floor. You could tell it wasn’t a car window. “Eventually I noticed the beam on the bay window was missing and could see some mild smoke coming out of the back. “People starti...
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G7 leaders call for de-escalation in Middle East as Trump leaves summit

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  G7 leaders called for de-escalation in the Middle East before Donald Trump left the global summit early as conflict intensifies between Israel and Iran. Allies from the world’s major economies affirmed their “commitment to peace and stability” in a statement agreed shortly before the US president’s abrupt departure from a major global summit in Canada. The White House said Mr Trump had left the G7 leaders’ conference after a group dinner on Monday because of “what’s going on in the Middle East,” without elaborating. The US president said his reason for leaving the summit had “nothing to do with a ceasefire” between Israel and Iran. In their statement, the leaders called for a “ceasefire in Gaza” and said they “stand ready to coordinate” to protect market stability in the face of rising oil prices amid spiralling hostilities between Israel and Iran. It said: “We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. “In this context, we affirm ...
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How Clean Is Your House? star Kim Woodburn dies aged 83

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  TV presenter who found fame with show about banishing household dirt died after short illness, her manager says TV star Kim Woodburn, who rose to fame presenting How Clean Is Your House?, has died at the age of 83 after a short illness, her manager said. A statement said: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved Kim Woodburn passed away yesterday following a short illness. Kim was an incredibly kind, caring, charismatic and strong person. Her husband, Peter, is heartbroken at the loss of his soulmate. We are so proud of the amazing things Kim achieved in her life and career. We kindly ask that Kim’s husband and close friends are given the time and privacy they need to grieve. We will not be releasing any further details.” Woodburn was selected as one of the hosts of Channel 4’s 2003 housework-based reality show, How Clean Is Your House? while working as a professional cleaner. It was a career she had begun aged 16, as a live-in cleaner for a laundrette-owning ...
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Genetic testing study to boost medication response starts in Glasgow

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A new study aims to show how genetic testing could help personalise treatments by boosting medication response and reducing harmful side effects. A new study aims to show how genetic testing could help personalise treatments by boosting medication response and reducing harmful side effects. The landmark trial will recruit up to 4,000 patients over the next two years in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, to investigate how an individual’s genetic profile affects their response to 60 common medications. It is hoped the Phoenix Study will to lead to wider implementation of genetic testing across Scotland, making “precision medicine” routine, for the first time. Researchers hope it will pave the way for tailored prescribing across cardiology, stroke, surgery, orthopaedics, geriatrics, gynaecology, ENT, rheumatology, respiratory, neurology, psychiatry and other specialities. The trial will take place at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) –...
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NHS 999 staff quitting and suffering burnout over ‘pressure’ of calls

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  NHS 999 staff are quitting and suffering burnout caused by the “relentless pressure” of calls, according to new research. NHS 999 staff are quitting and suffering burnout caused by the “relentless pressure” of calls, according to new research. Figures obtained by Unison from ambulance services showed high turnover rates among call handlers, which staff say are often over a lack of support and the non-stop, often distressing, calls that force many to take sick leave. A report launched at the union’s annual conference in Liverpool today revealed the toll taken on the workforce, with more than a quarter of NHS ambulance control room staff quitting their jobs over the past three years. According to the research, more than half a million days were lost to call handler illness in the three years from April 2021. The figure for 2023/24 alone was 166,940 – the equivalent of more than a month of sick leave for each 999 call handler. The union says high staff turnover and increased sicknes...
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