World Cup and June’s heatwave help UK economy withstand Iran war pressures Britain’s economic growth slowed in the second quarter but a boost from heatwaves and the World Cup helped offset impacts from the Iran war in a better-than-expected performance in June, official figures have shown. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic
UK could see hottest day of year as parts of England may hit 38C The UK could see its hottest day of the year so far as parts of England may hit 38C during the peak of the fifth heatwave of the summer. Rare amber “extreme heat” warnings have been issued by the Met Office
Burnham to consider disposable BBQ ban amid heatwave and wildfire risk Andy Burnham has said he will consider imposing a ban on disposable barbecues amid the risk of further wildfires as extreme heat continues to grip parts of the UK. The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra committee later on Wednesday in response to
Serial sex attacker Simon Levy jailed for whole life over murders of two women A serial sex attacker who murdered two women and raped a third after being left free to kill has been jailed for the rest of his life. Simon Levy, 40, killed grandmother Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, in March 2025 and mother-of-four Sheryl
Specialist glasses sell out as Britons prepare for best solar eclipse in decades Specialist glasses have sold out at major retailers as Britons prepare for the best solar eclipse in decades. More than 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on Wednesday, the most it has been blocked
Itsy Bitsy singer Brian Hyland to perform in Downing St for diagnosis campaign Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini singer Brian Hyland will perform his 1960 classic hit in Downing Street as he backs a campaign for better NHS diagnoses. The American musician, 82, will join British singer and campaigner Ashleigh Harley for the
PM to chair emergency Cobra meeting amid ‘extreme heat’ warning and wildfires Andy Burnham will chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on Wednesday in response to extreme heat, which has caused widespread wildfires and plunged many parts of the country into drought. The Prime Minister will meet with ministers, officials and agencies
Romell Glave says ‘it’s my time to dominate’ after winning 100m European gold Romell Glave emerged from winning the 100m final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham wearing a gold costume crown and declared “now is my time to dominate”. The 26-year-old Jamaica-born sprinter, who moved to Croydon as a teen and fractured his
UK’s largest Harry Potter shop to open in central London The UK’s largest Harry Potter shop is to open in London’s Oxford Street in November, Warner Bros has announced. The flagship store, spanning more than 21,000 square feet over two floors, will open its doors within The Ribbon development at 134-140 Oxford Street on November
Summer 2026 on course to be UK’s hottest on record The UK is on course for its hottest summer on record, with only average conditions needed for the rest of August to beat the record set just last year, the Met Office said. Some parts of the country face a fifth heatwave of the summer,