Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Burntisland Heritage believes it has located the 17th-century royal vessel The Blessing of Burntisland in Scotland’s Firth of Forth, nearly 400 years after it sank while carrying possessions belonging to Charles I. Timber sampling and subsea radar scans have produced promising but inconclusive evidence, and carbon dating and specialist diving are still required. The cargo reportedly included gold, silver and a 280-piece dining service commissioned by Henry VIII, with its historical value estimated at tens of millions of pounds today. If confirmed, the discovery would be a major Scottish maritime archaeological find, potentially entitling the heritage group to a substantial share of any recovered treasure.

A phase three trial involving 1,137 patients with surgically removed, high-risk melanoma found that Moderna and Merck’s personalized mRNA-4157 (V940) vaccine, given alongside Keytruda, reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 49% and distant metastasis or death by 59% compared with Keytruda alone. The vaccine is tailored to each patient’s tumour using DNA sequencing and artificial intelligence to target up to 34 neoantigens. Experts described the findings as the first positive phase three trial of an individualized neoantigen and mRNA cancer treatment, while suggesting the approach could eventually be used against lung, bladder and bowel cancers. The vaccine could become available through the NHS as early as next year, subject to regulatory approval.

Erin Patterson is appealing her convictions for murdering her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson with deathcap mushrooms served in a beef Wellington, while her surviving guest Ian Wilkinson suffered severe illness. Her lawyers argue that inadmissible or prejudicial evidence, oppressive cross-examination and a jury accommodation failure involving prosecution personnel, a police witness and journalists caused a miscarriage of justice. Prosecutors have filed a separate appeal claiming her life sentence with a 33-year non-parole period is inadequate and seeking a longer term or life without parole. The Victorian Court of Appeal will hear both challenges over two days.

Erin Patterson is returning to the Victorian Court of Appeal to challenge her convictions and life sentence for murdering her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, by serving a beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms. Patterson maintains the deaths were accidental. Her lawyers argue that prosecution evidence was unfairly admitted, relevant defence material was excluded, and jurors were improperly accommodated alongside people connected to the case. The Department of Public Prosecutions is pursuing a separate appeal, arguing that the 33-year non-parole period was too lenient and seeking a longer term or life without parole. A three-judge panel will consider the appeals, with a successful defence appeal potentially leading to a retrial or acquittal.

Cambridge chancellor Lord Chris Smith condemned what he called a racist “feeding frenzy” surrounding allegations that former sociology professor Jason Arday plagiarised academic work and fabricated aspects of his biography. Arday, 41, denied being a liar, acknowledged errors in his work and attributed some early mistakes to his autism before resigning from Cambridge. Liverpool John Moores University previously found no plagiarism in his PhD, while Cambridge had opened an independent investigation before his death. Arday’s family received more than £150,000 through a fundraiser, and a large London vigil drew anti-racism activists, politicians, students and friends demanding justice. The government said decisions about any public inquiry would wait until after the inquest.

XL Bully-type cats, bred using hairlessness and short-limb traits associated with Sphynx and Munchkin cats, are reportedly increasing in popularity in the UK despite serious health problems including arthritis, joint pain, deformities and skin conditions. Cats Protection and the RSPCA say more of these animals are entering shelters as owners struggle with veterinary costs and are urging governments across the UK to regulate breeding and prohibit known harmful traits. Current licensing rules are stricter in Scotland than in England and Wales, while Defra says businesses selling cats should already hold licences and that it is working to improve oversight of the breeding sector.

Google searches for eye pain rose sharply in the United Kingdom and Spain after a solar eclipse, amid social media reports of headaches, blurred vision and sore eyes. Moorfields Eye Hospital consultant Alex Ionides warned that looking directly at the sun can cause solar retinopathy, potentially resulting in permanent vision loss, and advised urgent medical attention for symptoms including pain, blurred or distorted vision, dark spots and sudden changes in sight. Mild, temporary eye strain can occur even when certified eclipse glasses are used.

Idnan Choudhry says he may be forced to demolish his £400,000 five-bedroom home in Walsall after Walsall Council refused a retrospective planning application. The council says the property was built wider than approved, includes an oversized dormer, harms neighbours’ privacy and has an overly dominant appearance. Choudhry disputes the claims, says he followed approved architectural plans, and has spent £35,000 on legal and architectural help while pursuing an ombudsman complaint and continuing his challenge against the open enforcement case.

Britain is facing exceptionally high wildfire risk as a fifth summer heatwave is expected to push temperatures above 38°C. Firefighters in England and Wales have responded to 966 wildfires between January 1 and August 10, while total incidents for 2026 have already reached last year’s record of 1,017. Drought conditions cover most of England and all of Wales, placing additional strain on emergency services and water resources. High Peak in Derbyshire is identified as the UK’s highest-risk constituency, followed by Calder Valley and Tiverton and Minehead. Andy Burnham is chairing a COBRA meeting and considering a ban on disposable barbecues, while fire chiefs are urging people to avoid ignition sources, follow local restrictions and report fires immediately.

A survivor of Simon Levy’s 2018 sexual assaults, identified as Laura, says she has suffered lasting trauma and feels let down by police after learning that Levy continued attacking women following his release from prison. Levy was convicted of 11 sexual assaults committed between 2022 and 2025, along with the murders of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins and the rape of another woman. The Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and Crown Prosecution Service have acknowledged failings, including bail decisions and downgrading Levy’s risk assessment. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has issued misconduct notices to two Metropolitan Police officers, while Levy awaits sentencing.

Eight-year-old Clayton Garforth was swept out to sea at Westport beach on the Mull of Kintyre after a sudden swell. He survived by floating on his back and conserving energy, a technique taught by the Tarbert Coastguard Rescue Team only days earlier. HM Coastguard, two RNLI lifeboats and a helicopter were sent to assist, but surfers brought Clayton safely ashore before rescuers arrived. He was treated in hospital for hypothermia and swallowing water, then discharged the following day. The incident has reinforced calls for compulsory school water-safety lessons, better lifesaving equipment and other measures promoted through the Mirror’s Save Lives for Sam campaign.

Britain is approaching a record for the most days in a year with temperatures above 30C, having already recorded 33 such days compared with the 1995 record of 34. Forecasts suggest the record will be surpassed during the week as a fifth heatwave brings temperatures of up to 36C to parts of East Anglia and southeast England. The Met Office has warned that the heat could affect elderly people and infrastructure. The article also lists at least nine weather records broken during the exceptionally hot and dry summer, including records for temperatures, sunshine and low rainfall.

Divers discovered a remarkably preserved Roman merchant shipwreck about 150 feet underwater near Mazara del Vallo, Sicily. Dating from the 1st or 2nd century, the wreck is surrounded by hundreds of intact and broken Dressel 1A amphorae believed to have transported wine, along with lead anchor stocks and another unidentified structure. Italian authorities have described the site as a major underwater archaeological discovery and will protect it while further research investigates the vessel’s origins, crew, routes and role in Mediterranean trade.

Indian authorities are seeking a specialist high-altitude team to recover the remains of Dorje Morup, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police climber who died on Everest in 1996 and was long misidentified as the climber known as “Green Boots.” The recovery depends on Chinese permission to access Everest’s Tibetan side and will involve major technical and logistical challenges, including lowering the frozen body through dangerous terrain. Officials hope to return the remains to India by September for DNA confirmation, while Morup’s family plans to preserve the Green Boots marker as part of his legacy.

Clacton Pier said British Democrats protesters, including 22-year-old Clacton by-election candidate Kai Stephens, attempted to bring or ignite pyrotechnics on the timber-decked pier, tried to display a banner and verbally abused security staff when asked to leave. The British Democrats denied intending to use the pyrotechnics on the pier, saying the smoke flares were for a separate activity, while Essex Police confirmed that officers were notified about unused flares after the group had departed. Stephens is one of 34 candidates in the August 13 by-election and represents a party advocating voluntary repatriation and remigration of immigrants.

Samer Jouha, a 51-year-old Syrian refugee and father of three living in Evesham, jumped into the River Avon on August 1 to rescue 80-year-old Wendy Snell after she fell into the water. He pulled her toward the riverbank, where a Maritime Volunteer Service boat helped bring her to safety. The local community and Snell's family thanked Jouha, while fundraising replaced belongings damaged during the rescue, including a Samsung Galaxy S26 donated by Currys. Jouha's family fled Syria in 2011 and arrived in Britain through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme in 2019.

Westminster Council is consulting on removing “vertical drinking” in Soho and the West End, which would require customers to receive table service rather than order drinks at the bar. The proposal is intended to discourage excessive drunkenness but has drawn strong opposition from pub landlords, customers, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Critics argue it would damage pubs, jobs and London’s nightlife. New powers under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 could allow the mayor to influence or call in licensing decisions.

Nine-year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann has left the NHS Freeman Hospital in Newcastle after receiving a heart transplant, following eight years on the waiting list. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Dáithí underwent major surgery as a newborn before doctors determined that transplantation was his only remaining option. His family’s Donate4Dáithí campaign helped raise awareness of organ donation and contributed to Northern Ireland adopting an opt-out donation system, known as Dáithí’s Law, in June 2023. He will remain in Newcastle for about three more weeks before returning to Northern Ireland.

Sixteen-year-old Aoibheann Clarke died after collapsing during extra time in a minor ladies Gaelic football cup final in Taghmon, County Wexford. Emergency responders performed compressions and took her to hospital, where she was pronounced dead; Gardaí are treating the incident as a personal tragedy. Clarke, who played for Taghmon/Camross, All Blacks AFC and Wexford FC, was remembered as a gifted and cherished athlete. Her family, clubs, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the wider Wexford community expressed grief, while a book of condolences and support services were arranged.

An inquest heard that 73-year-old Caroline Savage died from faecal peritonitis after an intestinal perforation, shortly after increasing her privately prescribed Mounjaro dose. Hospital clinicians initially attributed her abdominal symptoms to possible medication side effects and discharged her without a CT scan or surgical referral; she collapsed and died at home hours later. Her family questioned whether inadequate investigation and clinical decision-making contributed to her death, while the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust maintained that clinicians acted appropriately based on normal observations, blood tests and ultrasound findings. The inquest is also examining a possible connection to Mounjaro, although no established evidence shows that it causes faecal peritonitis. The coroner adjourned a decision on whether the case should be considered under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Ten people, including five children, have drowned in the UK since schools broke up for the summer holidays, while 42 people have died in open water since a spell of hot weather began in mid-May. The latest victims were an 11-year-old girl found in Glen Gore, Scotland, and a 14-year-old boy who died after being pulled from London’s River Thames at Millwall Outer Dock. The report also details other child and family drownings and highlights The Mirror’s Save Lives For Sam campaign, which calls for improved water-safety measures and swimming support in schools; Andy Burnham has endorsed the campaign.

St Ouen's Bay in Jersey was temporarily closed after multiple reports of a dark-grey shark measuring approximately 10 to 12 feet in length. RNLI lifeguards evacuated swimmers using red flags and loudspeakers, and the beach reopened about an hour later with no injuries reported. The incident was described as the first shark-related beach closure in Jersey. It follows the discovery in June of a 4.3-metre smalltooth sand tiger shark, a species more commonly found in tropical and subtropical waters, which later died despite rescue efforts.

Sharif Ahmadzai, a 26-year-old Afghan-born man living in Greece, is due to appear in an Athens court accused of murdering Scottish aid worker Elisabeth-Jane Ross and transporting her body in a suitcase. CCTV allegedly shows him wheeling the suitcase through Athens, while police say he admitted moving the body and withdrawing €10,000 using Ross's cards, although he denies murder. The report also details Ahmadzai's Facebook criticism of alleged corruption among Christian NGOs and his charity work with wife Alaina Hall. Ross, who regularly volunteered with refugee and homelessness organisations in Greece, has been mourned by relatives, churches and officials.

Nathan Owen was sentenced to four years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and two fraud charges. He falsely told emergency services that his Jaguar I-Pace was accelerating uncontrollably, then drove at up to 86 mph across Merseyside motorways and collided with a police car 31 times. Investigators found the vehicle had no fault and that Owen was in control throughout; he had been struggling with finance payments and allegedly staged the incident to have the car written off. The incident caused motorway closures, endangered police and other road users, and generated substantial adverse publicity for Jaguar Land Rover. Owen was also banned from driving for five years after his release.

Footage shows four suspected thieves attempting to break into a standalone ATM outside a Londis in Teddington before attaching it to a car and towing it away. The Metropolitan Police said the theft occurred at 00:53 on 29 July, confirmed that an abandoned vehicle had been seized, and appealed for information. No arrests had been made at the time of publication.

Professional boxer Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of British charity worker Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, whose body was found inside a suitcase in an abandoned Athens building. Investigators allege that Ahmadzai used Ross’s bank card and phone after her death and later attempted to conceal the crime. His wife, Alaina Hall, reportedly raised concerns with police, while authorities found replica weapons during a home raid. Ahmadzai reportedly claims Ross was already dead when he found her, but he faces intentional homicide, robbery and weapons charges.

Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself alongside Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, prompting critics to call it bizarre and deranged. The image was part of a series of digitally altered posts in which Trump associated himself with American historical figures and promoted his political movement ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Supporters praised the image, while critics circulated mocking edits featuring Jeffrey Epstein and a clown version of Trump. The article also links the posts to wider criticism that Trump is politicising the anniversary through campaign-style events and his Freedom 250 task force.

Ffion Smith says her eight-year-old son Ruben's severe chest, back and leg pain was initially attributed by healthcare providers to gastritis and a poor diet, with Gaviscon recommended. After repeated visits and worsening symptoms—including pallor, bruising, difficulty walking and significant weight loss—blood tests on 29 June 2026 revealed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Ruben has since received two rounds of chemotherapy and a lumbar puncture and is recovering at home. Smith remains angry about what she describes as a dismissed diagnosis and urges parents to persist when they believe something is wrong. NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board expressed sympathy but declined to comment on the individual patient's care.

Labour's Bev Craig has been elected Mayor of Greater Manchester after defeating Reform UK's Sian Astley in a second-round count. Craig received 66.3% of the final vote to Astley's 33.7%, succeeding Andy Burnham after he left the mayoralty to become an MP. Turnout was just over 25%, with more than 500,000 ballots cast. Craig pledged to serve all three million residents, improve living standards, oppose divisive politics and use greater devolved powers to build a more inclusive and prosperous city region.

Jay Stewart, 19, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 16-year-old Kayden Moy on Irvine beach, appears in a rap video filmed inside HMP Polmont days after sentencing. The video allegedly shows Stewart boasting about the killing and threatening further violence after his release. Kayden's father, Paul, said the footage caused profound distress and accused Stewart of showing no remorse. Stewart and 18-year-old Cole Turley received minimum 16-year terms, while a 15-year-old accomplice received a minimum 14-year term. The Scottish Prison Service said it was working with Police Scotland to investigate how a mobile phone entered the prison and how the video was recorded.

The Peak District National Park Authority has agreed to temporarily rebrand six road signs as “Peaq District” for a week-long Skoda campaign promoting the electric Peaq. Local residents and environmental critics accused the authority of commercialising or “selling out” the national park, while others supported the deal if it does not harm the landscape. Chief executive Phil Mulligan defended the sponsorship, saying government grants cover only about a quarter of operating costs and that the revenue will support active-travel initiatives, trail access improvements and free cycle hire. The signs are due to be removed after the campaign.

The UK’s first entry into Powerball will offer a record £377 million jackpot in a draw held in Miami on Saturday night. Unlike US winners, a UK winner would receive the prize in annual payments over 30 years, and the jackpot could be divided among multiple winners. Tickets cost £4 and must be bought by 11.55pm on Saturday. The prize would surpass Britain’s previous lottery records, including the £195 million EuroMillions win in 2022.

Tyquan Johnson, whose survival after reportedly having no pulse or breathing for more than 65 minutes at birth was recognised by Pope Leo XIV as a Vatican miracle, has been arrested in Virginia over a shooting in Rhode Island. Police say two men suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to their lower extremities on July 19, and Johnson faces allegations including assault with a firearm and discharging a firearm in a compact area. The miracle recognition was linked to a prayer invoking 19th-century Spanish priest Salvador Valera Parra during the emergency, supporting the priest’s beatification process.

Martin Frizell, who cares for his wife Fiona Phillips after her early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis, welcomed Andy Burnham's proposed social care reforms as a source of hope for dementia families. Frizell urged the Prime Minister to follow through, drawing attention to the burdens on carers, inadequate support and the long-standing marginalisation of dementia compared with other diseases. Burnham has promised to accelerate Louise Casey's social care review, strengthen the care workforce and seek cross-party agreement on reform.

A four-year-old girl’s left eyelid was accidentally glued shut while doctors treated a cut above her eye at Crumlin Hospital in Dublin in 2022. She was transferred to Temple Street Children’s Hospital, where four irrigation treatments were required to remove the adhesive; she also suffered eyelash loss, discomfort and needed antibiotic eye drops. Children’s Health Ireland agreed to a €15,000 settlement, which the court accepted, noting that the girl fortunately suffered no permanent eye damage.

Wildfires across southwest France and northern Spain have displaced more than 330,000 people and prompted officials in France’s Gironde region to urge tourists to stay away. British holidaymakers are advised to contact their accommodation or package-holiday provider before cancelling, because doing so independently could result in cancellation fees, loss of refunds and difficulties claiming on travel insurance. ABTA says tour operators should offer an alternative holiday or full refund when a package cannot be provided or is significantly affected. French President Emmanuel Macron described the crisis as France’s worst fire-related emergency since World War II, citing extreme drought, difficult forest conditions and fire-generating pyrocumulonimbus clouds.

Kevin Fields was sentenced to two years in prison and Ella Jones received a suspended two-year sentence after both pleaded guilty to causing the ill treatment or neglect of a 12-week-old baby. The infant became unconscious and tested positive for cocaine after the couple admitted taking the drug in the child’s presence; they had also failed to seek medical help after an earlier episode. Jones was additionally given rehabilitation activities, mental health treatment and unpaid work, while police condemned the couple’s conduct and urged people to report suspected child neglect or abuse.

Kevin Fields was sentenced to two years in prison and Ella Jones received a suspended two-year sentence after both pleaded guilty to neglecting a 12-week-old baby who tested positive for cocaine. The infant was found unconscious at Leighton Hospital in Crewe after the couple allegedly appeared unconcerned and left the hospital, and police found evidence that Fields had ordered cocaine shortly before the incident. Jones was also given mental health treatment, unpaid work and rehabilitation requirements, while Cheshire Police condemned the couple’s conduct and urged the public to report suspected child abuse.

Five people died in separate open-water incidents within 24 hours at West Wittering beach in West Sussex, Fistral Beach in Cornwall and a Scottish loch. The deaths bring the estimated number of open-water drownings in the UK since May 24 to around 40, following several heatwaves. Police and emergency services are investigating the incidents, while the Royal Life Saving Society warns that drowning risk rises sharply during hot weather. The Mirror’s Save Lives for Sam campaign is calling for urgent government action to improve water safety.

Wildfires across south-western France and several parts of Spain have forced more than 336,000 people to evacuate, killed at least one person and claimed the lives of two firefighters. A major blaze near Bordeaux has burned about 162 square miles, while temperatures above 40°C are expected to worsen conditions. Authorities have restricted access to popular holiday destinations including Arcachon Bay, Cap-Ferret, Avila, Toledo, Valencia and Castellon. Experts say pyrocumulonimbus “fire clouds” are generating unpredictable winds and lightning that can spread fires. British travellers are advised to check with accommodation and travel providers, monitor local authorities and consult Foreign Office guidance. The UK is also preparing for renewed wildfire risks as another heatwave approaches.

Wildfires spreading across southwest France and northern Spain have led to more than 300,000 evacuations, including over 220,000 in France’s Gironde region and about 70,000 in Spain. British tourists and expatriates have been urged to avoid affected areas, check with travel providers and follow local emergency instructions. Fires have approached Bordeaux, disrupted roads and rail services, and killed at least one person in Spain. Thousands of firefighters and aircraft are battling the blazes amid temperatures above 40C, drought and shifting winds. The report also highlights wildfire incidents in the UK and warns that forecast heat could increase fire and health risks.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 3,000 confirmed cases and 1,354 deaths, with the disease spreading across five eastern provinces. Around 100 workers at the Elikya Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia have struck over two months of unpaid performance bonuses, while staff at Bunia General Hospital also report unpaid wages. Officials say payment backlogs are being resolved through mobile transfers. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, which has an estimated 40% fatality rate and lacks a fully approved vaccine or treatment, although experimental vaccine trials led by the University of Oxford are underway.

Kira Cousins, 23, says she deceived her former boyfriend and family into believing she was pregnant and later presented a plastic doll as their newborn daughter after suffering a miscarriage. She says fear and the difficulty of telling Jamie Gardner about the loss caused the deception to continue, while Gardner disputes parts of her account and says he genuinely believed the doll was real. The ruse involved a fake pregnancy, scans, baby equipment, medical claims and staged social-media content before relatives became suspicious and Cousins’s mother discovered the doll. The former couple have spoken since the scandal but remain estranged, and both have declined or withdrawn from a planned documentary.

Kira Cousins, 23, says she fabricated a pregnancy and presented a lifelike doll as her newborn daughter after suffering a miscarriage and becoming too frightened to tell her then-boyfriend Jamie Gardner. She describes the deception, which included an artificial bump, scan images, a gender-reveal party, baby purchases and claims of hospital complications, as spiralling out of control. Gardner says he genuinely believed the doll was real, disputes aspects of Cousins's account and says he wants to move on. The deception was exposed in October after relatives became suspicious and Cousins's mother found the doll; Cousins later claimed the baby had died and eventually acknowledged the truth.

Meghan Markle appeared as a surprise guest judge on MasterChef Australia during an episode filmed while she and Prince Harry visited Australia. She chose ingredients for contestants, discussed cooking as a way of expressing love, and revealed that her children Archie and Lilibet eat Brussels sprouts. Harry later joined the judging segment by live video link and was described by Meghan as a “charmer.” The broadcast followed controversy over promotional wording that referred to the Sussexes as “MasterChef royalty,” reportedly against their wishes and causing concern for judge Poh Ling Yeow.

A van was driven into crowds during Berlin’s Christopher Street Day Pride celebrations, killing one woman and injuring 16 people, including three critically. The closing party was evacuated, and police launched a major manhunt for 21-year-old Berlin-born German citizen Abdul Ballout, who is alleged to have fled after the vehicle struck a tree. Authorities say he has links to Islamist circles, may be armed and dangerous, and is known to police, but they have not established a specific motive. Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the incident as an attack on German society.

Temperatures in parts of Britain are forecast to rise above 30C again, reaching 32C in southeast England on Wednesday, after a brief period of rain. Persistently hot and dry conditions have reduced reservoir and river levels, prompting drought warnings and hosepipe bans. Water-safety experts warn that warm weather and offshore winds will increase risks for people using coastal waters, following at least 35 open-water drowning deaths in England since May 2026. Paddle UK advises checking wind direction and avoiding the water when winds blow away from shore, while The Mirror’s Save Lives For Sam campaign calls for compulsory school water-safety lessons and a public information campaign.

Passengers from delayed EasyJet flight EZY2638 reportedly remained stranded for more than 24 hours at Montenegro's Tivat Airport, with Dr Ron Roberts alleging that they were left without food, water, accommodation or sufficient assistance. He described severe overcrowding and said a passenger fainted. EasyJet attributed the initial delay to a bird strike and a subsequent delay to air traffic control restrictions, said limited hotel availability led it to advise passengers to arrange accommodation for reimbursement, and said it was investigating the airport experience with its ground-handling provider. The Foreign Office said it was in contact with local authorities.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed Ardahan governor Mehmet Fatih Cicekli by presidential decree after politicians criticized him for wearing cycling tights during a public sports event and sharing photographs online. Supporters say Cicekli promoted sport, youth activities and bicycle tourism, while critics argued that the attire was inappropriate for a governor in the conservative province. A reinstatement petition has collected more than 10,000 signatures, and local cyclists rallied around him during his departure. European Parliament rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor backed Cicekli and accused critics of advancing the ruling party's Islamist-conservative agenda.

A fertiliser container exploded during a major industrial fire between East Hanningfield and Rettendon in Essex, creating a fireball and shock wave felt up to 15 miles away. Wedding photographer Scott Johnson said the blast threw him into his studio door and damaged the roof, although he escaped largely uninjured. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service deployed around 100 firefighters, evacuated nearby residents and closed Southend Road; crews remained to extinguish the blaze and investigate its cause. Officials said there was no wider risk to the public but advised residents near the site to keep doors and windows closed because of smoke.

A new investigation is examining whether carpenter Ray Buck, who died by suicide in 2000, may have been involved in the 1996 murders of Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan in Kent. An eyewitness reportedly heard Buck confess, and one of his sons has offered to provide a DNA sample. The development comes as the Criminal Cases Review Commission tests DNA from convicted prisoner Michael Stone and serial killer Levi Bellfield, whose alleged confession was later withdrawn and has not been corroborated. Stone continues to deny the killings, while Kent Police says information about alternative suspects was thoroughly assessed and that he remains convicted after two trials and an appeal.

Heatwaves and milder winters have contributed to a rise in cockroach infestations across the UK, with Sheffield’s Moor Market forced to close for weeks due to a significant outbreak of German cockroaches. Councils in Cardiff and Hull report notable increases in pest control call-outs, while experts warn that warmer temperatures, increased travel, high‑density housing and cost‑of‑living pressures are helping cockroaches spread. The British Pest Control Association highlights the health risks posed by the insects and urges affected residents to seek professional pest control support.

Hitler’s birthplace in Braunau am Inn has reopened as a police station following a £17 million renovation intended to deter neo-Nazi pilgrimage activity. The Austrian government seized the property after a legal battle with its former owner, removing Nazi-era architectural features and restricting public access. Officials argue that a permanent police presence best prevents extremist misuse of the site, though some Holocaust survivor groups believe it should have been dedicated to pacifism or memorialisation. Renovation delays pushed completion three years beyond the original plan.

England’s 3-2 World Cup victory over Mexico was hailed by manager Thomas Tuchel as a heroic performance that felt like winning a final, following a tense match marked by a red card, a penalty and long stoppage time. Tuchel praised his players’ resilience in challenging conditions and expressed admiration for Mexico’s passionate supporters. He also commented on FIFA’s decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s red card, joking about the White House’s involvement. The win sends England into a quarter-final meeting with Norway, while the USA prepare to face Belgium in a difficult round-of-16 clash.

A developing and potentially strong El Niño is expected to drive global extreme weather, threatening food supplies and pushing up prices in the UK. Experts warn that key imports including rice, fruits, vegetables, coffee, anchovies, and cocoa could face shortages or disrupted harvests, while extreme heat may fuel higher global electricity demand, worsening already elevated UK energy costs. The convergence of climate change, conflict and economic instability is described as a global polycrisis, with El Niño adding further pressure on supply chains and living costs.

Locals in Clacton-on-Sea offered mixed reactions after disclosures that Nigel Farage earned £270,000 for promotional work with Direct Bullion while serving as MP. Some residents criticised his limited presence in the constituency and questioned his commitment to local issues, while a few expressed support for his political positions. Concerns about local decline, public services and lack of visibility from the MP featured prominently. A local councillor highlighted ongoing regeneration efforts and suggested MPs should prioritise parliamentary duties over outside work.

A British influencer, Brooke George, faces a murder charge in Dubai after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend, Bill Treeby. Her mother reported that Brooke was distressed and fearful in a call before the incident, displaying signs of abuse. Treeby had a prior conviction for assault in the UK. Advocacy group Detained in Dubai suggested Brooke may have been exploited and urged UAE authorities to investigate claims of domestic abuse and preserve digital evidence. The UK Foreign Office is supporting the detained woman and her family.