Catherine Mackinlay

The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak overnight from August 12 into August 13, shortly after a significant partial solar eclipse visible in the UK. The best viewing window should be between midnight and 5:30 a.m., with a new Moon providing dark conditions and potentially up to 150 meteors per hour. Viewers are advised to choose a dark, open location, check the weather, allow their eyes to adjust, and avoid phone screens; binoculars and telescopes are unnecessary. The shower occurs as Earth passes through debris from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, while its name and historical significance are linked to Greek mythology, Catholic tradition, and ancient Roman folklore.

Four men aged between 34 and 52 were stabbed on Endell Street in Covent Garden, central London. Two remain in hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening or life-changing, while two others have been discharged. A 47-year-old woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon, with scissors recovered nearby. The Metropolitan Police said they are not seeking further suspects and currently regard the incident as isolated and potentially mental-health related. A police presence will remain in the area as the investigation continues.

Ski Yodl Ltd, which traded as Yodl and sold ski holidays including packages in the French Alps, has entered voluntary liquidation after shareholders approved the winding-up on July 22, 2026. All package holidays booked through the company have been cancelled, although ABTA said it did not believe there were any current package bookings at the time of liquidation. Customers with accommodation-only bookings must seek card-payment refunds from their card issuer or register claims with liquidator RCM Advisory Limited if they paid by other means.

Aaron Strachan, 21, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh to lifelong restriction with a minimum of five years in custody after abducting and raping a 15-year-old girl in a basement near York Place. He had also carried out knife and hammer attacks on two men. Strachan previously escaped while being taken from the Court of Session to a prison van but was recaptured hours later. The judge warned that, because of the risk he poses to the public, he may never be released.

High pressure is expected to maintain the UK heatwave through next week, with temperatures potentially reaching 35C and the hottest conditions gradually shifting north. The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber and yellow heat-health alerts across England, and the public is advised to take precautions due to high UV levels. Sea temperatures are also elevated, contributing to a developing marine heatwave around the UK.

Zoo owners at Johnsons of Old Hurst issued their first public statement after a three-year-old boy was seriously injured when allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure. They praised staff, visitors, and emergency services for their rapid response and expressed continued support for the child and his family as he recovers at Addenbrooke's Hospital. Police confirmed the boy remains stable but faces a long recovery, while a 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has been released on bail pending further investigation.