Jeremy Armstrong

Two men, Ian Pascoe and Wayne Taylor, drowned while attempting to rescue two children struggling in the sea at Seaton Carew. Their families praised their actions and backed a water‑safety campaign calling for compulsory lessons, better equipment, and a dedicated minister. Local leaders and residents expressed condolences, while witnesses described the rescue effort. The children survived, and a fundraiser was launched to support Taylor’s family.

L'Équipe presenter France Pierron has reportedly been suspended after calling Jeremy Doku’s plan to leave Belgium’s World Cup camp for the birth of his first child “disgusting.” Doku, a Manchester City winger, is expected to miss part of the tournament if Belgium reaches the later stages. England striker Ollie Watkins defended him, saying a first child comes only once and that the decision is a personal matter. Pierron apologized, while L’Équipe condemned and distanced itself from her remarks.

Peter Coates, a 62-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, died after his oxygen machine failed during a power outage. Although an ambulance was assigned within minutes, the crew was reportedly trapped inside its depot when electrical gates jammed, and a second crew allegedly stopped to refuel. Responders arrived 47 minutes after his 999 call. His daughter, Kellie Coates, believes he could have survived if help had arrived promptly and has raised concerns about the ambulance service's handling and disclosure of the delay. A respiratory specialist told the inquest that Coates may have died within minutes of the power failure, meaning the contribution of the ambulance delay remains uncertain.

Lewis Moody made his first public appearance since being diagnosed with motor neurone disease at Leicester Tigers' 22–20 Premiership victory over Bath. The former England captain received a standing ovation at Welford Road and told a 17,000-strong crowd that the rugby community had supported him deeply. Martin Johnson became tearful during the speech, while Moody said he planned to announce a charitable partnership after praising the work of organisations such as the Doddy Weir Foundation. Moody also discussed telling his sons about the diagnosis and reflected on his careers with Leicester, Bath and England.

A reporter tests a fully autonomous Waymo Jaguar I-Pace taxi in Los Angeles, finding that it can handle residential streets, traffic lights, lane changes and busy junctions at a slow, steady pace. The ride costs $10 and is managed through an app, with cameras, sensors and satellite technology guiding the vehicle. The experience is largely relaxed but raises questions about passenger safety on freeways, motorways and busy UK streets. Self-driving taxi services are expected to expand into the UK in 2026, while trials such as Sunderland's zero-emissions shuttle are already under way.

An Airbus A320 departing Heathrow came within about 10 metres of a suspected drone at 9,000 feet in May 2025. Pilots said the large, bright object filled much of the cockpit windscreen and passed overhead with virtually no vertical or horizontal separation. The UK Airprox Board concluded that providence played a major role and that a definite risk of collision existed. The incident follows a separate high-risk drone encounter involving a Boeing 737 near Gatwick. Amid growing concern about drones near airports, the British Army has tested a Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon that disables drones’ electronic components, can engage multiple targets up to 1 kilometre away and costs about 10p per shot.

A body has been found in a lake in Oakmere during the search for 38-year-old mother-of-three Rachel Booth, who went missing after being seen at a petrol station near Northwich in the early hours of Saturday. Cheshire Police believe the body is Booth’s, although formal identification has not yet been completed. Her family has been informed and is receiving support, while police say no suspicious circumstances are suspected and will prepare a file for the coroner.

Former Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes owes approximately £1.5 million through his liquidated media company, including £776,878 in unpaid VAT, National Insurance and PAYE, £461,849 to unsecured creditors, a £226,000 director’s loan and £56,535 in liquidator costs. Only a small payment is expected toward the tax debt, with no funds available for unsecured creditors. Barnes agreed to repay part of the director’s loan and was disqualified from acting as a company director for three and a half years after an Insolvency Service investigation found significant unpaid corporation tax and VAT.

Former Premier League footballer Lee Clark has been declared bankrupt over a debt to One Stop Business Finance, with the bankruptcy order placing his assets under the Insolvency Service’s jurisdiction. Clark said he was unaware of the order when approached outside his £2 million Newcastle home and declined to comment. The report also recounts his playing career at Newcastle United, Sunderland and Fulham, his controversial 1999 FA Cup incident, and his later managerial and media work.

Robert Maudsley, a convicted quadruple murderer held in highly restrictive conditions since 1983, has resumed eating after ending a hunger strike triggered by the confiscation of his PlayStation, television, hi-fi and books. His brother Paul said the family feared for Maudsley's health after he stopped communicating with them. Maudsley has spent almost 46 years isolated from other inmates and is confined for about 23 hours a day in a specially adapted glass cell at Wakefield prison. The Prison Service says offenders who pose a risk to others may be segregated, with arrangements reviewed regularly and access to exercise, visits, calls, legal advice and medical care.

Simon Vickers was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years, less 217 days already served, for murdering his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett in their Darlington home. Vickers claimed the fatal chest stab wound occurred accidentally during horseplay, but forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton said the knife had been held tightly and that such an injury was practically impossible to cause by throwing. A majority jury verdict found him guilty of murder after 13 hours and 21 minutes of deliberation. The judge said the injury was caused in a flash of anger and that Vickers intended to cause serious harm, though not necessarily to kill. Scarlett's mother, Sarah Hall, continues to support him, and Vickers is reportedly planning an appeal.

Simon Vickers was found guilty of murdering his 14-year-old daughter, Scarlett Vickers, after she suffered an 11cm-deep fatal chest wound in the family's Darlington kitchen. Vickers claimed the stabbing occurred accidentally during horseplay involving kitchen tongs, grapes and cooking, while prosecutors argued the depth and angle of the wound showed that the knife had been firmly held and deliberately used. A Home Office pathologist said it was practically impossible for a thrown knife to cause the injury. Scarlett's mother, Sarah Hall, supported Vickers's account and said she believed the stabbing was accidental. Prosecutors and Durham Constabulary said the verdict brought accountability, although it could not restore Scarlett's life.

Olympic cyclist Elinor Barker revealed that a car struck her at a Manchester roundabout and fled without being identified, leaving her injured and forcing her to miss five days of training. Although the incident affected her confidence and nearly jeopardized her preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, she returned to training and considered herself extremely lucky. Barker urged drivers to be patient and considerate toward cyclists. The article also highlights fellow Team GB athletes preparing for the Games, including Laura Kenny, Mahama Cho and Dan Bibby.

The UK is expected to experience a mini-heatwave from the weekend, with conditions becoming drier and sunnier after recent flooding, rain and drizzle. Temperatures could reach 27C in London on Monday and Tuesday and as high as 29C in south-east England by Wednesday. The Met Office forecasts some remaining rain in the northwest, while most other areas should be dry and warmer through the middle of the week.

Tottenham and England midfielder Dele Alli was attacked by two knife-wielding intruders during a robbery at his home in Barnet, north London. Alli and his adopted brother, Harry Hickford, suffered minor facial injuries, while Alli’s girlfriend Ruby Mae was also present and threatened. The robbers reportedly stole valuable jewellery and watches, including one allegedly worth £850,000. The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation, but no arrests had been made at the time of publication.

Darren and Kate Donaghey used their £1 million National Lottery scratchcard win to improve life for their two autistic children, moving from a council house in Walker to a larger home in Gosforth and planning for their children's lifelong care. Darren left his call-centre job, while the couple provided financial help to relatives and deliberately avoided extravagant spending, relying on financial advice to manage the money over the long term.