Kirstie Mccrum

Looking directly at a partially eclipsed Sun without certified filters can damage the macula and cause solar retinopathy, potentially leading to blurred or distorted vision, dark spots, colour-vision changes, light sensitivity or permanent central vision loss. Symptoms may be delayed for hours or days and usually cause no pain, so anyone noticing changes or feeling that their vision is abnormal should seek prompt advice from an optometrist. There is no specific treatment, although many cases heal over time; the likelihood of recovery depends partly on the duration of exposure.

Around 100 relatives, friends and political colleagues attended Ann Widdecombe’s private requiem mass at Buckfast Abbey in Devon. The former Conservative minister, Brexit Party MEP and Reform UK spokeswoman died on July 8 after sustaining fatal hammer blows, and Joshua Kerry has been charged with her murder. The service was led by Buckfast Abbot David Charlesworth, who paid tribute to Widdecombe’s faith, fortitude and public service. Nigel Farage did not attend because of campaigning and the family’s request for privacy but is expected at a later public memorial. Donations in Widdecombe’s memory will support the Leprosy Mission and Christian Endeavour Hostel initiatives in India.

A vulnerable woman in Portsmouth received dog food, was force-fed, sometimes received no food and was left unattended for prolonged periods while receiving care from Radis Homecare. A Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation found significant personal injustice, and a DNAR document was reportedly found crumpled in a cupboard. Radis Homecare and Portsmouth City Council apologised; the support worker who served the meal is no longer employed and another faced disciplinary proceedings. Radis said it strengthened safeguarding, nutrition, record-keeping, supervision and quality-assurance procedures, and withdrew from the council contract in December 2025.

Two Bell helicopters leased by Greece’s fire department collided during an aerial firefighting operation near Psatha in Attica. Each aircraft was carrying a two-person crew, and a search and rescue operation was launched after they departed from Elefsina military airport. The crash occurred amid widespread wildfires across Greece, with nearly 500 Greek firefighters supported by personnel from France and Romania. Thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated, including about 8,000 people in Crete. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said extreme heat, strong winds and worsening weather conditions were testing the country’s emergency services despite recent investments in civil protection.

Caitlin Anderson was arrested after allegedly behaving disruptively on a Ryanair flight to Newcastle, including tearing out her hair extensions and confronting another passenger. Police boarded the aircraft after landing and initially took her to hospital amid concerns that she may have consumed a substance. Anderson pleaded guilty at Newcastle Magistrates' Court and was fined £1,477, ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £591 victim surcharge.

Fire chiefs warned that wildfire risk remains elevated across the UK as England approaches its fourth heatwave of the year, with temperatures potentially reaching 35°C in south-east England. Fire and rescue services in England and Wales recorded 208 wildfires between July 16 and 28, bringing the 2026 total to 706, while eight incidents were still being monitored nationally. Officials highlighted the heightened danger from hot, dry conditions, harvesting activity and human behaviour, and urged the public to avoid disposable barbecues, dispose of cigarettes safely and report fires immediately. The UKHSA issued an amber heat-health alert for parts of England, while the NFCC called for continued investment in specialist and aerial firefighting capabilities as climate change increases the likelihood of larger and more complex fires.

Eighteen-year-old Harley Seal died at the scene after his motorcycle collided with a white Mercedes A180 on Chestfield Road in Whitstable on July 24. Kent Police launched a murder investigation, arresting two men. Connor Todd, 19, has been charged with murder and is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court, while the other arrested man has been released on bail. Police are seeking witnesses and dashcam, doorbell or mobile phone footage.

A one-year-old boy was taken to a London hospital with life-threatening injuries after reportedly falling from a window at a property on Cornwallis Avenue in Gillingham, Kent. Kent Police said the incident was reported by the South East Coast Ambulance Service and that inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.

Christopher Wilson, a 34‑year‑old new father from Kellington, died in hospital after a motorcycle collision on the A19 near Selby. His family paid tribute to him as a loving partner, stepfather and proud new dad known for his warmth and enthusiasm for life. Wilson was struck by a red Vauxhall Corsa, whose 18‑year‑old driver is cooperating with North Yorkshire Police in the investigation.

Two 15‑month‑old twin girls were found dead in their beds in Beuvrages, northern France, with dehydration suspected as the cause. Their parents were arrested after four other young children in the home were also discovered suffering from dehydration, one critically ill. Authorities confirmed the deaths and are investigating high temperatures in the room as a potential factor, with autopsies scheduled to determine the precise cause.

A man in Bristol narrowly avoided death after being tipped from a waste container into a rubbish lorry before the crew halted the machinery and contacted emergency services. Bristol Waste launched an investigation and warned against seeking shelter in bins, emphasising safety and commending the crew’s quick response.

A JetBlue pilot reported a drone strike at 3,000 feet while approaching JFK Airport, prompting an FAA investigation. The aircraft landed safely and showed no damage during inspection. The incident follows other recent drone sightings near Newark Liberty International Airport, including a report from a United Airlines flight that also concluded without issue.

An 18‑year‑old from Stafford was sentenced to three years and nine months in a young offenders institution after admitting to possessing explosive substances, making threats to bomb his college and accessing materials useful for terrorism. The court heard he idolised serial killers, shared a “murder bingo card,” created a manifesto expressing violent intentions and experimented with homemade explosives. The judge accepted he had no real plans to carry out an attack but was driven by an obsession with violence. Police found homemade weapons, chemicals and searches for detonator instructions, while the defence argued his behaviour stemmed from immaturity and personal difficulties.