Writtle in Essex was hottest on Wednesday at 34.3C; highest on record was 38.5C in 2003
Britain experienced the hottest day of the year – so far – on Wednesday, and temperatures are anticipated to break records again on Thursday.
The Met Office said the highest temperature recorded on Wednesday was 34.3C at Writtle near Chelmsford in Essex, followed by 33.9C in Cavendish, Suffolk. The previous highest temperature of 2019 was 34C at Heathrow at the end of June.
Continue reading...Hassan Rouhani spoke after Iraqi president’s visit to Iran at request of UK defence ministry
Iran has indicated it wants to de-escalate the British-Iranian crisis, hinting at swapping two captured tankers.
“We do not seek the continuation of tension with some European countries,” Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, said on Wednesday during a weekly cabinet meeting. “If Britain steps away from the wrong actions in Gibraltar, they will receive an appropriate response from Iran.”
Continue reading...Johnson’s wish that aid should serve the UK’s political and commercial interests could mean a merger for the Department of International Development
In his victory speech, Boris Johnson spoke of the “jostling sets of instincts in the human heart” – the instinct to earn money and look after your own family, set against that of looking after the poorest and neediest, and promoting the good of society as a whole. The Tory party has the “best instincts” to balance these desires, he said.
This balancing act will be tested soon after he moves into No 10. How will he ensure the UK, which has the third largest aid budget in the world, retains its reputation as a “development superpower”, in the words of former international development secretary Penny Mordaunt, with the competing trade, diplomacy and defence requirements of post-Brexit Britain?
Continue reading...Police are searching for three people after earlier finding body of man at a Gloucestershire water park
Police are searching for three people who have gone missing in the river Thames.
The Metropolitan police said a swimmer went missing at Shadwell Basin on Tuesday evening, a second at Waterloo Bridge and a third near Kingston High Street.
Continue reading...Cuts would be twice as many as the carmaker announced in May and will increase fears of UK losses
The carmaker Nissan plans to cut more than 10,000 jobs around the world as part of efforts to turn itself around, Japanese media have reported.
Nissan announced in May it would cut 4,800 jobs from its global workforce of around 139,000 as it grapples with a fall in profits to a near-decade low amid “a difficult business environment”.
Continue reading...Defence secretary’s decision may seem puzzling but is in Britain’s best interests
In possibly his last act as foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt signalled Britain’s determination to continue to cooperate with Europe on defence and to side with its nearest neighbours, and not Washington, on how to curb Iranian nuclear ambitions.
He told MPs on Monday he wanted to form a European maritime security force to defend shipping in the Gulf rather than join a US-led force. The two might work in cooperation, but they were to be distinct.
Continue reading...Holidaymakers’ flights could be disrupted as court rejects airline’s challenge to action
British Airways has lost its legal attempt to block planned strikes by pilots, which could take place next month and disrupt the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers.
The airline had sought an injunction challenging the ballot in the high court. But the court ruled in favour of the union, Balpa, which can now call strike dates with two weeks’ notice. However, it has yet to set dates and both sides have said they remain open to talks.
Continue reading...Free tickets issued on Thursday for 16 August event including 3,000 members of the public
More than 3,000 members of the public will play a part in marking the Peterloo massacre on the 200th anniversary of the bloody protest for parliamentary reform and political representation at St Peter’s Field in Manchester.
There will be no passive spectators at From the Crowd, an immersive experience which will weave together eyewitness accounts of those present at Peterloo in 1819 and the words of contemporary protesters and poets.
Continue reading...News outlets unsure who employs Saudi investor after fears of state interference
The Evening Standard and the Independent say they are unsure who employs the Saudi Arabian businessman who bought a substantial stake in both news outlets, amid concerns that the Saudi government could exert editorial influence over them.
The Russian oligarch’s son Evgeny Lebedev, who controls both publications, sold 30% stakes in them to offshore companies fronted by a Saudi businessman, Sultan Mohamed Abuljadayel.
Continue reading...Critics point to irony of UK calling on EU support while heading for Brexit
Plans for a European-led maritime security force in the Gulf unveiled by the UK foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, hit choppy waters as the plan was rejected by Iran, met resistance from supporters of the incoming prime minister, Boris Johnson, and was seen by British shipping industry experts as not providing a short-term solution to the crisis facing UK-flagged shipping in the Gulf.
On Monday, Hunt unveiled a plan for a European-led maritime security force, making clear he regarded a proposed rival plan for a US force as likely to be seen by the Iranians as an escalatory step, partly since Washington opposes the Iran nuclear deal.
Continue reading...Pair ate fur-covered dead animals in front of children in London despite pleas to stop
Two pro-meat protesters have been fined after eating raw squirrels at a food market.
Related: View to a cull: is grey squirrel the ultimate sustainable meat?
Continue reading...US secretary of state’s comment reflects tensions with UK over Iran nuclear deal
The UK must be responsible for the safety of its own ships in the Gulf, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has said.
His remarks reflect unresolved tensions between Britain and the US over Donald Trump’s plans for a US-led military taskforce to protect international shipping operating off the Iranian coast. The UK is meanwhile seeking to assemble a European naval protection force.
Continue reading...Labour’s Tom Watson criticised after Carl Beech found guilty of perverting course of justice
Scotland Yard has been condemned for its handling of a multimillion-pound investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring in Westminster after the former nurse at the centre of the allegations was found guilty of fabricating his extraordinary claims.
Carl Beech, 51, had alleged that he was among the victims of an establishment group – including high-ranking politicians and military figures – who he said kidnapped, raped and murdered boys in the 1970s and 1980s. His allegations triggered a Metropolitan police investigation that ended without an arrest being made.
Continue reading...Defence minister agrees to help in one of most dangerous missions undertaken by the UN
British troops will be deployed in Mali next year to join in the world’s deadliest peacekeeping operation, the Ministry of Defence has announced.
The 250-strong force will provide a long-range reconnaissance capability for the United Nations deployment in the troubled African country which has struggled to decisively counter Islamic militants, armed separatists and traffickers.
Continue reading...Victims include male civilian, 20, with mental health disability and elderly disabled man
Cameroonian forces have killed at least four civilians during security operations in one of the country’s anglophone regions in the past month, according to a human rights organisation, including two men with disabilities.
An uprising by separatists that began two years ago and the response by security forces have caused intense suffering in the anglophone regions of the former German colony, which was carved up by France and Britain during the first world war.
Continue reading...The country's state TV has shown video of the crew onboard the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero. The Revolutionary Guards captured the ship, with its 23-strong crew, and took it to Bandar Abbas, one of Iran’s main military ports
Continue reading...Major incident declared as more than 150 firefighters tackle flames at the Mall
More than 150 firefighters are tackling a huge blaze at a shopping centre in east London.
A major incident has been declared at the Mall on Selborne Walk in Walthamstow. A London ambulance service spokeswoman said one woman had been taken to hospital.
Continue reading...FCO minister critical of Johnson in Darroch affair joins Hammond and Gauke in resigning in protest
Alan Duncan has resigned as a Foreign Office minister ahead of the expected arrival of Boris Johnson at Downing Street, the latest in a string of ministers to pre-emptively quit their jobs in protest at his likely direction as prime minister.
The departure of Duncan followed the announcements on Sunday by Philip Hammond, the chancellor, and David Gauke, the justice secretary, that they will quit on Wednesday, just before Johnson formally becomes prime minister.
Continue reading...Met Office issues yellow warning for Scotland before sunshine breaks through later in week
Britain will experience a brief heatwave this week, but not before a storm brings torrential rain and strong gales to some areas.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for western parts of Scotland on Sunday and Monday, with thunderstorms, heavy rain and a risk of flooding. Rain and strong winds were also forecast to hit parts of Northern Ireland, north-west England and Wales on Sunday.
Continue reading...Tehran signals it will not release British-flagged tanker until UK frees one of its vessels
The British foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is under intense pressure to join US-led plans for an international maritime protection force in the Gulf as signs grow that Iran is preparing for a long standoff over the British-flagged tanker it has detained.
As Tehran signalled it would refuse to release the Steno Impero until the UK released an Iranian-flagged ship seized off the coast of Gibraltar a fortnight ago, the British government faced accusations it had failed to sufficiently guard its shipping in the Gulf.
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