Sacked referee Coote charged by FA over Klopp comments
Former Premier League referee David Coote has been hit with a charge by the Football Association concerning comments he made about ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The official was sacked last December by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) following a viral video that circulated online showing him to have made derogatory remarks about the German from July 2020.
One of the comments concerned Klopp’s nationality, which has led the FA to claim the remark constituted an alleged ‘aggravated breach’ under its rules.
The FA said Coote would face no further action in regard to separate allegations of gambling misconduct, which he had strenuously denied. The FA said those allegations had been fully investigated.
Hundreds mourn ‘hero’ Air India pilot after ‘extremely rare’ dual engine failure suspected
Hundreds gathered in Mumbai today to honour Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the Air India pilot who has been hailed as a hero for limiting casualties on the ground during last week’s crash.
Captain Sabharwal issued a mayday call to air traffic controllers moments after takeoff and residents on the ground have credited him with avoiding a large residential building that was directly on the flight path.
Investigators have recovered flight AI171’s cockpit voice recorder and will analyse the pilots’ final words to help determine the cause of the crash that killed more than 270, 241 of whom were passengers and crew.
An “extremely rare” loss of power from both engines is increasingly being seen as the most probable cause of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s sudden descent.
Meanwhile, at least three Air India flights have been grounded or cancelled in the past 48 hours as India’s civil aviation authority ordered urgent pre-flight checks across Boeing 787 aircraft in the country.
Families in India with concerns can call Air India on 1800 5691 444. Those outside India can call the British Foreign Office on 020 7008 5000.
Pictured: Special prayer ceremony held for victims of Air India crash
People gathered in Ahmedabad on Tuesday evening to remember the victims of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane, which crashed last week.
Local residents praise ‘hero’ pilot
Local residents near the scene of the crash on Tuesday said their three-storey apartment building was directly on the path of flight AI171 – and that Captain Sabharwal appeared to have swerved to avoid them in pursuit of open ground.
Jahanvi Rajput, 28, told The Sun that “thanks to the pilot Captain Sabharwal, we survived. He’s a hero. It is because of him we are alive.”
“The green space next to us was visible to him and that’s where he went,” she said.
The flight instead crashed into the top floor of an accommodation block where medical students had assembled to eat lunch.
Aviation safety watchdog asks Air India for pilot training records
India’s aviation safety watchdog has asked Air India for the training records of the pilots and dispatcher for the plane that crashed last week as part of its investigation into the incident that killed at least 271 people.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation also asked all flying schools to conduct training compliance checks, according to the confidential memos, seen by Reuters.
The DGCA said the requests were part of a “regulatory” review of the accident, and also sought details of action taken following the watchdog’s audits of Air India in the last few months.
It asked for the details to be provided by Monday.
Multiple Air India flights delayed or grounded in just 24 hours
Multiple Air India flights have been delayed, diverted, or cancelled in the past few days amid heightened safety checks ordered by India’s civil aviation authority.
This comes in the wake of the deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 people on board and more than 30 on the ground, and raised concerns over Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft operating in India.
An Air India flight from Delhi to Paris, AI143, was reportedly cancelled on Tuesday after mandatory pre-flight checks revealed an issue, the airline announced in a statement. As a result, the return flight, AI142 from Paris to Delhi scheduled for Wednesday, was also cancelled, NDTV reported.
Read our full story by Maroosha Muzaffar below.
Multiple Air India flights delayed or grounded in 24 hours amid heightened checks
Watch: Mourners line streets at funeral of Air India pilot
Passengers deboard for safety after Mumbai-bound Air India plane faces technical issue
An Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata experienced a technical issue in its left engine after landing in Kolkata, forcing passengers to deboard for safety.
The delay lasted over four hours. Flight AI180 arrived at the Kolkata airport at 12.45am, when it faced a technical snag and passengers were asked to disembark.
This incident occurred just five days after a deadly Air India crash that killed 241 people onboard.
On Monday, another Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff due to a “technical issue”.
The pilot decided to turn back Air India flight AI315 as a precaution, citing safety concerns.
The plane landed safely and underwent checks. The plane is seven years old, Reuters reported.
Family of three UK citizens killed in Air India crash allege ‘disjointed’ response from government
The grieving family of three British citizens killed in the Air India crash has criticised the UK government for a “painfully slow” and “disjointed” response in India.
They say they’ve received conflicting information, lacked access to medical and forensic support, and felt abandoned by UK officials.
The family of Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee, and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa is urging the UK government to improve its communication with relatives who travelled to Ahmedabad in Gujarat, in the aftermath of the crash.
An undated family handout photo issued by the BBC of Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa and their four-year-old daughter Sara
A family spokesperson told The Guardian: “There is no UK leadership here, no medical team, no crisis professionals stationed at the hospital.
“We are forced to make appointments to see consular staff based 20 minutes away in a hotel, while our loved ones lie unidentified in an overstretched and under-resourced hospital.”
Abu Nanabawa, Akeel’s cousin said: “It seems to be a universally shared sentiment of frustration at the management of this whole crisis.”
He added: “At the moment, we just want to have the bodies so that we can bury them and mourn properly. In our faith and religion [Islam], it’s very important that the funeral gets done as soon as possible. It’s a part of the grieving process to bury and honour them, to return them as soon as possible and grieve them.”
Top Boeing official meets Air India chairperson to discuss Ahmedabad crash – report
Boeing Commercial Airplanes head, Stephanie Pope, reportedly met with Air India chairperson N Chandrasekaran in India on Monday to discuss the recent crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which killed 241 out of 242 people shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
The meeting, held at Air India’s headquarters near New Delhi, was also attended by top executives from GE Aerospace, which supplied the aircraft’s engines, sources told Reuters.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Air India, one of Boeing’s largest customers, has 33 Dreamliners in its fleet and over 200 new aircraft on order, including 20 additional 787s.
Air India boss tells employees ‘we will figure out’ what caused crash
Air India and Tata Group chairperson, N Chandrasekaran, told employees “we will figure out” what caused the crash during an address to 700 employees.
He also urged employees to remain strong and resilient following the deadly Ahmedabad plane crash, calling it the “most heartbreaking crisis” of his career.
“Criticisms are there, and those of us who are very passionate… who are working on making this airline a great airline, and who genuinely care about what kind of a company we want to build, but it’s not easy to face criticisms. I want you to be strong. If you feel distraught, the word you should remember is determination. We are going to get through this. We need to show resilience. We need to use this incident as an act of force to build a safer airline,” Mr Chandrasekaran said, according to The Indian Express.
“It’s a very complex business…it’s a complex machine, so a lot of redundancies, checks and balances, certifications, which have been perfected over years and years. Yet this happens, so we will figure out why it happens after the investigation. So we just have to stay calm and not put our shoulders down. This is the time to be brave, time to be resolute, time to know that you have the full support,” he told the employees.
Hundreds bid emotional goodbye to pilot of doomed Air India flight
Hundreds paid their respects to Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the Air India pilot who died in the Ahmedabad crash, at his final funeral in Mumbai on Tuesday.
A prayer ceremony at his Powai home was filled with grief, especially as his 88-year-old father performed the last rites.
Known for his humility and dedication, Sabharwal was remembered as a skilled pilot and devoted son, set to retire early to care for his ailing father.
“Very sad, a young life taken away. Unimaginable,” industrialist Niranjan Hiranandani was quoted as saying by NDTV.
“This is a thoughtful moment, we need to study this thoroughly. We cannot afford for lives to go like this again. The family is devastated. The only justice now is to ensure this moment leads to answers, to reforms. Safety and security must be a priority, not just in aviation, but in every sector.”
Captain Sabharwal, 55, had logged more than 8,200 flight hours.
Preliminary reports suggest he issued a mayday shortly after takeoff, likely attempting to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas, a decision made in crisis that may have saved many lives on the ground.
“I flew with him for many decades,” said a former cabin crew colleague. “We shared meals, memories, and long hauls. He was a dedicated son and an incredibly skilled pilot. Always peaceful, composed, and grounded. Never flaunted his position, just a wonderful soul.”
Zelensky accuses Putin of ‘pure terrorism’ after massive attack on Kyiv
Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of “pure terrorism” after at least 15 people were killed and 116 others were injured in a massive attack on Ukraine overnight.
The Ukrainian president called the attack “one of the most horrific” of the war so far, with Ukrainian officials saying 14 were killed in Kyiv and one person was reported dead in Odesa. In total, Russia fired almost 500 drones and missiles across Ukraine, in one of Moscow’s largest attacks since invading Ukraine in February 2022.
“Such attacks are pure terrorism. And the whole world, the United States, and Europe must finally respond as a civilised society responds to terrorists,” Mr Zelensky said, adding that it was still unclear how many remained trapped under the debris.
The attack came just hours after Donald Trump claimed it was a mistake to throw Russia out of what was formerly the G8.
“This was a big mistake,” said the US president, adding that he believed Russia would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had Mr Putin not been ejected from the high-profile group of nations. “Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else … he’s not a happy person about it,” Mr Trump said.
One person killed in Russian attack on Nikopol, officials say
One person has been killed and another wounded in a Russian drone attack on Nikopol, Ukraine’s state emergency services have said.
The drone struck a car parked outside a home in the Dnipropetrovsk city, sparking a fire, officials said.
UK sanctions on Russia are “hitting hard”, Sir Keir Starmer has insisted, as he announced 30 additional restrictions during the G7 summit.
The prime minister said: “These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine, choking off his ability to continue his barbaric war in Ukraine.
“We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws.
“The threat posed by Russia cannot be underestimated so I’m determined to take every step necessary to protect our national security and keep our country safe and secure.”
Fico says neutrality would benefit Slovakia
Nato member Slovakia would benefit from being a neutral country, prime minister Robert Fico has suggested.
“If you ask me, I tell you that in these nonsensical times of arms buildup, when arms companies are rubbing their hands … neutrality would benefit Slovakia very much,” Mr Fico told a press conference.
“But unfortunately this decision is not in my hands,” he said. Any decision by Slovakia to leave Nato would be a complex process that would include a decision by parliament. No Nato member has left the alliance since it was founded in 1949.
“Would neutrality suit Slovakia? I am putting this question very officially and clearly,” he said, adding: “What war are we talking about? Who are we going to fight with?”
Starmer ‘tightens screws on Putin’ as he announces raft of fresh sanctions against Russia
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to keep “tightening the screws” on Vladimir Putin as he announced a raft of fresh sanctions on dozens of new Russian finance, military and energy targets.
The prime minister is piling fresh pressure on the Russian war machine and seeking to win further backing from G7 leaders at a key summit in Canada.
After repeated refusals from Putin to engage in peace talks, and fresh Russian strikes on Kyiv on Tuesday, the PM said his sanctions will “choke off his ability to continue his barbaric war” in Ukraine.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Starmer tightens screws on Putin with raft of fresh sanctions against Russia
Pictured: Ukrainian volunteers seek to shoot down Russian drone attack over Kyiv
The European Pressphoto Agency has the following images showing Ukrainian volunteers working to shoot down drones fired by Russia at Kyiv overnight on Monday.
The volunteers with Ukraine’s United Territorial Community (DFTG) are using a Browning M2 machine gun and Kalashnikov, shot down at least one target last night, the DFTG is reported to have said.
Poland says GPS disruptions over Baltic Sea could be Russian sabotage
Poland has been observing GPS disruptions over the Baltic Sea, defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has said.
Warsaw’s sources suggest the disruptions were “related to the actions of the Russian Federation, including sabotage actions”, he alleged.
Polish media outlets have reported cases of GPS malfunction in the north of the country, including private drones flying away in unknown directions or losing connection.
And on Monday, a flight from Alicante in Spain to the northern city of Bydgoszcz was redirected to Poznan in the west of the country due to navigation problems, a Bydgoszcz airport spokesperson said.
“We are observing these disruptions. They are also observed over the Baltic Sea area by our allies in Nato countries – both in the Baltic states and the Nordic countries,” Mr Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.
“These actions are related, according to our sources, to the actions of the Russian Federation, also to sabotage actions.”
Kremlin says plans for next direct peace talks with Ukraine are still unclear
The Kremlin has said it is unclear when direct negotiations with Ukraine will next take place.
Asked whether Russia planned to assess Ukrainian proposals for a ceasefire and hold new talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed there was no understanding of when the next direct negotiations with Kyiv would occur.
Mr Peskov claimed that, in the coming days, Russia would assess the possible timeframe for continuing negotiations.
Watch: Trump claims it was a mistake to kick Russia out of G7
North Korea will send sappers and construction workers to Kursk, says Putin ally
North Korea will send 1,000 sappers and 5,000 military construction workers to Russia’s Kursk region to help rebuild it after Ukraine’s incursion, the head of Russia’s security council has said.
Sergei Shoigu’s remarks were reported by the Interfax news agency as the former Russian defence minister met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang for the second time in as many weeks.
The person killed by Russia’s overnight attack on Odesa was a 60-year-old woman, officials have said.
Her body was found under the rubble, with searches ongoing for a second woman, according to the head of Odesa’s regional administration, Oleh Kiper.
Mr Kiper said on Telegram that a pregnant woman and 17-year-old girl were among 17 other people injured in the attacks on Odesa, which destroyed residential buildings.
Charity boss found stabbed to death in Hackney house after gas explosion
The woman found stabbed to death in a home in north London following a gas explosion has been named as a charity worker who supported refugees.
Annabel Rook, 46, was found fatally injured at a house in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, northeast London, just before 5am on Tuesday.
She worked for a charity that she co-founded called MamaSuze CIC, which supported refugee and migrant women, some of whom had fled domestic violence, with art and drama activities.
A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and has been taken to hospital to be treated for slash wounds.
The Metropolitan Police said it is believed Ms Rook’s death is “a domestic-related incident”.
The force said it is not looking for anyone else in connection with the suspected murder.
Two children, aged nine and seven, have also been taken to hospital as a precaution. They are not believed to have been inside the house at the time of the gas explosion, the force added.
Ms Rook’s LinkedIn profile says she worked with “marginalised and displaced people” for over 20 years.
Her charity MamaSuze is a “joyful, inclusive space dedicated to enhancing the lives of women and children who are survivors of forced displacement and gender-based violence”.
Neighbours described the noise as the explosion tore through the house.
Teacher Alun Gordon said: “We just woke up to a massive bang … my whole house shook, it felt like a truck had hit the house.
“I then heard screams, someone shouting ‘oh my God’ several times, so I came outside and basically all the neighbours appeared in their pyjamas.
“My daughter babysat for her and we would chat to her as a neighbour. It’s a massive tragedy for the street.”
Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to the scene early on Tuesday, where road closures remain in place.
The house, a terrace on the corner of Dumont Road, was surrounded by police, firefighters and gas workers later in the morning.
The front bay window was completely blown out, with debris including plants, wooden shutters and glass scattered across the street.
Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads policing in the local area, said: “This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are with the victim’s family at this very difficult time.”
She added that the force will be conducting interviews with the suspect as soon as possible.
“We understand what happened will cause concern within the Hackney community and residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area, along with a crime scene, as we carry out the investigation,” DCS Clarke said.
“We are working closely alongside our partners at Hackney Council to help support those residents locally who have been impacted by this.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting CAD 926/17 June or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
Alcaraz to play mixed doubles with Raducanu in blockbuster US Open
Carlos Alcaraz will partner British No 1 Emma Raducanu in a blockbuster US Open mixed doubles entry list.
New for 2025, the mixed doubles in New York will be staged in qualifying week on the two biggest courts, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, over Tuesday 19 August and Wednesday 20 August.
It means that the mixed doubles champions will be decided before even the draw for the singles events are announced.
As well as five-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz and 2021 US Open champion Raducanu, a host of other top names are competing alongside one another for the $1m champion prize – an increase of $800,000 from 2024.
World No 1 men’s player Jannik Sinner plays alongside American star Emma Navarro, Iga Swiatek will partner Casper Ruud and Nick Kyrgios plays with Naomi Osaka.
Novak Djokovic will play with Serbian compatriot Olga Danilovic, while British No 1 Jack Draper will partner Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Tennis power couple Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa will also compete together.
The scoring system, until the final, will be sets played to four games with sudden death deuce and a tiebreak at 4-4, with a 10-point tiebreak instead of the third set.
The final will be the same, but with normal six-game sets instead.
Most controversially for tour doubles players, eight pairs have earned entry based on their combined singles ranking, with the other eight pairs have been decided by the US Open’s wildcard committee.
Lew Sherr, the USTA’s CEO and executive director, said: “In our initial discussions about reimagining and elevating the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, we wanted to find a way to showcase the world’s best men and women competing with and against one another.
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“We were confident that we would be able to get the top players in the game excited about this unique opportunity.
“Seeing the teams that have already put their names on the entry list makes us all incredibly excited. It shows that the players are behind what we are trying to do, and we know that the fans will love it.”
The US Open also, earlier this year, confirmed a Sunday start date, extending the tournament to 15 days in line with the Australian Open and French Open. Wimbledon, however, will not be following suit.
“The US Open has long strived to find innovative and new ways to make the game more accessible and entertaining for our fans,” said US Open Tournament Director Stacey Allaster.
“We believe that this reimagined US Open Mixed Doubles Championship will do exactly that, with the top men and women players in tennis competing side-by-side in a fast-paced, highly competitive format.
“Being able to move this event to a place on the schedule where it is able to take centre stage was very important, and with our broadcast partners fully bought-in, more fans than ever before, both in the U.S. and around the globe, will be able to enjoy this incredible competition.”
The mixed doubles pairings confirmed so far are:
– Emma Navarro and Jannik Sinner
– Zheng Qinwen and Jack Draper
– Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul
– Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti
– Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz
– Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev
– Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe
– Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov
– Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud
– Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas
– Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz
– Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev
– Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic
– Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton
– Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori
– Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios
What’s the secret to a truly stress-free holiday?
High-end cruising has entered a new era. Today’s luxury travellers aren’t looking for big flashy experiences. They want slow-paced, intimate travel and authentic cultural immersion. More than anything else, they’re looking for ease: that feeling of being genuinely cared for, safe in the knowledge that they’re experiencing the best of the best.
That means excellent quality food and drink, of course – it’s got to be restaurant standard and cater to all tastes – but also onboard enrichment experiences of the highest calibre. The great beauty of cruising has always been that not a second is wasted. Savvy travellers get to explore a rich and rewarding variety of exotic, off-the-beaten track locations, but instead of spending half their holiday stuck in motorway traffic, they’re honing their swing in the golf net, or sipping on a cocktail on the upper deck as they travel from destination to destination.
When they’re onshore they want genuinely immersive experiences that get them under the hood of a destination: think cellar tours of local vineyards or speedboat cruises to hidden beaches. Done right, a high-end all-inclusive cruise is the ideal form of slow travel, offering a perfect balance of adventure and indulgence, proper pampering and a thrilling sense of discovery.
The world’s most luxurious fleet
First among equals when it comes to the new era of luxury cruising is Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which offers more than 170 different itineraries visiting over 550 ports of call worldwide. Each of the six ships in their fleet is opulently appointed with beautifully designed communal areas and a huge array of amenities, but none of them has a capacity of more than 746 guests, ensuring space and freedom for all aboard.
The all-suite accommodation means that the private spaces are similarly roomy, each having a private balcony and marble bathroom. And service is always impeccable with a crew-to-guest ratio that’s nearly one-to-one, meaning that the team can always go that mile extra for all travellers.
Across the ships, the food is uniformly excellent. As well as Regent’s signature Compass Rose restaurant, with its daily changing menu of bistro classics like lobster bisque and New Zealand lamb chops, the different ships also feature a range of speciality dining venues. These include Prime 7, a New York-style steakhouse, Pacific Rim with its pan-Asian menu (be sure to try the miso black cod), and fine-dining destination, Chartreuse, where the chefs turn out sophisticated plates of upscale French cooking like Beef Tenderloin Rossini and Seared Foie Gras.
With a number of long cruises on their roster, Regent has made sure that each of its ships is akin to an ultra-luxury, boutique floating hotel with an incredible variety of things to do during the day and top-level entertainment at night. There are courts for paddle tennis and bocce, and the onboard spa offers a range of exclusive bespoke treatments. The ships host talks by experts in their field and cooking lessons are also available on some of the ships at the culinary arts kitchens where visiting chefs guide guests in how to make wow-factor dishes that relate to the ports of call. In the evening, the Constellation Theatre hosts lavishly staged productions from a team of Broadway choreographers and artists.
Destinations that match the onboard luxury
Of course, none of this onboard luxury would mean much if the destinations weren’t up to scratch, but Regent’s superbly curated itineraries are up there with the very best. Its week-long trips include culture-packed European tours like Glories of Iberia which sails from Barcelona to Lisbon, and thrilling frontier explorations such as the Great Alaskan Adventure from Whittier to Vancouver.
Longer trips include four-week Legendary Journeys from Athens to Montreal, and fully immersive explorations of the Arctic. Long or short, these itineraries are all underpinned by a commitment to taking guests right to the heart of a destination with the kind of bespoke onshore activities and expert-led insights that mean on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises voyage, adventure is guaranteed.
Visit Regent Seven Seas Cruises now to uncover the true meaning of luxury and start booking your ultimate stress-free getaway
Heat health alert for most of England as temperatures to soar to 32C
Heat health alerts have been issued for large parts of England later this week as temperatures are set to soar as high as 32C.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued seven yellow heat health alerts which come into force at 12:00pm on Wednesday and last until 6pm on Sunday.
The yellow alert covers the following areas:
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- East Midlands
- West Midlands
- East England
- South East
- South West
- London
The alert is the lowest, behind amber and red, on the UKHSA’s system, but it warned of the possible impacts on health and social services.
The UKHSA’s weather health alert system provides early warning to the health and social care sector when adverse temperatures are likely to impact the health and well-being of the population.
Temperatures are predicted to reach 27C on Tuesday and Wednesday, 29C on Thursday, 30C by Friday, then 32C on Saturday and peak at 33C on Sunday, the Met Office said.
An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.
All of the affected areas excluding Yorkshire and the Humber have been given a risk score of 10 out of 16, meaning “significant impacts are possible” due to high temperatures.
The UKHSA warned high temperatures could cause a rise in deaths, particularly among those over 65 or with health conditions.
Younger age groups may also be affected, it said.
It also warned there will likely be an increase in demand for health services, and indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people.
Yorkshire and the Humber has a score of 7 out of 16, so only minor impacts are likely.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “Our findings show that even moderate heat can result in serious health outcomes, especially for older adults, and it is, therefore, important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.”
Making a direct plea to the public, he added: “If you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.”
Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade has issued a warning over wildfires before the prolonged spell of hot weather and following one of the driest springs on record.
Charlie Pugsley, deputy commissioner for operational policy, prevention and protection, said: “Extended periods of hot and dry weather can greatly increase the risk of a grass fire, and particularly when that grass is tinder dry the spread of fire can be rapid. We have seen examples of this in London as well as more recently worldwide, such as in California and South Korea.”
Starmer tightens screws on Putin with fresh sanctions against Russia
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to keep “tightening the screws” on Vladimir Putin as he announced a raft of fresh sanctions on dozens of new Russian finance, military and energy targets.
The prime minister is piling fresh pressure on the Russian war machine and seeking to win further backing from G7 leaders at a key summit in Canada.
After repeated refusals from Putin to engage in peace talks, and fresh Russian strikes on Kyiv on Tuesday, the PM said his sanctions will “choke off his ability to continue his barbaric war” in Ukraine.
Two UK residents who have funnelled more than $120m of electronics to Russia through a network of companies were also among those targeted as the government vowed to “starve Putin’s war machine”.
“We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws,” Sir Keir added.
But the sanctions come after splits emerged at the G7 summit, with Donald Trump the only leader showing reluctance to hit Moscow with fresh measures. The US president said imposing sanctions is “not easy” and that he wanted to “see whether or not a deal is done” over the Ukraine war before targeting the Kremlin with further pressure.
Later Sir Keir told journalists that Ukraine was top of the agenda at the G7 on tuesday with President Trump having left early the night before.
He said: “Obviously today we’re going to focus on Ukraine. We’ve got President Zelenskyy coming in. We’re putting in extra sanctions today, including sanctions on the shadow fleet. Others will be doing, similar actions in coming days. And so that does ramp up the pressure.”
He insisted that the position on Ukraine “has not changed” wirth no lessening of the support of the allies still present at the G7.
He also claimed his coalition of the willing plan is still on the table.
“On the coalition of the willing, that is obviously intended to answer the question, how do you ensure that if a deal is reached, a deal is kept so it’s a lasting deal? Because the concern, has always been, that there have been deals, if you like, before, Putin has then subsequently breached them. So how do you stop that happening again? And the military planning is still going on, as you would expect, so that, when the time comes, we’re ready to act. ”
The UK’s sanctions are aimed at Russia’s finance, military and energy sectors, including Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers, which is illicitly transporting oil to skirt Western restrictions, with 20 additional ships targeted.
The UK is also cracking down on those enabling Putin’s illegal oil exports, sanctioning the energy firms Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ for their role in crewing and managing shadow fleet vessels. Shadow fleet vessels use of flags of convenience and complex ownership structures to hide the origins of their cargo in a bit to evade Western sanctions.
Officials stressed that Putin’s disdain for peace talks and refusal to make serious progress on a ceasefire deal had “redoubled” the UK’s resolve in seeking to disrupt Russia’s economy.
The sanctions also hit the military agency responsible for Russia’s underwater intelligence gathering operations, GUGI, amid mounting fears of Russian attacks on subsea infrastructure.
The package also hit two UK residents, Vladimir Pristoupa and Olech Tkacz, who the government accused of operating a “shadowy network of shell companies”.
The pair have allegedly funnelled more than $120m of electronics to Russia which are feared to have been used for military purposes.
“These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine,” Sir Keir said.
He added: “The threat posed by Russia cannot be underestimated, so I’m determined to take every step necessary to protect our national security and keep our country safe and secure.”
David Lammy vowed Britain will “systematically dismantle his dangerous shadow fleet, starve his war machine, and support Ukraine to defend itself”.
The foreign secretary added: “The UK and our allies will not sit idly by whilst Putin’s cowardly inaction continues to cost lives.”
Britain also said it will work with allies to further tighten the price cap on Russian oil, currently at $60 per barrel, which has been made almost redundant by a fall in global oil prices. The US has resisted pressure from the UK, EU and G7 partners to drop the cap to $45 per barrel.
But Downing Street on Tuesday said Britain would tighten the cap “while ensuring the stability of the energy market”.
“We are determined to hit Putin where it hurts by striking at his oil revenues – the single most important source of funding for his barbaric war,” the government said.
Asked whether Washington supported European efforts to impose further measures, Mr Trump told reporters ahead of a bilateral meeting with the UK Prime Minister, he said: “Well Europe is saying that, but they haven’t done it yet.
“Let’s see them do it first.”
Asked why he wanted to wait to impose sanctions, the president said: “Because I’m waiting to see whether or not a deal is done… and don’t forget, you know, sanctions cost us a lot of money.
“When I sanction a country that costs the US a lot of money, a tremendous amount of money.
“It’s not just, let’s sign a document. You’re talking about billions and billions of dollars. Sanctions are not that easy. It’s not just a one-way street.”