Dozens killed in Iran as millions take to streets to demand regime change
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini has blamed US president Donald Trump for millions taking to the street demanding regime change, and insists the Islamic Republic will “not back down”.
In his first address since the unrest on Friday, he called demonstrators “saboteurs” and “terrorist agents” working for the US and Israel, adding: “The Islamic Republic will not tolerate mercenaries working for foreign powers.”
At least 38 have been killed in violent clashes with police and 2,200 arrested, according to rights groups, with a nationwide blackout in place.
Buildings were set on fire as millions took part in demonstrations against worsening economic conditions in Tehran and Masshad on Thursday evening.
The country has been reeling from a 12-day conflict in June, initiated by Israel, which saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. Europe imposed fresh sanctions in September, sparking a widening economic crisis has seen the population struggling with an annual inflation rate of 40 per cent.
Trump warned that if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters” the US “will come to their rescue,” threats that acquired fresh resonance following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a long-standing ally of Tehran, by American troops.
Iran’s flailing economy amid sanctions
Iran’s theocratic government is facing intensified pressure as nationwide protests erupt, fuelled by the Islamic Republic’s struggling economy.
Economic hardship has deepened significantly since September, when the United Nations reimposed sanctions on the country due to its atomic programme.
This has plunged Iran’s rial currency into freefall, now exchanging at more than 1.4m to $1. Concurrently, Tehran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” – a coalition of countries and militant groups backed by the capital – has been significantly weakened since the onset of the Israel–Hamas conflict in 2023.
President of European Parliament hits out at EU’s Iran Mission
The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has hit out at the EU’s Iran Mission amid ongoing protests in the country.
On Thursday, the Iran Mission wrote that it rejected the “interventionist statements” made by the EU President.
It wrote: “Their hypocrisy and double-standard approach towards rights and principles is disgusting.”
Metsola responded on X/Twitter on Friday, writing: “Must be nice to be able to tweet from Europe and be able to use the Internet freely to publicly disagree with leaders, without being arrested, beaten or having the country’s telecommunications disabled.
“That’s the sort of thing people in Iran’s streets are asking for…”
Flights between Dubai and Iran cancelled
Several flights between Dubai and Iranian cities, Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad, have been cancelled amid political arrest across the country.
A flydubai spokesperson said that flights to Iran had been cancelled and that the airline “will continue to monitor the situation” and revise its flight schedule accordingly in a statement on Friday.
It did not give a reason for the disruption. Two flights between Doha, Qatar and Tehran scheduled for Friday had been cancelled. Turkish media reported Turkish Airlines cancelled 17 flights. Pegasus Airlines also cancelled flights to Iranian cities on Friday.
Tehran looks like ‘war zone’, say local media
Scenes in Iran resemble a “war zone” in the aftermath of widespread protests in Tehran, according to local media.
“This looks like a war zone – all the shops have been destroyed,” said a star journalist in front of the fires on Shariati Street in the Caspian Sea port of Rasht.
Images emerging from the country show burning buses, cars and motorbikes as well as fires at metro stations and banks.
Ayatollah Khameini gives first public address amid protests
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini has called President Donald Trump “arrogant”, saying he would be “overthrown” in his first public address since protests erupted across Iran.
He said protestors are “ruining their own streets on make the President of another country happy”.
Khameini insisted the Islamic Republic would not “back down”.
“The Islamic Republic will not tolerate mercenaries working for foreign powers,” he continued.
“To President Trump: focus on the problems in your own country.”
He added: “Everyone should know that the Islamic Republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people, and it will not back down in the face of saboteurs.”
How widespread are the protests?
More than 340 protests have taken place across all of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to a report by the US.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency on Thursday.
At least 38 people have been killed with more than 2,200 arrested, according to the agency, which relies on an activist network inside of Iran for its reporting.
Understanding the scale of the protests has been difficult. Iranian state media has provided little information about the demonstrations.
Online videos offer shaky glimpses of people in the streets or the sound of gunfire. Journalists in general in Iran also face limits on reporting such as requiring permission to travel around the country, as well as the threat of harassment or arrest by authorities.
But the protests do not appear to be stopping, even after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said “rioters must be put in their place.”
In pictures: Millions gather in Tehran to demand regime change
Footage and images from Iran, which is facing a blackout, shows disruption across the city of Tehran as demonstrators demand regime change.
Why Iran’s protests are escalating amid nuclear tensions with US
Iran’s theocratic government is facing intensified pressure as nationwide protests erupt, fuelled by the Islamic Republic’s struggling economy.
This unrest follows a tumultuous period for Tehran, which is still recovering from a 12-day conflict in June, initiated by Israel, that saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.
Economic hardship has deepened significantly since September, when the United Nations reimposed sanctions on the country due to its atomic programme. This has plunged Iran’s rial currency into freefall, now exchanging at more than 1.4 million to $1. Concurrently, Tehran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” – a coalition of countries and militant groups backed by the capital – has been significantly weakened since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023.
Read the full story below.
Why Iran’s protests are escalating amid nuclear tensions with US
Watch: Crowds take to streets across Iran after call to defy regime
Iran authorities cut internet as buildings set on fire during mass protests in Tehran
Buildings were set on fire in Tehran and Iran faced a complete internet blackout on Thursday evening as massive protests over the economy spread across the country.
People took to the streets in a growing list of cities across the country, in what was rapidly becoming one of the biggest challenges ever to Iran’s clerical leadership.
Huge crowds of protesters in Tehran shouted from their homes and rallied in the street after a call by the country’s exiled crown prince for mass demonstrations against the regime.
It was a new escalation in unrest that has spread nationwide across the Islamic Republic, and represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by appeals from Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
X could be banned in UK due to fears about sexualised AI images
Elon Musk’s X could be banned in Britain, the prime minister has suggested, amid concerns its AI tool has been used to generate sexualised images of women and children.
Sir Keir Starmer indicated that the social media platform could be blocked in the UK after “unlawful” and “disgusting” images were generated using its AI “Grok” tool.
The prime minister said Ofcom, which has the power to effectively ban X in the UK, has the government’s “full support to take action” on the matter.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: “It’s unlawful. We’re not going to tolerate it. I’ve asked for all options to be on the table. It’s disgusting. X need to get their act together and get this material down.
“We will take action on this because it’s simply not tolerable.”
The platform has faced global backlash in recent days after its AI tool was repeatedly used to generate undressed images of people without consent.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) also confirmed the tool had been used to create “criminal imagery of children aged between 11 and 13”.
Ofcom said on Monday that it had made “urgent contact” with the technology company after the serious concerns were raised.
The powers within the Online Safety Act outline that in extreme cases and with the agreement of the courts, Ofcom can require payment providers, advertisers and internet service providers to stop working with a site – effectively banning it in the UK.
The government has been under pressure to quit the social media platform altogether, with former transport secretary Louise Haigh telling ministers it is “unconscionable to use the site for another minute”.
On Friday, minister Anna Turley confirmed “conversations are taking place” about coming off X.
Asked if the Labour Party will come off X, the chair of the party said: “Well, as I said, those conversations are taking place because, you know, it’s really important that we make sure that we’re in a safe space. But the priority is, firstly, X needs to get its act together.
“The prime minister has been very clear that this is absolutely abhorrent. Ofcom does have powers to tackle this, and we want to make sure they use the powers that we’ve given them. But of course, we’ll continue to evaluate that and go forward absolutely.”
A post this month on the Grok X account said that there have been “isolated cases where users prompted for and received AI images depicting minors in minimal clothing”, and added: “AI has safeguards, but improvements are ongoing to block such requests entirely.”
The Grok account is now, however, replying to requests for images with a message indicating that it is only available to some users.
“Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers,” the message reads, and it gives users a link to sign up for the premium version of X.
Trump: I don’t need international law – only one thing limits my power
Donald Trump has insisted he doesn’t need to abide by international law and the only constraint keeping his power in check is his own morality.
In a wide-ranging defence of a week of global provocation, the U.S. president laid out the motivation behind his actions.
In the last six days alone, he has launched strikes on Venezuela and captured its president Nicolas Maduro, repeatedly voiced his intention to take over Greenland and claimed that Colombia could be next on his list.
“I don’t need international law,” Trump told The New York Times in an interview in the Oval Office. “I’m not looking to hurt people.”
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has successfully tested many of the constitutional and legal limits to his authority – firing the heads of independent agencies, attempting to rewrite the 14th Amendment and punishing federal judges who insist on giving immigrants due process.
But the president’s more recent decision to conduct aggressive military operations without congressional consent and threaten to take over allies’ territory has worried international leaders.
When asked if there were limits to his power, Trump replied: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”
The president added that his administration did need to follow international law, but contended that following it “depends what your definition of international law is.”
The president also explained how he uses his reputation for unpredictability and his readiness to deploy military action, such as the bombing of Iran, as tools to get other nations to do what he wants.
His comments indicate that he believes his use of the U.S. military, economy and political authority to assert dominance over foreign countries could take precedence over following international law or treaties to maintain civility with allies and adversaries.
This past week, his administration ramped up rhetoric about the U.S. using military forces to take over Greenland, a Danish territory.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security,” Trump told reporters Sunday.
Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, echoed the president’s remarks later on CNN, claiming the U.S. would use its military “unapologetically” and that “nobody is going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.”
Other administration officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, downplayed the reality of a military invasion.
The administration’s unabashed bid to take over the island has raised global concerns, especially after Venezuela.
When asked whether the U.S. allegiance to NATO outweighed the desire to take over Greenland, the president responded, “It may be a choice.”
Explaining why he felt the need to own the island, he told NYT: “Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success. I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do with, you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document.”
Trump insisted that his actions in Venezuela would not embolden Chinese president Xi Jinping or Russian leader Vladimir Putin to take further action in their own regions.
He said the situation in Venezuela was different to China: “You didn’t have the jails of Taiwan opened up and the people pouring into China.”
When asked if he thought Xi might now make a move on Taiwan, he replied: “He may do it after we have a different president, but I don’t think he’s going to do it with me as president.”
Industry season four is unflinching, merciless five-star television
I am routinely asked, by friends and family, for television recommendations. It’s my job, after all. And there are plenty of shows I love recommending – Mad Men, Gilmore Girls, M*A*S*H – and feel confident won’t reflect badly on either party. And then there’s Square Mile drama Industry, a show that is so good that it deserves to be recommended but so icky that watching it makes me feel like an unbathed incel. The fact that it returns on BBC One this week, for its fourth season, with more hype than ever, is a sign that its vicious satire is hitting the mark.
Tender – a payments processor for seedy porn and gambling sites – is trying to go legit. Its founders, Whitney (Max Minghella) and Jonah (Kal Penn), are applying for a banking licence, a task that requires the involvement of both financial institutions and government officials. But is there something fishy about this clean-up act for the self-anointed “PayPal of bukkake”? The process of going straight brings Tender into the orbit of both Harper (Myha’la), burning through another volatile self-started fund, and Yasmin (Marisa Abela), whose primary concern seems to be massaging the ego of her husband, Henry (Kit Harington), who has slipped into substance abuse since the failure of his start-up, Lumi. “I failed upwards and then failed totally,” he laments. “There are no second acts.” But Tender’s search for legitimacy needs some roots in British society, offering Henry and Yasmin a chance to leverage their aristocratic ties.
When Industry first appeared in November 2020 – at the height of Covid-era uncertainty – it focused on the psychological Battle Royale among City graduates. Those interns are now masters of the universe, controlling hedge funds, operating reckless shorts, and stabbing one another in the back (and front). If they learnt anything from the brutalising experience of being subordinate, it was only how to execute the same brutality on their own subordinates. Trauma is, after all, cyclical, and the cycles in Industry come around with the speed and clamour of fairground teacups. Here, in its fourth season, the show feels like it has matured and the expectation of humanity is restricted. That makes the punctures of pathos more powerful than ever.
The cast deserve much of the credit for turning Industry into one of the best shows on TV. Myha’la has evolved Harper from a prickly outsider into an unpredictable shark. She has a face that can slip between innocent girlishness and dead-eyed cruelty at the twitch of a muscle. Bringing in Kit Harington, too, has proven a masterstroke. He might have the abs of a Hollywood leading man, but he plays Henry as believably pathetic, a coddled egg becoming increasingly scrambled. Harington was the first “big name” to join the regular cast, but this series adds several more: Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka as a slippery ingenue, Stranger Things’s Charlie Heaton as a muckraking financial hack, as well as Minghella and Penn as sparring founders. The expansion of the Industry universe might’ve risked diluting its impact, but, instead, it relieves some of the show’s oppressive claustrophobia. The myopic power-struggle of Harper and Yasmin is still at the drama’s heart (“do you know why I do this?” Harper asks her business partner Eric (Ken Leung), “Because I enjoy it, and I’m f***ing good at it”) but there is now occasional relief from the internecine tension.
The show’s writers, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, have also grown in both aspiration and confidence. They have a good ear for smutty dialogue (“jerking off is recession proof”) and social commentary (“there should be a tariff on podcast equipment”), but, crucially, they remain relentlessly committed to the show’s manifesto of unlikability. Not only is every character battling their inherent selfishness, but the narrative is unflinching. Rishi (Sagar Radia), who was put through the wringer in the third season, is shown no mercy here. It gives the show the power to shock. Even though the financial machinations remain (largely) impenetrable, they’re also less consequential than ever. Industry is not about deals but alliances, not about contracts but truces; it is a show about the fragility of any relationship in the face of greed and ambition.
In its fourth season, Industry feels like a show with a clear identity. Human nature in all its beautiful ugliness. But Down and Kay keep expanding the canvas, bringing new players in while exiting others. It makes Industry feel kinetic, electric, even while it’s giving you no one to root for and nothing to believe in. Perhaps that’s its ultimate statement on capitalism: inexorable momentum, for no good reason.
Roy Keane accuses Sir Alex Ferguson of ‘hanging around like a bad smell’ at Man United
Ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane has once again criticised the club’s decision-making process, claiming that former manager Sir Alex Ferguson is “hanging around like a bad smell”.
Speaking on Sky Sports after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool, Keane was critical of United’s hierarchy and questioned the process behind hiring new managers after the recent sacking of Ruben Amorim.
“What happens in these job interviews? I’m intrigued. Why do they keep giving certain people a job?” said Keane.
“What happens in the interview that they sit there and go, and 12, 14 months later, ‘he’s not the guy for us’. Do you not suss that out when you speak to them?
“You see who’s making the decisions at Manchester United… you still have [Alex] Ferguson and David Gill [former chief executive] hanging around like a bad smell,” he added.
Current United interim boss Darren Fletcher admitted to calling Ferguson for his blessing before taking charge for the match against Burnley, which ended in a 2-2 draw. And Ferguson appeared at Carrington this week to speak with executives Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox.
Keane was also critical of that performance, stating that “the standard of the game was a joke”.
“Everyone after the game was like, ‘It wasn’t bad, we did well’ – nonsense! Absolute rubbish. We’re going around in circles. Any ex-United player has got a chance.”
The latter comments reference United’s most recent search for an interim manager, with former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick in the running to take over until the end of the season.
Keane seemed to take issue with these candidates, again questioning “who is making the decisions” within the club’s hierarchy.
“Who’s making the decisions? [Sir Jim] Ratcliffe, [Jason] Wilcox? Who’s coming into this interview process, you’re speaking to a manager, you get a feel for somebody and go ‘he’s the guy for us?’” said the 54-year-old.
“Almost forget the CV. You need something on our CV, of course, that you’ve won a trophy or managed a long time. But you’ve got to look somebody in the eye and go ‘are you the man to get us places?’.
“What happens when somebody walks in your dressing room, the top players sit and go, ‘what have you got for us?’ That’s what the top lads do. And if you haven’t got the answers, the players are going to eat you alive,” he added.
United are yet to make an announcement on the next manager, though it is believed that the club want to appoint another interim before making a decision on their next manager in the summer.
Your dream cruise formula: From Caribbean islands to European cities
If your ideal holiday is one that blends fuss-free adventure with great culinary choices and sumptuous relaxation, then book yourself onto a cruise immediately. From experiencing rich cultures, visiting breathtaking beauty spots, and dining on delicious delicacies – cruising has become one of the most luxurious ways to travel.
This dream-holiday formula is something that Virgin Voyages has perfected with its multi-award-winning, adult-only cruises, which sail across Europe, North America and the Caribbean. From entertaining onboard experiences and modern facilities to exciting escapades on land, these are the types of trips that are worth writing home about, and why Virgin Voyages has been named Travel + Leisure ® World’s Best #1 Mega Ship for an impressive three years in a row.
Here’s what would-be Sailors can expect from a Virgin Voyages cruise…
Meet the leading ladies
Whichever of the 150-plus destinations you choose to sail to, one thing remains guaranteed, you’ll get an unforgettable journey, and leave with happy stories to share with loved ones back home. Why not make those memories on Virgin Voyages’ impressive Lady Ships, with Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady each offering a distinct personality which is encapsulated in everything from decor to destinations. Expect enough amenities and activities to entertain a small city: from tequila tasting to spa days and over 20 premium eateries serving menus curated by Michelin starred chefs. There’s a whole holiday’s worth of experiences before you’ve even docked at your first port.
Everyone sleeps easy
Be gone any thoughts of pokey, old-fashioned interiors and get ready to embrace charming cabins with a super-yacht aesthetic. No matter which of the Virgin Voyages sleeping quarters you choose from, you’ll be met with super comfortable beds, a roomy rainshower, mood lighting, free Wi-Fi and a large flat-screen HDTV. Want to really push the boat out? Opt for luxury suites that promise five-star comfort and opulence, with champagne tables, sun loungers, handwoven terrace hammocks and in-room bars. Virgin Voyages ‘RockStar’ Sailors can also enjoy everything from VIP entrances to private access to rooftop terraces.
Let them entertain you
Whether your spirit is one of a dancing queen or a sophisticated theatre-goer, Virgin Voyages has nightlife and entertainment options to suit every taste – developed with the help of the world’s most-talked-about directors, choreographers, and artists. Choose from 80s parties, festival acts or classic stories like Romeo and Juliet – reinvented with a circus twist. Each ship offers something different, so if you’re a Virgin Voyages regular, you’ll never see the same thing twice. Save your vocal chords for the private karaoke rooms, while the casinos and gaming arcades could elevate an already winning mood even further.
Wonderful wellness
Don’t want to leave your full-on fitness regime behind when you go on holiday? Or are you just curious to try a new healthy group class? Whatever your wellness wishes, there’s plenty to keep you busy onboard with workouts for every level. There’s yoga, HIIT, weight training, boxing, meditation and more, plus running or walking the signature 255-metre-ish Virgin red running track, which curves around the top of the ship in a halo shape. If relaxation is your main goal, head to the spa for everything from steam room and sauna to hot stone massage and seaweed wrap. The beauty salon offers a range of professional treatments, from manicures, pedicures and nail art to IV therapy, Botox and fillers.
Make it a ‘Shore Thing’
While you’re free to enjoy port cities at your own leisure, Virgin Voyages also curates an array of land excursions or ‘Shore Things’ for those who want to immerse themselves in local culture. Why not enjoy a barefoot fish cookout on the Mexican island of Cozumel, a late night party on the Greek Island of Mykonos or visit the historic halls of Harvard University when sailing through Boston, Massachusetts. If you’re cruising the Caribbean, choose from a beach day in St Vincent and The Grenadines; explore the private island of Mustique or visit the colourful buildings of the capital Kingstown. Do as much or as little as you like – you’re always in charge!
Discover dreamy destinations
Proving that there really is a cruise for everyone, Virgin Voyages’ child-free cruises visit almost endless destinations that span Europe, North America and the Caribbean. Choose a five-night cruise from New York to Bermuda, taking in the paradise pink-sand beaches, maritime history and cafe culture of the island, or maybe a seven-night voyage starting in Los Angeles and sailing to Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan in Mexico. For a trip closer to home, soak in the Mediterranean sunshine while visiting Europe’s most famous cities and islands starting in the homeports of Greece and Spain. Tick off an array of bucket list destinations with the Idyllic Ibiza cruise aboard the Valiant Lady; set sail from Rome to Barcelona with stop offs at the superluxe Amalfi Coast, Cannes and Ibiza – now, that’s what you call an A-list adventure.
With so many incredible destinations to visit and on-board luxury to explore, a cruise with Virgin Voyages is a holiday you’ll never stop talking about.
Discover Virgin Voyages luxury range of cruises and plan your next adventure today
Three missing as ‘catastrophic’ bushfires cut power to 90,000 homes in 46C heat
Three people, including a child, are missing after bushfires tore through parts of Victoria under “catastrophic” conditions, destroying homes and forcing emergency warnings across south-eastern Australia.
Around 40 fires were burning across Victoria, driven by a severe heatwave and damaging winds, as temperatures reached 46C.
Several properties have been destroyed, and police said a man, woman and child remain unaccounted for after a house burned down in Longwood East. Over 90,000 homes were without power.
Fire officials warned the situation could worsen, with dozens of towns under threat. Victoria and South Australia were placed on high alert, with total fire bans declared and large areas given “catastrophic” or “extreme” fire danger ratings – the most severe warning level.
Describing the damage from Longwood fire, Country Fire Authority captain George Noye told ABC Radio:“The town’s been impacted severely. The main street looks like a bomb’s gone off.”
Authorities urged residents in fire-prone areas to leave immediately, warning that staying could cost lives.
Photo: The Walwa fire, seen from the frontline
Firefighters continue to battle a large bushfire near Walwa, where a blaze burning in Mount Lawson State Park has expanded rapidly over recent days.
Nearly 300 firefighters are working to contain the fire, which began on Monday and grew significantly on Thursday amid extreme heat and deteriorating conditions.
Authorities say the fire has now burnt through more than 17,000 hectares, with crews focused on containment lines as conditions remain volatile.
Photos released on Friday by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action show crews working close to the fire edge as smoke and flames continue to dominate the landscape.
Immediate financial relief announced for bushfire-affected residents
The Victorian government has announced immediate financial assistance for people affected by the bushfires, with payments now available across four local government areas.
“All adults will be eligible for $680 and children for $340, up to a maximum of $2,380 per eligible family,” the premier said.
She described the payments as “immediate assistance”, adding that support is also available for meals, as well as financial and personal counselling.
Ms Allan said the relief could be extended if conditions worsen.
“She said the assistance would be extended to other local government areas should we see further very difficult conditions that result in damage and loss.”
She also urged residents to remain alert and follow official advice.
“The message today needs to continue to be to all Victorians to please listen to local radio, stay connected to the VicEmergency app and take the advice,” she said.
No update on three people still missing, premier says
Victoria’s premier Jacinta Allan said there has been no update on the three people still missing, acknowledging the distress this is causing in affected communities.
“There’s no further information at this stage from Victoria Police and I absolutely understand the people being very keen to know what the situation is for those three people who at this stage remain unaccounted for,” Ms Allan told ABC Radio.
She said the uncertainty was weighing heavily on families and communities already dealing with fires.
“It’s just such a difficult day and to have people unaccounted for makes it even tougher,” she said.
Ms Allan urged anyone with information to come forward and contact Victoria Police.
Photos: Bushfires leave behind charred homes
PM urges Australians to ‘prepare for the worst’ amid bushfire risk
Prime minister Anthony Albanese spoke with officials in Canberra this morning, urging residents to “prepare for the worst” amid the heatwave.
“These are difficult times and we are confronting some extreme weather conditions in different parts of Australia,” he said.
“I’d say this is an opportunity for me to emphasise that people need to listen to the advice as it comes through. If you’re asked to leave your property, please do so. If you have advice obviously always never, ever risk driving through flood waters.”
“We hope for the best but we prepare for the worst.”
Extreme heat and bushfires escalate across Victoria: What we know so far
Here is a snapshot of what has unfolded across Victoria today as extreme heat and dangerous fire conditions intensified:
- Multiple bushfires were burning across Victoria, with conditions worsening through the afternoon as extreme heat dried vegetation and a forecast wind change raised the risk of rapid, unpredictable fire spread.
- Temperatures climbed into the mid to high 40s, with 46.3C recorded at Hopetoun airport, 44.1C at Avalon, and 43.4C at Melbourne airport, sharply increasing fire danger across already affected areas.
- Residents in several towns were told to leave immediately, including Kinglake, Kinglake Central, Kinglake West, Marysville, Toolangi, Buxton and Flowerdale, as warnings were escalated ahead of an expected wind change later this evening.
- Power outages increased to more than 90,000 homes and businesses, as damaging winds, falling trees and fire impacts disrupted electricity networks across large parts of the state.
- Fire authorities warned that fires already burning, or newly ignited, could be extremely difficult to control, with catastrophic fire danger declared in several regions.
- Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, said Friday was “one of the most dangerous fire days that this state has experienced in years”, as crews worked to contain multiple blazes under extreme conditions.
- A wind change expected around 8pm was flagged as a critical risk period, with authorities warning conditions could quickly become very dangerous and unpredictable.
Power outages increase to over 90,000 across Victoria
The number of homes and businesses without power across Victoria has risen to more than 90,000 as damaging winds, extreme heat and active bushfires continue to disrupt the electricity network.
AusNet said at least 42,000 properties on its grid remain without power, while Powercor reported around 46,000 customers offline across southern Victoria and parts of Melbourne.
Power companies say restoration efforts are being slowed by strong winds, falling trees, fire activity and safety systems triggered during extreme weather, with conditions varying across the state.
Why today’s heat makes fires harder to control
Fire experts say today’s extreme heat is drying vegetation rapidly, increasing the risk that fires already burning spread quickly and that new ignitions take hold.
Rachael Nolan, research fellow at Western Sydney University and director of the NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research Centre, said current heatwave conditions are making fires more likely by drying out fine fuels.
“During current conditions, heatwaves can rapidly dry fine fuels such as leaves and twigs,” she said, adding that fuel loads have rebounded in many areas after several wet years, increasing the risk when extreme heat sets in.
Fire behaviour scientist Philip Zylstra, adjunct associate professor at Curtin University and the Australian National University, said the heat means areas that might normally slow a fire can now burn.
“The heatwave means that many places that might have been too moist to burn can now burn,” he said. “This makes it more likely that a fire will start, but it also breaks down the natural defences that forests have against fire, because natural firebreaks may now burn, and fires can keep spreading. It’s like opening all the gates.”
With extreme heat coinciding with strong winds and a forecast wind change, experts say the margin for containing fires today is particularly narrow.
Video: Aerial visuals show extent of destruction from bushfires in Australia’s Victoria
‘One of the most dangerous fire days in years’, Victoria premier warns as heat peaks
Victoria’s premier Jacinta Allan has warned the state is facing one of its most dangerous fire days in years, as firefighters battle multiple blazes amid extreme heat.
“Today represents one of the most dangerous fire days that this state has experienced in years,” Ms Allan said, as temperatures across parts of Victoria climb towards 46C.
Fire crews are responding to a number of blazes burning across rural areas of the state, while authorities warn that the heat is sharply increasing the risk of fires spreading or becoming difficult to control.
Parts of Victoria are facing catastrophic fire danger, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning that fires that develop or are already burning could be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fight under today’s conditions.
The warning comes as very high temperatures continue through the afternoon, drying vegetation further ahead of a forecast wind change later in the day, a period that fire authorities say is often among the most dangerous.
More than 700,000 disability benefits claimants moved to devolved body
More than 700,000 people receive disability or carer benefits from Scotland’s devolved social security agency, it has been revealed.
Social Security Scotland provides the vast majority of the payments north of the border, with just 28 complex cases yet to be moved from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) attendance allowance scheme to the Scottish equivalent, which is expected in the coming weeks.
The process was done without forcing those in receipt of benefits to re-apply for the Scottish equivalent payments.
The agency has said it has hit its target of full case transfer by the end of the year.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Moving more than 700,000 benefits safely and securely from the DWP to Social Security Scotland was a huge undertaking that was essential to ensure carers and disabled people who need financial support are treated with the dignity, fairness and respect they deserve.
“We have also met our commitment to complete case transfer on time and on budget by the end of 2025.
“When developing our case transfer process, people told us about the stress and anxiety caused by DWP transitions where they had to apply for benefits again with no guarantee they would continue to be eligible.
“We’ve taken a different approach, transferring people’s benefit awards without requiring an application and ensuring no break in entitlement to protect people’s critical payments.
“We set out to deliver a fairer social security system starting from a position of trust, and the majority of clients have told us they were treated with kindness by staff during the process.”