Strong winds of up to 80mph to hit UK over the weekend

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind across parts of the UK over the weekend.

The forecaster said people living in the South West, North West, Wales, the South East and London can expect “strong and gusty winds” of between 70 and 80mph in some areas.

The weather warning has been issued from 8pm on Sunday to 6pm on Monday.

This is a breaking story, more to follow…

Satellite images show impact of Israeli airstrike on Hamas in Qatar

New satellite images show the impact on the ground of Israel’s airstrike targeting Hamas negotiators in Doha, Qatar this week.

Israel on Tuesday carried out an airstrike against Hamas’s political leaders in Doha, which Qatar condemned as a “cowardly attack” and “criminal assault”.

Hamas said the strike failed to kill any of the senior negotiators targeted, but that five “low-ranking” members died. Qatar said one member of its security forces was killed and others injured.

The airstrike drew mass condemnation from leaders both in the Gulf and around the world, with many expressing concern that Israel had violated the sovereignty of a nation which has been a key broker in talks between Hamas and Israel since the 7 October attack and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza invasion two years ago.

The satellite images released by Planet Labs show the Israeli air force hit a walled compound where Hamas negotiators were reportedly meeting to consider a ceasefire proposed by Washington.

The post-attack satellite image revealed that the damage was limited to a cluster of five buildings, with little impact visible on the surrounding structures. The building in the lower right corner of the cluster sustained the most damage, along with the building to the left of it. The image also shows a large number of vehicles responding to the incident in what was earlier a quiet corner of the capital.

Other parts of the compound, including a small structure near the pool, were also hit. Buildings adjacent to the compound seem to have remained largely untouched.

The military operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, which fired 10 munitions against a single target, according to the Israeli media.

Hamas said none of those killed were part of its negotiating team. It said the dead included Hammam, the son of their exiled leader and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, the director of al-Hayya’s office, and three bodyguards.

Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani described Tuesday’s attack as “state terrorism” that threatened the security and stability of the region, adding that Doha had the “right to respond”.

“We believe that today we have reached a pivotal moment. There must be a response from the entire region to such barbaric actions,” he said on Wednesday.

US president Donald Trump said he was “very unhappy” about Israel’s actions but stopped short of outright condemning Israel for what was described as a “unilateral decision”.

Mr Trump called the strike on Hamas’s political wing “unfortunate” and said he had directed US envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar, but by then it was too late.

Jehnny Beth: ‘It took me years to understand my sexuality’

Rock musician Jehnny Beth has recalled how she was bullied by her schoolmates over her sexuality while she was still struggling to understand it herself.

“I’ve always been a bisexual, so I’ve always been attracted to men and women, completely equally,” the French musician born Camille Berthomier said. “To me there’s no difference, that’s the way I am – I was born that way.”

The former Savages frontwoman turned solo artist continued: “But it took me years to understand it or even put a name on it, and when I was a kid my attraction to different people meant that I was rejected [because] obviously people felt it.”

Beth, 40, said she was bullied by “gangs of girls” at school while also facing judgement or suspicion from adults, including the mother of her “first love”, a girl who lived close by, who eventually forbade her from visiting.

“I was just a kid, but I was looking for a deeper connection [with the friend], and all that rejection left me with the feeling of being dirty,” Beth said. “And [my] Catholic grandmother didn’t help!”

In her guest appearance on the Good Vibrations podcast, out this Friday, Beth spoke about the making of her latest album, You Heartbreaker, You – the follow-up to her debut solo album, To Love is To Live – which was released on 29 August to glowing reviews from critics.

Beth co-produced the album with her longterm partner, Johnny Hostile (Nicolas Congé) – together they agreed to delete any music that made them feel “bored”.

“I think it helps the music to be interesting,” she suggested. “I don’t think we have time, nowadays, and [our] attention spans, even mine, are so reduced. I feel like I need something to grab me straight away, and it’s a good exercise as an artist, you know?”

When it comes to love and relationships, she later said, “I don’t think we’re that evolved.” She recalled how one song on the new record was inspired by some graffiti she and Hostile saw on a car, which said: “YOU CHEATING BASTARD, I’M PREGNANT WITH YOUR CHILD.”

“We’re still at a prehistoric phase… hate is very close to love, you know?” Beth said.

Elsewhere during the conversation, Beth opened up about her latest acting ventures, including a major role in Netflix’s hit political thriller series, Hostage, opposite Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy. She also revealed the main difference she found working on an English set over a French one.

The full episode of Roisin O’Connor’s Good Vibrations is out this Friday (12 September) wherever you get your podcasts.

You Heartbreaker, You, the new album by Jehnny Beth, is out now on Fiction Records. She plays Electrowerkz in London on 30 October, and Camden Assembly on 31 October.

Gary Lineker addresses ‘cancellation’ as he wins top NTA prize

Former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has won the TV Presenter prize at the National Television Awards, breaking the 23-year streak of Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.

Lineker, 64, was shortlisted for the award just months after his early exit from the BBC show in May, which followed a row regarding a post he shared on social media about Zionism that included an image of a rat – historically an antisemitic insult.

Collecting the award, he said: “I think it demonstrates that perhaps it’s OK, sometimes, for us to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice.”

His remark was met with loud cheers and applause from the live audience at the ceremony.

Lineker also said that Ant and Dec are “brilliant”, and added that “it’s an honour to follow in their footsteps” when he was questioned at the winners’ press conference.

He added: “I’m doing great. I’m enjoying having weekends off for the first time in my adult life, which has been great fun.

“I’m still watching loads of football, still doing the same sort of things, and I’ve got a new show coming up for ITV, which I start filming next week – The Box, which goes out, I think, probably next year.”

Asked if the award proves he has not been cancelled, he said: “I don’t think anyone seriously thought that I was cancelled at any point. It was obviously just a mistake and an oversight. And I think everyone saw it for that. So I was never in the slightest bit concerned for that.”

Lineker had headed up Match of the Day since 1999, when he took over from Des Lynam.

The former footballer also beat competition from The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman, This Morning’s Alison Hammond, and TV presenter and reality TV star Stacey Solomon.

Elsewhere, comedian Michael McIntyre said he would like to win three NTAs following an early victory at the ceremony on Wednesday.

Collecting the Bruce Forsyth entertainment gong for Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, he said: “I’ve sat in the front row many, many times with my feet on the bottom stair and never won this prize. This is an excellent turn of events.”

At the winners’ press conference, he added: “I would like to win three National Television Awards, actually, tonight. I doubt that’s going to happen, but we are nominated for another two awards, so that’s good. That would be a start, but I doubt that’s going to happen.”

McIntyre was also nominated in the quiz game show category for Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, but lost out to The 1% Club, hosted by Lee Mack.

The comedian was also nominated for Michael McIntyre’s 25th Year Stand-Up Special, but it lost out to sitcom Gavin and Stacey: The Finale, which brought the popular BBC series to an end on Christmas Day.

Ruth Jones, who co-wrote and co-starred in Gavin and Stacey alongside James Corden, told the audience: “All right, calm down. I’m going to the bar now for a pint of wine.”

At the winners’ press conference, she paid tribute to her co-star and co-creator Corden, who was unable to attend the event.

Jeremy Clarkson said he was “genuinely thrilled” as Clarkson’s Farm won best factual entertainment show at the ceremony. Speaking in the winners’ room, he said: “I’d like to think that this is for farming, because it demonstrates that people who watch the show go, ‘Bloody hell, farming’s difficult’, and have voted for this show.”

Elsewhere, Call the Midwife was named best returning drama, and EastEnders actor Steve McFadden won the award for serial drama performance.

Another award went to I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! for best reality competition, with This Morning picking up best daytime show.

The London ceremony, held at the O2 and hosted by comedian Joel Dommett, saw appearances from a number of stars including The Inheritance host Elizabeth Hurley and US country star Billy Ray Cyrus, to whom she has been romantically linked.

Phillipson and Powell set to face off in Labour deputy leader contest

Sir Keir Starmer’s hopes of a coronation for his chosen successor to replace Angela Rayner as deputy leader seem to have been dashed.

His candidate for the crucial position, education secretary Bridget Phillipson, became the first to clear a major hurdle to secure the 80 MP nominations needed to get on the ballot paper.

With MPs hearing the pitches of the five remaining hopefuls, Ms Phillipson was far ahead with 116 nominations, well beyond the 80 required.

However, her chief rival, sacked former minister Lucy Powell, was on 77. If Ms Powell is able to get three more MPs on board before nominations close at 5pm on Thursday, it will put her in a run-off with Ms Phillipson in a vote by members.

Labour members are thought to be unhappy with Sir Keir over his policy on Gaza, as well as attempts to cut welfare, and there is a danger that the contest could become a referendum within the party on his premiership.

It was also a bad day for former frontbencher Dame Emily Thornberry, who was trailing in last with 13 nominations behind Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker, on 14, and the left’s main candidate Bell Ribeiro-Addy, on 15.

Sir Keir now faces a potentially damaging contest and weeks of manoeuvring in the race to replace Ms Rayner, as Labour MPs unhappy with their party’s current direction back a former cabinet minister sacked by the prime minister less than a week ago.

Ms Powell, who received her marching orders as Commons leader on Friday, will prove tough opposition for the education secretary. In a two-horse race she looks set to become a lightning rod for discontent in the Starmer government. Sources have said she fell out of favour ahead of the reshuffle for “standing up to [chief of staff] Morgan McSweeney and not taking his sh**”.

The contest has already sparked a furious row amid claims that the party’s top brass has set up its rules in an effort to “squeeze out the left”.

And on Wednesday another candidate, backbencher MP Ms Barker, who is standing on the left of the party, hit out at the decision to hold the race’s main hustings event online.

The party has told MPs they do not have to be in parliament on Thursday, meaning many will be travelling back to their constituencies when the hustings takes place.

“I really don’t think that that is the best democratic way for us to run this contest,” said Ms Barker.

With MPs given just a few days to accrue a large number of nominations, she also criticised the length of the contest, describing it as a “very, very narrow window of opportunity”.

Another MP from the left of the party, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, has called for Labour to “go back to the guiding values of our party and movement”.

Ms Phillipson also received a boost when another minister, Alison McGovern, who had been backed by the likes of the popular Labour MP Jess Phillips, pulled out and announced she was backing Ms Phillipson.

Members of the cabinet and other ministers were also being urged to nominate Ms Phillipson.

Ms McGovern said it was “clear” she would not get enough nominations to pass through to the next stage of the contest, and that her government colleague was “best placed to unite our party and take the fight to our opponents”.

The education secretary emerged as the early frontrunner in the race on Tuesday, when, just hours after she threw her hat into the ring, a poll by Survation for the Labour-focused website LabourList showed that she was in pole position among Labour members.

From early on Wednesday, allies of Ms Phillipson believed she would comfortably secure the 80 nominations by the end of the day.

Contenders have until 5pm on Thursday to secure the support of 80 MPs in order to reach the next round of the contest.

As her campaign faltered, Dame Emily, chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, tried to convince colleagues that the idea that the next deputy leader should be a northern woman – to balance out Sir Keir – was misguided.

The London MP pointed to previous deputy leaders, saying: “Harman. Prescott. Rayner. What do they have in common? When they spoke, people listened. You’d have a drink with them. And they were Labour to their bones.”

Colourful corals and crystalline seas: Thailand’s top sea life spots

What lies beneath the surface of the ocean has long fascinated us, transporting us to another world, and a different realm of the imagination. Shafts of sunlight pierce through shifting blue waters, scattering into golden beams which illuminate the rippling sand. Coral gardens bloom in vivid colours, from deep crimson to banana yellow, sapphire blue to neon orange, danced around by silvery schools of fish which move as one. Octopuses lurk shyly in rocky alcoves, while sleek rays glide silently across the seabed; jewel-bright clownfish weave through anemones, and a solitary turtle drifts with unhurried grace.

It’s a privilege to be allowed to observe marine life, and one of the best places to do so is in Thailand. From Koh Tao and Phi Phi to the Surin and Similan islands, Thailand has some of the world’s most breathtaking coral reefs, and that means some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling spots. Worried that by visiting these places, you’re contributing to the damage of the environment? Don’t be – the great news is that Thailand has many conservation and eco-friendly diving companies who work hard to rejuvenate coral and keep the seas clean.

Take Koh Tao, for example; widely renowned as one of the country’s premier diving and snorkelling locations – famed for its sea turtles, reef sharks and colourful fish and coral – is home to several diving schools. Among them is the highly-esteemed New Heaven Dive School, which has been operating on the island in the Gulf of Thailand since 1995, and is renowned for its commitment to preserving the local marine ecosystem. In 2007, it launched the award-winning New Heaven Reef Conservation Programme (NHRCP) to further its conservation efforts; they run various projects such as conducting surveys and collecting data to better understand the ecosystem and identify threats to its wellbeing, as well as raising awareness and educating locals and visitors alike.

This helps preserve the area’s magnificent marine life, such as the whale sharks which can often be seen at Chumphon Pinnacle – one of Koh Tao’s best dive sites – for decades to come. Some of the shallowest and most precious reef areas have been designated as ‘no boat zones’, while NHRCP also regularly co-ordinates clean-up initiatives enabling divers to help clear discarded ropes, nets and plastics which can be deadly for turtles, birds and other creatures which depend on the ocean for their survival. Another organisation which operates in Koh Tao is Big Blue Conservation, which encourages visitors to volunteer to help with their initiatives ranging from coral reef restoration and artificial reef projects, to beach clean-ups and taking a marine ecology course to learn more.

Other beautiful locations in which to observe sea life include the Phi Phi Islands,which form part of the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. With their dazzling beaches and sparkling seas, they’re one of the most scenic places in Thailand to dive and snorkel. There have been plans in place to reverse the trend of over-tourism here since before the pandemic, by limiting visitor numbers and encouraging more responsible tourism. The temporary closure of Phi Phi Leh to visitors between 2018 to 2022 has been positive news for marine life, with blacktip reef sharks spotted once more at Maya Bay, and the regrowth of coral reefs. This rejuvenation has been further encouraged by annual conservation closures of Maya Bay throughout August and September.

Then there’s the Similan Islands, an archipelago of 11 islands in the Andaman Sea, which are part of the protected Mu Ko Similan National Park. Accessible from either Khao Lak or Phuket, they offer the chance to see a fantastic range of sea life, including barracudas, leopard sharks, moray eels and sea turtles. Further north in the Andaman Sea, make time for the five Surin Islands. Here, snorkellers and divers are likely to see whale sharks amongst the angelfish and parrotfish at Richelieu Rock, which forms parts of the Mu Ko Surin National Park.

In short, Thailand’s waters and coral reefs are teeming with healthy marine life, thanks to the country’s various conservation companies and initiatives. The latter includes the ban on certain suncreams which contain ingredients which are harmful to reefs and marine life. When visiting the country, be sure to use reef-friendly suncream brands.

Look out, too, for Thailand’s Reduce, Refrain and Rescue campaign: Reduce aims to lower the impact of human activities, including stopping tourists from feeding fish and removing rubbish from reefs. Refrain enables the temporary closure of specific diving and snorkelling sites to minimise potential stress on the corals, and Rescue involves relocating some corals to more favourable environments and providing partial shade to shield them from excessive sunlight. And don’t hesitate to get involved, too; you could do anything from joining a coral restoration course with Black Turtle Dive to taking part in a shark workshop or undergoing citizen science research with the UK-registered charity, Shark Guardian. Together, and with your help, Thailand can conserve its most beautiful assets for years to come.

Find out more about ethical and sustainable travel options, and other ways to support local communities and protect the environment during your stay at Responsible Thailand

My wife is changing, seemingly without reason – could it be dementia?

Dear Vix,

I’ve been with my incredible wife for almost 20 years. We met later in life and already had our own families, but over time we’ve become one. My wife has always been an avid and talented swimmer, competing in competitions around the world. Her mind has always been razor-sharp too; she’s full of wit and kindness, and is certainly the joker of the family, but recently she’s been changing – seemingly without reason – and now I’m fraught with anxiety and worry for her.

My wife is a former teacher and retired two years ago, but over the last year or so she’s become noticeably different. She’s uncharacteristically struggling with her memory. Her ability to remember recent conversations or events seems almost non-existent. Her moods are increasingly unpredictable, too. It’s hard to tell from one day to the next if she’ll be happy, sad or something else entirely. I think it might be dementia, having witnessed my own mother live with the condition, but I don’t want to label anything without speaking to our GP. It wouldn’t be right or fair.

To add to my anxiety, my wife is also completely in denial about it all. She refuses to seek help and won’t confront reality. Her denials only increase, the more I raise the issue. It’s driving a wedge between us and I don’t know what more I can do. My wife means everything to me. How do I get her the help I believe she needs without alienating her and destroying our marriage?

A lost husband

Dear lost husband,

Your letter has stuck in my mind because the sheer love, care and pain you carry for your wife is so apparent. It’s also not the first time I’ve received a letter from someone worried about the spectre of dementia – showing that for so many of us, it’s a real concern. It’s no wonder that news of a revolutionary blood test – revealed this week – that could transform how Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed is gaining so much attention.

It’s important to say that denial is a psychological reaction that enables a person to cope with a difficult situation, so it is entirely possible that your wife is not even aware that she is in denial. Some people with dementia also experience a lack of insight into their own symptoms, even if the difficulties they are having are very obvious to the people around them.

At some point, your wife may be able to acknowledge the symptoms she is experiencing, which will allow her to access the dedicated support she needs.

You are also undoubtedly right not to place an unofficial diagnosis of dementia – or any other condition, for that matter – on your wife without first having consulted medical professionals. Until your wife is properly assessed, there is no way to know for certain what is causing her symptoms.

Make no mistake, receiving an early and accurate diagnosis – for any health condition – is crucial. It allows people to access dedicated and tailored support for their situation, put the appropriate plans in place for the future – and, most important of all, to spend precious time with their loved ones.

It is understandable to compare the behaviour your wife is displaying to your mother’s experience of dementia, but I would urge caution in doing so without definitive answers. It will only add to your worry.

While we are all prone to being forgetful from time to time, particularly as we age, doing so consistently can be down to other health conditions – not just dementia, but things like stress, anxiety, depression and mild cognitive impairment, to name a few – all of which your doctor will have to rule out during an assessment.

But I want to impress on you more than anything that you are not alone. To help me write this response to you, I sought advice from experts at the Alzheimer’s Society. If you want advice on how to approach these conversations with a loved one or a GP, or simply to find out more about dementia, I urge you to contact them (or another specialist charity).

They have dedicated dementia advisers who will be able to listen to your circumstances and provide the most appropriate advice for your situation. Their symptoms checklist is also a tool that can help you in conversations with your GP – or help your wife explain to them how she’s been feeling.

When you married your wife, you took a vow to care for her in sickness and in health, and I can see that, without question, you are upholding this promise. Though the future may be uncertain, with you by her side, it will always be brighter. But please don’t be afraid to seek help and support if it becomes too difficult for you to carry.

I wish you both the best for whatever lies ahead.

Do you have a problem you would like to raise anonymously with Dear Vix? Issues with love, relationships, family and work? Email dearvix@independent.co.uk

John Lewis and Waitrose owner loses £88m after national insurance hike

The John Lewis Partnership has reported a substantial half-year loss, with figures revealing an £88 million deficit.

The employee-owned retail giant, which operates the John Lewis department stores and Waitrose supermarkets, attributed the setback to rising national insurance contributions and new packaging taxes.

Despite the significant financial hit, the group expressed confidence in its ability to achieve profit growth by the end of the full financial year, saying it remains “well positioned”.

The pre-tax loss before exceptional items stood at £34 million for the 26 weeks ending 26 July.

However, once exceptional costs related to its ongoing turnaround programme and non-cash impairments were factored in, this figure escalated to the £88million pre-tax loss.

This compares unfavourably to a £30 million loss recorded in the same period in 2024.

JLP said this included a £29 million impact from the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging and higher national insurance payments, after they were introduced in April following last year’s autumn Budget.

The group also said its profitability was dragged down by its significant investment plan.

It said its investments in technology, supply chains and stores have helped drive stronger sales momentum over the half-year and increased customer numbers.

JLP said it expected continued sales growth to support stronger profits in the second half of the year despite “challenging” wider economic conditions.

Jason Tarry, who took over a chairman of the group a year ago, said that the group’s profits are heavily weighted to the second half of the year, which includes the key Christmas trading period.

He added: “Our clear focus on accelerating investment in our customers and our brands is working: more customers are shopping with us, driving sales, and helping Waitrose and John Lewis outperform their markets.

“We achieved our highest recorded levels of positive customer satisfaction, a testament to the great service of our partners.

“The investments we are making, combined with our plans for peak trading, provide a strong foundation for the remainder of the year.

“While we are reporting a loss in the first half, we’re well positioned to deliver full-year profit growth, which we’ll continue to invest in our customers and partners.”