Latest news with #London
Telegraph
14 minutes ago
- Climate
- Telegraph
Hottest start to Wimbledon in 147-year history amid 36C heatwave
Wimbledon is bracing for its hottest-ever opening day as a heatwave is forecast to peak at 36C on Monday. The previous record temperature for the start of the grass court Grand Slam event was set in 2001, when 29.3C was reached. The forecast for Monday could also be the hottest temperature ever recorded during the tournament at SW19. The previous highest being 35.7C in 2015. People queueing for tickets will likely face intense heat and should take precautions. British health officials have an amber heat health warning in place until 6pm on Tuesday July 1 for much of the country, including London. This warns of a rise in deaths, particularly amongst people aged 65 and over, or those with health conditions. Wimbledon's heat rule will likely come into force, which allows for a 10-minute break in play during extreme heat. The rule will apply after the second set for all best of three set matches, and after the third for all best of five set matches, with players allowed to leave the court during the break, but not to receive coaching or medical treatment. Wimbledon organisers are taking precautions to protect the general public and staff, including ball boys and girls (BBGs), as well as players. 'Adverse weather is a key consideration in our planning for The Championships, and we are prepared for the predicted hot weather, with comprehensive plans in place for guests, players, staff and the BBGs,' a club statement said. More free water refill stations will be provided around the grounds, and real-time weather alerts will be announced on big screens and via the tournament website. Five-day heatwave Staff shifts will also be adjusted to mitigate the heat, while 'shade-mapping' will help people get away from the sun. Guidance also advises tennis fans to 'wear loose, cool clothing, preferably trousers', as well as 'wide brim hats' to keep the sun away. A heatwave is predicted for much of England over the weekend and could last for a total of five days. The weather is caused by a high-pressure 'heat dome' over mainland Europe, which is trapping hot air and forcing it downwards. This creates more heat at the surface, clears away clouds, and leads to more sun exposure which further bakes an area. It leads to day-to-day increases in temperature until the lid holding the 'heat dome' in place is breached, often with powerful thunderstorms. A heat dome caused London to surpass 40C in 2022, and the Met Office says the physics behind this phenomenon are common in the UK. 'A 'heat dome' is a term not frequently used in the UK meteorological world, though the physics behind it are essentially what happens frequently in UK summers,' explained Dr Rob Thompson, a meteorologist at the University of Reading. Imperial research has found that the weather in June is now up to 4C hotter as a result of climate change, taking once pleasant summer temperatures into more hazardous territory. Ben Clarke, research associate in extreme weather and climate change at Imperial College London, told The Telegraph that the extreme European heat, which could reach a record 47C in Spain, will cause the mercury in Britain to surge in coming days. 'If the forecasts are correct, the high pressure that is currently over much of western Europe will intensify,' he said. 'This will drive the transport of very hot air from north Africa and the Iberian peninsula northwards, resulting in an intense heatwave over the weekend. 'Whether the high pressure system classifies as a 'heat dome' will depend on how intense the high pressure is and how long it lasts, but this certainly has the characteristics of one. 'The forecasts currently show the high pressure weakening over the UK by early next week (though temperatures will stay in the mid-upper twenties in the south), but holding over mainland Europe into the middle of next week – after that, forecasts become a lot less certain. 'The heat is also very likely being amplified by the low rainfall we've had here and in much of Europe through the spring, as the land is unable to cool through evaporation.'
BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Murder probe launched after teenager dies in Enfield shooting
A murder investigation has been launched after an 18-year-old man died following a shooting in north and paramedics were called at 20:45 BST on Thursday to reports of gunshots fired on Great Cambridge Road, Metropolitan Police said the victim was found with gunshot injuries and later died in hospital. His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist arrests have been made at this early stage, the force added. Det Ch Supt Caroline Haines has said the police presence in the area will be increased over the next few days."I am saddened to hear that a young man lost his life last night," she said. "My thoughts are with his family and friends who will be processing this news today."We want to reassure the community that this appears to be an isolated incident and a thorough investigation is under way."A crime scene remains in place and Great Cambridge Road will stay closed while enquiries continue.
The Guardian
24 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘A negotiated dog's dinner': Starmer faces second revolt over welfare bill concessions
Keir Starmer is battling to stem the revolt over his cuts to disability benefits, with about 50 Labour MPs concerned the concessions will create a 'two-tier' system where existing and newly disabled people are treated differently. Senior government sources insisted things were 'moving in the right direction' for No 10, with the whips calling round backbenchers to persuade them to get behind the bill on Tuesday. Government insiders believe they have peeled off enough of the 120-plus opponents of the legislation to win the vote, after the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, promised to exempt current disability claimants from the changes, and increase the health element of universal credit in line with inflation. However, rebel MPs will attempt to lay a new amendment on Monday giving colleagues a chance to delay the bill, which will still involve £2.5bn of cuts to future disability benefits. The continuing row over the reforms will likely blight the week that will mark the first anniversary of Labour's return to power. In an interview yesterday, Starmer admitted to a range of mistakes – including using the phrase 'an island of strangers' in an immigration speech, and of hiring his former chief of staff Sue Gray. His government has made a series of U-turns in the last 12 months – but his handling of the welfare bill might be the most damaging episode of them all. Starmer will next week be hoping to draw a line under the difficult period, which has also seen the government reverse cuts to winter fuel payments and change course over holding an inquiry into grooming gangs. Dozens of Labour MPs are continuing to speak out against the welfare cuts on a Labour WhatsApp group, with many MPs still undecided about how they will vote and pressing for more assurances that it is ethical and legal to set up a division between current and future claimants. Disability charities are warning that the bill is still 'fatally flawed' and will lead to an 'unequal future' for different groups of disabled people, making life harder for hundreds of thousands of future claimants. Starmer defended the bill on Friday, saying it strikes the right balance. The changes will protect 370,000 existing recipients who were expected to lose out after reassessment. 'We talked to colleagues, who've made powerful representations, as a result of which we've got a package which I think will work, we can get it right,' the prime minister said. Asked how the government would pay for the £3bn of concessions, which experts believe will have to be funded by tax rises or extra borrowing, Starmer replied: 'The funding will be set out in the budget in the usual way, as you'd expect later in the year.' There would need to be at least 80 rebels to defeat the bill, and government sources are quietly confident they have given enough ground after Meg Hillier, the chair of the Treasury committee, said she would back the legislation following changes. However, others are unconvinced. One leading rebel said 'everyone but a handful of people is unhappy', even if they do end up reluctantly backing the changed legislation, while another expressed frustration that No 10 and the whips were 'trying to bounce people into agreeing before we've seen enough details'. Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, who is one of the leading opponents of the bill, said: 'They are going to have to go back to the negotiating table … deaf and disabled people's organisations [DDPOs] are rejecting these changes as it fails to address future need and gives no security for people with fluctuating conditions, for instance where people are in remission.' Other critics who plan to vote against the bill include the MP for Crawley, Peter Lamb, who said: 'Despite many improvements to the system set out in the bill, at its core the bill remains a cost-cutting exercise. No matter the level of involvement of disability groups in co-producing a scheme for new applicants, to save money the new scheme has to result in people with high levels of need losing the support necessary to wash themselves, dress themselves, and feed themselves.' Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Simon Opher, the MP for Stroud, also said he still opposed the bill: 'The changes do not tackle the eligibility issues that are at the heart of many of the problems with Pip [personal insurance payments]. The bill should be scrapped and we should start again and put the needs of disabled people at the centre of the process.' Diane Abbott, a leading figure from the left of Labour, said the rebellion was 'far from over', while another Labour MP said: 'The bill starts from the premise of cuts, not reform. It's also arse about face in terms of impact assessments and co-production. It's simply a negotiated dog's dinner. In that sense, nothing has really changed except the fact they've negotiated more misguidedly to sign up to it.' One thing Labour MPs are pushing hard for is more clarity on the review of how the Pip system works, due to be done by the autumn by Stephen Timms, a work and pensions minister. Many expect that process to change the points system from what has been proposed so far. Some in the party also want Starmer to reinstate Vicky Foxcroft, who quit as a whip to vote against the bill before the U-turn was made. Stella Creasy, a leading Labour MP who had initially signed the amendment to delay the bill, said she wanted to see more details. 'The concern is to get to be workable … We need to understand why we would treat one group of claimants differently from another,' she added. Another Labour MP, from the 2024 intake, said: 'I'm waiting to look at the details before making any decisions. Many are in the same place as me and need to get something more than a midnight email on an issue of this much importance to hundreds of thousands of people'. The Labour MPs opposed the changes are citing a fundamental rejection of the idea that a Labour government will be making disabled people worse off. But at the same time, many of them have also been alienated by what they say is a No 10 operation that is out of touch with how the parliamentary party is feeling, and has tried to strongarm MPs into backing the legislation by threats and promises of preferment. 'Goodwill has been lost and there is still huge suspicion about whether they will try and pull a stunt at the last minute,' said one Labour MP. The majority of disability charities and campaign groups were on Friday still opposed to the cuts. The disability equality charity Scope said that despite concessions, an estimated 430,000 future disabled claimants would be affected by 2029/30. Its strategy director, James Taylor, said: 'It is encouraging that the government is starting to listen to disabled people and MPs who have been campaigning for change for months. But these plans will still rip billions from the welfare system. 'The proposed concessions will create a two-tier benefits system and an unequal future for disabled people. Life costs more if you are disabled. And these cuts will have a devastating effect on disabled people's health, ability to live independently or work.' A coalition, including Disabled People Against Cuts, said: 'Disabled people and disability rights groups totally reject the performative politics being enacted by the government, in response to being challenged by a growing MP rebellion and a tidal wave of anger from the public. 'We will not sell out generations of disabled people past and future by accepting this sham of alleged concessions on welfare spending so that they can save face. The reforms are ill thought out, and MPs still do not have a full understanding of their implications and impact.'
Geek Tyrant
34 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
What's Next for Denis Villeneuve's BOND Movie? Amazon Eyes a Younger 007 with Elordi, Holland, and Dickinson in the Mix — GeekTyrant
James Bond is officially entering a new era, and it's shaping up to be a bold departure from the familiar. With Denis Villeneuve now confirmed to direct the 26th Bond film, Amazon is moving quickly, at least by Bond standards, to build the next phase of the iconic franchise. That said, don't expect to see 007 back on the big screen until 2028. According to sources close to production, anything sooner would be unrealistic given the scope of the film and Villeneuve's packed schedule. Villeneuve beat out some heavy hitters for the director's chair. Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Paul King, and Jonathan Nolan were all reportedly in the mix. The director of Dune and Blade Runner 2049 has long expressed his desire to helm a Bond film, and Amazon finally gave him thegreen light. The studio is now focused on attaching a screenwriter and, of course, casting the new face of Bond. That face is going to be younger. Amazon and producers are reportedly seeking a British actor under 30, and the current shortlist includes Saltburn 's Jacob Elordi, Spider-Man 's Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl . While Elordi is Australian, insiders say that's not a dealbreaker, after all, George Lazenby was too, and he once wore the tux in On Her Majesty's Secret Service . Long-rumored contenders like Aaron Taylor-Johnson (35), Henry Cavill (42), and Idris Elba (52) are seen as too old for what Amazon is aiming to build. Alfonso Cuarón was an early contender to direct, and was pushed strongly by producer David Heyman due to their collaboration on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban . But Cuarón ultimately stepped away to prioritize other projects, including Jane , a Charlize Theron-led film also at Amazon. Amazon also made a serious attempt to land Christopher Nolan, even to the point of considering breaking one of the franchise's long-standing rules, denying directors final cut. That rule, enforced for decades by Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, was one of the ways EON Productions maintained creative control. But the Broccoli family has now stepped back from day-to-day creative oversight and retains only a financial stake. Nolan, however, is unavailable for the foreseeable future as he's deep in pre-production on The Odyssey . As for Villeneuve, his Bond deal is a one-and-done. He's not signed on for any sequels and won't have final cut. Before he even starts rolling cameras on Bond, he's committed to filming Dune: Messiah , which is aiming for a December 2026 release. Amazon's next move is to lock in a writer, and while Jonathan Nolan was floated as a strong candidate, his Bond pitch was reportedly well-received, he's tied up with the series Fallout and unavailable. Still, there's no shortage of writing talent circling the property, and Amazon is determined to define a fresh identity for their version of Bond. Bond 26 may still be a few years away, but the new direction will involve a younger 007, a more cinematic director, and the first major reboot under a new studio. Source: Variety
The Independent
35 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
This Panasonic deal gets customers a £100 food delivery voucher for a limited time
Panasonic has remained one of the biggest players in the television manufacturing world for decades. The brand is known across the world for a high-quality, broad range of home appliances, cameras, and, of course, TVs. Here at IndyBest, we rate Panasonic's TVs so highly that the TV-55Z95A OLED model (was £2,999.99, now £1,599.99, was named our best buy in tech critic David Phelan 's round-up of the best tried and tested 4K TVs. David found that 'Panasonic's OLED TVs have picture quality so rich and detailed it can take your breath away,' and praised the model's smooth and realistic imagery: 'from faithful skin tones to detailed shadowy areas – and it's still good for vibrant colours and deep black levels.' If you've been toying with the idea of upgrading your current TV, now's the time. There's a deal that not only gets you a discount on a great TV, but also grabs you a whopping £100 voucher on a takeaway. Two Panasonic TVs have big discounts coupled with a £100 food delivery voucher for Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo. It's the perfect deal for a big night in with your favourite takeaway, all while watching your favourite film on a picture-perfect TV. On top of that, use the code 'Z6015' at checkout and save an additional 15 per cent off your purchase, in addition to the food delivery voucher, and already existing up to £500 off. We think that's a pretty impressive deal. This huge 65' TV sees a massive discount in this deal, with £500 deducted from the list price. This exceptional TV offers bright 4K clarity, and it's compatible with Dolby Vision and Atmos for the ultimate viewing experience. If the large TV is overkill, you can get a similar deal on the 55' TV. Best of all, this TV is even cheaper, coming in at under £1000. If you've got your heart set on a different model, fear not, as there are other ways to save. Those who have access to Student Beans, a Blue Light Card, health service discount, defence discount service, discount for carers, discount for teachers or charity worker discounts can also enjoy 15 per cent off select purchases across Panasonic.
