A ceremonial county in the East of England, bordered by Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.
Multiple reports show heatwaves and extreme temperatures are driving unprecedented demand in emergency departments across the UK and Australia. Health officials warn summer pressures will persist as cooling, resilience and public awareness campaigns are expanded.
Record‑level and near‑record May temperatures have been reported across multiple regions this week — parts of England and Russia have hit unusually high temps while the eastern US has recorded low‑90s — even as eastern Australia is facing a major rain band. Forecasts show brief, intense heat will give way to fronts or rain in most places; Australia is also seeing El Niño odds rise for winter.
Official hydrological outlook warns of below-normal river flows in central and southern England for the coming weeks, with rainfall in April 23% below average. Groundwater and reservoir levels are under pressure in the South and East, though some storage remains stable. Farmers warn on future supply; a Fens Reservoir is planned for the 2030s.
A three-year-old has been pulled from a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo near Huntingdon and has been taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital with serious injuries. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and has been released on bail after being assessed as not fit for interview. The zoo has closed its Tropical House.
Frankie Dettori has sustained multiple injuries after a car collision in Newmarket. He is in hospital for further scans as doctors assess his broken ribs and thumb. He is due to return to racing in September.
Trevor Dunkley, 66, has been charged with the murder of Patricia Lashley, who vanished from Hall Street, Dudley, in September 1998. He is remanded into custody to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court as detectives appeal for information to help the Lashley family find closure after nearly 30 years.
The Trans-Pennine Connect project proposes a 14-mile tunnel beneath the Peak District to connect Manchester and Sheffield, aiming to ease Congestion and reclaim nature along the route. Government says the plan is financially and environmentally costly and has no current approval. Local authorities welcome dialogue as EMCCA emphasises strategic context.
Rail investigations show that a driver’s red-signal breach led to a deadly Elstow crash. RAIB interim report points to AWS faults and human error; an inquest has opened as the rail network remains on edge after last month’s collision.
Andrew and Tristan Tate have been arrested by US Marshals in Miami after Britain has brought 38 new charges including rape, trafficking and offences relating to indecent images. The Crown Prosecution Service has requested extradition to the UK; the brothers have denied wrongdoing and await initial federal court proceedings in Florida.
The Welsh government has pledged a multi-year budget for farming subsidies, ring-fenced at 340m a year until March 2030, amid debate over sustainability and how best to support the sector as farms adapt to environmental schemes and legacy funding transitions.
The UK has faced a fourth heatwave with amber and yellow alerts across large swaths of England and parts of Wales. Temperatures peak midweek, with rainfall scarce and drought status declared in parts of Wales; authorities warn of health impacts and increasing wildfire risk. A cooler, wetter change is forecast to arrive later in the week.
GSK has announced a 1.9 billion cost-cutting programme and a shift of more than 1,000 scientists to a new Cambridge R&D campus from Stevenage by 2029, part of broader plans to cut costs and expand late-stage trials.
Mayors will keep a share of income tax and business rates from 2027-28, replacing central grants and empowering local areas to fund transport, housing and jobs. The reform is pitched as the biggest transfer of power in a generation, with details to be announced in the autumn budget as Burnham leads devolution push.
The Taliban-era ban on girls' secondary education persists as multiple reports show rising suicides and personal tolls among Afghan women. New investigations quantify deaths and ongoing suppression, while international condemnation continues amid economic and health concerns.
Archaeologists have uncovered Neolithic pits, Bronze Age huts, and hundreds of ovens in Suffolk ahead of Sizewell C construction, revealing a long span of human activity—from Neolithic farming to medieval industry. The site also shows monks’ influence on land use and suggests the economy relied on crop drying and linen production.
The government has announced a plan to overhaul maternity care, aiming to end the postcode lottery, tackle racial inequalities, and put patient experience at the center. A new maternity taskforce will draft binding standards and establish a national maternity commissioner. Critics warn changes may take time to bear fruit given entrenched workplace culture.