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Makerfield MP considering northern base for PM’s office as part of measures to devolve power away from LondonUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham is planning to move parts of the No 10 operation to Manchester as part of measures to devolve power away from London.The Makerfield MP will say next week he wants to transfer parts of the prime minister’s office to the north should he become prime minister later this year. Continue reading...

France has its hottest night on record, 15 Italian cities under red heat alert and UN chief says London is ‘cooking’Europe heatwave live – latest updatesForty people have drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas across France in recent days, the prime minister has said, as people across the country sought respite from the record-breaking heatwave sweeping across much of Europe.“There is a tragic scourge of drownings,” Sébastien Lecornu said on Tuesday. “The latest figures we’ve received are 40 deaths since 18 June. Most of the victims are young people.” Continue reading...

• France has implemented restrictions on public alcohol consumption and outdoor sports activities as a severe heat wave impacts the country. • Temperatures across France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom have climbed up to 40 degrees Celsius, leading to the cancellation of trains, concerts, and sporting events. • These extreme weather conditions have disrupted public infrastructure and safety, forcing authorities to limit high-risk outdoor activities to protect citizens.

• France and Spain have implemented emergency measures, including restricting public drinking and canceling outdoor sports and cultural events, to combat a severe heat wave. • In Paris, authorities installed misting stations at the Eiffel Tower and other major venues, while tourists in Rome have resorted to bathing in public fountains for relief. • Italy has expanded its "red flag" heat warnings to eight cities across the northern and central regions as temperatures soar.

Temperatures expected to climb to 30C over the weekend in southern England and south-east WalesThe Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning for much of southern England and south-east Wales over the coming days – the most extreme heat warning the weather forecaster has issued for nearly four years.Temperatures are expected to climb to about 30C (86F) over the weekend and peak on Monday and Tuesday at 34C, “though there remains a chance of this being exceeded in some spots”, the Met Office said. Continue reading...

Temperatures expected to hit 30C on Friday and remain high over weekend as second heatwave in three weeks approaches Amber heat warnings have been issued for parts of southern England as a second heatwave in the space of three weeks approaches.Temperatures are expected to climb to 30C on Friday, remain high over the weekend, and reach 33C on Monday. Continue reading...

India declares onset as up to 280mm of rain falls in 72 hours in Kerala, while downpours hit south-west ThailandThe monsoon season has officially begun in parts of Asia, marking the start of a period of enhanced rainfall vital to the region’s economy.The south-west monsoon begins each year as a consequence of a growing temperature difference between the Asian land mass and the Indian Ocean. Through spring, the land heats up more rapidly than the surrounding sea, creating a pressure difference that draws moisture-laden ocean air inland. Once this contrast reaches a critical point, the humid air pushed over the continent rises, condenses into cloud and unleashes intense rainfall across the region. Continue reading...

NSW police appeal after comprehensive class action loss in 2025 when force admitted music festival search of Raya Meredith was unlawful and unjustifiedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe state of New South Wales is arguing that police have the power to forcibly move body parts when conducting a strip-search, as it seeks to appeal a landmark class action ruling.Thursday was the first day of a two-day hearing where NSW is seeking leave to appeal after losing a class action brought by Slater and Gordon lawyers and the Redfern Legal Centre over unlawful strip-searches conducted at music festivals between 2018 and 2022. Continue reading...

• Europe is experiencing unseasonal, record-shattering heat across multiple regions, including the United Kingdom. • The extreme weather has led to reported deaths during amateur sports events in France, prompting urgent government warnings. • This heatwave is significant due to its timing in May, which is unusually early for such dangerous temperature spikes.

• Europe is experiencing unseasonal and record-shattering heat across several regions, including the United Kingdom. • The extreme weather has led to reported deaths during amateur sports events in France, prompting urgent government warnings. • This heatwave is significant due to its timing in May, which is unusually early for such extreme temperatures.

Monday predicted to be hottest May day on record by large margin, as UK braces for ‘super El Niño’ summerTemperatures are expected to hit 35C in parts of England on Monday, in an “unprecedented” May heatwave.The Met Office is already predicting that records will be broken. A spokesperson said: “Today will be the hottest day in May in the UK in our temperature records, with highs of 35C expected. The current May record is 32.8C. Records are usually only broken by tenths of a degree, making this heatwave unprecedented for the time of year.” Continue reading...

Twelve dead as southern and central areas also suffer travel disruption, electricity outages and evacuationsHeavy, prolonged rainfall in southern and central China has resulted in weather warnings for flash flooding, landslides and waterlogging. The band of rainfall spanned 1,000km (620 miles) and steadily moved eastwards across the regions on Tuesday. It was a slow-moving band of rain, formed from the convergence of multiple bands originating from the Bay of Bengal, South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.Coupled with low wind speeds, high daily and hourly rainfall totals have been recorded, with as much as 75mm locally in Hunan, 85mm in Anhui in a 24-hour period and 95mm on the island of Hainan. As a result of flooding, 12 people have died and hundreds of residents have been evacuated by emergency services. There were major travel disruptions, electricity outages, as well as school and business closures. Along the flooded streets, social media posts showed submerged cars and people fishing. Continue reading...

Dr Tracy Beth Høeg, the Food and Drug Administration’s top drug regulator, says she was fired from agency after declining to resignIn a major shake-up at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), top regulators left on Friday – including Tracy Beth Høeg, the acting drug chief, who says she was fired, and Katherine Szarama, the acting vaccines chief who has only been in the position for days. Jim Traficant, the chief of staff, has also been ousted.The FDA now has no permanent commissioner or deputy commissioner and no permanent leaders of two major centers, after the resignation of Marty Makary on Tuesday and other high-profile departures. Continue reading...

Kyle Diamantas, a top official at the agency, will reportedly replace Makary and serve as acting FDA commissionerSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailMarty Makary resigned from his position as commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday, concluding a 13-month tenure at the regulatory agency that frequently drew the ire of the White House, Congress, industry and the public, according to US media reports.Kyle Diamantas, who previously worked as the top food official at the agency setting the strategic direction and operations for food policy in the US, has been reported as Makary’s acting replacement, per Politico, who first reported the resignation and Makary’s replacement. Reuters and NBC News also reported on Makary’s resignation. Continue reading...

In-depth study also reveals patients from black African and Caribbean backgrounds are less likely to receive timely carePeople from black backgrounds in England are twice as likely to experience strokes as their white counterparts, while also being less likely to receive timely care, according to the largest study of its kind.The study, conducted by researchers at King’s College London and presented at the European Stroke Organisation conference, analysed 30 years of stroke incidents from the South London Stroke Register, one of the longest-running population-based stroke registers in the world. Continue reading...

Extreme weather likely to continue after devastating homes and endangering millions in US south and midwestAt least one person was killed after a very powerful tornado struck northern Texas on Saturday night, as extreme weather continued to devastate homes and put millions across the south and midwestern US at risk, with wildfires also raging on in parts of Georgia.Officials from Wise county in Texas said the storm reached the area at around 10pm and caused significant damage across multiple neighborhoods. In addition to the confirmed death, six people were treated or transported by emergency responders to be treated for storm-related injuries. Continue reading...

Accumulations of up to 3cm deep reported as severe thunderstorms also bring heavy downpours to central Italy This week has seen severe thunderstorms affect the Mediterranean. On Monday, a surface low-pressure system in the Mediterranean in conjunction with an upper air cut-off low, lead to thunderstorms over north Africa. Their intensity was aided by the hot precursor conditions.Algeria and Tunisia were notably affected by the thunderstorms, with some hail accumulation layers as a result. When so much hail forms, it starts to lay down sheets of hail, covering the ground like snow. Hail accumulations of up to 3cm were reported in Oum Ladjoul and Hammam Sokhna in Algeria, and there were hailstones of up to 3cm in diameter fell in Makthar, Tunisia. Thunderstorms continued in the region through the following day, with further hail accumulations, notably in Ouled Bousmir, Tunisia, where there was a layer of about deep. Continue reading...

South-east England could reach 24C as short period of settled weather replaces rain and 70mph windsParts of the UK are set to enjoy the warmest temperatures of the year so far in the wake of Storm Dave, which caused widespread damage and disruption over the Easter weekend.London and south-east England could reach temperatures of 21C or 22C on Tuesday, rising to 24C on Wednesday, while Manchester could hit 20C, say forecasters, as a short period of settled weather replaces the rain and 70mph winds that battered parts of northern England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Continue reading...

Springs fire, which had spread quickly by windy conditions, at least 45% contained on Saturday, say fire officialsCalifornia fire protection crews on Saturday were getting a handle on the wildfire that broke out the previous evening in Riverside county, fanned by high winds that quickly spread the flames to more than 4,100 acres.The Springs fire, about 64 miles (103km) east of Los Angeles, was at least 45% contained on Saturday, a fire department spokesperson said. It was 25% contained late on Friday evening. Continue reading...

Storm Dave expected to cause Easter weekend travel disruption, though warm weather could return next weekStorm Dave is expected to cause travel disruption this Easter weekend, with warnings for heavy snow and gale-force winds issued across northern parts of the UK, but a reprieve from the cold snap could be on the way, with temperatures forecast to reach the mid-20s next week.The Met Office has issued a yellow severe weather warning in Scotland for heavy snow and blizzards causing some travel and power disruption. Up to 30 centimetres of snow could fall. An amber weather warning for wind has been issued for parts of northern England, Scotland and Wales on Saturday evening. Continue reading...

Plans would prevent the return of hundreds of thousands of residentsMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesIsrael said on Tuesday that it will occupy wide swathes of south Lebanon and destroy the homes along the border to prevent the return of some 600,000 residents, prompting concerns of long-term forced displacement.Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said that it will occupy the area under the Litani River, some 19 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border, as part of its so-called buffer zone inside southern Lebanon when fighting with Hezbollah ends. Continue reading...

New Mexico governor calls order ‘not serious’ as south-eastern counties note divisions with Democratic Santa FeThe speaker of Texas’s house of representatives says he is entertaining the idea of expanding the state by annexing some New Mexico counties.Dustin Burrows, who has been the chamber’s speaker since 2025, ordered a state legislative committee on 26 March to look into the legal and economic options to add “one or more contiguous counties” of New Mexico to the state of Texas. Continue reading...

Almost 60 injured and three others missing after blaze breaks out at building in DaejeonA fire at a car parts factory in South Korea has killed 11 people and injured almost 60 others.Firefighters said the death toll could rise further. Rescuers were using dogs to search the wreckage of the three-storey building for three people who were still missing. Continue reading...

Karachi particularly badly affected with 18 people killed, more than 50mm of rain and winds gusting up to 60mphUnseasonally wet weather struck southern Pakistan and north-west India on Wednesday, as heavy rain rolled in from the west, accompanied by thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds.Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, was particularly badly affected, locally recording more than 50mm of rain with winds gusting up to 60mph. Walls, buildings, and a pedestrian bridge collapsed, with flooding and power outages across the city. At least 18 people were killed and several more injured, many by structural collapses, with other deaths attributed to a fallen tree and a lightning strike. Continue reading...

• Democrats laying groundwork for major U.S. health care reforms amid political shifts in Washington. • NIH's Bhattacharya commits to full budget spending; top FDA official announces exit. • Moves signal potential policy battles over research funding and regulatory changes.

Exclusive: finding out who owns land will become simpler under plans to make the best use of green spaces and hit net zero targetsFinding out who owns land in England is to become much simpler because a paywall will be lifted from large parts of the Land Registry, the government is to announce.A small number of landowners control the majority of land but finding out who owns what is difficult to piece together, even for government departments, owing to the way the Land Registry operates. Freeing up access will make it easier to determine ownership of key areas, such as river catchments, grouse moors and peatland. Continue reading...