Heat is building across the UK ahead of a likely fifth widespread heatwave next week, with temperatures expected to exceed 30C in south-east England and yellow health alerts in place.
The ECB appointed Joe Root as England's Test captain following Ben Stokes' retirement, bypassing white-ball captain Harry Brook to prevent format overload.
The UK's Prevent anti-terror programme saw a record 10,293 referrals in England and Wales, up 39% from the previous year, with a 42% increase in referrals for extreme rightwing ideology, according to Home Office data.
Farmers, landowners, and firefighters are urging a temporary ban on disposable barbecues in England and Wales due to extreme wildfire risks driven by dry weather and heatwaves.
England and Wales' electronic tagging system for monitoring offenders is failing to alert authorities of potential breaches, warns HM Inspector of Probation Martin Jones, amid plans to release up to 5,000 prisoners early due to overcrowding.
Ireland's decision to host Afghanistan for a men's cricket series risks future fixtures against England, as the ECB objects due to the Taliban's ban on female sport.
The Charity Commission in England and Wales has launched an official investigation into charities donating funds to illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, initially focusing on eight unnamed organizations following complaints and media reports.
We joined commuters on the 5.46pm London Euston to Crewe train, identified as the busiest commuter-only service in England and Wales with severe overcrowding.
Andy Burnham's intervention modifies the UK's prison early release scheme, excluding those convicted of rape, serious child sexual offenses, and grooming, reducing the number of early releases from 6,000 to 5,000 over 10 months.
Rapists and child sex offenders are excluded from early prison release plans in England and Wales to ease overcrowding, though domestic abusers and killers remain eligible.
Government will exclude rape and serious child sex offenders from early release, after backlash. Scheme restarts in October with new safeguards and extra £10m for victim support.
July 2026 was the driest for England and Wales in 190 years, with record sunshine and exceptional warmth across the UK. Heat health alerts are in effect as temperatures are expected to reach 34C, posing risks to vulnerable people.
July 2026 was the driest month in southern England in nearly 200 years, with England and Wales recording their driest July since 1836. The Met Office reported exceptional warmth and sunshine, leading to official drought declarations across half of England and all of Wales, hosepipe bans, and warnings of potential food shortages.
Half of England and all of Wales are officially in drought, marking the third such event in five years, as July becomes the driest month on record. Extreme heat, intensified by the climate crisis, has fueled wildfires, stressed farmers, and revealed archaeological sites, prompting hosepipe bans for 23 million people.
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has warned of potential food shortages in the UK if current drought conditions persist, citing "very, very poor" yields for wheat and oats, and livestock farmers using winter feed early. Drought has been declared across much of England and all of Wales, leading to hosepipe bans for over 20 million people.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicates he will abandon plans to curtail jury trials in England and Wales, reversing a significant policy inherited from Keir Starmer's government. Burnham cited concerns stemming from the Hillsborough disaster, despite the proposals aiming to clear a backlog of nearly 80,000 court cases.
England and Wales are experiencing their driest July in 190 years, with official drought declarations across much of the UK. This has led to widespread hosepipe bans, increased wildfire risks, and a significant rise in heat-related deaths, particularly in England.
Justin Langer expresses doubt over England's proposed coaching setup for red-ball cricket, suggesting it can only succeed if the Test coach and Brendon McCullum share an identical approach.
UK PM Andy Burnham conditions support for assisted dying legislation on prior resolution of palliative and social care funding issues, differing from his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer's direct support for such bills.
A Thameslink service from Bedford to Three Bridges was the most overcrowded train in England and Wales last autumn, with a 176% load factor at London St Pancras, according to Department for Transport figures.
A proposed early release scheme for 6,000 prisoners in England and Wales, paused by Andy Burnham after victim outcry, faces warnings of chaos from probation officers. The Prime Minister ordered a review to minimize public risk, as prisons near capacity.
Reports of anti-social behavior, violence, and disorder at football matches in England and Wales reached a record 1,644 games in 2025-26, a 4% increase, according to a Home Office report. This rise was largely driven by new reporting categories for sexism and violence against women, while overall arrests continued to decline.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused an early release scheme for 6,000 prisoners, including serious offenders, after an outcry from crime victims and warnings from probation officers. An urgent review will assess risks before any releases proceed.
Exclusive research reveals over 16 million people in England and Wales live more than a 1km round trip from a 24/7 defibrillator, significantly increasing cardiac arrest mortality risk. The British Heart Foundation launches a campaign to address these 'defibrillator deserts'.
