Sky glows orange as ferocious wildfire rages near GlossopYour support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Read more
Police searching for a missing boy who was reported to have entered a lake in Leicestershire on the hottest June day on record in the UK have recovered a body.
Officers were called to Meynell Lake, in Fosse Way, Syston, just after 1.30pm on Thursday, Leicestershire Police said, after reports that a teenage boy had gone into the water.
Thursday provisionally became the UK’s hottest June day on record, with 36.7C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset, while forecasts for Friday afternoon predict highs of 40C.
A rare red warning for extreme heat is in place until 9pm for London & South East England and the East of England.
According to the Met Office, the heat will be accompanied by “high humidity, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts”.
The devastating impact of the heatwave has been felt keenly by hospitals, as a fifth trust declared a critical incident today.
The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital said the extreme heat and humidity is affecting its ability to deliver services.
Near Greater Manchester, a wildfire tore through large areas of moorland and woodland on Thursday night, sending plumes of thick smoke across the villages of Tintwistle, Hollingworth and Woolley Bridge.
Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The Independent
Heatwave in pictures: Londoners thriving or surviving?
(Getty)
(Getty)
(Getty)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 13:05
Paris imposes alcohol bans as 40C heatwave leads to scores of deaths in France
Restrictions in the French capital came into effect at midday as temperatures swelled to 36C, and will repeat over the weekend in a desperate bid to curb excess deaths.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 12:46
Body found in search for teenage boy following reports he entered a lake
A body has been found in the search for a teenage boy following reports he entered a lake in Leicestershire on Thursday.
Police were called just after 1.30pm to Meynell Lake, in Fosse Way, Syston, along with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service.
Specialist dive teams recovered a person from the water.
Leicestershire Police confirmed on Friday that the body was that of the teenager known to have entered the lake.
There is no suggestion of any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for a coroner, the force added.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 12:24
A sweltering afternoon is in store for the south, while thunderstorms lash the north, the Met Office has said.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 12:18
Scorching weather won’t let up just yet, Met Office says
The brutal spell of hot and humid weather will hold its grip on the UK a little longer, the Met Office has said.
Andy Page, Met Office chief meteorologist, said: “Although the current red warning for areas in more central and western parts of England and Wales will expire later today, the heatwave will still be bringing high temperatures to these areas, albeit moving away from the peak heat of Wednesday and Thursday.
“We are expecting that some daytime maximum temperatures could exceed 36°C, perhaps rising to 37°C in some locations.”
The daytime heat will be accompanied by high humidity, and this will lead to some uncomfortably warm, humid nights, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts.
Mr Page added: “Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to adapt their daily routines to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK.”
(Getty)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 12:05
London mayor working to get more support for bus drivers in heatwave
London’s mayor is working to get more support for bus drivers to help them cope with the hot weather, it was announced on Friday.
A spokesperson for the mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, said: “The mayor and Transport for London take London’s bus drivers’ safety and welfare very seriously.
“The mayor recognises the vital role of London’s hard-working bus drivers to keep the capital moving around the clock, and he is committed to continually improving working conditions.
“The mayor is in close contact with TfL during the heatwave and has asked that they work with bus operators to put in place more support for drivers.
“This is in addition to the comprehensive hot weather plan in place to protect all staff and customers during the warm weather.
“All driver cabs are fitted with air-cooling systems and checks on these are taking place.
“If air-cooling systems on a vehicle are not functioning and drivers do not feel they can carry out their duties safely, they should contact the controller and stop driving, with no risk of any penalties.”
Sir Sadiq said he encouraged any driver with concerns to contact their employer, their union, or a confidential reporting service, saying they would be taken seriously and fully investigated.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is totally unacceptable for any bus driver to be put at risk due to high temperatures. Sadiq Khan has said the right thing here.
“It is now essential that bus operators listen to him and ensure that their workers and passengers are safe during this sweltering weather.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 11:58
From Spain to Ireland: What to know about the deadly heatwave across Europe
The extreme conditions have come in June, earlier in the summer than is usual. Records are tumbling by day and by night. Add in the humidity and it’s more tropical than temperate.
The heat is coming up from north Africa, into Spain and France, and hitting those countries like the U.K, Belgium and the Netherlands that are just not used to this kind of oppressive heat.
And there’s more to come over the coming days before conditions turn a tad fresher. The records could be broken again.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 11:35
What are the weather warnings in place today?
There are currently five weather warnings in place for Friday.
The Met Office issued three yellow thunderstorm warnings across Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England, Yorkshire & Humber.
Scotland’s thunderstorm warning has been extended to 3am tomorrow, while the warnings for Northern Ireland and the north of England will expire by 10pm tonight.
An amber warning for extreme heat covers most of England, due to expire at midnight tonight.
A red warning for extreme heat is focused in London, the east and southeast of England.
This has been issued until 9pm today.
(Met Office )
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 11:19
UK’s ageing key infrastructure exposed in extreme heat as ministers urged to tackle ‘silent killer’
Britain is not equipped to deal with extreme temperatures, and its key infrastructure requires urgent investment to stop it from buckling in the sweltering heat, a series of climate experts have warned, as the nation was brought to a standstill on the hottest June day in history.
MPs on the government’s Environmental Audit Committee wrote to the environment minister Emma Reynolds, warning that she needs to tackle the “silent killer” of the extreme heat, with the number of heat-related deaths expected to rise to 10,000 a year by 2050.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 11:01
The current heatwave is driven by a “heat-dome” – an area of high pressure that stalls over a region and traps heat – settling over western Europe and bringing extreme conditions across the continent.
Human-driven climate change, mostly caused by burning fossil fuels, is making such extreme heatwaves more frequent and intense.
(AFP/Getty)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 June 2026 10:40