A third heatwave is under way in the UK, with temperatures reaching 35.3C at Wisley, Surrey, on Thursday afternoon. The UK Health Security Agency (UKSA) alerts now cover Yorkshire and northwest England from 12pm on Thursday until 9pm on Sunday. There are already alerts in place for the Midlands, southern and eastern England and South West. A yellow heat alert is in place for the North East, which is until 9pm on Sunday. This means significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. The development comes after NHS England said it had experienced "record demand" last month amid heatwaves and the World Cup. Parts of the country saw record-breaking heatwaves in both May and June. New NHS figures show a new daily attendance record for A&Es was set last month, as the average visits per day to A&E exceeded 80,000 for the first time in June with 81,264 recorded. That's despite May having a higher overall total due to it having an extra day. NHS national medical director Professor Frankie Swords said: "These figures show that summer is now putting the NHS under just as much pressure as winter, with staff facing an onslaught of demand - and we have to prepare for it in the same way. "Staff are currently experiencing the busiest months' of their career, but they are delivering for patients despite this record demand." Professor Swords added: "What we're seeing on the ground is really busy Mondays following weekends of football and sunshine, so please don't delay coming forward for care when you need it, even if it's in early hours on a weekend. "In the continuing warm weather, please take precautions like staying hydrated, and check in on loved ones or those who are vulnerable, and as always, please dial 999 in an emergency, and otherwise use 111." Read more from Sky News: Why anti-migrant tensions are rising in South AfricaFrom foul to friendly: How 'Trump whisperer' calmed president The number of answered calls to 999 in June reached a daily average of 29,805, bringing the total to 894,143, 10% higher than in June last year. It comes as widespread use of fans and increased adoption of air conditioning contributed to a warning of tight electricity supplies this summer. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has issued a call-out for additional electricity supply - or for energy users to power down on Thursday evening - as the UK deals with the third bout of extreme heat in as many months. It's only the third time NESO has issued such a warning in the summer. The first and second times were on back-to-back days during last month's heatwave.

Ward is accused of raping the woman after meeting her at a nightclub in east London. Under cross-examination during his trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Ward said that everything that took place was consensual and described the woman as an "active participant". Ward, 28, of Silvertown, east London, denies two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against the woman on 2 January 2023. Prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC told Ward "you were bent on getting what you wanted". Ward replied: "That definitely was not the case. I have no interest in being with someone who does not want to be with me." Ms Ayling added: "You were bent that night on having sex with her come what may." Ward said: "No miss, it was what we wanted. She was a willing participant in everything that went on." The court heard they later messaged each other. Ward sent her a smiling emoji with a heart and she told him to enjoy the rest of his night. Ms Ayling also said: "I would suggest you were only trying to make sure that she would not report what happened that night." Ward responded: "No, I would suggest that would be wrong." Ward previously told the jury that "everything we did was wholly consensual and we were having a great time". He said they had shared a "quite flirty" conversation and "passionate" kisses, which then turned into a "developing situation". Read more from Sky News:'Significant' heat health alert issuedAt least five dead after China landslide When Ms Ayling suggested "the only person who has a great time was you", Ward said: "She was consenting by the way she was moving with me and she was an active participant in everything we did." He said that everything that took place was consensual, including the intimate acts, adding "it was something she wanted to do and (it was) not that I forced her". Ward hosted a New Year party in Gants Hill, east London, after he spent Christmas with his close-knit family, the court heard. The party took place during a pause in his work schedule. Ward said he thought the woman was "very cute" when he saw her for the first time outside the venue, as she was with a group of friends. He told the court he chatted to them, had a "quite flirty" conversation with the woman, and asked for her Snapchat details. He said they kissed and hugged in a Mercedes outside the party, and later had an intimate encounter in another Mercedes outside an after-party. Ward denied he stopped her from attempting to get out of the unlocked car, in contrast to the woman's claims that she told Ward she needed to leave "on multiple occasions". On Tuesday, Ward told the court: "She stayed which allowed us to grow our sexual contact." Jurors previously heard the woman tell the court that she "did not use the word no" during the encounter and "completely shut down". Ward said he did not force her and they kissed, hugged, and had a conversation before she departed. He wanted to see her again, but he had a busy work schedule. The court heard they later exchanged messages and he sent her a smiling emoji with a heart, meaning he was going to miss her, and the woman told him to enjoy the rest of his night. The trial continues.

MP Rupert Lowe made the comment during an appearance on popular US podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, drawing criticism from the family of one of the children killed and a Scottish politician who branded it "genuinely shocking" and "deeply insulting". MSP Stephen Kerr added: "It wasn't a single murder. It was mass murder." In response, a Restore Britain spokesperson said: "Rupert was clearly referring to one incident." On the morning of 13 March 1996, a gunman entered the gymnasium of Dunblane Primary School and, over the course of several minutes, shot dead 16 children and their teacher. A further 15 people - most of them children - were also wounded in what remains the UK's deadliest mass shooting. The mass killer took his own life in the school gymnasium. The Snowdrop Campaign was launched in the wake of the tragedy and led to major reform of the UK's gun laws. A ban on most handguns was introduced by John Major's Conservative government in 1997. Later that year, legislation widening the ban to include all cartridge ammunition handguns was introduced by Tony Blair's Labour government. Mr Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, made the comment to American podcaster Rogan while discussing the UK's strict gun laws. He said: "As you probably know they banned handguns in the late 90s because there was a murder up in Dunblane." Rogan interjected, asking "One murder?" Mr Lowe replied: "One murder. "So, everybody, my father used to shoot pistols for Oxford University and he had, he's dead now bless him, but he had all his pistols were taken away, the pistols he used to shoot with at Oxford University." The family of Emma Crozier, who was shot dead in the tragedy, criticised the Restore Britain leader. Speaking to Sky News, her brother Jack Crozier said: "Rupert Lowe's father had his pistols taken away. My father had his daughter taken away. "He knew exactly what happened at Dunblane. He made an active choice, on one of the world's biggest podcasts, to describe the massacre of 16 five and six-year-old children and their teacher as 'one murder'. "The people of Great Yarmouth need to seriously consider if this is who they want representing them." Read more:After 30 years, massacre 'haunts many' Mr Kerr, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, also criticised Mr Lowe. In a social media post, he said his children's school, close to Dunblane, was locked down on the day of the massacre, as it unfolded. Mr Kerr said: "They'll never forget being kept in the gym hall until everyone learned the gunman was dead. "They'll never forget the teachers trying to hold themselves together while reassuring frightened children. To reduce that atrocity to 'one murder' is deeply insulting. "It wasn't a single murder. It was a mass murder. In a primary school." "Almost as disturbing was the tone - one of disbelief, even mockery, that anyone could respond by tightening gun laws," Mr Kerr added. "This wasn't some obscure historical event. It happened in 1996, when Lowe was 38 years old. He should have known what happened on that terrifying day in Dunblane. "For anyone who remembers that day, hearing it dismissed so casually is genuinely shocking." Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander added: "Rupert Lowe's comments on the Dunblane massacre are not only ignorant, but also lack common decency. "As Scots we still hold in our hearts the memory of the children and teacher murdered that terrible day." Chris Kane, MP for Stirling and Strathallan, raised a point of order at the House of Commons. He also posted a statement online, praising the "courageous parents and families forever touched by the Dunblane tragedy". Mr Kane added: "Mere words can never describe the sort of darkness that was visited upon Dunblane Primary School and our nation on 13 March 1996. "Many people on that terrible day and since have lived with a kind of acute consciousness and pain that should never be visited on any human soul. The least the rest of us can do is to ensure that is forever acknowledged and honoured. "Mr Lowe's attitude does not reflect the sort of thoughtful society the vast majority of our nation and its people wish to have and which has been displayed day in and day out in my constituency for over 30 years. "We can all learn something from the example of the good people and families of Dunblane. We can only hope that one day that includes Mr Lowe."

Fery fed off a buoyant Centre Court crowd and produced another outstanding performance in sweltering conditions to win 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 to become only the fifth British player to make the last four of the men's singles in the Open era after Andy Murray, Tim Henman, Cameron Norrie and Roger Taylor. The 23-year-old will next face Germany's Alexander Zverev, who beat USA's Taylor Fritz 6-4 6-4 6-2, with Jannik Sinner against Novak Djokovic in the other semi-final on Friday. Latest Wimbledon scores and results 🎾Men's singles draw I Women's singles draw I Order of Play📝Download Sky Sports app for analysis, news and videoNot got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract "It seems to get better and better every match. I can't believe it. It's incredible playing on Centre Court for my second time, second win," said Fery, who is just the second wild-card after Goran Ivanisevic in 2001 to reach this stage of Wimbledon. "I played Flavio earlier this year and beat him in Australia so I knew I could do it. It gave me a boost of confidence. Kept going, very nervous beforehand but kept going until the finish line. "That last game I felt emotions that I haven't felt before in my life. It's unbelievable to share it with those guys [as he looks to his corner]. It makes me so happy." How Fery swept aside Cobolli Fery showed no signs of nerves or of feeling the effects of two five-set matches as he pushed Cobolli back in the baseline rallies and comfortably held serve throughout the first set. Cobolli had the first break-point chance in the seventh game but was unable to take it, and instead Fery broke the Italian in the 10th game to snatch the opening set. Cobolli came out of the blocks flying at the start of the second set to break Fery but the Briton broke back to make it 2-2 as he rediscovered his rhythm. Neither player was able to generate a further break-point chance so a crucial tie-break was required - and Fery came out on top, with some aggressive shot-making and an early mini-break proving decisive. Cobolli looked stunned physically and mentally, Fery taking full advantage by breaking his opponent at the start of the third set and then saving crucial break points in the second game. He consolidated that with a double break, Cobolli showing his frustration with the home support, and played with increasing freedom on his way to a set bagel and an incredible victory. "I've never been in this position before. I've been doing a great job over the past 10 days, so I'll see where that takes me," concluded Fery. Earlier on Wednesday, Czech Republic's Linda Noskova made her first Grand Slam semi-final with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Belgium's Elise Mertens. Noskova will face Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk after she comfortably beat Italy's Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-2. Both women's semi-finals will take place on Thursday, with Coco Gauff taking on Karolina Muchova.

The 23-year-old, who was jailed for life for a minimum of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of possessing an offensive weapon at the family home in Southampton, Hampshire. The alleged weapons include three machetes, 37 swords, three ninja swords, two flick-knives or gravity knives, eight knuckledusters, an extendable baton and a manriki-gusari - a traditional Japanese handheld weapon made of a weighted metal chain. His father, Moga Singh, 52, and his brother, Gurpreet Digwa, 27, both of Southampton, also appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the same charges. Gurpreet also faced four additional charges of which he too denied, including having an extendable baton and a kirpan in public and an axe in a car, as well as the fourth charge of possessing an air weapon. The court heard all three defendants face an additional amended count of having three push daggers, but this charge was not put to them to enter pleas while clarification was sought by the judge. Read more:Backlash over Rupert Lowe's Dunblane commentsAmber heat alert as temperatures exceed 35C All of the offences are said to have happened on 4 December 2025 - the day after Mr Nowak was killed. Moga Singh and Gurpreet Digwa appeared in person at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday, while Vickrum Digwa watched on via videolink from HMP Frankland. Harmail Gill, defending the three family members, told the court some of the swords were "antiques" and that some of the weapons were used for "religious martial arts". District Judge Henry Gordon set a trial date for 27 September next year, with a preliminary hearing next 4 June. Vickrum Digwa was jailed in June after stabbing Mr Nowak to death in Southampton on December 3 last year. After stabbing Mr Nowak, Vickrum Digwa lied to police that he was the victim of a racist attack. The case later sparked protests after police body-worn footage was released showing officers failing to give him first aid and instead handcuffing him as he lay dying, despite him telling officers he could not breathe. The sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal as "unduly lenient" by the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves, last month. The Court of Appeal confirmed on Friday that Digwa is seeking to appeal against his conviction and sentence. The Independent Office for Police Conduct said last week it is investigating two officers for potential gross misconduct. These allegations include potential failures to realise that Mr Nowak needed urgent medical attention, to take action when he said he had been stabbed and could not breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff him instead of providing first aid.

After months of speculation, Sky is buying ITV's media and entertainment business in a deal worth £1.6 billion. So what does it mean for viewers? For now, probably not very much. The takeover still needs regulatory approval, and Ofcom will take a close look at its impact on competition and media plurality. But if it gets the green light, it could reshape the British television industry for decades to come. Read more: Why a Sky-ITV deal makes sense The deal comes at a challenging moment for broadcasters. Production costs are rising, advertising growth has slowed, and traditional television companies are facing fierce competition from global streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, Disney and Apple. Sky and ITV argue that joining forces is the best way to compete. For viewers, both companies are keen to stress that the essentials won't change. ITV's channels and ITVX will remain free-to-air, while all of ITV's public service broadcasting obligations - including regional news and programming - will continue in full. Flagship shows such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Love Island and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! aren't heading behind a paywall. ITV is legally required to remain a free-to-air broadcaster until 2034. In a briefing to press, Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV, has also said Sky has made a commitment that from 6pm to 9:30pm, ITV's evening content must be original programming. Sky is also promising greater investment in ITV and says the deal will bring more sport to free-to-air television than ever before. Meanwhile, ITV News and Sky News insist they'll remain separate editorial voices. The logic behind the deal is simple - scale. The UK television market is no longer competing with itself. It's competing in a global media economy. See more from Sky News:UK set for highs of 34C this week Buckingham Palace denies Harry will stay Being bigger means having more money to spend on programmes and streaming technology, whilst also being able to spread costs across a much larger business. That's why supporters see this as one of the most significant media deals in British broadcasting history. At a time when many traditional broadcasters are under pressure, Sky believes it is securing ITV's future rather than changing its identity. And for viewers? The message is: don't expect less ITV - expect more investment, more sport and more of the shows you love.

PIP is money given to people, including some of whom are in work, who have extra care or mobility needs as a result of a disability. Politics latest: Follow live The interim review of the Timms report found that PIP, established in 2013 by David Cameron's government, is not working as intended and can prevent disabled people from fully participating in work or social life. It particularly acts as a barrier for people with fluctuating conditions, less visible conditions, or multiple conditions, the report said. As many as 9 in 10 respondents to the review viewed the criteria used to assess their claim as negative - describing the process as "dehumanising", "degrading" and "stressful" - with low levels of trust in the system. It also said the use of supporting evidence when deciding claims was inconsistent. However, the report also found that many see it as vital to help them meet the extra costs associated with disability, and to allow them to participate in everyday life. More than 38,000 people responded to the review's call for evidence, making it the largest co-produced review ever undertaken by government. The review, led by social security minister Sir Stephen Timms, was commissioned last June as part of a climbdown by the government over changes it wanted to make to the welfare system to try and rein in its ballooning cost. The government wanted to change the points system used to determine a person's ability to do certain activities, which influences how much money they will receive. But in order to starve off a rebellion by Labour backbenchers, ministers agreed not to make any changes to PIP until after the Timms review reported. Recommendations based on the review's findings are set to be published in the autumn. As per the review's terms of reference, those recommendations will have to include keeping PIP financially sustainable. Spending on health and disability benefits for working-age adults was £58.2bn in 2024/25 - but is forecast to rise to £81.5bn by 2030/31, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. That's due to more and more people claiming disability benefits, mostly related to mental health and behavioural conditions. A quarter of working-age people report living with a disability - around 10 million people - with that only set to rise in the coming years. In 2013, when PIP was established, that was under 17%. There were 4.01 million Pip claimants in April 2026, according to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data published in June - up 7% in a year and roughly double the number since comparable figures began seven years ago in January 2019, when the total stood at 2.05 million. Of those, 1.56 million were listed as having psychiatric disorders, or 39%, the highest proportion for any type of disability. The Timms report notes that numbers reporting mental health conditions and autism have "increased significantly" since 2009. Timms said that "this interim report delivers a clear message: while PIP is widely valued as a benefit, it is not working as intended and needs fundamental change". But the Conservatives' Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said Labour was "in denial about the welfare state". "The Timms Review rules out making any savings: worse, it makes the doubling of the PIP bill by the end of the decade inevitable. And it does nothing to tackle abuse of the system," she added. Read more:Family murdered as father 'on the run'Heatwaves could reduce water quality David Finch, an interim director at the Health Foundation, said that any reforms to "support a sustainable system should avoid past mistakes of using tighter eligibility rules as a blunt tool to control costs - this can worsen outcomes and increase pressure on other public services. "Spending pressures have also built up due to inadequate support in other parts of the benefits system and public services," he said. The review will sit alongside the Milburn review, which found in May that the "rising tide of mental ill health, anxiety, depression and neurodiversity" is leaving more than one million 16 to 24 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET). Both reviews will publish their final reports in the autumn.

The Northern Irishman comes into this week off the back of his tied-32nd finish at the US Open, where he showed signs of brilliance around Shinnecock Hills, but was ultimately unable to pull all aspects of his game together. Genesis Scottish Open: Latest leaderboard [external]DP World Tour: Latest headlines and videoWhen are the majors? Key dates and 2026 resultsGet Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract On Thursday, the six-time major champion blitzed his way around The Renaissance Club, and appears to have fixed some of the accuracy issues he was having with his driver at the US Open, hitting nine fairways out of a possible 13 as he took a share of the early clubhouse lead. McIlroy's putter was also in red-hot form, with the Northern Irishman draining an 18ft putt for eagle on the par-five first hole. "I'm pretty happy with how I've played out there," McIlroy said. "I drove the ball well, which has been something that, you know, wasn't there at the start of the year. "I feel like my iron play was pretty good for the most part. Putted the ball nicely. I didn't put myself out of position too much." Since ending his 11-year wait to win his fifth major championship and finally clinch the career Grand Slam and the elusive Green Jacket at The Masters in 2025, McIlroy says he feels liberated. But the two-time Masters champion insists he isn't resting on his laurels. While his goals may have changed, McIlroy is still hungry to keep winning. "It's a very liberating feeling, but again I can't get complacent," McIlroy said. "I still need to set goals. Scottie Scheffler talked about it at Shinnecock a couple of weeks ago: if he were to go win the career Grand Slam, the goalposts would move, and you have to figure out what else you want to do. "I felt like the career Grand Slam last year was the destination, and I realised it wasn't. It is a continuous journey. "It's a journey until you decide one day that you want to step off and do something else, but as long as I'm on this journey, there will always be goals to achieve." McIlroy has reduced his schedule this season, having featured in only four events since his second Masters win in April. He also chose to skip last week's Signature Event, the Travelers Championship, and returned to the United Kingdom to spend time with his family, and play a round of golf with Shane Lowry and Luke Donald at St Enodoc Golf Club in Cornwall. While questions have been raised over his decision to play on the PGA Tour less, McIlroy says he feels like he now has "more balance" in his life, adding that giving himself more time to practise has also been beneficial. "The challenge is, I feel like even though I have played pretty sparsely over the past few months, the starts of my tournaments have all been really good. "So it's not like I'm coming in and starting slow, and the little bit of extra practice I think actually helps in some ways. "I think one of the other benefits for me, like I'm nearly 20 years into this, and I need to do everything I can to keep my enthusiasm as high as possible, and playing a lighter schedule definitely does that." McIlroy will commence his second round alongside Robert MacIntyre and Chris Gotterup at 1.43pm on Friday. Who will win the Genesis Scottish Open? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Friday from 8.30am on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract. When is The Open live on Sky Sports? Sky Sports is once again the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, with over 75 hours of live coverage from across the seven days of tournament week at Royal Birkdale. Live coverage begins at 9am for each of the three practice days, before wall-to-wall action from the final men's major of the year gets under way at 6.30am on Thursday July 16 on Sky Sports Golf. There will be at least 15 hours of action on both the first two rounds, with bonus feeds available on Sky Sports+ or the Sky Sports App, with extended coverage then starting at 9am on Saturday July 18 and 8am on Sunday July 19. Who will win The 154th Open? Watch exclusively live from July 16-19 on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.