A tropical storm swirling in the US Gulf is expected to bring heavy rainfall and a “life-threatening storm surge” to the south-east of the country, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Tropical Storm Bertha was located about 105 miles (165km) south of Panama City, Florida, carrying windspeeds of 40mph (65 km/h) on Monday.

“Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf coast during the next several days,” said the Miami-based NHC.

The storm could trigger flooding and storm surges in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi as it drifts west towards Texas. Some areas could receive 8in (20cm) of rain by Friday, and “isolated” tornados could spawn in Florida, say forecasters.

In an updated bulletin on Monday evening, forecasters said that the tropical storm may build in strength over the next several days, before potentially making landfall in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Wednesday.

The bulletin added that tropical storm-force winds extended 70 miles outward from the centre of the storm, and that the storm was moving north-west at around 3mph.

“A tropical storm watch is in effect for Ochlockonee River, Florida, westward to the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana,” forecasters said.

Surges are expected to be between 1-4ft along parts of the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines, officials said. Flash flooding could occur in urban areas.

The storm’s arrival comes amid sweltering summer heat in the US south.

In New Orleans, sandbags are being distributed to stave off flood waters. Residents have also been asked to ensure that local storm drains are clear.

Bertha is forecast to weaken back to a tropical depression on Thursday and may dissipate by the end of the week as it nears the Texas coast.

This is only the second named storm of the season, after Tropical Storm Arthur brought some flooding to the US last month.

The UK is set for another heatwave with temperatures expected to soar into the 40s in August, according to weather maps

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The UK is bracing itself for another heatwave, with Cambridgeshire amongst the counties predicted to swelter in 41C temperatures that forecasters suggest could mark the hottest day ever recorded in Britain.

The existing record stands at 40.3C, set during the blistering heatwave of July 2022, but WXCharts weather maps suggest that temperatures could climb as high as 41C in August.

According to the Met Office, conditions may turn “very warm again by the start of August” with GFS weather models indicating temperatures rising from 29C on July 29.

The highest temperatures are anticipated in the south, with peaks of 31C on July 29.

On July 30 and 31 temperatures remain at around 31C.

Then on August 1 temperatures soar into the forties, with a swathe of the country from Sussex up to Lincolnshire – including London – potentially experiencing 40C.

Several areas in Cambridgeshire are amongst those that may see highs of 41C, surpassing the current record for the nation’s hottest temperature. Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex have also been forecast to endure this extreme heat.

Elsewhere throughout the country, Britons are likely to still roast in the high thirties. In the Midlands, the weather maps indicate highs of 38C and in Yorkshire the mercury could hit 37C.

Parts of Wales are also likely to feel the heat, though temperatures are expected to be cooler at around 32C.

As these sweltering conditions are forecast, weather maps have turned a vivid deep red, suggesting that temperatures could climb significantly above the seasonal norm, according to the Mirror.

The Met Office’s long range outlook indicates that conditions for the remainder of July are anticipated to be “warmest in the south” before becoming “very warm again by the start of August”.

These scorching periods could also persist further into the month.

The Met Office forecast for August 2 to August 16 states: “Temperatures will very likely remain above normal, with potential for further hot spells, particularly in the south.”

Nevertheless, there will also be a risk of storms. It adds: “Although most areas may see dry weather for much of the period, occasional summertime thunderstorms are possible on some days given the right ingredients”.

Emergency services were called to an address on Brownmoor Lane in Crosby after a three-year-old boy fell into a pond and was taken to hospital, where he sadly died

A three-year-old boy has tragically died following an incident where he fell into a pond on Saturday evening. Emergency crews rushed to a property on Brownmoor Lane in Crosby after receiving reports of the child’s fall.

Both Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service responded to the scene, with the youngster subsequently transported to hospital where he passed away.

Authorities have confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Police officers are providing ongoing support to the bereaved family while investigations continue to piece together the complete sequence of events surrounding the tragedy.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson confirmed: “We can confirm that emergency services were called to an address on Brownmoor Lane in Crosby on Saturday evening (July 18) following a report a three-year-old boy had fallen into a pond.

“The North West Ambulance Service and police attended and the child was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment where he was sadly pronounced deceased.

“Our officers continue to support the family and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened.”

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A major surveys suggest driver satisfaction is falling across the North West, with one of the key routes used by Bolton commuters ranking among the worst-rated motorways in England

The M60 ranked 30th out of 32 roads included in Transport Focus‘ Strategic Roads User Survey, scoring 63 per cent for overall satisfaction.

Across the North West, overall satisfaction fell from 71 per cent last year in 2025 to 69 per cent this year.

David Wilkinson, of Bolton and District Group of Advanced Motorists, said: “Driver satisfaction, it’s no longer an enjoyable occupation, driving around.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

“It’s only because of the amount of vehicles that are on the road.

“Couple that with the amount of roadworks that are there, the amount of potholes in the state of the roads.

“Driver satisfaction has got to drop, hasn’t it?”

The independent watchdog Transport Focus surveyed more than 9,500 drivers about journeys on motorways and major A roads managed by National Highways.

While the M60 remained one of the country’s lowest-rated roads, the M56 was ranked England’s third-best motorway with an overall satisfaction score of 78 per cent.

The M62 also scored below the national average with 68 per cent, while the M6 received 65 per cent.

Drivers in the North West were also less satisfied with journey times than the national average, with 68 per cent reporting satisfaction compared with 69 per cent nationally.

Mr Wilkinson said: “There are times when I go into Manchester city centre on the train and pass over the motorway and think, I’m glad I’m not there.

“Because of the volume of traffic.”

(Image: NQ)

Transport Focus said the North West performed better than the national average for road surface quality and the management of roadworks, despite the overall fall in driver satisfaction.

Louise Collins, director at Transport Focus, said: “The M56’s strong performance shows the sort of experience road users want, and it is encouraging that drivers in the North West continue to rate road surface quality and roadworks management more highly than the national average.

“The results also show where there is room for improvement.

“Overall satisfaction has fallen in the North West this year and drivers remain less satisfied than average with journey times.”

The A30 and M20 were the highest rated in England, with the M42 and M27 ranked the lowest nationally.

The M61, another key Bolton motorway, ranks at 20 out of the 35 in the figures, with an overall satisfaction of 70 per cent.

Nationally, drivers who travelled through roadworks reported significantly lower satisfaction levels than those who completed journeys without encountering them.

Donald Trump revived his trade war with Canada on Monday, slapping a 50 percent tariff on America’s neighbors to the north for most Canadian goods.

Trump pulled the surprise on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after he met the liberal leader on Sunday at the World Cup final – where the two appeared chummy. 

Carney responded Monday night saying that the tariffs have hurt people on both sides of the border and that he was ready to work to strengthen his country and support Canadian workers.  

The White House said in a fact sheet that the tariffs would go into effect in 30 days and cover ‘products ranging from wine to hockey sticks to cement.’ 

The official said that Trump had also requested that his aides look into additional tariffs on Canada because its wildfires hurt air quality in the US after Trump said they were ‘coming in and poisoning our air.’  

It came after the President declared that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products. 

The move could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations between two nations that had been closely woven together before Trump’s return to the White House. 

The administration official previewing the action said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump’s previous tariffs and must be held accountable.

The President declared Monday that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products

The official insisted on anonymity on a call with reporters to preview the president’s actions and said that Trump signed three proclamations to launch the tariffs under Section 338 of the 1930 Trade Act.

Several Democratic lawmakers last year proposed repealing the section because they said Trump could use it to destabilize the economy.

The 50 percent tariffs would exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but they would include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. 

That 2020 trade pact recently expired and triggered a new set of negotiations that could run until 2036. 

‘Canada believes in the benefits of free and fair trade, as evidenced by our new government signing more than 20 new economic and security partnerships,’ Carney said in a statement. 

‘This trade dispute has raised costs for families, particularly in the U.S. Canada stands ready to engage intensively to address outstanding issues with the U.S. to the mutual benefit of our citizens,’ he added.

‘In all circumstances, Canada will work relentlessly and take any measures necessary to build our strength at home and to support Canadian workers, farmers, businesses, and families.’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford saw a possible showdown ahead. 

‘If these tariffs proceed, Canada should respond tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar,’ Ford posted on social media.

Recently, Trump has also been demanding Canada and Carney pay ‘damages’ after wildfires spread down into America.

Trump announced Sunday night that he had spoken with the prime minister about the wildfires in Ontario that have caused massive plumes of smoke to blanket cities across the States.

Donald Trump with Mark Carney, Melania Trump and Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum at the World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday. The President says he told the Canadian premier to ‘pay some damages’ for the wildfire smoke

The President said the conversation at the World Cup final went well, ‘But I told him, ‘You’ve got to stop these fires from coming in and poisoning our air.’ Our air’s being poisoned.

‘I have a good relationship with Mark Carney, but you know, we got to stop the fires up there,’ Trump said. 

‘If we can help them, we’ll help them – but maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or [we] should do some tariffs,’ he then threatened.

Trump went on to call the smoke ‘terrible,’ specifically pointing out the situation in Detroit, Michigan, where assembly line workers at Ford Motor’s Michigan Assembly Plant were sent by ambulance to nearby hospitals on Thursday, according to the Detroit Free Press. 

But the poor air quality was felt in other parts of the country as well, with smoky conditions being felt in Washington, DC and New York City on Thursday evening. 

Trump himself likely experienced the smoky conditions in the capital and while traveling to New York City for a work dinner on Friday evening, as the National Weather Service issued air quality alerts in at least 16 states.

The President then made his first threat to impose tariffs on the US’s northern neighbor that day.

‘We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their forests and brush,’ he wrote on Truth Social Friday.

Recently, Trump has also been demanding Canada and Carney pay ‘damages’ after wildfires spread down into America

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Wildfires began when a July 6 thunderstorm caused more than 1,000 lightning strikes across Northeast Minnesota and Canada

The US is being ‘invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable,’ Trump added.

He vowed to call Carney to demand answers, claiming that the ‘cost is incalculable.’

‘This is willful negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States billions of dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the tariffs Canada is currently paying,’ Trump said.

At the World Cup final on Sunday, Trump watched the game with Carney, who has openly challenged the US president and has sought to expand Canada’s trade relations with other nations. 

The Trump administration official said their time together at the game was not a working visit to discuss trade and tariffs.

Trump claims in the proclamations that Canada discriminates against American autos, alcohol and cheese relative to other nations, but his argument rests in large part on retaliatory actions taken by Canada after the US president imposed tariffs on Canada under the pretext that it should do more to stop fentanyl smuggling.

Trump noted in his autos proclamation that Canada maintained, starting in April 2025, a 25 percent tariff on the imports of US motor vehicles that did not qualify for preferential treatment under the USMCA.

His proclamation on alcohol notes that Canadian provinces and territories halted the purchase and retailing of American alcoholic beverages last year, which was also a response to Trump’s tariffs and taunts of making Canada the 51st state.

But Trump has long objected to Canada’s treatment of US cheese, saying in his proclamation that Canada discriminates against the US compared to Europe on dairy products.

Trump and Carney have had a frosty relationship, with Carney, a former central banker, winning the premiership last year by promising to stand up for Canada.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January, Carney called out Trump — without naming him — by saying that the ‘most powerful’ countries are using the economy to coerce less powerful nations.

Trump responded at the time by saying: ‘Canada lives because of the United States.’

China‘s leading technology companies showcased hundreds of cutting-edge products at the World AI Conference in Shanghai — from advanced robotics to artificial intelligence systems.

The nation’s annual flagship AI event, which was held from July 17 to 20, took place against the backdrop of a heated U.S.-China tech rivalry. More than 1,100 companies participated.

Chinese companies have developed more than 400 humanoid robot products, more than half the world’s total, state media said. Open-source AI models from China are increasingly challenging leading American ones as they are more widely adopted globally.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

A “dark and unpredictable” drama is back for more with season two finally released.

Crime drama fans have been left “gagged” by the return of an “edge of your seat” series.

Based on a Swedish book by writing duo Erik Axl Sund, this “enchanting” crime drama follows a detective and a psychotherapist as they join forces to track down a brutal serial killer.

But it doesn’t take too long before their investigation unravels a web of historic child abuse and trauma.

The Crow Girl originally came out last year on Paramount Plus and now DCI Jeanette Kilburn (played by Eve Myles) and Dr Sophia Craven (Katherine Kelly) are back for season two.

The entire eight-part drama dropped on Monday, July 20, and it hasn’t taken long for fans to start singing its praises.

“I am GAGGED at the end of s2 ep3. Need to go and stare at a wall for an hour now”, someone said on X, formerly Twitter.

Another wrote: “The first episode… oh my GOD. Show of the year for real.”

While someone else said: “Okay so I’m absolutely OBSESSED with this show!

“Literally praying for a season three because I need more.”

Commenting on the first sex scene between Jeanette and Sophia, another added: “More shows should open their second seasons like that.”

For those who didn’t tune into The Crow Girl when it first came out in 2025, season one is now airing on Channel 5 with the first episode coming out tonight, Monday, July 20.

The first three episodes are airing consecutively this week with the second half picking up from where it left off next Monday to Wednesday.

The Crow Girl is also available to watch via Channel 5’s streaming service 5.

Following on from the first series, DCI Jeanette Kilburn is on the hunt for someone killing young male asylum seekers.

Not only does she find a body in a freezer but a mummified body hidden in a church wall, revealing a chilling connection between the two.

Meanwhile, Sophia continues to juggle her identities, completely unaware that she is secretly serial killer Victoria Burkeman that everyone’s hunting down.

But how long will it be until the truth about Sophia’s past is finally exposed?

The Crow Girl is available to watch on Paramount Plus.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information after a crash that took place at around 10.15am today in the A19 at Balne crossroads – just south of Selby.

The crash involved a black Audi A3, a grey Range Rover, and a white Hyundai Santa Fe SUV and saw emergency services – including three road ambulances and an air ambulance – attend the scene.

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The driver of the Audi, a 39-year-old from Selby, remains in hospital in critical condition, after he and a passenger were freed from the vehicle by firefighters.

“Crews extricated the casualties from the vehicles and left in the responsibility of the ambulance and police on scene,” said a spokesperson for the fire service.

They also confirmed that crews from Selby and Snaith attended the scene.

A police spokesperson added: “The passenger and the drivers of the other vehicles were also taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.”

The A19 is currently closed between the M62 and Bull Lane and is expected to remain shut until around 7pm while collision investigators examine the scene.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to email Mark.Patterson@northyorkshire.police.uk or Richard.Ellis@northyorkshire.police.uk.

Please quote reference number 12260138218 when providing details.

Blur bassist Alex James, backed by the Manchester Concert Orchestra, reworked a string of era-defining hits into sweeping, cinematic arrangements, without losing the punch and swagger that made them famous.

Blur’s Alex James brings Britpop classics to Scarborough. (Image: Cuffe & Taylor)

From the opening bars, the high-energy set struck a balance between nostalgia and reinvention, with crowd-pleasing staples including Supergrass’s Alright, Pulp’s Common People, The Charlatans The Only One I Know, and Disco 2000, and The Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony.

Fans descended on Scarborough Open Air Theatre for Blur bassist Alex James’ acclaimed Britpop Classical show. (Image: Cuffe & Taylor)

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Oasis anthems drew some of the night’s loudest reactions, with Don’t Look Back in Anger and Wonderwall prompting mass singalongs across the open-air venue. Blur’s own catalogue featured prominently, with Parklife, Girls and Boys and a punchy orchestral take on Song 2 standing out.

Fans descended on Scarborough Open Air Theatre for Blur bassist Alex James’ acclaimed Britpop Classical show. (Image: Cuffe & Taylor)

Guest appearances added further weight and star power to the bill. Ocean Colour Scene’s Simon Fowler opened with The Riverboat Song, Republica’s Saffron brought high-octane energy to Ready to Go, and Reef’s Gary Stringer led a crowd-rousing Place Your Hands.

The evening closed with Blur’s The Universal, as all performers returned to the stage for a celebratory finale that capped a night built on collective memory and enduring appeal.

Fans at the Scarborough Open Air Theatre waiting for Blur bassist Alex James’ Britpop Classical show. (Image: Cuffe & Taylor)

The show forms part of a record 28-date run at TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, which continued with Irish pop star CMAT on Saturday, July 18.

The venue has been hosting a series of concerts this summer, including Rick Astley, Madness, Paul Weller, The Kooks, Skunk Anansie, Garbage, Anastacia, Heather Small, Pete Tong, Richard Ashcroft, Billy Ocean, Bowling for Soup, James Arthur, David Gray, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Deacon Blue, and Bastille.

Upcoming shows include James Taylor, Tom Jones, The Streets, the Sex Pistols, the Scissor Sisters, and Nile Rodgers & Chic.

The ferry, MV Barima, departed from the capital, Georgetown, on Saturday afternoon local time, headed for Port Kaituma, in the north of the country.

The 40m-long (131ft) vessel was built in 1939, according to a listing on VesselFinder.

A survivor, Elena Moonsammy, told local news site Kiskadee Watch, external that the ferry had tilted after being hit by a large wave, with water quickly rushing in.

It started to take on water within seconds, she said.

A distress call was received at 23:01 (03:01 GMT Sunday), triggering a search operation involving government teams and privately owned boats.

Moonsammy said she had survived by clinging to a box floating amidst the debris.

She had tried to hold on to the hand of her two-year-old child but they had been separated.

Moonsammy said she had managed to save a woman, whom she urged to also hold on to the floating box.

At least 15 children were among those rescued. Small private boats were key in pulling at least 17 survivors from the sea.

The French army sent 12 divers, two doctors and a mechanic from nearby French Guiana to aid the search-and-rescue operation.

Guyana’s Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, said three of the survivors remained in hospital with minor injuries but the others had already been discharged.

Most, he added, had cuts and bruises from clinging to debris for hours.