Boris Johnson has faced sharp criticism from fellow Conservative MPs over his decision to miss Monday night’s crunch vote on Heathrow expansion by flying out of the country on an official visit to Afghanistan.
The foreign secretary claimed that resigning over his opposition to the £14bn project, which the Commons backed on Monday night by 415 votes to 119 a majority of 296, would achieve “absolutely nothing” and that he would lobby against it privately instead. (The Guardian) Images of the foreign secretary meeting his counterpart in Kabul emerged on social media after hours of speculation about his whereabouts, as the government refused to disclose his location for security reasons. (Independent)
A suspect has been arrested in Jamaica over the murder of a British Windrush migrant and his wife who were found dead near their home on Friday.
The suspect, who is not being named, is being held at the local police station for questioning by authorities over the couple’s deaths. Charlie Anderson, 74, had retired to Jamaica from Manchester with his wife Gayle, 71, just 12 months ago. Sources on the Caribbean island said that Gayle was found with her hair burnt off 20ft from the couple’s luxury retirement home. (Daily Mail)
Commuters have been warned to expect travel disruption as UK’s “extreme” heat continues following the hottest day of the year. Temperatures reached 30.1C (86F) in parts of the country on Monday, with forecasters predicting the mercury will rise even further in the next few days.
Speed restrictions are being introduced on some of Britain’s railways amid concerns that tracks will buckle in the sweltering conditions. Emergency services have also warned people about the dangers of swimming in open water after a man died and a child went missing. (Sky News)
Mehdi Taremi wasted a gift-wrapped chance after Karim Ansarifard’s penalty had thrown Iran a lifeline, but Portugal survived with a 1-1 draw to make the World Cup last 16 despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed penalty kick in a match dominated by the video assistant referee. (Sporting News) Meanwhile, here’s a look at what you may have missed on day 12. (Read Sport)
Don’t panic! Remember, you’re British!”, screamed the officer to HMS Spartan gunner Ron Douglas as a massive German bomb ripped into the British warship. The Luftwaffe had just launched an anti-shipping glide bomb attack on the fleet, with radio-controlled missiles and the ship was sinking fast.
But when the order was made to abandon ship, there was one problem for 18-year-old Ron. He couldn’t swim. Now 93, Ron was one of the lucky ones and is believed to be one of the last known survivors of HMS Spartan. (Mirror)
The World Bodypainting Festival, a tradition for over 20 years in southern Austria’s state of Carinthia, now features painters from more than 50 countries. They compete in categories that include brush and sponge, airbrushing and special effects make-up. Festival founder Alex Barendregt describes body painting as “an art form that is also moving and screaming and dancing.” (National Geographic)