Former deputy prime minister John Prescott dies aged 86
John Prescott, a former merchant seaman and trade union activist, served as a member of parliament for Hull in northern England for four decades.
Prescott served as deputy prime minister for 10 years following Labour's landslide 1997 general election victory. (Photo: Getty Images)
By EasternEyeNov 21, 2024
JOHN Prescott, former deputy prime minister and key figure in Tony Blair’s Labour government, has died aged 86, his family announced on Thursday.
In a statement, his family said: “We are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father and grandfather, John Prescott, passed away yesterday (Wednesday) at the age of 86.”
Tony Blair, who appointed Prescott as his deputy to bridge divides within the Labour Party during its move to the political centre, expressed his sorrow. “There was no one quite like him in British politics,” Blair told BBC Radio.
Keir Starmer described Prescott as "a true giant of the Labour movement" and paid tribute to his role in shaping the party. "He was a staunch defender of working people and a proud trade unionist. During a decade as deputy prime minister, he was one of the key architects of a Labour government that transformed the lives of millions of people across the nation," Starmer said.
He added: "So much of John's work set the path for those of us fortunate enough to follow. From leading climate negotiations to fighting regional inequality, his legacy will live on well beyond his lifetime."
Prescott, a former merchant seaman and trade union activist, served as a member of parliament for Hull in northern England for four decades. His wife Pauline and their two sons said he passed away "peacefully" in a care home, surrounded by family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.
In 2019, Prescott suffered a stroke and had been living with Alzheimer's. He was appointed to the House of Lords but stepped down as a member in July due to health issues.
Prescott served as deputy prime minister for 10 years following Labour's landslide 1997 general election victory. Known for his plain-speaking manner, he once punched a protester who threw an egg at him during a campaign stop in North Wales.
Beyond his role as deputy, Prescott acted as a mediator between Blair and chancellor Gordon Brown, helping manage tensions within the party as it underwent significant transformation in the 1990s.
Prescott’s portfolio included the environment and transport, and he led Britain’s negotiations for the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Blair, in a letter to Prescott in 2007, highlighted his contributions, saying: "The completely unique Prescott blend of charm and brutality... got you through the decade, kept the government together and above all, gave me a lot of fun. I was lucky to have you as my deputy."
Temperatures may hit 34°C in Greater London and Bedfordshire
Amber alert in place across five regions due to health risks
Wimbledon’s opening day to be hottest on record
Risk of wildfires in London labelled “severe”
Scotland and Northern Ireland remain cooler
Hottest June day in years expected as second UK heatwave peaks
The UK is bracing for potentially one of the hottest June days on record, with temperatures expected to reach 34°C on Monday (30 June). The ongoing heatwave, now in its fourth day, is most intense across the South and East of England, particularly in Greater London and Bedfordshire.
Although there is a small chance of temperatures hitting 35°C, they are unlikely to surpass the all-time June record of 35.6°C set in 1976.
Amber health alerts and travel impact
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has kept an amber heat-health alert in place across London, the East of England, the South East, South West and East Midlands. The alert, in effect since Friday, warns of increased strain on health services and a higher risk of death among vulnerable groups.
Yellow alerts have been issued for the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber, where the impact is expected to be less severe.
The high temperatures may cause travel delays, particularly in the areas covered by the amber alert.
Events issue heat guidance
Glastonbury Festival organisers have advised attendees to leave the site before early Monday to avoid the rising heat. Wimbledon is also expected to experience its hottest opening day in the tournament's history.
Night-time temperatures will offer little relief, staying around 20°C into Tuesday in many southern regions.
Wildfire threat in London
The London Fire Brigade has described the wildfire risk as “severe”. Assistant Commissioner Thomas Goodall said the combination of intense heat and low rainfall in recent weeks has created dangerous conditions for fires to spread quickly.
Cooler in Scotland and Northern Ireland
While much of England swelters, Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to remain relatively cool, with temperatures between 17°C and 22°C and rain moving in later on Monday.
This is the UK’s second official heatwave of the year. A heatwave is defined by the Met Office when specific regional temperature thresholds—between 25°C and 28°C—are met for three consecutive days.
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Glutathione and anti ageing drugs under spotlight after Shefali Jariwala death
Shefali Jariwala died at 42 in Mumbai after reportedly collapsing post-fast; cause of death suspected to be cardiac arrest or blood pressure drop.
Police found anti-ageing pills, vitamin supplements, and glutathione injections at her residence.
Doctors stress the risks of unsupervised use of hormone-based and anti-ageing treatments.
Final post-mortem report expected in two days; no foul play suspected, case treated as accidental death.
The untimely death of actor-model Shefali Jariwala has sparked renewed concern over the unregulated use of anti-ageing treatments and self-medication. The 42-year-old, best known for her appearance in Kaanta Laga, was declared dead on arrival at a Mumbai hospital on Friday night. Initial investigations suggest she may have suffered a cardiac arrest following a steep drop in blood pressure, possibly linked to taking supplements on an empty stomach.
Shefali Jariwala death raises concern over anti ageing drugs and self medication Instagram/shefalijariwala
What caused Shefali Jariwala’s collapse? Police and doctors investigate
Shefali Jariwala was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital by her husband and friends after she suddenly collapsed at home, but she was already unresponsive. Her family said she had been fasting for a religious ritual and had consumed her regular supplements shortly after breaking the fast. Among the substances recovered at her Andheri apartment were glutathione injections, commonly used for skin lightening, and various anti-ageing tablets.
Doctors at Cooper Hospital, where her post-mortem was conducted, suspect a fatal drop in blood pressure, though only the final autopsy will confirm the precise cause of death. So far, Mumbai Police have ruled out foul play and registered an accidental death report.
Health experts warn against unmonitored anti-ageing therapies
Experts are now urging caution over the growing trend of unsupervised beauty and anti-ageing regimens, especially among public figures. Dr Dhirendra Singhania, a leading cardiologist, pointed to steroids, hormone therapies, and poor sleep as major heart risk factors, even among seemingly fit individuals. While glutathione and vitamin C aren’t inherently dangerous, he said their misuse or interaction with other drugs can trigger complications.
Anti ageing pills found at Shefali Jariwala home spark health safety debate Instagram/shefalijariwala
Shefali had no known chronic illnesses apart from epilepsy, which doctors say is unlikely to be linked to her sudden collapse. Her death, while still under investigation, adds to growing concerns about beauty pressures, self-prescribed treatments, and the long-term risks of trying to defy ageing without medical oversight.
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Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
INDIA’s junior civil aviation minister said on Sunday that all possible angles, including sabotage, were being looked into as part of the investigation into the Air India crash.
All but one of the 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner were killed when it crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. Authorities have identified 19 others who died on the ground. However, a police source told AFP after the crash that the death toll on the ground was 38.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told NDTV that the investigation was examining “all angles”, including sabotage, in response to a specific question about the possibility.
“It has never happened before that both engines have shut off together,” Mohol said in the same interview, referring to speculation about a dual-engine failure.
He said it would be premature to draw conclusions before the final report is released.
A team investigating the crash began extracting and analysing data from the plane’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder this week to reconstruct the events leading to the crash.
Air India said the aircraft was “well-maintained” and that the pilots were experienced.
“It (the plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investigation into it... It is being probed from all angles, including any possible sabotage. The CCTV footage is being reviewed and all angles are being assessed... several agencies are working on it,” Mohol told NDTV.
Mohol said the extraction and analysis of the data was underway at a new state-of-the-art laboratory in Delhi.
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Jack Draper during a practice session REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
BRITISH tennis players come under the spotlight at Wimbledon like nowhere else and the full glare will be trained on world number four Jack Draper as he leads a sizeable home assault at the All England Club starting on Monday (30).
The 23-year-old left-hander's rapid rise up the rankings means he is the highest British seed since two-time winner Andy Murray arrived as defending champion in 2017.
Draper's run to the US Open semi-final last year and his title this year at Indian Wells have raised expectations that he is ready to emulate Murray and win the title.
The hype is already building up and should he avoid any early banana skins and make a deep run, Draper knows the weight of expectation will grow more heavy on his broad shoulders.
Dealing with life in the Wimbledon pressure cooker will be a huge test for a player who has won only two matches in his three previous main draw appearances at the All England Club.
But he says employing breathing coach Ann Coxhead has helped him to cope with the anxiety he experienced earlier in his career and which occasionally led to him vomiting on court.
"It was important for me in tennis where there's such small margins, such small percentages," Draper told reporters at a sultry and tranquil Wimbledon.
"The work I've done with her has been invaluable. It's been a real asset to my tennis. I think I'm still a work in progress with it, but definitely my physicality and my general well-being on the court has improved."
Draper faces dangerous 38th-ranked Argentine Sebastian Baez in the first round on Tuesday (1) and things will not get much easier after that with former US Open winner and Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic a likely second-round opponent.
Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic is a potential quarter-final barrier and then it could be world number one Jannik Sinner and two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Sensibly, Draper is not looking too far ahead.
"I look at my first round, who I have. I respect every person in the draw. Obviously I've got Baez on Tuesday, and I'm not looking further than that," he said. "I know he's a strong player. He's here off his own merit."
Draper and British women's number one Emma Raducanu will lead a 23-strong home contingent in the singles draws, albeit including 14 wild cards, the most since 1984.
Emma Raducanu during a practice session REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
While Draper is happy to talk up his chances, Raducanu, who stunned the tennis world by winning the US Open as a teenaged qualifier in 2021, says she has lower expectations.
"Truthfully I don't expect much from myself this year," she told reporters. "I know I've just been dealing with certain things. I just want to go out there and embrace the moment. I want to embrace the occasion."
She will start on Monday against compatriot Mingge Xu, one of three British teenaged wild cards in the women's draw.
"I think it's a very dangerous match, very difficult. I think Mimi is a really, really good player," Raducanu said.
"For her it's one where there's nothing to lose. I remember when I had my first Wimbledon here and I was 18. It's a great feeling. You just feel, like, completely fearless."
Two British players have big incentives to reach the second round. Veteran Dan Evans, a wild card after falling outside the world's top 100, could seal a clash with seven-times champion Novak Djokovic if he beats fellow Briton Jay Clarke, while qualifier Oliver Tarvet, ranked 719, is one win away from a possible dream clash with defending champion Alcaraz.
"About 9,000 people have messaged me about it," Evans said.