SENIOR doctors in English hospitals are to stage industrial action for only the third time, forcing the cancellation of routine operations for patients, their union announced on Tuesday (27).
Consultant doctors will strike on July 20 and 21 to press the government for better pay - just after a five-day stoppage by more junior doctors.
It is a rare step by the consultants - typically specialists in specific fields of medicine - after they previously staged industrial action in 1975 and 2012.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said 20,741 of its consultant members - more than 86 per cent of those voting - had voted to strike, on a turnout of just over 71 per cent.
The union said their pay had fallen by one-third in relative terms from 15 years ago.
Vishal Sharma, chairman of the BMA consultants committee, said the onus now lay with the government to come back with a "credible" pay offer.
"We know consultants don't take the decision around industrial action lightly, but this vote shows how furious they are at being repeatedly devalued by government," he said.
If the government refuses to improve its offer, "it is with a heavy heart that we will take action next month", Sharma said.
"We will prioritise patient safety and continue to provide emergency care, in keeping with the level of services available on Christmas Day."
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has stood firm against the pay demands of doctors, nurses and others such as train drivers, arguing the need for restraint to curb soaring inflation.
Sunak's Conservative government, which has slumped in opinion polls ahead of elections next year, got some respite with the news that the threat of further strikes by nurses had ended.
Unhappy birthday
The Royal College of Nursing said more than 100,000 members voted in favour of more strikes but turnout was only 43 per cent - below the legal minimum of 50 per cent.
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said in April that nurses were prepared to strike until Christmas if an improved offer could not be reached.
She acknowledged on Tuesday that the result was disappointing but promised that the "fight for the fair pay and safe staffing our profession, our patients and our NHS deserve is far from over".
The government welcomed the RCN outcome - and urged the BMA to return to talks and "carefully consider the likely impact of any action on patients".
After a pay rise last fiscal year, British consultants now average £128,000 in annual pay and their hefty pensions are set to be boosted by tax changes, the government said.
"Strikes are hugely disruptive for patients and put pressure on other NHS staff," a health ministry spokesperson said.
Successive walk-outs by medics have added to pressure on the state-run NHS, which is battling to cut waiting lists for appointments and treatment after the Covid pandemic.
As the NHS gears up to mark its 75th birthday on July 5, the government denies opposition allegations that it has been starving the cherished service of much-needed funds.
Sunak on Tuesday convened a roundtable of healthcare leaders to set out a long-term plan expected this week to fix shortfalls in NHS staffing, with many doctors moving to better paid jobs in places such as Australia.
The plan will "transform efforts to train and retain staff and improve the way the health service delivers for patients into the future", Downing Street said.
AT LEAST 45 people have died in Pakistan over the past few days due to flash flooding and heavy rainfall since the beginning of the monsoon season, according to disaster management officials on Sunday.
The highest number of deaths was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan. There, 21 people were killed, including 10 children.
According to the disaster management authority, 14 of those deaths occurred in the Swat Valley. Media reports said a flash flood in the valley swept away families who were on a riverbank.
In Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province bordering India, 13 people have died since Wednesday. Among them were eight children who were killed when walls or roofs collapsed during the heavy rainfall. The remaining adults died in flash floods.
Another eleven deaths linked to the monsoon rains were reported in Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
The national meteorological service has warned that the likelihood of heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding will remain high until at least Saturday.
Last month, severe storms led to the deaths of at least 32 people in Pakistan. The country has experienced several extreme weather events in recent months, including strong hailstorms in the spring.
Pakistan, home to around 240 million people, is among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and is witnessing an increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
The UK is bracing for potentially one of the hottest June days on record
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.
Keep ReadingShow less
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.
Keep ReadingShow less
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)
Keep ReadingShow less
Police officials visit the site after a stampede near Shree Gundicha Temple, in Puri, Odisha, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (PTI Photo)
AT LEAST three people, including two women, died and around 50 others were injured in a stampede near the Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha, Indian, on Sunday (29) morning, according to local officials.
The incident occurred around 4am (local time) as hundreds of devotees gathered to witness the Rath Yatra (chariot festival), Puri district collector Siddharth S Swain confirmed.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Six are in a critical condition, and remain unconscious, hospital officials said.
According to authorities, chaos broke out after two trucks carrying materials for religious rituals entered the densely packed area near the temple chariots of Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities. Many devotees had assembled in the early hours to catch a glimpse of the deities when the 'Pahuda' (ceremonial cloth) covering their faces was to be removed.
The victims were identified as Basanti Sahu (36) from Bolagarh, and Premakant Mohanty (80) and Pravati Das (42) from Balipatna.
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi issued a public apology via social media platform X, seeking forgiveness from devotees for the tragedy.
"Due to the intense eagerness of devotees to see Mahaprabhu (Lord Jagannath), an unfortunate incident occurred amid the jostling and confusion. My government and I apologise to all devotees. We extend our condolences to the bereaved families and pray to Lord Jagannath to give them strength to bear this grief," he posted.
Majhi added that any security lapses would be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible would face strict action.
“This negligence is unpardonable. I have ordered an immediate inquiry and directed officials to take strong, exemplary action against those found guilty,” he said.
Odisha’s law minister, Prithviraj Harichandan, confirmed that the director general of police, Y B Khurania, is leading the investigation. He also said the situation at the Gundicha Temple has returned to normal and devotees are now offering prayers peacefully.
Majhi chaired an emergency meeting with his deputies to assess the situation and review safety measures.
Opposition leader and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik criticised the state government, calling the stampede “a glaring failure of administration.”
“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the three devotees who lost their lives. This tragedy, coming a day after chaotic scenes during the Rath Yatra in which hundreds were reportedly injured, shows the government’s inability to manage the event,” he wrote on X.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the incident, blaming it on “negligence and mismanagement.”
“I am deeply saddened by the stampede during the Rath Yatra, which has claimed three lives and left at least 50 injured. This comes after reports that 500 devotees were injured just a day earlier. The failure to ensure crowd safety is inexcusable,” he posted.
Health officials said one critically injured person has been transferred to SCB Medical College in Cuttack, while five others remain in intensive care.
A bereaved husband, whose wife died in the stampede, told reporters that many people fell while rushing to see the deities. “There were no police officers around. An ambulance was parked about a kilometre away, and we had to carry the injured to it ourselves,” he said.
On Saturday (28), the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra had reached the Gundicha Temple, considered the “aunt’s home” of the deities. The chariots had begun their journey from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple, 2.6 km away, as part of the annual festival.
The return journey, known as the 'Bahuda Yatra', is scheduled to take place on July 5.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)