After weeks of drought in the UK, many are relishing the thunderstorms and rain showers of the past few days.
But there is an unwelcome aspect to the dramatic change in weather: the attendant higher humidity has left skin feeling clammy and clothes feeling sticky.
Relative humidity levels have been higher than average for the time of year, as high as 85 per cent on Thursday. What has caused the change and how does it affect our bodies?
Uefa prepares criminal complaint against Infantino – what we know
The president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, may face legal action by European football’s governing body Uefa over his now-scrapped plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Uefa request access to evidence
The body has applied for documents to be made available to them to bring legal actoin against Infantino in Switzerland.
In court documents Uefa accuses him of “criminal mismanagement” over the sale plan, claiming it was a “vehicle” for Infantino and others to “profit from Fifa’s most valuable assets”.
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What does Uefa say Infantino did wrong ?
- Pushed through the plan “hastily” with “limited” member involvement.
- Gave Fifa a “fraudulently off-market price” for his “own benefit”.
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What happens now?
Uefa has applied to a court in Florida to gain access to files held by two Fifa businesses – Fifa Americas and FWC2026 . These would be used in a court case in Switzerland.
Uefa says it may persue charges against other Fifa officials, claiming the plan would have harmed the 55 member nations of Fifa, who it says were not consulted.
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Exes could get rights to your assets under law change
Unmarried romantic partners could be entitled to part of their ex’s assets if a break-up leaves them unable to meet their basic needs.
Some believe the proposals being considered by the Government would tackle “completely outdated and inadequate” laws governing relationships, Sky News reported.
What is being proposed?
- Unmarried romantic partners could ask a court to get involved if distributing the couple’s assets based on who owns what is not enough to meet the needs of each partner or their children.
- The court would distribute them in a way that ensures everyone can afford housing and living costs.
- Children’s needs would come first so the primary caregiver has enough resources for them.
- The courts would look at each partner’s earning capacity, financial resources, age, any disabilities and the length of relationship.
Who would the rules apply to?
The rules would apply to adults in romantic relationships who have lived together for at least three years or who share a child and lived together for any period. They would apply automatically, with the option for couples to opt out if they mutually agree. The rules are intended to benefit financially exposed women who sacrificed their careers to care for their children or victims of domestic abuse.
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The expert view
Many people consciously choose not to remarry because they value both companionship and financial independence. They should remain free to make that choice, and the law should respect – not undermine – it
Baroness Ruth Deech, former law professor and chair of the Bar Standards Board
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The tactic that could protect your pension from inheritance tax raid – and the risks
There has been an increase in people looking to use a new tactic to avoid their pension wealth being subjected to high inheritance tax after their death, experts say.
What are people doing?
Experts say more parents are asking whether they could use a lifetime annuity, which provides a guaranteed income for life, to pass on their wealth to an adult child after their passing. Here’s what you need to know.
- The move would avoid the usual high inheritance tax bill for recipients, although it is currently an option only offered by two providers and there are several risks to be aware of.
- A lifetime annuity is a retirement product, bought from an insurer, that turns your pension into a guaranteed income for life.
- A joint annuity can be used to continue paying an income to a nominated person – in this case, potentially an adult child – after, for example, a parent dies in order to avoid a high IHT bill.
What are the risks?
The annuity is generally irreversible, suitable choices are limited and the income paid to the child may itself be taxable depending on the father’s age at death. Financial adviser Zoë Dagless said the insurer is pricing the annuity on the basis that it could continue for the child’s lifetime, so you are likely to be giving up a fair amount of income compared with an annuity based on the client’s life only.
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Men ‘hate diets’ and struggle to lose weight on them
Men struggle to lose weight on diets because they are mainly aimed at women and seem too restrictive, research has found.
Avoiding the word “diet” in weight-loss programmes could help men because it is seen as feminine, reported.
What the research found
- Framing weight-loss programmes as competitions or challenges could help men, scientists said.
- Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University found that men felt dieting was associated with being denied food they enjoyed and were reluctant to commit to programmes if significant sacrifices were involved.
- Men were more likely to lose weight when dietary changes were designed by their partners or when they were supported by them.
- Having a buddy or mentor was also beneficial.
What was the study based on?
The study, published in the journal was based on interviews with 24 men aged 30 and over about their experiences of weight-loss programmes.
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The expert view
For weight-loss programmes to appeal to men, they should involve quick wins, early rewards and a degree of social competitiveness around aesthetic gains, ahead of health-specific requirements. This could involve sport or physical challenges, perhaps focused on strength or stamina
Justin Roberts, the colead author and a professor of nutritional physiology
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Top Gear to return to BBC – everything we know
The BBC has confirmed is returning to the broadcaster. The show has been on hiatus since presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was almost killed during filming in December 2022.
What we know so far
The BBC’s director of entertainment Ed Havard confirmed the news of the return at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday. He said: “There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that is coming back.”
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What happened to Flintoff?
Following the crash, the BBC announced would not be returning “for the foreseeable future”, explaining it had “decided to rest the UK show”.
Who will host now?
- Havard declined to comment on reports that Jimmy Carr is being lined up as the show’s new host.
- However, reports claim talks are underway with the comedian.
- Joe Marler, a former rugby player who appeared in last year, is also being eyed by the BBC, according to Deadline.
- No deals are thought to be in place.
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The back story
- It enjoyed a second life when Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness and Flintoff took over hosting duties from Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans, before the crash involving Flintoff occurred.
Liver disease cases linked to obesity up five-fold
Cases of a linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes have risen five-fold in a decade, a study has found.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) happens when in the liver and is left undiagnosed, researchers said.
What are the symptoms?
- Symptoms include feeling very tired or generally unwell, and pain in the abdomen.
- People who are overweight or not active are more likely to develop MASLD.
- Those who have type 2 diabetes, are over 50, or have high blood pressure are also more at risk.
- New diagnoses doubled from 2012 to 2022, and those diagnosed with the condition were three times as likely to have type 2 diabetes, analysis of GP records found.
A closer look at the findings
The study by researchers at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Glasgow found that 2.4 per cent of adults – 283,762 people had the disease in 2022, up from 0.02 per cent (1,300 people) in 2003.
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The expert view
The diagnostic gap remains large compared to expected rates. At-risk groups such as those living with type 2 diabetes and obesity should be identified and -finding actively pursued
researchers at Queen Mary University and University Glasgow
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Thunderstorms expected across England and Wales
Flooding has hit part of the West Midlands as are expected across large areas of England and Wales.
A yellow thunderstorm has been issued from 5am until 10pm on Thursday.
What the warning says
The yellow warning covers swathes of the country, from Norwich and London to Cardiff and Manchester.
Some areas could see 50-75mm of rainfall on Thursday, as well as lightning and hail, which could cause disruption.
Warm temperatures with highs of 27°C or 28°C are expected, and there is a small chance some areas could see more than 75mm of rainfall.
Where the warning is in place
What happened in Birmingham?
There has been significant flooding in Birmingham. A flood warning was issued for the Perry Barr area on Wednesday night due to rising river levels.
The Environment Agency has issued 22 flooding alerts – meaning flooding is possible – in the Midlands and South East.
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The forecast for the rest of the week
- Further heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected on Friday across the UK.
- Further rain will move in on Saturday, followed by a mix of sunshine and showers on Sunday and Monday.
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Dozens of Britons missing in deadly Nepal flood
More than 160 people have died and hundreds are missing, including , after a devastating flash flood on the Nepal–Tibet border.
What happened?
- Floodwater swept along the Bhote Koshi river in Rasuwa region, in the Himalayas, at around 8.30am local time on Wednesday, destroying roads and washing away houses and bridges.
- More than 40 people were injured in the tragedy and are receiving treatment in hospital.
- Nepali officials said a further 826 people are missing, the majority of them tourists, including 33 Britons.
- Around 2,000 military personnel have been deployed by the Nepali army to assist with search and rescue operations.
What is known about the missing Britons?
Among the 33 Britons missing, 12 were with one tour company. Ram Kumar Adhikari, manager of Alpine Eco Trek, said the group included a 13-year-old girl, with the oldest member aged 65.
He said they had passed Chinese border controls to enter Tibet.
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The flood in pictures
The summer so far has been so hot and dry because much of Britain and Europe has been dominated by stable high-pressure systems.
But this week, a low-pressure system has been developing over Spain, sending warm, humid air northwards to the UK.
This lets air pick up moisture from the Atlantic Ocean before it reaches the UK. Air that comes from the south is also warmer, and warmer air can hold more moisture.
The humidity matters in summer, because the main way we cool down is by sweat evaporating from the body. When humidity is higher, that interferes with the evaporation process.
“What matters is what happens to the sweat, because if you want to cool down, you want it to get evaporated,” said Dr Akshay Deoras, a meteorologist at the University of Reading.
Hot and sweaty
Humidity therefore has twin effects. It makes us feel more clammy, with our clothes feeling damp and sticking to us – and it interferes with our bodies’ natural cooling abilities.
So it’s important that even if it isn’t as sunny as in previous weeks, we continue taking steps to make sure we don’t overheat, like using fans and keeping the curtains closed, said Dr Deoras.
We may also get dehydrated because our bodies continue sweating, in a futile effort to cool down. “You release more and more of the sweat. You start getting dehydrated and your body temperature goes up,” said Dr Deoras.
“If you are not able to cool down properly, then you can have heat exhaustion and heat strokes and potentially deaths – and that is directly connected to what is happening with humidity.”
Asthma attacks
High humidity can also make it feel harder to breathe, as well as triggering asthma attacks and exacerbations of the breathing condition, COPD.
Even in those without any underlying health conditions, it can affect cognitive abilities. In laboratory tests at the University of Bath, at temperatures of 27°C, volunteers performed worse on tests of memory and attention when the humidity was high, at 70 per cent.
“In muggy conditions, participants reported higher mental workload, and productivity decreased by up to 20 per cent,” said Dr Sharareh Azar, a sustainability engineer who carried out the study.
It is not clear how long the muggy conditions will last, as the weather is likely to be unstable over the next few days.
Bands of rain and showers are moving across many parts of the UK with the most persistent rain in the north east, the Met Office has said. However wind is likely to pick up over the weekend, which should make it feel less oppressive.