Europe on high alert as killer heat spreads

Temperatures forecast to reach exceeding 30° degrees Celsius in Chamonix

Item 1 of 6 A man refreshed himself during a heatwave in Chamonix, France, June 25, 2026, as temperatures exceeding 30°C at 1,000 metres altitude raise concerns about glacier melt, safety and the impact on the Alpine environment. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy[1/6]A man refreshed himself during a heatwave in Chamonix, France, June 25, 2026, as temperatures exceeding 30°C at 1,000 metres altitude raise concerns about glacier melt, safety and the impact on the... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read morePARIS/AMSTERDAM/BERLIN, June 26 (Reuters) - Health authorities across Europe were on high alert on Friday as a killer heatwave progressed across the continent, prompting alcohol bans in France and cracking road surfaces open in Germany.From Britain and France to Germany, Italy, ‌Austria and Serbia, Europe sizzled under a record-breaking ball of heat rolling across the region. Scientists said the heatwave was the worst recorded for Europe, where the climate is changing faster than anywhere else.Temperatures were probably past their peak in France and Britain, where records for June have been broken. But in Italy, the heat was expected to intensify into the weekend, bringing the summer’s first readings of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit)At least 55 deaths linked to the heatwave have been reported in France, where temperatures in Paris hit 40.9 C on Wednesday. Even though temperatures were expected to ease, authorities braced ⁠for more casualties.Across the continent, cultural landmarks have been forced to close, and farming has suffered. Paris police asked organisers of major events, including the Solidays music festival, to cancel them. Organisers of the Pride festival said they would reschedule.

ENGLAND AND NETHERLANDS AT CODE RED

Extreme heat caused the surface of the A2 motorway in eastern Germany to buckle and rupture over several lanes on Thursday evening, according to the BZ newspaper, damaging up to 30 vehicles, leaving two people with minor injuries and forcing the highway to be closed.Britain's Met Office extended a red heat alert into Friday for a large area of southern England, the first time such warnings have been issued for three consecutive days.A rare 'code red' alert for extreme heat was issued for almost the whole of the Netherlands and many schools were closed as temperatures up to 40 C were expected.In Serbia, authorities issued an amber alert, with temperatures of around 36 C expected. Officials in Belgrade warned people to ‌drink and ⁠stay indoors during the hottest hours.Fans flew off the shelves in Britain and Asian air conditioning manufacturers reported a European sales boom. In France, the state-owned power utility EDF pledged to spend €80 million ($90 million) on cooling systems for schools, kindergartens and day-care centres.According to the most recent data from the OECD-affiliated International Energy Agency (IEA), issued in July 2025, household ownership of air conditioning in Europe remains relatively low, at around 20%.

'OMEGA BLOCK' HEAT BULGE OVER EUROPE

The heatwave, which has pushed temperatures as much as 18 C above their seasonal average, according ⁠to the Reuters Climate Monitor, is being driven by a weather pattern known as an Omega block.This traps a bulging ball of hot air over regions for extended periods, with cooler weather on its fringes.Scientists said the record-breaking heatwave would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change, which has made this week's stiflingly hot night-time temperatures 100 times more likely than they ⁠would have been even two decades ago."Over the region studied, this heatwave is the most severe ever recorded," the World Weather Attribution group of climate scientists said in their latest analysis.

'APOCALYPTIC' FOR HEALTH WORKERS

French authorities announced a ban on drinking alcohol in public on Friday, when France were due to play Norway in Boston ⁠in the soccer World Cup.French doctors and hospital workers reported an increase in emergency calls and treatment.Wilfrid Samut, spokesperson for the Association of Emergency Room Doctors of France, said hospitals were ill prepared for the heatwave."The impact on the mental health of healthcare workers is enormous," he said. "It's apocalyptic."

Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro, Inti Landauro, Sudip Kar-Gupta, Makini Brice, Nicolas Delame, Friederike Heine, Giselda Vagnoni and Bart Meijer; Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Kevin Liffey

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Purchase Licensing Rights Juliette Jabkhiro

Thomson Reuters

Juliette covers matters related to justice, social issues and security -– that spans race, immigration, discrimination, sexual violence and more. She has covered some of the biggest trials taking place in France in recent years and reported investigative stories on identity politics.

Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.

The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.

But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.

'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.

'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'

The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.

Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts

But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.

'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.

Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.

'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.

'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.

'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.

'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'

'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.

'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'

Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming

Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.

The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.

Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.

They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.

Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.

Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'

Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad

The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year

Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'

Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'

But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.

Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.

He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.

Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.

Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.

Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.

It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.

An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.

An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million

In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.

In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'

After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.

The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'

Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.

'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'

Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.

Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.

Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'

Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.

And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.

A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.

'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.

'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.

It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.

Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'