Today is World Oceans Day, World Brain Tumor Day and Best Friends Day. Your star sign is Gemini and your birthstone is Pearl (Alexandrite and Moonstone is also recognised).

1933 – 2014 – Joan Rivers (81), American comedian, actress and TV host (Spaceballs, Fashion Police).

1942 – 2021 – Doug Mountjoy (78), Welsh snooker player from the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, who remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for 11 consecutive years.

1940 – Nancy Sinatra (86), American singer (“These Boots Are Made for Walkin'”) and daughter of Frank Sinatra, born in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States.

1942 – Fred Dinenage (84), English author, broadcaster and television presenter (How 2, Britain’s Most Evil Killers, Coast to Coast), born in Birmingham.

1943 – Colin Baker (83), English actor best known for his role as the 6th Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1984 to 1986, born in Waterloo, London.

1951 – Bonnie Tyler (75), Welsh singer (“Total Eclipse of the Heart”, “Holding Out for a Hero”), born in Skewen, Port Talbot, Wales.

1955 – Tim Berners-Lee (71), English computer scientist best known as the inventor of the World Wide Web, the HTML markup language, the URL system, and HTTP, born in London.

1960 – Mick Hucknall (66), English singer and songwriter (“Holding Back the Years”, “Money’s Too Tight to Mention”, “Fairground”), born in Manchester.

1962 – Nick Rhodes (64), English keyboardist, producer and a founding member of Duran Duran (“Hungry Like the Wolf”), born in Moseley, Birmingham.

1972 – Toby Gard (54), English video game designer and co-creator of Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), born in Chelmsford, Essex.

1976 – Lindsay Davenport (50), American former professional tennis player (world No. 1 in women’s singles for 98 weeks), born in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, United States.

1977 – Kanye West (49), American rapper and singer (“Gold Digger”, “Stronger”), born in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

1981 – Alex Band (45), American singer and vocalist of the rock band the Calling (“Wherever You Will Go”), born in Los Angeles, California, United States.

2018 – Anthony Bourdain (61), was an American celebrity chef, author and travel documentarian (Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations).

2018 – Danny Kirwan (68), was a British musician and guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972.

1924 – The last sighting of English climbers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine; 800 feet from the summit of Mount Everest during the third attempt to become the first men to conquer the world’s highest mountain. Their fate was unknown for 75 years, until Mallory’s body was discovered in 1999 by an expedition that had set out to search for the climbers’ remains. Whether or not Mallory and Irvine reached the summit before they died remains a subject of speculation and continuing research.

1929 – Margaret Bondfield became the first female cabinet minister in the UK. Born into a working-class family, Bondfield became a prominent women’s rights activist and trade unionist before being appointed Minister of Labour.

1953 – England played its first-ever international match under floodlights defeating the USA 6-3 in front of 7,271 spectators at New York’s Yankee Stadium. The historic friendly was originally scheduled to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation.

1961 – Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, married Katharine Worsley at York Minster in Yorkshire marking the first time a royal wedding was held there in over 600 years (since 1328). Following the service, the couple traveled 20 miles to the bride’s family estate at Hovingham Hall for the wedding breakfast and reception

1968 – James Earl Ray is arrested at Heathrow Airport in connection with the assassination of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King.

1968 – The body of assassinated U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

1969 – Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco closed the frontier with Gibraltar cutting off all land, sea, and telephone communications. This action, a reaction to the newly drafted Gibraltar Constitution, severed supply lines and separated families, marking the beginning of a 16-year blockade.

1978 – British-New Zealander, Naomi James becomes the first woman to have sailed single-handed around the world via Cape Horn and the second woman to have ever sailed solo around the world when she arrived back in Dartmouth after 272 days at sea.

1982 – Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram were anchored at Bluff Cove when they were hit by missiles in a surprise raid by five Argentine Skyhawks. The attack resulted in the deaths of 48 crew members including 32 Welsh Guards.

1983 – “Trading Places”, the American comedy film starring Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis was released in US cinemas (December 9 in the UK).

1984 – The original American comedy horror film “Gremlins” was theatrically released in the United States by Warner Bros. The franchise expanded with a satirical sequel, “Gremlins 2: The New Batch”, in 1990.

1985 – Irish boxer, Barry McGuigan won the WBA world featherweight title by defeating Eusebio Pedroza at Loftus Road Stadium in London. McGuigan won the fight by unanimous decision after 15 rounds, becoming the new WBA champion. The fight took place in front of a crowd of 27,000 fans.

1988 – All Nippon Airways (ANA) in Japan, conducted a controlled trial and discovered that painting large, menacing eyeballs on their engine cowlings frightened birds away, effectively reducing bird strikes by 20%.

1992 – World Oceans Day was celebrated for the first time. Canada’s International Center for Ocean Development proposed the idea of World Oceans Day at the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil, suggesting it could bring much-needed attention to the better caretaking of our oceans. Since then, countless people worldwide have celebrated World Oceans Day by doing whatever they can to help protect our planet’s most precious resource.

1999 – Former cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken is jailed for 18 months after admitting he lied during a libel action against The Guardian newspaper and Granada TV.

2002 – Lennox Lewis retains boxing’s WBC Heavyweight title with an eighth-round knockout over Mike Tyson at The Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee.

2002 – Serena Williams wins her first French tennis title, beating older sister Venus 7-5, 6-3.

2009 – Labour suffered its worst post-war election result after it was beaten into third place by UKIP and saw the BNP gain its first seats in the European elections.

2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo topped Forbes’ Highest-Paid Athletes List, becoming the first football player to do so and third overall after Tiger Woods and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

2017 – The UK General Election resulted in a major political upset when Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party lost its parliamentary majority, forcing a hung parliament. This resulted in the formation of a Conservative minority government with a confidence and supply agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland.

2023 – Rishi Sunak meets with Joe Biden at the White House, announcing an economic partnership to investigate the dangers of Artificial Intelligence.

1967 – Procol Harum were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’ the group’s only UK No.1. In 2004 the song was named the most played record of the past 70 years. More than 900 recorded versions by other artists are known.

1974 – David Bowie started a four-week run at the top of the UK charts with his third No.1 album ‘Diamond Dogs’. The cover art features Bowie as a striking half-man, half-dog grotesque painted by Belgian artist Guy Peellaert. It was controversial as the full painting clearly showed the hybrid’s genitalia. Very few copies of this original cover made their way into circulation at the time of the album’s release.

1974 – Dolly Parton was at No.1 on the US country chart with ‘I Will Always Love You’. Elvis Presley indicated that he wanted to cover the song. Parton was interested until Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, told her that it was standard procedure for the songwriter to sign over half of the publishing rights to any song Elvis recorded. Parton refused. ‘I Will Always Love You’ later became a worldwide No.1 hit for Whitney Houston in 1992 when featured in The Bodyguard.

1985 – Tears For Fears started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart (the song peaked at number two in the UK) with ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’, the group’s first US No.1. In 1986, the song won Best Single at the Brit Awards.

1989 – At a Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior’s press conference, vegetarian Chrissie Hynde claimed that she once firebombed a McDonalds restaurant. The following day a McDonalds in Milton Keynes was firebombed and Hynde was threatened with legal action.

1991 – Color Me Badd had their only UK No.1 single with ‘I Wanna Sex You Up’. The song was a No.2 hit in the US where some radio stations edited out the word “sex” with disc jockeys announcing the song ‘I Wanna Love You Up’.

1996 – The Fugees scored their first UK No.1 single with their version of the Roberta Flack 1973 hit ‘Killing Me Softly’. The song composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel in 1971 was inspired by Lori Lieberman’s poem ‘Killing Me Softly with His Blues’, written having seen a performance by US singer, songwriter Don McLean.

2007 – George Michael was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and banned from driving for two years at Brent Magistrates court, north London.

2008 – Rolling Stone magazine published a list of the Top 50 guitar songs of all time. No.5 was ‘Brown Sugar’ by The Rolling Stones, No.4 , ‘You Really Got Me’ by The Kinks, No.3, ‘Crossroads’, by Cream, No.2 ‘Purple Haze’, by Jimi Hendrix and No.1 ‘Johnny B Goode’, Chuck Berry.

2020 – Former Pointer Sisters singer Bonnie Pointer died from a cardiac arrest aged 69. She and her sisters rose to fame as the Grammy award-winning Pointer Sisters, who were best known for the 1984 hits ‘Jump (For My Love)’ and ‘I’m So Excited’.

793 AD – Vikings raided the abbey at Lindisfarne in Northumbria. The event is commonly accepted as the beginning of the Scandinavian invasion of England.

1042 – Harthacnut, King of England and Denmark, died. He was succeeded in England by his adopted heir, Edward the Confessor, and in Denmark by Magnus, King of Norway.

1405 – Richard le Scrope (Archbishop of York) and Thomas Mowbray (Earl of Norfolk) were executed in York on Henry IV’s orders, accused of treason.

1536 – The English Parliament met and settled the succession on the future children of Henry VIII by Jane Seymour. The Princesses Mary and Elizabeth were declared illegitimate.

1652 – The birth of William Dampier, English explorer who turned to piracy. His exploits netted him £200,000 worth of treasure in only two voyages.

1724 – The birth of John Smeaton, considered the founder of English civil engineering. He built the Eddystone lighthouse (south of Rame Head in Cornwall), at the same time developing cement that could be used underwater.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has revealed he personally called US Vice President JD Vance to tell him he was "wrong" after comments linking the murder of teenager Henry Nowak to mass migration. Lammy said the tragedy had "nothing to do with immigration" and urged politicians to respect the wishes of Henry's family, who have asked for unity rather than division.

The political fallout from the Henry Nowak case continues, with the Attorney General reviewing the sentence handed to Vickrum Digwa following widespread public concern. Debate also continues around police procedures after bodycam footage prompted calls for reform.

London Tech Week 2026 gets underway today, bringing together thousands of technology leaders, entrepreneurs and investors from around the world. Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and the future of work are expected to dominate discussions as London showcases itself as a global technology hub.

MPs have warned that delays to the Government's defence investment programme have damaged the UK's military credibility, with renewed calls for faster spending amid growing global security concerns. ([The Guardian][2])

Today marks World Oceans Day, with charities and environmental groups across the UK organising beach cleans and conservation projects to highlight the importance of protecting marine life and tackling plastic pollution.

The latest housing figures continue to show a mixed picture across the UK, with modest annual house price growth but mortgage costs remaining significantly higher than many homeowners became used to before 2025. Affordability remains one of the biggest challenges facing first-time buyers.

And finally, excitement is building across the country as the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues. Pubs, workplaces and football fans are already making plans for England's opening matches, with tournament fever beginning to grip the nation.

The Sun leads with reports that Katie Price has urged her husband, Lee Andrews, to explain how he ended up in an Emirati jail. Andrews is reportedly being held in Dubai's Al-Awir prison following an alleged arrest last month.

The Daily Mail launches a campaign calling for Britain to increase defence spending, warning that failing to invest now could have serious consequences. Former NATO commander General Sir Richard Shirreff says the UK risks paying the "cost in blood" if it falls behind.

The Times reports that the Government is preparing new rules aimed at protecting children online by banning access to "harmful" social media platforms while allowing access to services considered lower risk.

The Daily Telegraph leads on Iran's latest missile attack on Israel, while also reporting claims that US President Donald Trump is considering plans involving the Chagos Islands.

The Daily Express reports concerns over illegal migration, claiming some migrants believe Britain will not deport them. The paper says its undercover investigation uncovered claims from people hoping to enter the UK illegally.

The Daily Star takes a lighter approach, reporting that bars near England's World Cup training base are charging more than £1,000 for a bottle of wine during the tournament.

The Daily Mirror launches a campaign to reduce child drownings across the UK, highlighting that around a classroom of children lose their lives in water-related incidents each year and calling for greater awareness and education.

The i Paper claims Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham could move quickly to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership if he wins the forthcoming Makerfield by-election, with sources suggesting a leadership bid could follow soon after.

The Financial Times reports that OpenAI is planning to transform ChatGPT into a much broader "super app", expanding beyond its current capabilities. The paper also features the aftermath of a Russian attack on a nuclear facility in Ukraine.

Metro leads on Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy's criticism of US Vice President JD Vance, after Lammy told him he was "wrong" to blame mass migration for the murder of Henry Nowak.

The Guardian also leads on Iran's missile attack on Israel, highlighting growing international concerns over escalating tensions in the Middle East. The paper's front page also features Sir Keir Starmer meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Christian Eriksen is dominating searches after collapsing on the pitch during Denmark's international friendly against Ukraine, five years after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2021. The midfielder was conscious after receiving medical treatment and is undergoing further tests, with football fans around the world sending messages of support.

Lewis Hamilton is trending after another dramatic weekend for Ferrari, with debate continuing over race strategy and stewarding decisions. Fans remain divided as the seven-time world champion continues his first season with the Italian team.

Iran is trending following its latest missile attacks on Israel, escalating tensions across the Middle East and prompting renewed international calls for restraint amid fears of a wider regional conflict.

Searches for "Why did George leave Love Island?" have surged after George Knight unexpectedly quit the villa. ITV confirmed he left for private reasons, with George later explaining he made the decision to be with his family, saying "family comes first".

Forecasters are highlighting an increased risk of a UK summer heatwave later this month, with long-range weather models suggesting temperatures could climb well above average if current patterns continue.

Samba the capybara is continuing to trend after escaping from Marwell Zoo, delighting social media users as keepers worked to locate the popular animal. The unusual escape has become one of today's biggest feel-good stories.

The Tony Awards 2026 are generating huge online discussion after Broadway's biggest night celebrated the year's best productions, performances and stars, with winners and acceptance speeches dominating social media.

The iPhone 18 Pro is trending following fresh leaks suggesting significant camera improvements and expanded AI features. Apple fans are already debating whether the next generation device will be worth the upgrade.

Clarkson's Farm continues to trend following the latest episodes, with viewers praising the show's honest look at modern farming and Jeremy Clarkson's humorous approach to rural life.

And finally, the Ford Fiesta is back in the spotlight as drivers share memories of Britain's former best-selling car. Despite production ending, the iconic hatchback remains one of the UK's most recognisable vehicles.

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes has reassured fans after sharing a smiling photo from hospital, telling supporters "I'll be back." The broadcaster received thousands of well wishes as he continues his recovery.

Harry Styles has gone viral after forgetting the lyrics to one of his own songs during a live performance. The singer laughed off the mistake, asked the audience for help and carried on, with fans praising his honesty and humour.

Jeremy Clarkson has been making headlines after admitting he was completely stumped by a £64,000 question on the latest episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Contestant Natalie Waldegrave used her "Ask the Host" lifeline hoping Clarkson could point her in the right direction, but the presenter confessed he had absolutely no idea of the answer and apologised for being unable to help. Viewers praised his honesty, with many saying it proved just how difficult the question really was.

ITV has confirmed Bullseye will return for a second full series following the success of its revival, with a celebrity edition also in development hosted by Freddie Flintoff.

Broadway's biggest stars gathered overnight for the 2026 Tony Awards, with spectacular performances and glamorous red carpet appearances dominating entertainment headlines around the world.

Nicole Kidman has surprised fans by revealing her natural curly hair during a countryside break. The Oscar-winning actress, famous for wearing wigs in many of her screen roles, received widespread praise for embracing her natural look.

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon reunited to promote the latest season of The Morning Show, with fans delighted to see the pair together once again ahead of the show's return.

And finally, Big Brother fans have been celebrating after series seven favourites Glyn Wise, Richard Newman and Lea Walker reunited 20 years after appearing together on the iconic reality show, prompting a wave of nostalgia online.

Madonna has urged fans to "put your phones down" as she prepares for the release of her new album Confessions II. Speaking at the Tribeca Film Festival, the Queen of Pop said she wants audiences to experience music in the moment rather than through a mobile screen, saying genuine connection is more important than recording every second.

Mis-Teeq are hinting at a possible comeback following their surprise reunion at Capital's Summertime Ball. The trio say they have been approached with new songs and haven't ruled out recording together again, delighting fans of early 2000s UK pop.

Shania Twain stunned fans with an intimate performance at a 200-capacity East London pub ahead of her Wembley Stadium appearance. The surprise show quickly became one of the most talked-about gigs of the weekend.

Ellie Goulding has revealed her upcoming album I Know Too Much will be the most honest music she has ever released. The singer opens up about motherhood, postnatal struggles and life after divorce, saying writing the album helped her rediscover herself.

Festival season is officially here as Download Festival prepares to welcome thousands of rock fans to Donington Park later this week. Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit and many more are set to headline one of the UK's biggest music weekends.

Boyzone fans have been debating Mikey Graham's absence during parts of the group's farewell performance after viewers noticed he was missing from sections of the emotional reunion show. Social media has been full of speculation following the concert.

David Gray has revealed he'd like Madness classic Night Boat to Cairo played at his funeral because he wants people "dancing in the aisles" rather than feeling sad. His comments have sparked listeners to share the songs they'd choose for their own farewell.

And finally, Yorkshire hard rock band Asomvel have announced their fifth studio album Set Your World On Fire, releasing the title track alongside a new music video filmed during their recent tour. The album arrives this October and continues the county's proud rock tradition.

A woman from New York has gone viral after revealing she flies to Disney World for just one day every month before catching the last flight home. She says the whirlwind trips help her switch off from the stresses of everyday life and prove you don't need a long holiday to recharge.

Forecasters are continuing to highlight the possibility of a UK heatwave later this month, with long-range models suggesting temperatures could rise well above average if current weather patterns persist.

Food experts say spaghetti bolognese tastes even better if you roast the mince in the oven before adding it to the sauce. Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge says the method removes excess moisture and creates a richer, deeper flavour.

Shoppers are being urged to inspect strawberries carefully before buying them, with experts saying bright red fruit with fresh green leaves offers the best flavour because strawberries stop ripening once they're picked.

Cake sheds are becoming one of Britain's fastest-growing food trends, with more people selling homemade cakes from honesty boxes and garden kiosks. However, some councils are now considering tighter licensing rules.

Scientists say chilling chocolate in the fridge during warmer weather can actually improve its texture and flavour, with many Brits already choosing to keep their favourite bars cold throughout the summer.

A couple who bought a centuries-old house in Sicily for the equivalent of £1.60 have revealed how they're transforming it into their dream holiday home as part of Italy's famous "One Euro House" scheme.

And finally, one of the world's strangest property listings has sold after a former prison cell in Australia was bought for around £40,000 to be used as a private wine cellar and secure storage space. Despite attracting plenty of jokes online, it found a buyer within weeks.

Mel B has addressed rumours that a planned Netflix documentary celebrating the Spice Girls has been shelved. The singer says fans should stay patient, with reports suggesting a separate drama project marking the group's 30th anniversary is still in development.

Emilia Clarke has admitted she knows "nobody liked" some of her biggest Hollywood films, including Solo - A Star Wars Story and Terminator Genisys. The Game of Thrones star says she has learned to judge success by enjoying the work rather than worrying about reviews.

Mrs Brown's Boys actor Dermot O'Neill has spoken about the heartbreaking loss of both his wife and sister just weeks apart. The actor says the double tragedy has left him feeling lonely but thanked fans for their support during the difficult time.

Jeremy Clarkson's Farm has returned for a fifth series, with critics calling it one of the most emotional seasons yet after following Clarkson's recovery from a serious health scare while continuing life at Diddly Squat Farm.

Natalie Cassidy has reflected on her EastEnders career, praising legends including June Brown, Barbara Windsor and Wendy Richard for teaching her everything she knows about acting. The actress says working alongside the soap icons shaped her career from a young age.

Campaigners are warning that millions of viewers could eventually lose access to BBC, ITV and Channel 4 if traditional terrestrial television is phased out in favour of internet-only broadcasting. The debate comes as the future of Freeview continues to be discussed.

Death Valley returned with another star-studded episode featuring guest appearances from actors familiar to fans of Line of Duty, Vera and The Good Ship Murder. The quirky crime drama continues to build a loyal audience.

And finally, the Xbox Games Showcase has generated huge excitement among gamers after revealing new titles and updates, with fans praising one of Microsoft's strongest presentations in recent years and debating the future of console exclusives.

George Knight's emotional exit finally aired overnight, with fellow Islanders left stunned after learning he had left the villa for personal reasons. George has since broken his silence, saying he made the difficult decision to leave after receiving heartbreaking news from home, adding "Family comes first, always."

The villa has been thrown into chaos after bombshells Namibia and Victoria arrived and invited the boys away for cocktails, leaving the girls watching events unfold from the villa. Fans are already predicting major relationship drama in tonight's episode.

Viewers were left asking "Where's Sam?" after contestant Sam barely appeared in the latest episode. Social media was flooded with comments from fans wondering whether producers had edited him out while focusing on George's departure and the bombshell arrivals.

Former Love Island favourites Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury continue to dominate headlines after confirming their second child is a baby boy. Their emotional video showing daughter Bambi meeting her baby brother has attracted millions of views and congratulations from fans and fellow celebrities.

Love Island viewers criticised Sunday's episode for taking too long to reveal George's departure before introducing the bombshell twist. Many described the episode as a slow burn before the drama finally exploded in the closing minutes.

Former Islander Kaz Kamwi has revealed she and Toby Aromolaran have a long-running "marriage pact" if they're both still single in the future. Despite years of romance rumours, Kaz insists they're just close friends but says Toby would make "an excellent husband."

And finally, fans are already counting down to tonight's episode after producers teased more fallout from the bombshell arrivals, with several couples expected to face their biggest test of the series so far.

Christian Eriksen is the biggest story in world sport after collapsing during Denmark's international friendly against Ukraine, almost five years after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. The Danish Football Association confirmed the midfielder was conscious and recovering in hospital following the incident, with football fans around the world sending messages of support. The match was abandoned.

Alexander Zverev has finally won his first Grand Slam title after defeating Flavio Cobolli in a dramatic five-set French Open final. The German ended years of near misses to lift the trophy at Roland Garros and become the first German man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Boris Becker.

Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari are getting closer to their first victory together after another dramatic Formula One weekend in Monaco. The seven-time world champion remains confident that the team has the pace to challenge for wins despite a race affected by penalties and controversy.

Scotland are preparing for their first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1998, with excitement building among the Tartan Army ahead of the tournament in North America. Thousands of supporters are expected to travel as Steve Clarke's side returns to football's biggest stage.

Netflix has confirmed it will broadcast daily editions of The Rest Is Football throughout the World Cup, with Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards bringing their hugely popular podcast to television.

England fans travelling to the World Cup are being reminded to check FIFA's stadium regulations before attending matches, with organisers warning that prohibited items and inappropriate behaviour could result in removal from venues.

LIV Golf continues to face uncertainty after reports that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund could end its financial backing after the 2026 season. Questions are growing over the long-term future of the breakaway tour as investment talks continue.

And finally, Curaçao has become one of the feel-good stories of the World Cup after the tiny Caribbean nation captured hearts online with its humble arrival ahead of the tournament. Fans around the world are already adopting the underdogs as their second team.