At least 2,700 people are estimated to have died in England and Wales during two severe heatwaves that struck in May and June, according to a new study released on Monday. Researchers say the unusually early and intense periods of extreme heat highlight the growing health risks associated with climate change.

The study was carried out by experts from Imperial College London, the Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who analysed weather data, climate models and previous research on excess deaths linked to heatwaves.

The United Kingdom, along with much of western Europe, experienced two record-breaking heatwaves during the period. England recorded monthly temperature highs of 35.1°C in May and 37.7°C in June, making them some of the hottest early summer conditions ever observed.

“They were extreme heatwaves for the UK, and for all parts of western Europe, and they’re particularly exceptional for the timing and how early in the year they occurred,” Mark McCarthy, science manager of the Met’s climate attribution team, was quoted as saying in the study.

According to the findings, approximately 550 people died due to heat-related conditions between 21 and 29 May, while nearly 2,200 deaths were recorded during the second heatwave between 18 and 28 June across England and Wales.

The researchers noted that the official number of heat-related deaths will be published in the coming weeks by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) after analysing certified death records from the recent heatwaves.

Lea Berrang Ford, head of the UKHSA’s Centre for Climate and Health Security, said the study demonstrates the growing danger posed by rising temperatures.

“The models in the study released Monday help illustrate the scale of risk associated with extreme heat and the growing threat climate change poses to our wellbeing,” said Lea Berrang Ford, head of UKHSA’s Centre for Climate and Health Security.

The report also links the deadly heatwaves to climate change, with researchers estimating that daytime maximum temperatures were 3°C to 4°C higher than they would have been without the effects of global warming.

The authors warned that climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, making such events more dangerous for vulnerable populations.

Their concerns echo previous warnings from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the independent body that advises the UK government on climate policy. Last year, the committee concluded that the country was “not ready” to cope with the impacts of climate change.

In a separate report published in May, the CCC estimated that 92 per cent of homes in Britain could become dangerously hot by 2050. It recommended that the government introduce maximum workplace temperature limits and invest in cooling systems for public buildings, including hospitals and schools.

The latest findings add to growing evidence that extreme heat is becoming a significant public health threat in the UK. As climate change continues to drive higher temperatures, experts say stronger adaptation measures will be essential to reduce future heat-related deaths and protect communities from increasingly frequent heatwaves.

Ukraine launched a fresh wave of drone attacks on Russian territory on Monday, killing at least four people and injuring seven others, according to Russian officials. The latest strikes, most of which were reported in the Moscow region, come as Kyiv continues to step up cross-border operations in response to Russia’s sustained military assaults since the war began more than four years ago.

Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian territory, particularly energy infrastructure, arguing that the attacks are a justified response to Moscow’s repeated strikes on Ukrainian cities and civilian facilities.

Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov said three people were killed and three others were injured after a drone crashed in the settlement of Pionersky in Istra.

“In the settlement of Pionersky in Istra, three people were killed and three more wounded as a result of a drone falling,” Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov posted on Telegram.

Vorobyov added that two more people were injured in another part of the Moscow region. According to him, Russian air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 81 Ukrainian drones over the region during the attack.

In Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, officials reported that a woman was killed in a drone strike in the town of Berezovka, while two men sustained injuries following another attack in Krinichnoye.

Meanwhile, authorities in the southern Stavropol region confirmed that Ukrainian drones also targeted an industrial zone, triggering a fire.

“The attack has caused a fire in the industrial zone in… Vyazniki, Shpakovsky district,” Governor Vladimir Vladimirov posted on Telegram.

The governor said emergency responders and firefighters were deployed to the scene, adding that no casualties had been reported at the site.

“The drone threat continues to be in effect across the entire region. Be vigilant and careful,” he added.

The latest escalation comes as Ukraine continues its strategy of striking military and energy-related targets inside Russia, insisting such operations are retaliation for years of Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.

The renewed attacks also coincide with diplomatic efforts by Ukraine’s allies, who are gathering in Paris on Monday to discuss ways of increasing pressure on Russia to end the war. However, negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire have slowed in recent months as the United States has shifted much of its diplomatic attention toward the escalating conflict involving Iran.

Despite ongoing international efforts to revive peace talks, both Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange attacks, signalling that the conflict remains far from a negotiated resolution. The latest drone strikes underscore the growing intensity of cross-border operations as the war enters another critical phase.

The United States has lost one of its most influential and outspoken Republican lawmakers following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, a veteran politician whose career spanned more than two decades in the U.S. Senate.

Known for his unwavering support for a strong American military, his hard-line foreign policy positions, and his close alliance with President Donald Trump in recent years, Graham died at the age of 71 after what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.”

His passing marks the end of a political career that shaped major debates on U.S. national security, military intervention, immigration, judicial appointments, and America’s relationships with allies and adversaries around the world.

Who Was Lindsey Graham?

Lindsey Olin Graham was born on July 9, 1955, in Central, South Carolina. His early life was marked by tragedy after losing both of his parents within two years while attending university. Following their deaths, Graham took responsibility for his younger sister, eventually becoming her legal guardian, a chapter of his life he often described as one of the defining moments of his character.

After earning a degree from the University of South Carolina, Graham graduated from law school before joining the United States Air Force. He served as a military prosecutor and defence attorney in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and later continued serving in the Air Force Reserve, eventually retiring with the rank of Colonel.

Political Career

His political career began in the South Carolina House of Representatives before he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. In 2002, he won election to the United States Senate, where he would remain one of the chamber’s most recognisable Republican figures for more than 20 years.

Throughout his Senate career, Graham became a leading voice on foreign affairs and national security. He served on several influential committees, including the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he helped shape legislation on defence spending, intelligence, and judicial nominations.

Although he was widely respected for his bipartisan relationships during the early years of his Senate career, Graham later became one of the Republican Party’s most prominent conservative voices.

From Trump Critic To One Of His Closest Allies

One of the most remarkable aspects of Graham’s political journey was his evolving relationship with Donald Trump.

During the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, Graham emerged as one of Trump’s harshest critics, famously describing him as a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.”
Ahead of the election, Graham also warned:
“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed… and we will deserve it.”

Following the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021, Graham again appeared to distance himself from Trump, telling the Senate:
“Trump and I, we’ve had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way.”

He added:
“All I can say is a count me out. Enough is enough.”

However, their relationship changed significantly in the years that followed. Graham became one of Trump’s strongest allies, backing many of his domestic and foreign policy initiatives and supporting his return to the White House in 2024.

Explaining his support, Graham pointed to Trump’s record on border security, conservative judicial appointments and the 2020 killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.

In a 2023 BBC interview, Graham acknowledged:
“There is a dark side to Donald Trump… and he was a very good president. But I am sticking with him because I saw what he did.”

One Of America’s Most Hawkish Voices On Foreign Policy

Lindsey Graham built a reputation as one of Washington’s strongest advocates for an aggressive U.S. foreign policy.

He consistently supported expanding American military power overseas and backed military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Graham voted in favour of the Iraq War following the September 11 terrorist attacks and later criticised the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Describing the withdrawal, he said:
“Jihadists all over the world are celebrating.”
He added:
“America will be seen as weak.”
Graham also became one of the Senate’s most vocal supporters of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, repeatedly urging Washington to increase military assistance and impose tougher sanctions on Moscow.

Just one day before his death, Graham met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

Graham’s Hard-Line Position on Iran

Among Graham’s defining foreign policy positions was his uncompromising stance toward Iran.

For years, he advocated stronger sanctions, greater military pressure and tougher responses to Tehran’s actions across the Middle East. He strongly supported the U.S. strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020 and consistently argued that Iran posed one of America’s greatest national security threats.

In one of his final television appearances, Graham told CBS that the United States would:
“obliterate”

Iran if the country refused to submit to U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz.
His outspoken support for Israel also made him one of the country’s strongest advocates in Congress.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Graham as one of Israel’s closest friends, saying:
“Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable.”
He added that Israel had lost:
“one of its greatest friends.”

Cause Of Death

According to Graham’s office, the senator died on Saturday evening after suffering what was described as a “brief and sudden illness.”

Preliminary findings from the medical examiner indicated that his death was caused by a rupture of the aorta, the body’s main artery that carries blood from the heart.

His spokesman confirmed the initial medical assessment while noting that no known health concerns had been reported before Graham travelled to Ukraine.

President Donald Trump revealed that he had spoken with Graham only hours before his death.

“He was a tough cookie in many ways,” Trump said.

“If he wanted to get something, if he thought he was right and he had people against him, he could be very tough, actually. But he was a good person.”

Tributes Pour In

President Trump described Graham as a “true American Patriot” who would be “greatly missed.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also paid tribute, writing:
“America and the world have lost a determined leader.”

Across Washington, lawmakers from both parties acknowledged Graham’s influence on U.S. foreign policy and his willingness to defend his convictions, even when they generated controversy.

Conclusion

Lindsey Graham leaves behind a political legacy that few senators can match. From his military service and decades in Congress to his transformation from Donald Trump’s outspoken critic to one of his closest allies, Graham remained one of the most influential Republican figures in American politics.

Whether championing military intervention, advocating unwavering support for Israel and Ukraine, or taking one of the Senate’s toughest positions against Iran, Graham consistently shaped debates on America’s role in the world.

His death closes a significant chapter in U.S. politics, but his influence on national security and foreign policy is likely to endure for years to come.