UK provisional peak of 37.7C shatters previous record by huge margin, while Germany hits all-time high of 41.7C
Last week’s heatwave across western Europe shattered national June records and set new all-time highs.
The UK recorded a provisional high of 37.7C at Lingwood in Norfolk on Friday 27 June, smashing the previous June record of 35.6C, set in 1976. Such a margin is exceptionally rare: temperature records are typically broken by 0.1C or 0.2C, not a remarkable 2.1C.
Continue reading...With players leaving EA’s series once life there felt like a grind beset by ethical concerns, this quirky new sim promises a better life elsewhere
For 26 years, the life-sims genre has been dominated by one series: The Sims. Originally designed by Will Wright, creator of Sim City, EA’s virtual dollhouse series has grown into a $5bn [£3.8bn] empire with the constant release of new games, expansion packs, and collaborations cementing its place among the bestselling video game franchises of all time. But things are beginning to change. New contenders are emerging and turning the heads of even loyal players in The Sims community.
The most recent, and promising, of these is Paralives, once the solo project of indie designer Alex Massé, who is now employing a small team of developers. Released on the PC games platform Steam in May 2026 as an early access title (meaning it’s technically unfinished and looking for user feedback), it sold 250,000 copies in just eight hours. On that first day, the concurrent player count hit 78,603 – not far off The Sims 4’s all-time peak of 96,328 in 2022. While Paralives is a small project, this success is understandable. Following the news of EA’s controversial acquisition by a Saudi-backed business consortium, some simmers are looking for what they see as a more ethical alternative. But this is only part of the game’s appeal. The real draw is the game’s focus on creativity over realism: the quirky details that made many fans fall in love with The Sims in the first place.
Continue reading...Stanway back in WSL after stint at Bayern Munich
‘This is a massive club’ says England midfielder
Georgia Stanway believes Arsenal is the right place for her to win more trophies and further improve her game after completing her move to the north London club on a free transfer.
Stanway, who helped Bayern Munich win four consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga titles, has moved to Arsenal following the end of her contract with the German club. “It’s an unbelievable feeling and I’m so proud to be joining Arsenal,” said the 27-year-old England midfielder. “This is a massive club that is driving the women’s game forward to new levels and I want to be a part of it.
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