The death of a teenager in the Thames prompted a warning of the dangers of cooling off in rivers as the UK's mini-heatwave continued.

A 15-year-old boy has drowned after jumping from a bridge into a river.

The Military Council is taking the credit for the transition to democracy, but divisions remain

After being spoilt by the Indian summer of last October, and the brief arrival of unseasonal sunshine in February, it had begun to seem as if the real thing would never arrive this year following the wettest April in years. But now those comparisons of Britain to stereotypically hot places around the world where temperatures are, for once, marginally cooler than here – the Bahamas! Hawaii! Ibiza! – can finally be brought out in force.

Stars of Golden Age Hollywood – particularly those d'un certain age – are said to have dunked their heads in iced water prior to a day in the studio, in an attempt to temporarily undo gravity's handiwork. Fortunately, today's generation of beauty products offers similar, instantaneous effects in a more targeted manner.

Panic buying of petrol and unseasonably warm weather lifted retail sales figures for March today.

Trendy clothing chain SuperGroup stunned investors today by admitting it had got its sums wrong when forecasting its performance.

To be spoken of in the same breath as Brian Statham is an accolade few deserve. Statham was one of the greatest fast bowlers who ever lived. Jimmy Anderson deserves it.

1. DeLonghi Retro Fan Heater

A man who rambled through a popular beauty spot naked except for a backpack, boots and a baseball cap has been fined £315.

The African National Congress stumbled into its second century yesterday with little rejoicing, amid a clampdown on speeches and after international dignitaries stayed away from a chaotic series of commemorative events.

The African National Congress stumbled into its second century yesterday with little rejoicing, amid a clampdown on speeches and after international dignitaries stayed away from a chaotic series of commemorative events.

It's a challenge for even the mildest-mannered Class Warrior to remember to review The Maccabees' music, not their names: Orlando, Hugo, Felix, Rupert (and Sam), but our privately schooled heroes' third album is their best yet.

I've finished my expedition to the glorious Okanagan Valley in British Columbia (Canada's California, apparently) investigating Ogopogo, the monster that is supposed to inhabit Lake Okanagan. Don't worry, I haven't gone all David Icke (yet) – this is for my new book, Scary Monsters and Super Creeps, and the subject gives me an excuse to visit some pretty interesting parts of the world. Canada was probably a brave choice for a first destination as it is seen as literary Mogadon by publishers. Bill Bryson supposedly wanted to write a book about the country but his publishers recoiled in horror. I love the place – I have a Canadian wife and spend every summer there – and hope to convert as many Brits as possible to the land of the beaver.