In this Wednesday’s Mirror Daily Digest, we’ve pulled together the biggest stories of the day from Meghan Markle’s birthday tribute to Lilibet, to the new Covid strain in the UK
Welcome to the Mirror’s Daily Digest, where we pull together all the best stories of the day from our News, Showbiz, Sport teams and more. This Wednesday, we’re taking a look at news of a ferocious and potentially vaccine-resistant new Covid variant hitting the UK, to weather maps warning of a huge downpour on the way.
Ferocious new Covid variant hits UK – and vaccine could be powerless against it
This afternoon, our Heath team reported that a new variant of the COVID virus has been identified in the UK for the first time. The Public Health Agency reports that at least seven cases of the NB.1.8.1 coronavirus strain have been confirmed in Northern Ireland.
NB.1.8.1 has been officially designated a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organisation (WHO) due to its rapid rise and the potential to evade immunity from previous infections or vaccines.
NB.1.8.1 already the dominant strain in Hong Kong and China, and has been detected in Australia, the US and across popular holiday destinations including Egypt, Thailand and the Maldives.
Read the full story here.
Meghan Markle cradles Princess Lilibet in new photo to mark fourth birthday
Our Royal team reported this morning that Meghan Markle marked the fourth birthday of her daughter Princess Lilibet’s birthday with a sweet tribute and some new black and white family photos of the Sussex clan.
One showed Meghan holding Lilibet close during a recent boat trip, and another from when the princess was just a baby snuggled close to her mum. Meghan wrote the caption: “Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives – and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!”
The duchess usually only shares photos of her daughter pictured from behind to protect her privacy, but in the more recent photo, Lili’s eyes and the top half of her face could be seen, with her nose and mouth and the rest of her face covered by Meghan’s arms as she hugged the princess.
Read the full story here.
UK weather maps show date England will ‘disappear’ under 400-mile wall of rain
Early this morning, our UK news team shared a weather warning that Brits are set to be battered with heavy showers with a map showing a 400 mile wall of rain moving in on Saturday.
More low pressure systems are sweeping in and it is looking particularly wet at the end of the week across the country. Many parts of the UK already have felt the unusually blustery conditions this week after a long spell through May where high pressure dominated and we enjoyed blue skies and plenty of sunshine. It means families planning for outdoor activities with many children on half-term will be disappointed but at least gardens will get much needed rainfall.
Maps from WXCharts show huge downpours covering England especially on Saturday morning while elsewhere there are also showers mixed in with sunshine.
Read the full story here.
Jessie J breast cancer battle as singer, 37, announces surgery plans after festival show
Our Showbiz team broke the sad news earlier today that singer Jessie J has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Singer Jessie J revealed she’s been diagnosed with “early breast cancer” and plans to undergo surgery after her performance at this month’s Summertime Ball. The 37 year old Price Tag singer shared in an Instagram video that she’s spent a lot of her recent time “in and out of tests”.
“I was diagnosed with early breast cancer,” mum-of-one Jessie disclosed as she spoke directly to her fans in the video. “Cancer sucks in any form, but I’m holding on to the word ‘early’.
“It’s a very dramatic way to get a boob job. I am going to disappear for a bit after Summertime Ball to have my surgery, and I will come back with massive tits and more music.”
Read the full story here.
Greg Monks UPDATES: Missing Brit who vanished after stag do found dead in ravine
Throughout the day today, our World News team has been updating the liveblog for the search for a British tourist who went missing during a stag do in Portugal.
Scottish man Greg Monks, 38, was discovered at the bottom of a ravine after he was last seen in Albufeira, Portugal.
Greg, from Glasgow, vanished in the early hours of last Wednesday morning after travelling to Albufeira for a stag do with friends. His parents and girlfriend flew to the country to help with the search.
Read the full story here.