Good Morning Britain

Could this be the hottest summer that’s ever been recorded in the UK?

Temperatures may have cooled recently, but this summer the nation has sizzled in scorching conditions beating records not seen since 1976. There’s just two weeks to go, and at the moment we are set to scoop the top spot for the hottest summer ever recorded.

Privately-run HMP Birmingham faces “drastic action” after major failings were revealed following an inspection.

HMP Birmingham is one of Britain’s largest prisons and was described as having fallen into a “state of crisis” by inspectors. They discovered that prison had high levels of violence, widespread bullying, squalid living conditions and poor control by fearful staff. The notorious prison hit the headlines when riots took place in 2016.

29 year-old Salih Khater has appeared in court accused of attempting to murder members of the public and police officers by driving a car through crowds in Westminster.

Police have said that they are treating the incident as terrorism because of its “location, methodology and alleged targeting of civilians and police officers.”

Last Tuesday a silver Ford Fiesta was involved in a collision in front of the Houses of Parliament. The vehicle collided with cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barrier.

Three people were treated for non-life threatening injuries after the incident. The defendant has appeared in court today. He will now next appear at the Old Bailey on 31 August.

Soul legend Aretha Franklin has died aged 76 at her home in Detroit. A representative for the family reportedly said that she died on Thursday from advanced pancreatic cancer.

It follows a 2010 diagnosis for the disease.

With an impressive vocal range, the star secured fame with hits such as Respect, I Say A Little Prayer and Natural Woman. Her career spanned several decades, becoming a household name after a string of hits and securing her place in music's Hall of Fame.

On social media, celebrities are posting tributes to the singer.

Apple Chief Tim Cook said: "Her voice will keep lifting us, through the music she gave the world. Our thoughts are with her family, her loved ones and fans everywhere."

Morgan Freeman tweeted US President Donald Trump asking what the death of the star means for the history of civil rights in the US. He signed off the tweet using the trending hashtag #RIPArethaFranklin.

The photo of a Syrian toddler’s body on a Turkish beach made international headlines three years ago. Today, young Alan’s aunt Tima Kurdi said she hopes his tragic story can inspire more change for refugees.

Tima told Good Morning Britain: “We all know back in 2015 when everybody saw that image it changed people, the way they look at the situation, they start to open [up] and want to do something. It takes only like a few months. If you ask me, going back and witnessing the refugee camp, the situation, the number of refugees is triple the number – every year it’s getting worse and worse."

Tima hopes the UK can follow Canada's lead and welcome more refugees.

She went on to say: "What kind of generation are we creating? If we’re going to look back a few years from now we’re going to feel ashamed of ourselves if we don’t do anything.”

Watch the full interview above.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan today told Good Morning Britain that he believed part of Parliament Square should be shut to drivers following the recent Westminster incident.

Speaking to Eamonn Holmes and Ranvir Singh, he said: “I’m a big advocate of part pedestrianising Parliament Square. After the incident in Westminster Bridge last March, there have been temporary barriers put into place in many of the bridge across London. We are doing things like designing out the possibility of a hostile vehicle smashing into pedestrians or buildings."

The London Mayor went on to say: "There is other work taking place. City Hall, working with the Palace and local experts, we are seeing if permanent plans can be in place to part-pedestrianise that part of Parliament Square."

Watch the full interview above.

Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said the suspect arrested on suspicion of terrorism after the Westminster car crash is not cooperating with police.

At 7.30am a silver Ford Fiesta was involved in a collision in front of the Houses of Parliament.

The vehicle collided with cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barrier.

Central London was on lockdown this morning as the Metropolitan Police launched a counter-terror investigation into the incident.

A man has been arrested after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament at 7.37am. The suspect is believed to be in his late 20s and is being held on suspicion of terror offences.

Scotland Yard said: "There was nobody else in the vehicle, which remains at the scene and is being searched. No weapons have been recovered at this stage."