Evening Briefing: Saturday 4 July 2026
- A Hot Week Ahead: The heat-health alerts that began at midday run until next Saturday evening, with 29C tomorrow, the low 30s through the week and a peak near 34C in the South East on Thursday or Friday — check on older relatives daily, and take the water-safety warning seriously: the UKHSA is explicitly warning of cold-water shock and drowning risk.
- Hosepipe Ban: Southern Water’s ban starts at 00:01 on Friday 10 July for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight — no garden watering, paddling pools or car washing — so the coming days are the window to prepare gardens for a dry spell.
- High Street & Taxes: Burnham’s first concrete fiscal plan is firming up — a 20% business-rates cut for high-street premises funded by higher rates on warehouses — the clearest signal yet of where his first Budget is heading before a chancellor is even named.
Ukraine Strikes St Petersburg Oil Terminal in Deepest Attack
Ukraine struck Russia’s second city overnight in what Moscow said was an attack by some 500 long-range drones, setting the St Petersburg Oil Terminal ablaze and targeting the Kronstadt naval base, more than 850km from Ukraine’s border. Pre…
Vast Crowds Mourn Khamenei as His Successor Stays Unseen
Tens of thousands filed through Tehran’s Grand Mosalla mosque to view Ayatollah Khamenei’s coffin, displayed under glass beside his daughter, son-in-law and 14-month-old granddaughter, all killed in February’s opening strikes. Supreme Lead…
Russia Claims Fortress Town Captured; Zelensky Mocks the Claim
Russia’s military claimed the capture of Kostyantynivka, the anchor of Ukraine’s fortress belt in Donetsk, a day after President Putin first asserted control — without offering evidence. Ukraine’s military said the town “remains under the…
NATO Gathers in Ankara Seeking to Steady the Alliance
NATO’s 32 leaders converge on Ankara for Tuesday and Wednesday’s summit under a sweeping security lockdown, with a draft declaration affirming an “ironclad commitment” to collective defence under Article 5 and European allies preparing a U…
Trump Caps America’s 250th With Campaign-Style Mall Rally
President Trump is closing America’s 250th-anniversary day with a campaign-style rally on Washington’s National Mall, extending his attack on what he calls a resurgent communism ahead of a record fireworks display — the first Independence…
Week-Long Heat Alerts Issued as 34C Peak Forecast
Yellow heat-health alerts covering six English regions came into force at midday and run until next Saturday evening, with the Met Office forecasting 29C tomorrow, the low 30s through the week and a peak near 34C in the South East on Thurs…
Streeting Demands Parliament Summon Maternity Scandal Witnesses
Wes Streeting called on Parliament’s health committee to summon the senior NHS managers who refused to give evidence to the Nottingham maternity review, saying their “cowardice… is an insult to the Nottingham families” and accusing the hea…
Powell Says Burnham Will End No 10 Boys Club Culture
Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell said Andy Burnham will change the “boys club” culture of factional briefings in Downing Street, describing the current culture as “unpleasant” and saying No 10 must become “more meritocratic”. Her intervent…
Harry Drops Family From London Visit Over Security Row
Prince Harry will travel to London next week without Meghan and their children after confirmation that the family would not receive police protection in the capital, according to multiple reports. His security team had explored ways to mak…
King Hails Truly Historic Milestone on America’s 250th
The King sent his “warmest congratulations” to President Trump and the American people on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, calling it a “truly historic milestone” and describing a relationship “founded on friendshi…