Southeast England has now officially met the heatwave criteria, after three days of temperatures above 28C, the Met Office said. Temperatures are forecast to rise across the UK this week with more regions likely to reach their local heatwave thresholds, the forecaster added. In some parts of southern England, temperatures could reach highs of 32C on Tuesday, 33C on Wednesday and 34C on Thursday, with 35C forecast for isolated areas on Friday and Saturday, the Met Office said. See the weather forecast for your area On Monday, the highest temperature was recorded in Teddington, South-West London, at 34C. Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates said this heatwave was not expected to be record-breaking. "Parts of the UK are entering heatwave conditions: the third heatwave in the UK so far this year," he said. "However, unlike the May and June heatwaves, we are not expecting this heatwave to be record-breaking. "Temperatures this week are not expected to reach the highs we witnessed last month, though parts of southern England in particular are likely to see several days in the low 30s, and a few places could reach 34-35C later this week." He added that Britons should "take the usual precautions with the heat and the sun". The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat health alerts for southern England and the Midlands, from 9am on Wednesday until 9pm on Sunday. Yellow heat health alerts have also been issued by the agency for Yorkshire and northern England for the same time period. Read more from Sky News:Prince Harry not bringing family to LondonUK to replace fleet of destroyers While Britain's south is expected to face increasingly hot conditions from Monday evening, a north-south divide will persist through the first half of the week, the Met Office said. Scotland should see stronger winds and rain on Tuesday, with temperatures remaining generally closer to average for this time of year. However, by the weekend, warm air is forecast to reach northern parts of the UK, bringing humidity, with a growing risk of showers or isolated thunderstorms. The Met Office also warned England could experience "tropical nights" later this week, when temperatures will not fall below 20C. Last week, the UK set a provisional June temperature record of 37.7C in Lingwood in Norfolk, according to the Met Office. It beat the previous June record for the UK of 35.6C, which dates back to 1976.

The agreement, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, will create the UK's largest commercial broadcaster via the acquisition of the ITVX platform and ITV's free-to-air channels, but not ITV's studio operations. The proposed combination was first revealed last November. It aims to create a UK-focused streaming giant amid the challenge posed by larger, established US platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The integrated streaming platform will have over 16 million viewers every month, Sky's chief executive Dana Strong said. Read more: Why a Sky-ITV deal makes sense Under the agreement ITV channels with shows like Coronation Street, Emmerdale, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Love Island will remain free-to-air. The combined business could also "supercharge" ITV's sports offering, according to Ms Strong. Studio guarantees Guarantees have been given to the studios wing of ITV, which creates TV shows and is not included in the deal. The combined Sky and ITV entity will spend at least £2.1bn from 2028 to 2032. Money blog: 'I'm an air traffic controller - here's what we earn' This commitment will support British programming, production and creative jobs across the UK, an ITV announcement said. The Sky-owned Love Productions, which makes the Great British Bake Off, is being sold to ITV for £200m to enhance "creative capabilities and portfolio breadth", the corporate announcement said. "As long as consumers love Coronation Street, we will absolutely be delivering Coronation Street," Sky CEO Dana Strong said when asked about what happens after the minimum spend agreement ends. "So we've got all of the shows that consumers love in a five-year contract. That's a pretty long contract, as you know, in our industry. So I have no concerns about what happens after that. You just start negotiations for continuation," Ms Strong said. News operations All ITV public service broadcasting commitments are to be maintained under the deal. And Sky said ITV News, produced by Independent Television News (ITN), and Sky News were set to remain distinct editorial voices. The current ITV-ITN contract is due to expire in 2030, which Ms Strong said is a "pretty long content deal for our industry". As the end of the contract approaches, Ms Strong said, "you just start renegotiating". "The national news, the international news and the regional news that ITV currently produces are all exceptional and will continue," she said. Sky is the owner of Sky News. Job losses? Speaking to Sky News, Ms Strong did not give a number of possible job losses as part of the purchase, but said they would be in commercial and corporate functions. "There is some duplication in roles in corporate functions and commercial functions as there is when you bring, inevitably, two organisations together," she said. "But it's the minority of the synergy." Sky had said about £200m in annual cost savings could be realised by the purchase. "We need to get a little bit closer to the businesses to look at where exactly the overlaps are," Ms Strong added. Reaction The chair of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Caroline Dinenage, said the news "reflects how British broadcasters feel the need to take steps to accelerate their growth so they can better compete with the global media streaming giants". "It will be important to have some early clarification on the future of ITN, which is 40% owned by ITV, given the implications of the deal for the plurality of news," she said. "ITV's role providing regional news programmes that so many people rely on also needs to be protected."

From September, part of the Sentencing Act 2026 will come into force, enabling some offenders to be freed earlier in a bid to reduce overcrowding. Killers, rapists and sex offenders could be among up to 6,000 criminals released early in a few months' time, reports have suggested. Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, said the extra capacity could help governors focus more on rehabilitation, but warned institutions were still failing to provide the education, training and risk-reduction programmes needed to support their release. "This is an area we've been worried about for many years," he said. "A lot of prisoners are going to be going out from jails in September, October, November, and we will watch very closely what the effect of that is in terms of reoffending rates and risk to the public." Prisoners locked up for some violent or sexual offences will become eligible for release halfway through their sentences under the changes, rather than serving the current tariff of two-thirds. Burglars and thieves are among the prisoners who will be considered for release a third of the way through their sentences, down from the current 40%. The first 700 offenders are to be released in September, the Telegraph has reported. Read more from Sky News:Farage reacts to Sky News question on his financesCharlie Kirk's widow faces his alleged killer in court Victims have started to receive letters from the government telling them their abusers or attackers are set to be freed under the scheme. Former Home Office minister Jess Phillips said last week "there should be more exemptions within the release scheme", including to keep adults who rape children in jail for longer. Meanwhile, The Sunday Times reported that Andy Burnham, widely expected to be the next prime minister, is looking at ways to tighten the early prison release scheme to stop child sex offenders walking free. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "This government is fixing the prison crisis it inherited - building 14,000 more prison places and reforming sentencing so we can always lock up dangerous criminals. "Without this decisive action, prisons will run out of space entirely as early as November and we will be unable to lock up serious offenders at all." A spokesperson for Mr Burnham has been contacted.

Ronaldo exited the World Cup for the final time as his Portugal side lost 1-0 to Spain thanks to Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner in the last 16 in Dallas. The 41-year-old was emotional at the full-time whistle, as his career-long dream for a World Cup trophy disappeared forever. He will go down as one of the best players to never lift the famous international trophy. World Cup day-by-day schedule | Latest: World CupFollow our World Cup coverage in the Sky Sports App After the game, Ronaldo addressed the media to discuss his international future in general. "I'm sad to be leaving the World Cup like this," he said. "I gave it my all. I did my best. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I'll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won't be making any rash decisions. "I don't decide anything in the heat of the moment. Now is not important whether I will continue [to play]. Tomorrow I will get up the same way I got up today: with a clear conscience. "I played 23 years in the national team and won three titles. Before Cristiano, Portugal had not won anything. The Euros was the most important. For me, 2016 has the same dimension as a World Cup, honestly." Ronaldo will be 43 by the time the next major tournament comes around - the 2028 European Championships hosted in the UK & Ireland. Martinez leaves Portugal job and pays tribute to Ronaldo Roberto Martinez has confirmed that he will step down from his role as Portugal's manager after their World Cup exit to Spain. Sky Sports News reported on June 16 that Martinez was set to step down from his role at the end of the tournament and confirmed this after the match. "I came to Portugal to win the World Cup and I ​think that, without winning it, there's no point in continuing," Martinez said. "The board and the president ⁠now have the opportunity to choose the new manager... my contract ends today. ​There isn't much more to say. "Yes, it's my last game for the national team. I'm very proud... I've felt welcomed as just ​another Portuguese person, in a very warm way. It's been a pleasure, a ​source of pride and a responsibility." Martinez also paid tribute to Ronaldo - but could not give any more details about what his captain is thinking. "A word of thanks, because he was an exemplary captain," Martinez said. "Not ⁠just in terms of goals - the statistics speak for ​themselves - but also in terms of assists. "It's his day-to-day ​commitment, the way he lives and breathes football. He's an ​example and something we must celebrate. "We will always be grateful for what he tried to do at this World Cup, because the dream was to win ​the World Cup and he tried with an incredible example of leadership as a captain," Martinez said. "This is not the moment to look beyond what we're talking about: a soccer icon. There are not many Cristiano Ronaldos."

Mr Kirk, 31, an ally of Donald Trump and founder of youth organisation Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at the Utah Valley University campus in Orem on 10 September 2025. Tyler Robinson, 23, who turned himself in to authorities the day after the shooting, has been charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstructing justice and witness tampering. A five-day preliminary hearing is currently under way in Utah to determine if the case against Robinson should proceed. Prosecutors are seeking to convince the judge that they have enough evidence to move to a trial, where they say they will seek the death penalty. Robinson has not yet entered a plea. Mr Kirk's family, including his parents and widow, Erika, were in court for the first time on Monday. They were joined by Donald Trump Jr, the son of the US president and a friend of Mr Kirk. In a statement released in advance of Monday's proceedings, Mr Kirk's family said: "Charlie was a beloved husband, son, brother, friend, and father. "Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children. "We remain deeply grateful for the support, prayers, and kindness we have received. This outpouring has sustained us during the darkest days of our lives." Erika Kirk, who appeared emotional in court and left shortly after the hearing began, has previously said she forgives the man accused of killing her husband. At Mr Kirk's memorial service last year, she said: "My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life. I forgive him because it was what Christ did. It is what Charlie would do." A 'sniper pad' The hearing, which runs until Friday, marks the most significant presentation of evidence in the case so far. It began with the testimony of former Utah Valley University Officer Christopher Bagley, who said he saw a "disturbance" in the gravel on the rooftop of a building with a direct line of sight to where Mr Kirk was speaking at the time he was shot. It led Mr Bagley, who had initially been told by law enforcement that they had the gunman in custody, to believe it might not be the right suspect. He described the scene he found as a "sniper pad," where someone might have been lying in a position that would allow them to shoot a weapon. He said it included spots that looked like they were made by two elbows and two knees, as well as a spot where someone might have laid a gun down. Read more from Sky News:Donald Trump escalates Meloni feudTrump asked FIFA to review red card ban - World Cup latest Prosecutors allege Robinson confessed to the killing in a note left for his roommate, who was also his romantic partner, that read: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it." Robinson's attorneys have not yet commented on his guilt or innocence, but have asked for the death penalty to be taken off the table.

After months of speculation, Sky is buying ITV's media and entertainment business in a deal worth £1.6 billion. So what does it mean for viewers? For now, probably not very much. The takeover still needs regulatory approval, and Ofcom will take a close look at its impact on competition and media plurality. But if it gets the green light, it could reshape the British television industry for decades to come. Read more: Why a Sky-ITV deal makes sense The deal comes at a challenging moment for broadcasters. Production costs are rising, advertising growth has slowed, and traditional television companies are facing fierce competition from global streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, Disney and Apple. Sky and ITV argue that joining forces is the best way to compete. For viewers, both companies are keen to stress that the essentials won't change. ITV's channels and ITVX will remain free-to-air, while all of ITV's public service broadcasting obligations - including regional news and programming - will continue in full. Flagship shows such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Love Island and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! aren't heading behind a paywall. ITV is legally required to remain a free-to-air broadcaster until 2034. In a briefing to press, Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV, has also said Sky has made a commitment that from 6pm to 9:30pm, ITV's evening content must be original programming. Sky is also promising greater investment in ITV and says the deal will bring more sport to free-to-air television than ever before. Meanwhile, ITV News and Sky News insist they'll remain separate editorial voices. The logic behind the deal is simple - scale. The UK television market is no longer competing with itself. It's competing in a global media economy. See more from Sky News:UK set for highs of 34C this week Buckingham Palace denies Harry will stay Being bigger means having more money to spend on programmes and streaming technology, whilst also being able to spread costs across a much larger business. That's why supporters see this as one of the most significant media deals in British broadcasting history. At a time when many traditional broadcasters are under pressure, Sky believes it is securing ITV's future rather than changing its identity. And for viewers? The message is: don't expect less ITV - expect more investment, more sport and more of the shows you love.

Could Nigel Farage's alleged financial relationship with a convicted fraudster come back to haunt him? The Reform leader is already under scrutiny over his £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harbone and these fresh allegations about his association with George Cottrell will intensify the pressure. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the political, legal and ethical questions at the heart of the claims and examine whether the parliamentary commissioner for standards could widen his investigation. Farage insists he has committed "no wrongdoing" and has followed the rules, and says he is considering legal action. Elsewhere, with a fortnight until Andy Burnham enters No 10, cabinet colleagues are continuing to jostle for their positions to keep their jobs. Plus, Sam has a potential conspiracy theory on who could end up as Burnham's chancellor.

England progressed to the quarter-finals thanks to a historic 3-2 win at Mexico's Azteca stadium on Monday morning. A double from Jude Bellingham and a spot-kick from Harry Kane, despite being down to 10 men, came hours after Norway produced history of their own in a win over five-time champions Brazil. Erling Haaland scored two to help his nation secure a first World Cup quarter-final. That took him to seven goals at the World Cup so far, joint top of the goalscoring charts with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. England ratings: Bellingham shines | defence heroicEngland's route to the World Cup finalLatest: Henderson to miss rest of World Cup after freak injuryAs it happened | Teams | Stats | Knockout bracketFollow our World Cup coverage in the Sky Sports App Former England full-back Neville says that despite a momentous win for Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions, there are areas that need to be improved, with Haaland on the horizon. "It's tough to stop Haaland, because he can be anonymous in matches; he doesn't touch the ball a lot but you know that he's explosive," Neville told Sky Sports News. "He was devastating against Brazil; those two goals were absolutely brilliant - classic Haaland. The first one, just moving in front of Gabriel with a brilliant header, and the second one is just pure, just touch and a powerful hit that you know beats one of the best goalkeepers in the world. "Difficult to stop him for 90 minutes, or if it's extra-time as well, 120 minutes, but we should be favourites. I don't think that's us getting carried away. We should be favourites to beat Norway but it's going to be tough. "It's going to be really tough on Saturday, and it would have been tough, obviously, playing Brazil. You're in a World Cup quarter-final. "They've got some good players. The manager was really brave for Norway at half-time, changing the two wide players; I thought it had a big impact on the game. "Norway have got some firepower. They've got a front four - whoever they play up there but Haaland, obviously right at the point of it - that are dangerous and England are going to have to be on the guard, so more like we saw in the first half last night, and obviously towards the end, where England were really compact, aggressive, quite determined. "Just get rid of those one or two little bugs we had, obviously. They went a little bit deep for the Raul Jimenez header, where Jordan Pickford made a great save. "You can't drop back onto your goalkeeper with Haaland. And then set-pieces, you've just got to make sure you're getting that first contact. "It's a classic sort of thing. If you concede from set-pieces, it will undermine your performances. "If we can get rid of those one or two little bugs that we had last night in that first half, we were near on perfect defensively. "A brilliant game to look forward to in Miami on Saturday but it's going to be tough. England should just edge it but it's dangerous." World-class Bellingham is on another level Neville was also full of praise for Bellingham's individual display at the Azteca, where he became the first player to score twice in Mexico's hallowed ground at a World Cup since Diego Maradona against England in 1986. Prior to the tournament, Neville suggested England's only world-class player was Harry Kane, but following his dynamite efforts against Mexico, the former Manchester United defender has changed his mind. "Going into this tournament, my personal words were that I didn't think it was a question between Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers," Neville said. "Rogers is a great player but Bellingham has to play, and I did say that the only world-class player in the squad was Harry Kane, with Declan Rice and Bellingham edging towards that. "In this tournament, Bellingham's absolutely smashed through that ceiling. What we saw against Mexico was a complete performance. It was absolutely incredible, and we've seen that over the last few weeks. "From the very first game in that tunnel against Croatia, I saw Elliot Anderson looking fierce before the game; Bellingham looked like he was enjoying it. "He looked completely and utterly free and has carried England. These last five matches, he's been unbelievable, along with Harry Kane, but Bellingham has been on another level. I can't speak highly enough of him." Neville added that though he has been underwhelmed by some of England's performances, the win over Mexico has made him feel a sense of pride after key changes. "The game had absolutely everything that you would want in a football match," he told Sky Sports News. "It was going into the lion's den, conditions difficult, delayed kick-off, penalties, sendings off, everything that you would want in a brilliant football match happened and England were absolutely magnificent. "I couldn't be more proud. I've been quite underwhelmed at times and been nervous, particularly around our defensive shape and our vulnerability defensively, but a couple of things. "One, I thought the first half last night, our shape was fantastic. The wide players connected a lot more with the rest of their defensive unit and we were really compact. "Kane and Bellingham were a little bit tighter as well to Rice and Anderson. The back four looked more solid and I felt really comfortable in the first half. "They had a lot of possession and they had a lot of what would be, not domination but they had a lot of the ball in the last third of our pitch, and I felt as though we were controlling the game, but without possession, and I felt quite comfortable watching us, and I was complimentary. "At half-time we conceded the goal from a set-piece, which was disappointing, but I was really comfortable with that first half, and then the second half it goes a bit more punch for punch, which you know in football, you've got to be able to do both things. "You've got to be able to manage games without possession; you've got to be able to dominate with possession. "We've also got to be able to go punch for punch and just dig in there and show grit and determination, fight, and I have to say every single one of them out on that pitch last night did that, and then above and beyond that."