Sales of disposable barbecues have been banned in “tinderbox Britain” in a bid to prevent fresh wildfires.
Andy Burnham announced the temporary ban today, having suggested earlier in the week that the measure might be necessary to curb the number of call-outs that fire services were facing.
“Britain is a tinderbox right now,” the Prime Minister said. “Setting a fire in any outdoor setting is a risk to people’s homes and other people’s lives.”
What record Ebola outbreak tells us about a future pandemic
Hard to believe it, but a few years on from the worst global pandemic in more than a century, our world is ignoring an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that is breaking records by the week.
What’s the situation?
This week, the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was on track to become the deadliest ever outbreak of the disease.
It has already killed more than 2,000 people and is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus – for which there is no vaccine or treatment.
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Dire warnings from experts
“What’s terrifying is that the virus is way ahead of us,” one UN source said. “We are chasing the virus.”
Alan Doss, British head of the UN’s Peacekeeping mission in Congo, said: “The world seems to have forgotten that the first human infections of HIV/Aids occurred in Congo, but years later it became such a defining issue for Western public health. “
Aid cuts hinder response
A source from the WHO said: “From the closure by Trump of the giant USAID, to the reduction in Europe of aid programmes too, you know we are looking at a world shutting its eyes to a catastrophe in the making.”
The UK government is cutting development assistance to the DRC by 29 per cent.
What Clacton voters think as Farage re-elected
From spoiled ballots to voting for a bin, there is a palpable frustration and exasperation with the state of British politics.
‘This is England – it’s how it should stay’
Farage supporter Jane Smith tells The i Paper she cast her ballot for him because “he’s trying to get people out who shouldn’t be here”.
“A lot of people are for Farage,” she said. “Because he’s going to his best to get the immigrants out.”
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‘There are better ways to spend that money’
Nicola Lott, 51, abstained from voting – but on reflection wishes she had spoiled her ballot. She works in recruitment for a care company, is positive about immigration and says “we wouldn’t have an NHS” without it.
The money spent on the by-election could have been better used to tackle “areas of deprivation”, Nicola added.
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‘I voted for somebody with a tin on their head’
Dan Casey, 87, said “lots of people didn’t vote because they just thought it was a total farce”.
Casey added, incredulous: “I’ve never ever known anybody not to turn up to the count. It’s his election, he called it, and he doesn’t even turn up for the count.”
Count Binface said he was “the winning candidate of the candidates who bothered to turn up for the results”.
What asylum seekers are entitled to after entering the UK
Reform UK has accused Vodafone of “facilitating the invasion of Britain” by giving out free SIM cards to Channel migrants.
Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, said he wrote to the Vodafone board, threatening the company’s leadership with jail time under a future Reform government, after learning it issues free SIMs to charities supporting migrants.
The company is reported to have supplied refugee charity Care4Calais with more than 2,000 SIMs.
What are asylum seekers actually entitled to?
- Asylum seekers are entitled to accommodation, which could be in a flat, house, a hotel or a hostel, or bed and breakfast.
- At the end of March, 97,519 people were receiving asylum support. Of these, 72,768 were in non-hotel accommodation.
- People receiving asylum support get £49.18 per week to cover essential expenses. This works out at £7.02 per day.
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Healthcare and employment
Asylum seekers may receive free healthcare on the NHS if they need to see a doctor or get hospital treatment. They are also entitled to free prescriptions for medicine, free NHS dental care, free eyesight tests, and help towards the cost of glasses.
In most cases, people seeking asylum are banned from working while their claim is considered. Instead, they must access support through the Home Office.
British cyclist Finlay Tarling dies in Volta a Portugal accident
British cyclist Finlay Tarling has died aged 19, after an accident during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal.
The Welshman is the younger brother of Ineos Grenadiers rider Josh and had raced for Great Britain on the road and track.
What happened?
- Tarling was competing for the NSN Development Team.
- The incident occurred on the 166.8km route from Melgaco to Fafe.
- The 19-year-old had signed a two-year deal with NSN ahead of the 2025 season.
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What did his team say?
Fin was a much loved member of our team but most importantly, he was a son, a brother, and a friend to so many. He will be deeply missed. Our deepest condolences go out to Fin’s parents Michael and Dawn, his brother Josh, and everyone who was lucky enough to call Fin a friend.
- The race organisers and the Portuguese Cycling Federation expressed their “most heartfelt condolences to his family…his teammates, to the NSN Development Team, and to all his friends and loved ones.”
They added that the race had been neutralised and the scheduled podium ceremony would not take place as a sign of “respect and mourning.”
Two charged with attempted murder of Sara Sharif’s killer father
Inmates Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, are accused of trying to kill Urfan Sharif at HMP Belmarsh.
The father was jailed for life in December 2024 for the murder of his daughter, aged 10.
The Sara Sharif case
A jury at the Old Bailey heard how Urfan and Sara’s stepmother had subjected the child to years of horrific “torture” and “despicable” abuse. The court heard she was repeatedly beaten, burned, bitten and restrained.
Sharif was handed a minimum term of 40 years and sent to the category A prison.
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What do we know?
- Urfan was attacked in prison on New Year’s Day 2025.
- He was allegedly ambushed in his cell by two inmates armed with the sharp lid of a tuna tin.
- reported Sharif suffered cuts to his neck and face and received medical treatment inside the prison.
- The suspects are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 26 August.
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What caused man to be partially sucked out of Ryanair plane – revealed
The world was horrified when Ljubisa Karovic, 61, had to be pulled back into the plane by fellow passengers after his window shattered mid-flight last month.
What happened?
- The Serbian entrepreneur was sat in the window seat of a Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany last month.
- He told he had been sleeping in his seat when he was woken up by the sound of an “explosion”.
- His lawyer said his head and right arm were pulled out of the aircraft.
- He injured his head and neck, but was saved by fellow passengers who pulled him back into the plane.
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What caused the incident?
A preliminary report into the incident by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found a fan blade in the plane’s right engine broke off mid-flight.
This sent fragments flying at the window, which shattered.
The cabin lost pressure, pulling Ljubisa out of his window as oxygen masks dropped down.
Further findings still to come
Investigators have not yet determined what caused the fan blade to break off, though bird remains were found in the engine of the Boeing 737-800.
The US agency NTSB reprimanded Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary for talking to investors about the investigation, which it said he was not allowed to discuss.
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How probe into Farage’s £5m gift can now reopen
The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, has reopened the probe into a gift given to Nigel Farage.
The timeline of events
The investigation surrounds a £5m gift Farage received from crypto-billionaire, Christopher Harborne.
- Farage received the £5m donation from Harborne shortly before he announced he would run for election in .
- In , revealed the donation.
- On 13 May, the Parliamentary Standards Committee opened an investigation into Farage over an allegation of “failure to register an interest” within the 12 months before his election.
- Farage resigned as an MP on 7 July, which paused the investigation.
- The Clacton by-election on returned a resounding win for the Reform UK leader which reopened the probe.
When could the probe end?
While the standards investigation had been formally paused, The i Paper reported last week that the commissioner has been working over the summer recess.
It means a conclusion on Farage’s financial affairs could come more swiftly than previously anticipated when Parliament reconvenes in September.
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A storm of allegations
Reform has faced intense scrutiny of its finances. It was revealed that the Met Police have been investigating donations to the party from aristocrat Fiona Cottrell and deputy leader Richard Tice.
Last month, reported Farage was being funded by convicted fraudster and crypto-gambler George Cottrell.
What has Reform said?
- Farage and his party have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in their financial conduct.
- A spokesperson for Reform said the £5m was a “personal unconditional gift” which did not need to be declared.
- On the support from Cottrell, Reform explained this was not registered, as it was in a “purely personal capacity”.
- In response to the Met investigation into donations made to the party, a spokesman said: “Reform takes pride in its stringent vetting of donations and always ensures that the Electoral Commission guidelines on donations… are strictly followed.”
Farage claims police advised him not to attend by-election count
The Reform leader claimed he did not attend the count on the advise of Essex Police after a “credible threat” against him.
But The i Paper understands that the force did not advise any candidate not to attend the count.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We have a full and robust policing operation in place. The decision of candidates to attend or not attend the election count is a decision for individuals and their security teams.”
All you need to know as 18 injured after train derails in East Sussex
Two people suffered serious injuries after a Southern Rail train came off the tracks as it approached Lewes in Sussex.
A full investigation has been launched into the incident, with some suggestions that it could have been linked to Thursday’s soaring heat.
Everything we know so far
- The service from London Victoria to Eastbourne derailed between Haywards Heath and Lewes just before 4pm on Thursday.
- Eighteen passengers were hurt, with two seriously injured in hospital.
- Three carriages tipped on their side, trapping passengers on board.
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‘I thought I was going to die’
Passenger Rachel Heath told the BBC the derailment was “absolutely terrifying”, adding she thought she “was going to die”.
She said: “The train just started jostling, kind of bumping up and down, and then jostling from side to side like a seesaw, and everyone was screaming.
“I just remember looking around and seeing so much panic and fear in so many people’s eyes.”
What caused the incident?
Experts have suggested the derailment was caused by a “buckled track” due to the scorching temperatures.
Referring to images taken by passengers at the scene, Richard Wilcock, industry editor of , told the : “It’s clearly a buckled track and clearly heat, as we know, stresses the track”.
No official explanations have been issued, and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch is already examining the scene.
A Government alert was sent to all mobile phones in England and Wales last night, warning of the risk of wildfires. It said: “Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks.”
After the alert went out, the PM said he had ordered it at the request of the fire services and urged people to “take it seriously”.
He said: “During this period of extreme heat, I’m asking everyone to take extra care. Please do not light any fires in gardens, the countryside or other open spaces, including parks, moorland and wooded areas.”
Why is Burnham banning barbecues?
Burnham’s announcement comes following a massive wildfire at the West Midlands town Stourbridge, destroyed 19 homes.
Simon Tuhill, the chief fire officer with the West Midlands Fire Service, said that the Stourbridge blaze had “covered an area of approximately 500 acres” and although it was now under control a number of hot spots remained which were being tackled.
More than 100 firefighters, 30 fire engines and 11 specialist teams were at the scene during the peak hours of the inferno, with support from neighbouring fire services and national resources.
Burnham said the barbecue ban was necessary because they were thought to be a “probable” cause of some but not all of the wildfires which have blazed across the UK this year.
More than 1,000 wildfires have been recorded in the UK so far in 2026, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council.
What else is Burnham doing to prevent wildfires?
As well as implementing the barbecue ban, the PM has also ordered the military to assist in battling the blazes, with 100 personnel sent to South Wales to offer “critically needed” support.
Burnham has created the post of fire minister in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, appointing Baroness Blake of Leeds.
He also said he intends to convene a summit with fire services “to make sure we get in place the right support, including the aerial support, permanently if that is what they deem is needed”.
The Prime Minister appealed to the public to do their part in preventing the further spread of fire under the present extreme conditions.
In a message on social media, he said: “We cannot accept this as the new normal.
“Much of England and Wales is in drought and we’re in another period of extreme heat.
“We shouldn’t just accept this as inevitable and I don’t.
“While these conditions continue, please stay safe and follow the advice of your local emergency services.
“Don’t set any fires outside.
“If you do, you could be putting someone else’s home at risk, even their lives.”
How will the ban be implemented?
Many large retailers and supermarkets had already voluntarily stopped selling disposable BBQs but now they cannot be made available for supply either in store or online.
These guidelines are being kept under review and will be withdrawn “in consultation with relevant departments and agencies, as weather conditions change sufficiently to significantly reduce the risks”.
Confirming the ban, the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) stated: “In response to the current droughts and heatwave, the Government has introduced statutory guidelines in relation to the supply of disposable barbecues.
“Disposable barbecues have been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months.
“Disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time.”
Will we see a respite from the heat?
Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesman, said: “We are entering a period of more unsettled weather conditions and that will bring temperatures back down to around average for the time of year and it will also bring the prospect of rain for some.
“There is a signal for rain for parts of southern England next week but importantly that isn’t going to provide significant compensation for the shortfall in rain experienced by many over this summer.”
Isolated thunderstorms overnight are expected to bring heavy downpours of up to 20-30mm over eastern England. Showery outbreaks have also been forecast across western England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
Saturday is still forecast to be very warm and humid for south east England, fine with sunny spells elsewhere with the chance of showers continuing for northern Scotland. But temperatures will top at 27C in the South East and 16C in the north west of Scotland.
Sunday will see fine weather for central and southern areas of England, further north it will be cloudier with outbreaks of rain. Northern Ireland and western Scotland are likely to receive the most rain and temperatures will peak at 24C in the South East and 17C in Northern Ireland and north west Scotland.