The Papers: 'Heat engulfs UK' and 'Ghana be alright'

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. 'Heat engulfs UK' and 'Ghana be alright'Published8 minutes agoImage caption, "Schools, rail and hospitals suffer as heat engulfs UK," writes the Guardian, warning "temperatures close to 40C expected". The paper says public service and millions of people in the UK are "struggling to cope with the searing heat caused by climate breakdown", citing snap analysis published by ClimaMeter on Monday showing the climate phenomenon "has added 2-4C to the current heat-wave". Image caption, "Killer heat warnings" reads the Metro's headline, as Western Europe's "heat dome" covering Italy, Spain and France radiates across the English Channel.

It says "UK roasts again... after 29,000 lightning strikes in single night", with the Met Office issuing "red warnings – from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham – over danger to life". More than 40 people have drowned "keeping cool" in France where "two children left in a car died", the paper reports.

The Details

Image caption, "Britain set to break 50-year heat record" is the i Paper's top story, "smashing UK's June record from 1976". As forecasts predict dangerous heat levels, the paper summarises: "hundreds of schools close to cope", "high humidity adds to discomfort", and "do not travel warnings on railways". Image caption, "Meltdown" is splashed across the Daily Mirror's front page as it reports on "baking Britain".

It also depicts a visibly disappointed England player Nico O'Reilly, his head angled back and buried by both hands, after the national team drew 0-0 against Ghana in the second round match of the World Cup group stage. Image caption, "Don't worry about a thing, 'cos every little thing is... Ghana be alright" reassures the Sun's headline following England's 0-0 draw, with the version of Bob Marley's lyrics printed over a photo of manager Thomas Tuchel holding the cheeks of star midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Despite the scoreless result, the paper says "Lions fans were still backing their heroes to make it to the knockout stage". Image caption, "3 Lions back to drawing bored," writes the Daily Star in its recap of the England match, saying the national team "must wait for their final group game against Panama to find out their World Cup fate". Quipping "it's the Boston stranglers" after the goalless match in Boston, captain Harry Kane is shown pulling his hair back on the front page's main image.

Image caption, Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his "likely successor" Andy Burnham could clash over "defence investment blueprint", a 10-year plan to fund armed forces and new military technology, and grow the defence industry, the Financial Times writes. "Burnham wants to review the investment plan instead of nodding through a Starmer-drafted proposal," the paper reports, citing unnamed sources. It adds that the published proposal has caused "bitter wrangling within the Starmer administration", recently leading to former Defence Secretary John Healey's resignation.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.