Field hospital civil war

The head of the Army today says the UK must be ready for war with Russia. Four months on from Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, General Sir Patrick Sanders is set to compare the assault to the rise of Nazi Germany .

He will say that Britain is facing its “1937 moment” and must be ready to “fight and win” to ward off the threat from Russia.

In his first public speech as Chief of the General Staff , Sir Patrick will say the UK must be prepared to “act rapidly” to contain Russian expansionism.

Nato last night pledged to massively increase its forces available on high alert to more than 300,000 troops, a more-than seven-fold increase.

Sir Patrick’s intervention is likely to put pressure on Mr Johnson to maintain the size of the Armed Forces after plans were announced to reduce troop numbers in a move to a more modern military.

Defence editor Danielle Sheridan reports that, in a separate speech today, Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, is to call for increased investment .

It came as a missile strike on a crowded shopping centre in the central city of Kremenchuk killed at least 10 civilians and wounded dozens more.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said there were about 1,000 people inside the building, describing it as “one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history” .

The leaders of the G7 last night branded the attack “abominable” as they vowed to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for the war crime. Follow the latest in our live blog .

Sturgeon sets course for fresh independence vote

Nicola Sturgeon will today unveil her route map to bypass the UK Government’s refusal to allow another Scottish independence referendum.

The First Minister will make a statement at the Scottish Parliament this afternoon outlining how she intends to give Scots a “choice on independence” in October next year, her preferred timetable.

Boris Johnson has repeatedly made clear that he will refuse any formal request for a Section 30 order, the legislative device that was used to transfer the powers for the 2014 referendum. Scottish political editor Simon Johnson notes Ms Sturgeon’s change in language .

Alan Cochrane concludes that her party is beginning to crumble around her amid a welter of sleaze.

And, as Ms Sturgeon put the final flourishes to her latest roadmap to independence, the Queen made an unexpected visit to Scotland yesterday that packed an ever-so-polite political punch .

Prince William tackles photographer over privacy

The Duke of Cambridge has spent years negotiating a world in which he can enjoy a weekend bicycle ride with his children in peace.

That ambition has suffered a setback, after a video said by Kensington Palace to breach the Cambridges’ privacy was viewed by tens of thousands of people despite attempts to block it from YouTube Footage shows the Duke confronting a photographer after he was filmed with his family near Sandringham, Norfolk.

Royal editor Hannah Furness describes how he is seen remonstrating with a man videoing him .

Daily dose of Matt

In today’s cartoon , Matt finds humour in the Prince of Wales’s acceptance of cash from a Qatari sheikh. For a weekly behind-the-scenes look at Matt’s work, sign up for his newsletter .

Also in the news: Today’s other headlines

Brexit | Theresa May has branded the Government’s plans to rip up the Northern Ireland Protocol unlawful and warned that the EU will not negotiate with Boris Johnson because he was now a lame duck prime minister. In a scathing Commons speech , the ex-prime minister said it would “diminish the standing of the UK in the eyes of the world”. For his sketch , Tim Stanley watched Mrs May “take a cutlass to her shipmates”.

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• Covid inquiry | Investigation has 60 barristers – but no start date
• Ghislaine Maxwell | Socialite faces her UK victims at sentencing
• Open justice | Public will be able to watch murder trials from home
• Moon | Mystery rocket crashes – and no one (on Earth) is owning up

Around the world: Dozens found dead in truck

At least 46 people have been found dead in a truck that was believed to be carrying migrants from Mexico to Texas. Officials said the bodies were discovered in a sweltering 18-wheel truck in a remote area on the outskirts of San Antonio, where temperatures had reached 39.4C yesterday. Fire crews said the patients were exhausted and “hot to the touch”, with no signs of water on board the vehicle. Images from the scene showed police vehicles and ambulances surrounding the truck.

Comment and analysis

• Sherelle Jacobs | G7 confirms my worst fears about West’s decline
• Charlotte Lytton | US intent on setting itself back as far as possible
• Andrew Orlowski | Civil servants are using technology as a weapon
• Lucy Burton | Anti-work movement is dangerous and unrealistic
• Reader letters | Make cyclists have insurance and number plates

Sport briefing: Raducanu eases past test

Emma Raducanu rediscovered her sparkle yesterday on Centre Court, in every sense. She wore the bling, and then – by overcoming Alison Van Uytvanck in straight sets – she delivered the sting. Against the most august backdrops in the game, chief sports writer Oliver Brown describes how the rising star elevated her performance . Also on the first day of Wimbledon, Andy Murray pulled off a rare underarm serve, which very nearly backfired . Follow all today’s coverage here .

Editor’s choice

1. Was Jill Dando murdered by mistake? | Latest twist in the mystery of the unsolved case
2. Game-changing tool | How smart doorbells became the latest weapon in fighting crime
3. Marriage Diaries | My wife is a total embarrassment at parties – I dread going out

Business briefing: Bank faces mutiny over pay

Staff at the Bank of England are to demand a pay rise in the face of surging inflation, despite pleas for restraint on wages from the Bank’s Governor, Andrew Bailey. Workers received just a 1.5pc increase this year, far below the 9.1pc rate of inflation reached in May. A row at the Bank over pay would prove deeply embarrassing for Mr Bailey after he urged UK workers not to demand large wage increases. Meanwhile, councils will be forced to ditch spending plans and draw up emergency cuts to public services after high inflation sparked a surge in costs .

Tonight’s dinner

Artichoke, broad bean and shallot salad | This recipe by Diana Henry is a delicate balance of vegetables and saffron-infused dressing.

Travel tips: The uncrowded city with unbeatable food

With a fascinating history stretching back thousands of years, some of the world’s most spectacular mosaics, and an appealing pedestrianised centre, Ravenna in Italy merits far more than a day trip. Sarah Lane explains what you should do on a visit to the city, which Dante Alighieri picked for his exile, along with a guide to its fantastic food and wine .

And finally… for this morning’s downtime

The BBC’s Macca mystery | Paul McCartney’s Saturday night headlining set at Glastonbury was a triumph in all but one respect – the ludicrous wait to watch it at home. What happened to his set on iPlayer? Anita Singh examines what went wrong .

If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here . For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing – on podcasts, smart speakers and WhatsApp.

Covid: Dr Hilary Jones provides update as UK infection rates rise

Dame Jenny Harries’s warning came after figures showed infections had jumped by more than half a million in just one week.

There has been a recent rise in COVID infections and hospitalisations (Image: Getty)

The UK Health Security Agency chief executive said: “It doesn’t look as though that (current) wave has finished yet, so we would anticipate that hospital cases will rise.”

She added that people should “go about their normal lives but in that precautionary way”, highlighting handwashing, keeping distance where possible and wearing masks in enclosed places.

Speaking about masks, she said: “If I’ve got any respiratory infection it’s a good thing to do.”

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Asked if it matters that a lot of people are getting infected with Covid, she said: “Whilst we have an armament now of vaccines and antiviral treatments, we do have… a rise in hospital admissions and occupancy.

“And that means it’s not just Covid that we’re concerned about, but it’s actually our ability to treat other illnesses as well.”

A total of 2.3 million people in private households are estimated to have had the virus last week, up 32 per cent from a week earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This is the highest estimate for total infections since late April, but is still some way below the record of 4.9 million at the peak of the Omicron wave at the end of March.

Dame Jenny appealed to the “nearly 20 per cent of the 75-plus year-old group” who have not had a spring booster to come forward.

Saffron Cordery, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “Trust leaders know they are in for a bumpy ride over the coming months as they tackle new and unpredictable variants of Covid-19 alongside grappling with seasonal flu pressures which may hit us earlier than usual this year.”

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