Your morning briefing: What you should know for Monday, July 22

The top stories you're waking up to
Jason Collie22 July 2019

Cobra committee meeting after ship seized by Iranians

Theresa May will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra today after Iran seized a British-flagged oil tanker in the Persian Gulf.

The Prime Minister is expected to receive updates from ministers and officials and discuss how to keep shipping in the region sage.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will update the Commons on the situation on this afternoon, amid reports that ministers are considering freezing Iranian regime assets.

The Stena Impero was seized on Friday and reports from Tehran state those on board are safe and well.

Johnson maintains claim deal with EU is achievable

Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson has insisted Britain can leave the European Union with a deal at the end of October if the country has the will and drive for Brexit.

The former foreign secretary said if it was possible to get to the moon and back 50 years ago then the problem of frictionless trade on the Irish border could be solved.

His comments came after the Chancellor Philip Hammond became the second Cabinet minister to announce they will quit the Government if Mr Johnson becomes prime minister.

The postal ballot among Conservative Party members closes at 5pm today, with the result due to be announced tomorrow morning.

However, before that all happens, the Liberal Democrats will announce at 4pm whether Jo Swinson or Sir Ed Davey has been elected as its new leader.

Protesters attacked in Hong Kong on train

Masked assailants have attacked commuters including pro-democracy protesters at a Hong Kong metro station, according to footage broadcast by local media.

The attackers were dressed in white with black masks pulled over their heads while the protesters were clad in their trademark black clothing and yellow hard hats.

Footage from Apple Daily showed the attackers using umbrellas to beat people in the station and inside a train carriage.

It came after Hong Kong police launched tear gas at protesters as a massive pro-democracy march continued late into the evening.

Sweltering week for the south

A heatwave is due to hit parts of the UK for the start of the school summer holidays this week, with temperatures soaring and widespread balmy conditions.

Despite the high temperatures, the sweltering spell could bring some disruption from heavy thundery downpours, according to the Met Office.

The mercury is expected to hit 28 degrees centigrade in southern England today and might reach 34 in London on Wednesday.

However a Met Office forecaster warned it would be a wet start to the week for parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.

Family distraught after dog taken by seagull

The fate of a dog is unknown after a seagull swooped down and carried the miniature chihuahua away in its beak, its owner said.

Twenty-four-year-old Becca Hill said her partner saw their pet Gizmo taken from their garden in Paignton but did not know if he was then dropped or where he was now.

Ms Hill is hoping a post on Facebook to neighbours will help find Gizmo and return him home.

On this day…

1298: The English used longbows for the first time, when they defeated the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk.

1376: The mass abduction of children from the town of Hamelin by the Pied Piper supposedly took place, according to a legend.

1478: Philip the Handsome of Spain was born. After his death his wife kept his corpse and continued to sleep with it beside her bed for three years. Her name was Joanna the Mad.

1934: Movie-loving gangster John Dillinger - Public Enemy Number One - was shot dead by federal agents outside the Biograph Cinema in Chicago.

1946: After a failed wheat harvest, bread was rationed in Britain.

1986: MPs voted to abolish the cane in state schools.

2005: Jean Charles de Menezes was killed by police as the hunt began for the bombers responsible for the 7/7 London bombings.

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