Evening briefing on Tuesday 23rd June

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0:35This is your Times Evening Briefing on Tuesday 23rd June. The Times understands that Sakhir Starmer has held face-to-face talks with his likely successor Andy Burnham, the first time since the former mayor's by-election victory. It comes as the PM pledges a smooth transition of power following his resignation. Downing Street says no new major policies or spending decisions will be announced during the transition, but that won't include the long-awaited defence investment plan, which Starmer is pushing to be published before the NATO summit on July 7th. Speaking on the Times' podcast, The State of It, political editor Stephen Swinford says this isn't a great start to transition.

1:14Burnham allies are pointing to the fact that this is pretty outrageous. This surely has to be a decision that is taken by the man who will actually be sitting in number 10. And that for Keir Starmer to take that decision and try to own it, well, I was talking to Lord Case, the former cabinet secretary earlier on, And he was saying it's just meaningless. People will look at it and they won't have any authority. No one at NATO will believe it. They'll all ask, Andy, do you agree with that? So that is already causing quite a significant bit of blood. And like I say, we are in day one of transition.

1:45Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband has been sentenced to more than five years for embezzling more than£400 ,000 from the SNP in calculated crimes of dishonesty, according to the judge. Murrell used the funds to make extravagant purchases, including a motorhome, cars, jewellery and luxury stationery. The Times' Scottish political correspondent John Boozman explains he could have been facing more time. Had there not been that guilty plea a few weeks ago that Murrell would have faced a seven-year sentence, but because of his early plea, the sentence would be five years and three months. Now, realistically, what that means is that after about two and a half years, he'll be eligible for parole and he could be freed even before that on home detention with a tag.

2:30But a pretty hefty sentence. The UK is braced for its hottest June day on record with temperatures forecast to rise above 35 Celsius. The Met Office has announced a red warning for parts of England and Wales from nine tomorrow morning until nine on Thursday evening. But across the channel in France, the heat wave is even stronger with highs of 42 degrees forecast for Bordeaux this week. The French Prime Minister has been holding crisis meetings today, with deaths already reported in the country linked to the heat. Two young boys died in a car in France. It's been claimed their mother forgot about them while shopping.

3:03The Times correspondent in Paris, Adam Sage, explains the conditions there. These are absolutely exceptional temperatures, and the Metier France, which is the National Weather Office, says that the four days from Monday to Thursday night are probably going to be the hottest ever in France. US TV presenter Savannah Guthrie has made an emotional on-air plea after a ransom note claimed her missing mother was dead. It's believed 84-year-old Nancy was taken from her home in January. Her kidnappers reportedly wrote that they didn't mean to kill her. And England's fans are in Boston ahead of this evening's World Cup group match with Ghana.

3:40Thomas Tuchel's side can progress to the last 32 of the tournament with a victory tonight. But TalkSports' Matt Scott explains England's record at this stage of major tournaments. England always underperform in the second game. Also, Ghana really got on the counter-attack. They've got Antoine Semenyo, who is probably the best player in the Premier League last season. He is British, English-born, Ghanaian, dual nationality. He's the one to watch. And you can follow the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio Online. That's your Times Evening Briefing on Tuesday 23rd June.

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