Anahita Hossein-Pour

South East Water has been told to improve after thousands of Kent customers experienced repeated outages, with around 400 properties still facing low pressure or no water. Supplies had been restored to 7,400 homes in Herne Bay, Rough Common and Blean, but storage tanks remained critically low and customers were urged to limit use to essential purposes. Residents in Benenden staged a protest over poor communication and bottled-water distribution, while businesses said the disruption was causing severe financial and emotional strain. Defra criticized the company’s performance, and Weald of Kent MP Katie Lam called for fundamental transformation. The incidents follow Ofwat investigations that led South East Water to pay £30.5 million over previous supply failures affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

Migrants arrived in Dover in the first Channel crossings of July, with children among those met by officials. Home Office data shows 11,884 arrivals so far this year, a sharp decrease from the same period in 2025 and 2024. The decline is attributed to factors such as weather conditions, small‑boat supply, government policy and broader migration flows through Europe.

Fatboy Slim performed an intimate show at Brighton’s 60-capacity venue The Pipeline, emphasising the importance of supporting grassroots music spaces. The venue is targeted for purchase by Music Venue Properties to secure community ownership. His appearance capped the Everywhere At Once festival, which staged thousands of performances across hundreds of small venues. Organisers and venue owners highlighted the need for greater government support, while the National Lottery’s longstanding contributions to music projects were noted. The Music Venue Trust continues efforts to secure affordable, protected spaces for live music nationwide.