Newspaper headlines: 'Cruel summer' and 'Football's staying home'
"Cruel summer" is the Metro's top story, splashed underneath a photo showing flames and smoke emanating from rolling hills in Dunwich, Suffolk, where it says "hundreds of people were evacuated after a huge wildfire close to a nuclear power station". The paper compares the blaze to the "size of 247 pitches" writing that much of the UK is sweating through the "4th heatwave so far".
The Times continues coverage of the Suffolk fire with a photo of a firefighting helicopter scooping water from the sea to battle the blaze. Elsewhere, the paper says that Europe's football governing body "Uefa backs World Cup boycott", writing that "European sides won't play if investment plan goes ahead". It goes on to explain that the plan involves selling "stakes in its competitions to private investors".
Covering news on the minds of football fans, the Daily Express reports "England joins boycott of World Cup". The paper adds that 55 European nations that make up Uefa "threaten to pull out of competition", which it explains "may see the Three Lions, led by Harry Kane... pull out of qualification games for the 2030 contest alongside co-hosts": Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
"Red card for Infantino" writes the Daily Mirror, spotlighting the man at the centre of the maelstrom: Fifa boss Gianni Infantino. The paper quotes its chief sports writer Andy Dunn saying "Infantino has to go".
The Daily Star runs a scoreboard of support in the showdown between the football governing bodies: "Uefa... 55, Fifa... 0", saying "whole of Europe to boycott World Cup".
"Game changer" is the i Paper's verdict as "Europe tackles Infantino" – continuing with the football metaphors. "Infantino threatened to slash members' earnings if they did not back him," the paper reports, "but federations in Asia and Americas are also opposed to sell-off".
"Football's staying home" concludes the Sun.
Uefa says the World Cup is "not for sale", the Independent writes.
The Bank of England "holds rates steady" is the Financial Times' summary of the monetary policy decision on Thursday. It goes on: "the central bank could still need to raise rates if the Iran conflict drags on", although it says the BoE concluded "that borrowing costs were already high enough to insure against the risk of a more persistent bout of inflation".
The Daily Telegraph leads with its exclusive reporting on "Labour's £18 billion council tax raid", explaining it has seen figures that "show the national council tax take is expected to increase 43% by 2030, drawing in £58.8bn that year". It breaks down the data, revealing that it would mean a "£500 rise in average bill by 2030". The Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities did not respond to the paper's requests for comment, the paper writes.
The Daily Mail reports Prime Minister Andy "Burnham admits oil drilling can ease cost of living", quoting him that he "concedes that 'Britain can't ignore' resources in North Sea". It adds: "Experts have predicted that lifting the ban could generate £25billion in extra tax revenues for the UK over the next decade."
"Wildfire in Suffolk burns near nuclear plant" the Guardian says, printed below a photo of firefighters dousing flames engulfing a cluster of trees. "Meanwhile, amid the hot, dry and windy weather in the EU, blazes continued to rage in France".