Broadcast timeline
Sky News — Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow
Wednesday 12 August 2026 · 10:00 BST · 30m · 6 stories · 15 annotated moments · 23 of 30 min on news stories (76%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
The Prime Minister is set to chair his first emergency Cobra meeting in response to extreme heat, with temperatures forecast up to 38 degrees Celsius. The meeting will involve ministers and agencies, and comes amid pressure from opposition parties and the Fire Brigades Union, which is calling for 5,000 more firefighters and a national wildfire strategy. Almost three quarters of the UK are living in drought.
The UK is preparing for its best solar eclipse in nearly 30 years, with the moon moving across the sun later this evening. Parts of Ireland could see up to 97% coverage, while a total eclipse will be visible from northern Spain and the Balearic Islands, where thousands have gathered. Special eclipse glasses are in high demand, and authorities warn against using ordinary sunglasses.
The Home Office has closed another 13 asylum hotels, bringing the total to 44 this year, with 160 still in use. Police chiefs have signed an open letter urging the Prime Minister to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers under the government's prisoner early release scheme. A charity warns that over half of children newly eligible for free school meals may miss out because parents do not realise they qualify, and rescue teams in Colombia continue searching for survivors after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that has killed over 250 people, with King Charles expressing his condolences.
- 1:05
- 1:05
Claim PM chairs emergency Cobra meeting over extreme heat and wildfires
The Prime Minister will chair his first emergency Cobra meeting on extreme heat.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 1:05-1:20
- 2:37
Charged quote PM chairs emergency Cobra meeting over extreme heat and wildfires
they need to be discussing frontline resources. There needs to be a national strategy about how we deal with these wildfires and the impact it's having on our communities. Lives are being put at risk. We've seen that, we've seen that in Europe as well and this is only going to increase unless we get a grip of it now
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 2:37-2:39
- 3:02
Claim PM chairs emergency Cobra meeting over extreme heat and wildfires
Drought conditions are affecting half of England and all of Wales.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 3:02-3:07
- 3:15
Contested quote PM chairs emergency Cobra meeting over extreme heat and wildfires
a series of meetings already on some of these issues but by involving the Prime Minister, I think number 10 will point towards the fact this shows just how seriously the Prime Minister is taking this issue. When it comes to the political pressure though, Zach Polanski, the leader of the Green Party,
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 3:15-3:23
- 10:11
- 15:23 Story begins PM Burnham pledges to tackle small boat crossings
- 15:23
Claim PM Burnham pledges to tackle small boat crossings
The Home Office closed 13 more migrant hotels, bringing the total to 44 this year.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 15:23-15:37
- 15:23
Claim PM Burnham pledges to tackle small boat crossings
The Home Office closed 13 more migrant hotels, bringing the total to 44 this year.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 15:23-15:33
- 15:33
Claim PM Burnham pledges to tackle small boat crossings
The Home Office closed 13 more migrant hotels, bringing the total to 44 this year.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 15:33-15:37
- 15:45
Contested quote PM Burnham pledges to tackle small boat crossings
Speaking to Sky News on reports that military bases are being considered to house asylum seekers, Border Security and Asylum Minister Anna Turley said the Government is focused on all communities doing their fair share. The Prime Minister made a really important point that this is about fairness. We can't have a situation where communities
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 15:45-15:50
- 15:50
Contested quote PM Burnham pledges to tackle small boat crossings
Border Security and Asylum Minister Anna Turley said the Government is focused on all communities doing their fair share. The Prime Minister made a really important point that this is about fairness. We can't have a situation where communities like I saw in Blackpool yesterday have had really more than their fair share of pressure put on them.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 15:50-15:53
- 15:53
Contested quote PM Burnham pledges to tackle small boat crossings
doing their fair share. The Prime Minister made a really important point that this is about fairness. We can't have a situation where communities like I saw in Blackpool yesterday have had really more than their fair share of pressure put on them. It's important that we use the system sort of fairly across the country
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 15:53-16:00
- 16:11
- 16:11
Claim PM pledges to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers in prison
Police chiefs sent a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to block the early release of PC Harper's killers.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 16:11-16:21
- 16:11
Claim PM pledges to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers in prison
Police chiefs sent a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to block the early release of PC Harper's killers.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 16:11-16:21
- 16:11
Claim PM pledges to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers in prison
Police chiefs sent a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to block the early release of PC Harper's killers.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 16:11-16:21
- 16:37
Charged quote PM pledges to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers in prison
Here is some of what the letter says. There is a profound strength of feeling across policing about those responsible for PC Andrew Harper's death benefiting from arrangements that could see them released substantially earlier than expected. Officers and staff understand that the law must be applied
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 16:37-16:50
- 17:05
Claim PM pledges to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers in prison
Police chiefs sent a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to block the early release of PC Harper's killers.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 12 August 2026, 17:05-17:15
- 18:45
- 24:00
- 26:24 ~4 min without annotations
Source: Sky News, "Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow", Wednesday 12 August 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.