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Cather Atkinson hinted that the Home Office may threaten to stop issuing visas to Pakistan unless it agrees to accept Shabir AhmedWe have comments open at the moment but we won't be allowing comments on the Ann Widdecombe murder, in line with our usual policy of not allowing comments on cases where legal proceedings are active. Please respect this and avoid commenting on this topic. If the moderators judge that this is being ignored, exposing us to a contempt risk, comments will be turned off.Last week it was reported that almost 80 Labour MPs have written to Andy Burnham urging him to drop the Shabana Mahmood plans requiring migrants, including those already in the UK, to wait 10 years or more to claim indefinite leave to remain (ILR), instead of five years, which is the norm now.At present, those with ILR can also access welfare including housing support, universal credit, disability payments, council tax reduction, tax credits and state pension credits.Under the proposed changes, migrants who gain leave to remain would have to wait further before they could access such benefits, according to two government sources familiar with the plans. The waiting time would also apply to refugees.First & foremost this would remove the main principled objection to the changes - retrospectively changing rules to (at best) keep people who came here legally with 5 year path to settlement in insecure visa status for up to 15 years - and for many effective deportation/remigration. (2/4)Changing rules/time limits on benefit access ex post is *not* the same thing - we do it all the time (eg my pension age!).That doesn't mean it's a great idea - it will increase poverty, be administratively complex, and various exemptions/workarounds will be needed.But politically one key advantage.As HO source implies, drives wedge between those who are (or claim to be) worried about benefit access & those who want remigration", whose primary motivation is racism and ethnonationalism. Continue reading...

US military says it hit dozens of Iranian sites in strikes on Monday while UN chief warns that a return to full-scale fighting would be catastrophic'

French president hosts coalition of the willing' in Paris amid hopes that Ukraine's recent advances could force Putin towards negotiationsLater today we will be focusing on the Paris summit on Ukraine, which comes at a powerful moment of renewed transatlantic convergence and unity", but also of more favourable developments on the ground" for Kyiv, the Elysee said.The leaders of the Coalition of the Willing - led by Macron and Starmer - are set to focus on cooperation on air and missile defence with Ukraine, including licensed weapons production in the country. Continue reading...

From harvests dampened by El Nino to wage and tax rises, getting coffee beans from crop to cup costs more than everDrinkers across the UK were shocked when a pint in some London bars hit 10, and now a cup of coffee is facing a similar inflationary rate. Some baristas are now charging 6.50 for a flat white.Higher energy bills, inflated by the war in the Middle East, as well as government policies which have increased tax and wages, are filtering through into coffee prices, experts said. Continue reading...

State ordered to apologise after ruling finds it breached law when detaining teenagers in a Cairns watch house

Royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion hears lived experiences of Jewish students and academics

The fire is one of the deadliest such incidents in the popular tourist destination in recent yearsAn explosive fire at a popular pub in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, has killed 27 people and left another 22 in critical condition, in one of the deadliest such incidents in the tourism hub in recent years.Officials said they were investigating whether emergency exits may have been obstructed, hindering patrons from escaping the burning Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub. Continue reading...

AFP confirmed the 35-year-old man has been charged with 329 offences allegedly committed over a 16-year period. Follow today's news live

Police allege there are 136 victims of the man's offending, which allegedly took place over a 16-year periodAustralia federal police have contacted more than 120 families as they investigate alleged offending by a former Sydney childcare worker.The man, 35, has been charged with 329 offences allegedly committed over a 16-year period against 136 victims. Continue reading...

Suspension of family reunion route has left many stuck in conflict zones or using people smugglers to reach safetyMore than 16,000 refugees have been unable to reunite with families in the UK, leaving them either stuck in conflict zones or resorting to using people-smugglers to reach safety, according to the Refugee Council.The government suspended the refugee family reunion route last September. It allowed a person granted refugee status to apply to bring immediate family members such as a spouse and their children under 18 to reunite with them in the UK. The indication was that the suspension would last until the spring of this year. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Andy Beckett takes your questions - and mine - about where UK politics is at and where it's headed, from leadership churn and policy choices to electoral reform and moreGood morning. This week, we anticipate the arrival of Britain's seventh prime minister in the space of a decade. Barring a sequence of events too freakish to contemplate this early in the day, Andy Burnham will be declared Labour leader on Friday and invited to form a new government thereafter.Sceptical as I am about doomy predictions on Britain's chronic ungovernability, I wanted to speak to somebody who could offer some deeper context. Step forward Guardian columnist Andy Beckett, who also writes vivid modern histories about the country's defining political ideas, and step forward you - First Edition readers - who responded when I asked what contemporary liabilities we should be talking about.Middle East | The US military has launched a new wave of attacks against Iran amid the escalating standoff over the strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying the latest strikes had rendered futile" all the diplomatic efforts of the past few months.UK news | Senior police figures and politicians have warned against speculation during the murder investigation into Ann Widdecombe's death, after detectives said there was nothing to suggest" political motivation.US politics | Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally in Washington, died this weekend after a short illness, his office announced.Far right | Elon Musk's family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, according to the billionaire X owner's father. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said on Sunday the news was a sign Britain must do more to defend its democracy".UK politics | Reform UK would have held just 15% of the donations it received last year if a proposed 100,000 cap on political donations had been in force, according to analysis shared with the Guardian.Monday | Green MP Hannah Spencer presents her Maximum Workplace Temperature Bill to the Commons, which would establish an independent body to recommend safe working temperatures.Tuesday | MPs debate capping political donations as they seek to strengthen a new law on party funding.Wednesday | Sir Keir Starmer will face his final PMQs. Continue reading...

One manager expects takings to treble during England's semi-final with Argentina on Wednesday; while national sales are up 10%The beleaguered pub sector is getting a boost from England's World Cup run, with some landlords reporting roaring sales as anticipation builds for a bumper night on Wednesday for the semi-final clash with Argentina.Lisa Mayall, the manager of the British Oak in Kingswinford near Dudley in the West Midlands, was jubilant after England's 2-1 win against Norway on Saturday night and brisk takings at the pub's till. She expects hundreds more customers for the team's next game at 8pm BST. Continue reading...

This live blog has now closed - you can read our latest report from the Middle East hereBahrain's interior ministry instructed residents to take shelter after attacks on the island nation as Iran targets US interests in the Gulf.The siren has been sounded... citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the ministry posted on X. Continue reading...

Josh Fawaz's song, a cover of Like a Prayer, has raised questions about how generative AI is being used in music and whether it should be declaredAn Australian producer has gone from little-known artist to viral sensation in a matter of months, with his hit song catapulting on to global charts and receiving thousands of radio spins.There's just one problem: music experts and other musicians are questioning whether he produced it. They claim Josh Fawaz's most popular song, a cover of Madonna's Like a Prayer which reached the No 1 spot on the National Radio Airplay chart, could have been made using AI. Continue reading...

Alleged thieves in October 2025 robbery damaged a gem-encrusted crown worn in the 19th century by Empress EugenieTwo men suspected of making off with 88m (75m) worth of crown jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris last October have reportedly told investigators that the alleged mastermind behind the heist was disappointed by the haul and thought they could have taken more".The French newspaper Le Monde cited transcripts of the alleged thieves' questioning last month by two investigating judges in charge of the inquiry, offering detailed insights into the burglary that made global headlines and led the museum's director to resign. Continue reading...

Abir Al-Sahlani targeted on social media after condemning anti-immigration chants in European parliamentA Swedish MEP has filed a police complaint accusing a fellow MEP of racist hate speech after she was targeted on social media over her condemnation of far-right, anti-immigration chants in the European parliament.The complaint, which was filed last week with police in Sweden, relates to the aftermath last month of the decision by some rightwing MEPs to erupt in chants of send them back" following a vote aimed at increasing deportations across the EU. Continue reading...

Dharminder Singh asserts his innocence', lawyer tells reporters, amid outpouring of grief for young mother in Queensland city

Wildfire quickly burnt more than 800 hectares, with villages evacuated, highway partly closed and high-speed rail disruptedFrench officials rushed two firefighting planes to the Paris region on Sunday after a very virulent" fire of exceptional scale" erupted in the sprawling Fontainebleau forest about 60km (40 miles) south-east of the capital.The fire began late afternoon in the one-time royal hunting preserve that today is dotted with quiet villages. It raced across 800 hectares (2,000 acres) and was still spreading early on Monday, officials said, causing the partial closure of the A6 highway, the country's main north-south artery, and disrupting traffic during a busy, heatwave-stricken summer travel weekend. Continue reading...

American and Iranian forces exchange heavy missile and drone attacks over control of strait of Hormuz, increasing pressure on truceThe US military has launched a new wave of attacks against Iran amid the escalating standoff over the strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying the latest strikes had rendered futile" all the diplomatic efforts of the past few months.The US military began launching more strikes against Iran at 9pm GMT on Sunday, US Central Command (Centcom) said on X, to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz". Continue reading...

Latest film in franchise takes just $43m in North America and $95m globally, against a $250m budgetThe Walt Disney Company's live-action remake of Moana may be the No 1 movie at the North American box office but it did not make a big splash in its first weekend in theaters.The movie, which cost a reported $250m (187m, A$360m) to produce, earned just $43m from ticket sales in the US and Canada, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Continue reading...

Fire in Walthamstow affected one house and multiple gardens and sheds, according to London fire brigadeResidents have been evacuated from their homes after a fire at a railway embankment in east London.Twenty fire engines and about 125 firefighters were called to the incident near Vallentin Road in Walthamstow. Continue reading...

Pair airlifted to hospital in two-hour rescue operation after Guardia Civil searched area for survivorsA British couple have been found badly burned and semi-conscious in a Spanish ravine amid deadly wildfires that have swept through the country's Almeria province, according to local media reports.The couple were on holiday in the region and were thought to be out hiking when they were caught up in the wildfire, which has so far killed 13 people and burned more than 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres). At least 23 people are missing. Continue reading...

Politicians should not comment before facts established, says ex-chief constable, as Farage calls killing premeditated murder'Senior police figures and politicians have warned against speculation during the murder investigation into Ann Widdecombe's death, after detectives said there was nothing to suggest" political motivation following an intervention from Nigel Farage.Devon and Cornwall police said on Sunday the killing investigation was not being treated as terrorism nor as politically motivated. Officers said they remained open-minded about the motive and urged the public not to speculate, warning it was both unhelpful to the investigation and distressing for Widdecombe's family. Continue reading...

Youngsters confirmed safe but men pronounced dead after being brought out of water at Seaton Carew, HartlepoolTwo men have died after going into the water at a beach in County Durham to try to help two children who had gotten into difficulty, police said.Officers were called at about 3.45pm on Sunday after concerns were raised about two youngsters in the water at Seaton Carew beach in Hartlepool. Continue reading...

Political leaders in both countries rebuke Mariano Rajoy after he writes team does not have any French players'The former Spanish conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy is facing growing accusations of racism after writing in a World Cup newspaper column that the French national team does not have any French players".Rajoy, who was in office from 2011 to 2018, pondered Spain's looming semi-final showdown with France in an article for the online newspaper El Debate on Friday. Continue reading...

Owner Christina Bluhme feared the worst after Tokyo began to lose consciousness while climbing the UK's tallest mountainA dog has been rescued from Ben Nevis after falling ill from eating cannabis discarded on the mountain trail.Christina Bluhme was halfway up the UK's highest mountain last weekend when her black labrador, Tokyo, lost the use of her legs and began drifting in and out of consciousness. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Deputy PM says opponents have no solutions' to possible collapse of justice system in England and Wales

Colt Gray, now 16, expected to change plea after pleading not guilty to 55 criminal counts in Apalachee shootingThe teenager accused of killing two students and two teachers during a 2024 shooting at Apalachee high school in Georgia has been scheduled to appear in court later in July for a non-negotiated" plea hearing, according to records.Documents filed on Friday in Barrow county superior court in Winder, Georgia, show that Colt Gray is expected to change his plea at a hearing on 24 July, with the court scheduled to hold proceedings for both the plea and sentencing, as the Associated Press reported. Continue reading...

Stalled legislation aims to prevent cover-ups and help families seek justice after major disastersKeir Starmer is expected to use his final week in office to push the Hillsborough law through its remaining stages in the Commons after months of delays.This bill aims to strengthen support for families seeking justice after major disasters and create new offences for officials who deliberately mislead the public or seek to block accountability. Continue reading...

For many watching their team beat Norway at a south London nightclub the look was as important as the gameThe Carpet Shop nightclub in Peckham, south London, is ordinarily packed with rowdy crowds at the weekend. But Saturday night's liveliness was not congregated around the DJ on the dancefloor, the crowd was at the sold-out venue for England's victorious quarter-final game at the 2026 World Cup, and the young spectators were there for the fashion as much as they were for the football.Luke Grandon and Mattia Guarnera, both 27, are massive" football fans, and their love for the game is expressed in their outfits. I have a massive collection of vintage football shirts," said Guarnera, wearing a white polo shirt with LOVE" printed on the back from a limited-edition World Cup-themed collaboration between Lyle & Scott and the British artist Reuben Dangoor. Continue reading...

Authorities confirm worst toll in more than 20 years, as extreme temperatures in Europe force early closure of Eiffel TowerNearly 100 people, the largest proportion of whom were young men, died by drowning in Germany last month, authorities have said, as extreme temperatures in western Europe that have been blamed for hundreds of excess deaths geared up again.In Germany's worst death toll from drowning for more than two decades, 99 people died in June, according to official figures, after temperatures rose as high as 41.7C (107.1F) in some areas. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Many aged care residents in Australia are charged for services they can't use or understand, prompting an investigation from the regulator

Digital customs declaration to be phased in at all international airports and seaports after successful Qantas trial

Data shows the rightwing party faces an obstacle in the form of urban seats - and the effect of preference flows is harder to predict

Vital maritime corridor closes after 90 vessels - including shadow fleet oil tankers - are attacked in under a weekRussia has been forced to suspend shipping in the Sea of Azov after 90 vessels were targeted by Ukrainian drones in less than a week.Ukraine's drone forces chief, Robert Brovdi, said on Sunday that his units had hit 10 tankers and four ferries overnight, as well as a major oil refinery in the city of Syzran. There were multiple strikes on electricity sub-stations in occupied Crimea, he added. Continue reading...

Man in 20s also found with stab injuries after incident over which 44-year-old is being held on suspicion of murderA man has been arrested after a 24-year-old woman was killed and a man in his 20s was injured in a stabbing in west London, police have said.Officers found the woman with stab injuries after being called to a property on Uxbridge Road in Hayes on Sunday morning. The man in his 20s was found outside the property with stab injuries, with police awaiting an update on his condition. Continue reading...

Tehran reportedly attacks Gulf countries following fresh US strikesThere has been almost no visible traffic in the strait of Hormuz so far today, with only two oil products tankers seen approaching the narrow waterway, according to a Bloomberg report.As a reminder, the US president, Donald Trump, has declared the ceasefire over while leaving the door open for talks, and mediators have been trying to salvage a diplomatic solution despite the attacks intensifying. Continue reading...

Timing of Devon switchoff could not be worse', says board, as members face an estimated 2m in lost revenueBritain's biggest community solar project has been forced to shut for the duration of its first summer by the government's energy system operator to avoid overloading the local grid with renewable energy.The north Devon solar farm was ordered to shut weeks before record high temperatures across Europe led to power supply warnings, due to concerns that the large amount of rooftop solar in the area could destabilise the power grid by triggering a thermal overload". Continue reading...

Officers say they are not looking for anyone else after arrest of man, 28, on suspicion of murdering ex-Tory politicianPolice have said there is nothing to suggest the death of Ann Widdecombe was politically motivated.Speaking at a press conference on Sunday morning, the assistant chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police, Matt Longman, said detectives were open-minded about the motive for the killing, but stressed there was no evidence to suggest it had been politically motivated. He also said it was not being treated as terrorism. Continue reading...

Miller takes indefinite leave after arm amputation and questions of possible financial improprietiesAn on-air analyst for a top US sports broadcaster says he is pulling back from his role indefinitely as he heals from a car crash in Missouri that forced him to undergo a life-saving amputation - and while he reportedly faces a law enforcement investigation into possible financial improprieties connected to what he billed as side charity work.Matt Miller's announcement on Friday that he was taking indefinite leave from ESPN provided only the latest twist in an unusual case that has drawn significant attention from both media as well as the substantial number of American football fanatics who follow his area of expertise: the process by which NFL teams select, or draft, collegiate prospects. Continue reading...

Gallery director says collection of 140 paintings will offer a more balanced view of Manchester painter's workA new exhibition of work by LS Lowry will bust a few myths" about the Mancunian artist, who the show's co-curator says is still wrongly derided for being naive and uncultured".LS Lowry: the Theatre of Life features 140 paintings by the artist, who captured working-class life in the industrial north-west of England during the early and mid 20th century. Continue reading...

Ed Davey voices concern about the Musk family foundation taking the far-right activist on a visit to MoscowThe UK must do more to defend its democracy after it emerged that Elon Musk's family foundation had taken the far-right activist Tommy Robinson to Russia, Ed Davey has said.Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was brought to Russia by the Musks, the billionaire tech mogul's father told the Guardian. Continue reading...

Chancellor says PM-in-waiting needs worked through plan', in what could be one of her final interviews in No 11Rachel Reeves has urged Andy Burnham to arrive in Downing Street with a worked through plan", saying the incoming prime minister will be tested quickly by a range of incoming shocks and challenges".In what could be one of the first female chancellor's final major interviews while in No 11, Reeves said Burnham should remain focused on the priorities that first brought him into politics. Continue reading...

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Plucky defeats decorated with patches of excellence will not cut it for Australia with a home World Cup now looming largeThe camera found Joe Schmidt shortly after France had completed a 22-point swing. Australia's coach had seen a 21-12 half-time lead obliterated in 16 brutal minutes. Schmidt, one of rugby's sharpest minds, looked short of answers. The trouble was that the questions confronting him had obvious answers but almost impossible solutions.Why had Australia's discipline deteriorated? Because they were under pressure. Why had their tackle intensity and ruck speed fallen away? Because France had introduced fresh power from the bench. Why had the Wallabies gone from a nine-point half-time lead to a 13-point deficit in barely a quarter of an hour? Because one team had more large, skilful, Test-quality rugby players than the other. Continue reading...

Temperatures will stay above 30C on Sunday, with warnings of wildfires and heat health alerts in some areasThe scorching heatwave conditions experienced by much of England and Wales will last until at least next week, the Met Office has said.Temperatures in parts of England and Wales will continue to exceed 30C on Sunday and into next week, the forecaster said. Continue reading...

Nearly 17,000 injured and thousands more listed as missing amid calls by president Delcy Rodriguez and UN for financial helpThe death toll in Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has passed 4,300, the government said on Saturday.At least 4,333 people were killed and 16,740 injured in the back-to-back quakes on 24 June that flattened entire districts in the coastal state of La Guaira, the Venezuelan parliament chief, Jorge Rodriguez, wrote on Telegram. Thousands more people are listed as missing. Continue reading...

Errol Musk says far-right activist is a fine young man' and held meetings with Russian business figuresElon Musk's family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, according to the billionaire X owner's father, who was with the British far-right activist in Moscow as he encouraged anti-migration protests in Britain.Robinson - whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - appeared last month in Moscow, from where he issued calls for supporters to take to the streets after a knife attack in Belfast. He shared video of himself in a luxury Moscow hotel with the older Musk, whose son has been a vocal supporter of Robinson. Continue reading...

A brown huntsman is the quickest of more than 250 species analysed by scientists in the UK and GermanyIf arachnophobes were not frightened enough by the horrific ability of Australia's huntsman spiders to drag dead mice up the sides of fridges, they now have another reason.They might be the fastest spiders on the planet. Continue reading...

Devon and Cornwall force now looking for suspect believed to be a white male' after man arrested on Friday was released without chargeAlison and Simon Gilbert, who have lived in in Haytor Vale for over a decade, said Ann Widdecombe was a well-known figure locally. Ms Gilbert told PA media:She was a nice woman, really nice woman, and she had a great sense of humour. It's a lovely area - you talk to strangers.Everyone saw her as quite an opinionated politician, but to us she was just a person in the community.I never met (Ann Widdecombe) although I've lived here all my life.It's tragic, someone gives all their life to public service and then they end like that. Continue reading...