Multimedia news agency in the United Kingdom and Ireland
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a 20% business rates reduction for nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues in England from April 2027, a package the government says will save a typical pub about £1,100 a year and cost roughly £100m. Ministers are proposing to fund it by reviewing reliefs for vape shops and cracking down on online tax non-compliance.
Central banks are maintaining cautious stances as inflation pressures persist. Officials have signalled that rate paths will be data-driven, with ongoing monitoring of energy prices and geopolitical risks. Market expectations hinge on inflation trends and the pace of growth.
Independent and BBC report on separate incidents: a Tottenham man accused of rape and murder across multiple 2025 cases at Old Bailey; and Amaaz’s sentencing for assaulting officers at Liverpool Airport in 2024, with public reaction and ongoing investigations.
Frankie Dettori has sustained multiple injuries after a car collision in Newmarket. He is in hospital for further scans as doctors assess his broken ribs and thumb. He is due to return to racing in September.
A Landseer Highland painting titled Scene in Braemar has sold for £5,946,000 at Sotheby’s, far surpassing pre-sale estimates of up to £4 million. The work, depicting a 12-point stag on a Scottish peak, is larger than Landseer’s Monarch of the Glen and connected to Victorian networks and Scottish tourism. The sale highlights the Highlands’ enduring appeal and the art market’s appetite for historic wildlife scenes.
Former SNP deputy first minister Kate Forbes has addressed the ARC conference in London, insisting she has "absolutely won the public support" while explaining she would not abandon her religious beliefs or policy stances on abortion and same-sex marriage. The event featured prominent conservatives and sparked debate over honesty and leadership.
Digwa has been jailed for life with a minimum 21 years for stabbing 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton. The Solicitor General has referred the sentence as unduly lenient, and Digwa is now appealing both conviction and sentence. Protests followed the release of body-worn footage showing officers handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying and failing to administer first aid.
A major NHS maternity review has found hundreds of mothers and babies suffered potentially avoidable harm due to deeply embedded failures at Nottingham University Hospitals. Officials face renewed calls for accountability as MPs consider Hillsborough Law measures.
The Reform UK leader has quit as an MP to trigger a Clacton by-election, arguing the people of Clacton should judge his actions amid ongoing scrutiny over a 35m gift and separate fundraising allegations. Most major parties are not fielding candidates, leaving Count Binface as the primary challenger; the by-election carries potential legal and financial implications for Farage and Reform.
Nigel Farage has resigned as MP to trigger a by-election in Clacton, arguing the voters should judge his actions. With major parties abstaining, Count Binface and a slate of independents are contesting the race, which is drawing scrutiny over Farage’s finances and a parliamentary standards inquiry.
Northern Ireland's bonfire season has again drawn condemnation after a replica mosque was placed on a Moygashel bonfire and lit early. Police are investigating incitement to hatred, amid broader debates over safety, immigration rhetoric, and community tensions surrounding the Twelfth of July celebrations.
Across multiple reports, football clubs reveal major stadium developments: Swansea City intends to buy Swansea.com Stadium from the council to safeguard the club’s future, while Manchester United advances a 100,000-seat stadium plan near Old Trafford as part of a broader Trafford Wharfside development. The initiatives aim to spur investment, jobs and regeneration, though debt and funding are under scrutiny.
Posthumous conditional pardon has been granted to Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in the UK, recognizing a grave injustice linked to domestic abuse. The decision replaces the death penalty with life imprisonment, while underscoring ongoing failures in how abuse shapes criminal outcomes.
Prince Harry has visited the UK this month for charity and Invictus events and has met King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove. The meeting has allowed Harry’s children, Archie and Lilibet, to see their grandfather for the first time since 2022. The trip has followed his loss in a High Court privacy case and a dispute over state-funded security for his family.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, has secured passage for its final Commons stages with the government insisting it will force candour from public bodies. Amendments have brought intelligence services under the duty, with a secure disclosure process to protect national security. Debates signal the law’s autumn enactment and a lasting impact on accountability.
Tokito Oda has won Wimbledon’s wheelchair men’s singles, defeating Alfie Hewett in straight sets to claim his sixth consecutive Grand Slam title. Oda, 20, has now matched Hewett on Grand Slam singles titles at 10 each, while Shingo Kunieda remains the all-time leader with 28. Hewett also secured a doubles title with Gordon Reid, but fell short in the singles final.
Ann Widdecombe, 78, has been found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon; prosecutors have charged 28‑year‑old Joshua Kerry with her murder after his arrest in Rotherham. Counter‑terrorism teams have taken the lead and police are continuing to investigate whether the attack had a political or terrorist motive.
Conservative MP Patrick Spencer has been found not guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a trial at Southwark Crown Court concerning incidents at the Groucho Club in August 2023. The jury has cleared him; he has maintained innocence and described the proceedings as a test of character.
Campaigners in the Chinook HC-2 case have pressed for a new independent review into the Mull of Kintyre crash, arguing airworthiness concerns call into question the aircraft’s safety. The MoD contends the challenge is too late; the High Court continues to hear the case.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill has cleared the House of Commons, mandating candour by public officials and funding for bereaved families. Campaigners say the law represents a fundamental shift toward greater accountability, overcoming years of state concealment after the Hillsborough disaster.
Arsenal confirm William Saliba has a back injury from World Cup duties and will undergo a rehabilitation programme. Surgery is not required; the club plans to strengthen the centre-back position this summer while preparing for the season opener against Coventry.
Aziz Abdul, nicknamed Ringo, pursues Commonwealth gold in Glasgow, drawing on his grandfather Idi Amin’s boxing legacy. He faces English youth champion Damar Thomas in the +90kg final rounds, with the aim of Uganda’s first Commonwealth boxing gold since 1990.