Government wins welfare bill vote after big concessions to rebels

1 hour ago Share Save Kate Whannel & Brian Wheeler Political reporter Share Save

Watch: 'It's been a bumpy time tonight, but we go forward'

The government has won a vote on its benefits bill by 75 votes, but only after offering last-minute concessions to Labour rebels. Ministers had already watered down their plans once by reversing some cuts to universal credit and protecting current claimants of personal independence payment (Pip) from stricter eligibility rules. However, some Labour MPs were still concerned the new criteria for claiming Pip would come into force before the recommendations of a review could be implemented. Fearing a humiliating defeat, the government announced a further U-turn, saying it would not change Pip rules until it had time to consider the review's conclusions.

The 11th hour changes leave the government's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill gutted of its most significant measures. The move undermines Sir Keir's authority, which has been called into question by a series of U-turns recently, and that of Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. It also puts pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending plans, as potential savings of around £5bn will now be delayed or lost entirely. Helen Miller, incoming director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank, said the figures would "intensify the speculation over the summer about which taxes may rise and by how much". She said it raised questions about the government's credibility adding: "It doesn't bode well for those hoping this government will grasp the nettle and address the deeper, structural challenges facing the UK public finances." Speaking after the vote, Kendall said: "I wish we had got to this point in a different way." She said there were "lessons to learn from the process" but defended the bill arguing it put in place "really important reforms" to help those who can, back into work. She insisted Labour MPs were "100% behind the prime minister".

Following a tumultuous few hours in Parliament, MPs voted by 335 votes to 260 to give the bill their initial approval. The result saw the government's working majority cut from 165 to 75. MPs will continue to scrutinise the bill when it returns to the House of Commons on Wednesday 9 July. Ministers had hoped changes made last week had convinced wavering rebels to back the bill, but during the debate many still expressed concerns. Less than two hours before the final vote, disability minister Sir Stephen Timms told MPs the government was making further compromises, by removing sections of the bill which would have introduced new Pip eligibility rules. "We will move straight on to the wider review and only make changes to Pip eligibility activity and descriptors following that review," he told MPs. Several MPs expressed anger and frustration at the last-minute changes. Labour MP Paula Barker said: "Whilst grateful for the concessions, this has further laid bare the incoherent and shambolic nature of this process - it is the most unedifying spectacle that I have ever seen." Labour's Mary Kelly Foy told MPs: "I popped out for a banana earlier on and, when I came back in, things had changed again. So I'm even more unclear on what I'm voting on." After the vote had taken place, Labour's Ian Lavery told the BBC: "This is an absolute shambles. I've never seen anything like it." Both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives criticised the process and said the bill should be pulled entirely.

Watch: Moment Labour wins crucial welfare reform vote

Who are the welfare bill rebels? Find out how your MP voted

MPs have voted for changes to the welfare system which alters the criteria for some benefits.

After weeks of deliberation, and significant climbdowns by ministers to avoid defeat in the Commons, 49 Labour MPs voted against their own government.

But this was not enough to defeat the bill as it was backed by 335 votes to 260, a government majority of 75.

How did your MP vote, and did they rebel against the government? Find out below.

UK sees hottest day of 2025 as heatwave peaks

6 hours ago Share Save Simon King Lead weather presenter Imogen James BBC News Share Save

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The UK experienced its hottest day of the year on Tuesday as a heatwave which has gripped much of England this week reached its peak. St James's Park in London saw England's top temperature of 34.7C (94.4F), while parts of Essex and Kent also topped 33C. Temperatures are expected to cool down across the UK on Wednesday. It comes as the Met Office said last month was the warmest June on record in England, and second warmest in the UK since records began in 1884, according to provisional figures.

While feeling cooler for many on Tuesday, the heatwave continues in south-east England

In Wales, Tuesday's top temperature was 25.8 in Usk. But conditions for most people living north of the Midlands were cool and cloudy on Tuesday, with Scotland's high 19.7 in Drumnadrochit and Northern Ireland's 20.5 in Killowen. Forecasters say temperatures in the south-east will fall to the mid-20s on Wednesday, with some heavy showers across the far south-east of England, north-east England and eastern Scotland. Flooding alerts have been issued for parts of northern and central Scotland. However, those in the south-east will still face a warm Tuesday night. Several amber heat health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency remain in place until Wednesday morning for Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London and both south England regions. It came as Europe remained gripped by an intense heatwave, with France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and the Balkans all experiencing scorching heat in recent days. What's the difference between Heat Health Alerts and Extreme Heat warnings?

Why are UK cities often the hottest spots in the country? The average temperature across England was 16.9C throughout June and 15.2C for the UK, according to the Met Office. That tops June 2023, when the mean temperature was 16.7C - and it comes after the Met Office previously confirmed this spring was the warmest ever. Little significant heat-related disruption was reported on Tuesday - but in the Scottish Highlands and neighbouring Moray, firefighters tackled moorland wildfires for a fourth day in a row.

Family pay tribute to girl killed by falling tree

2 hours ago Share Save Katy Prickett BBC News, Essex Share Save

Essex Police Leonna had "a heart full of love and a mind full of endless ideas", her family said

The family of a seven-year-old girl who died after a tree collapsed on her in a park has described her as "a light in our lives". Leonna Ruka, from Dagenham in east London, was visiting Southend-on-Sea with family. Emergency services were called to Chalkwell Park shortly before 15:00 BST on Saturday, but Leonna died in hospital. A six-year-old girl, who was also under the tree and is Leonna's cousin, remains critically ill in hospital. Three other children had minor injuries.

In a statement Leonna's family said: "It is with broken hearts and unimaginable pain that we share the devastating loss of our beloved daughter Leonna – our beautiful, bright, and loving little girl, taken from us far too soon. "Leonna was more than just a child – she was a light in our lives and in the lives of everyone who had the joy of meeting her. "She was funny, kind, and full of life – a shining star who brought happiness wherever she went and to whoever she met. "From the moment she walked into a room, she would light it up. "She was the kind of girl who gave love without asking for anything in return. "She was perfect – too perfect for a world that can be so cruel and unfair."

Stuart Woodward/BBC A witness said up to 50 people tried to lift the tree off the children after its partial collapse

Up to 50 people tried to lift the tree when it trapped five children underneath it, witnesses told the BBC, including some from nearby Westcliff Cricket Club. They were swiftly joined by first responders from all emergency services. The family also paid tribute to those who had reached out to them. "We would like to take this moment to thank everyone who has supported us – our family, our friends, our community, and all those who stood with us in Southend and beyond," said the family statement, issued via Essex Police. "Your kindness, your prayers, and your presence have meant more than we could ever express. In our deepest sorrow, you reminded us that we are not alone. "We are incredibly grateful for every candle lit, every flower placed, every tear shared in her memory. "The outpouring of love for our daughter has brought us comfort in ways we never imagined possible."

Essex Police The county's fire service said colleagues involved in moving the large branch that had fallen were deeply affected by the incident

On Monday, police, fire and ambulance service and Southend-on-Sea City Council representatives laid flowers and paid their respects at the park. Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris said: "To lose a child in any circumstance is unthinkable, to lose a child in this terrible way defies all belief. "Everyone – from my officers and staff, to ambulance, fire and council colleagues, to the public of Southend and across the country – is struggling to come to terms with what happened. "We are all hoping for a positive outcome in relation to the little girl who remains in hospital." A full and independent police investigation was under way, she added.

Essex Police A number of tributes including flowers and soft toys have been left by people paying their respects to Leonna and the other injured children

The park, west of the city centre, is managed by the council. It believed the tree was about 350 years old and inspections of it had taken place on Monday. The statement from Leonna's family ended: "This is a time of deep mourning and reflection for our family. "We need space to grieve, to remember our precious Leonna, and to begin the slow and painful process of healing. "Leonna will live forever in our hearts – in every laugh, every sunbeam, every act of kindness we see in the world. "We were so lucky to have had her, even if only for a short time. "Thank you for holding her in your hearts."

US Senate Republicans narrowly pass Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill

6 hours ago Share Save Brandon Drenon BBC News Reporting from Capitol Hill Ana Faguy BBC News Share Save

Watch as the Senate narrowly passes Trump's "big, beautiful" bill

After hours of stalemate, Republicans in the US Senate have narrowly passed Donald Trump's mega-bill on tax and spending, meaning the proposed legislation has cleared one of its key hurdles. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed with Vice-President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote after more than 24 hours of debate. It now heads back to the House, or lower chamber, where it still faces more opposition. An earlier version was cleared by House Republicans by a single-vote margin. Trump had given the Republican-controlled Congress a deadline of 4 July to send him a final version of the bill to sign into law.

"The bill as amendment is passed," Vance said on Tuesday afternoon, a moment that was met by applause among Senate Republicans, while Democrats sank into their seats and shook their heads in disapproval. Disputes over the deficit, social programmes and spending levels had created challenges for Republicans, stalling progress and prompting Trump to concede it would be "very hard" to meet his deadline for passing the bill. Despite efforts to galvanise the party, Senate Majority Leader John Thune lost three Republicans - Maine's Susan Collins, North Carolina's Thom Tillis and Kentucky's Rand Paul - in the narrow vote. Collins, Tillis and Paul joined all Democrats in voting against the bill. After days of negotiations, Republican leaders were finally able to secure the support of Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who had been withholding her support over concerns of the impact of cuts to Medicaid in her state. Murkowski still appeared discontented with the bill, even after voting to support it, describing the process as "rushed" and under an "artificial timeline". "I struggled mightily with the impact on the most vulnerable in this country", Murkowski said, adding the process was "probably the most difficult and agonising legislative 24-hour period" of her career. "My hope is that the House is going to look at this and recognise that we're not there yet," she told reporters just outside the Senate floor, moments after the vote. Murkowski's support made the final Senate vote tally 50-50, and prompted Vance to step in to cast his tie-breaking vote.

Getty Images Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski supported the passage of the bill after intense negotiations

On a visit to a migrant detention facility in Florida, Trump celebrated the passage of the bill. "It's a great bill," he said. "There is something for everyone." The legislation, considered a cornerstone of Trump's second-term agenda, would make permanent large tax cuts that were temporarily put in place when he was first in office. To make up for the expected loss of revenue, Republicans have looked to cut spending in a wide range of programmes, including food subsidies and healthcare for lower-income Americans. The vote came on Tuesday afternoon, concluding a whirlwind voting session on Capitol Hill. Democrats had attempted to flex their muscles by putting up procedural hurdles against the bill to delay its passage. That included requiring Senate clerks to read all of the bill's 940 pages aloud, and launching a lengthy debate process over proposed amendments in what is called a "vote-a-rama".

It is now up to House Republicans to approve the changes made by the Senate before the president can sign the bill into law. But its fate remains uncertain, as it has been opposed from different angles and Republicans can only afford to lose three votes. A group of fiscal conservative hawks have signalled their unhappiness with how much the Senate proposal could add to the US national deficit - which refers to the difference between what the government spends and what it raises in revenue each year. According to the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, the Senate proposal could add $650bn (£472bn) to the deficit each year. "That's not fiscal responsibility," caucus members said in a social media post on Monday. "It's not what we agreed to." Meanwhile, other House Republicans are concerned that the Senate legislation would make steeper cuts to the Medicaid health insurance programme for lower-income Americans than they had approved. Democrats in both chambers of Congress, too, have criticised the proposed welfare cuts.

Watch: Trump’s "big, beautiful bill" triggers Senate face-off

TSB name could disappear from UK in Santander deal

A Santander spokeswoman said: "For now it is business as usual for Santander UK and TSB colleagues," but she did not rule out branch closures, and said there would be job cuts.

The takeover would create Britain's third largest bank by share of personal current accounts.

The £2.65bn deal still has to be agreed by the current owner Sabadell's shareholders but if it does go ahead, Santander said it "intends to integrate TSB in the Santander UK group".

The TSB name could disappear from UK High Streets after the British bank's Spanish owner announced its sale to rival Santander.

"There will be duplication, particularly in back office roles," she said, adding: "Where there is an impact on people this will be communicated directly to affected colleagues and their representatives as is right and proper."

TSB has 175 branches in the UK and 5,000 employees while Santander has around 349 banks, but it has been shutting branches, saying more customers want to do their banking digitally.

Santander UK's spokeswoman said: "At the moment nothing changes with branches. It is true, however, that the way customers are choosing to bank is changing and all banks are currently undergoing a programme of transformation that reflects this.

"And of course, it would make no sense to have two branches of the same bank in any one community."

The deal is expected to close in the first three months of 2026, and its value could go up to £2.9bn considering TSB's estimated profits until then, Sabadell said.

Marc Armengol, TSB's chief executive, said: "Today's announcement represents the next exciting chapter for this successful business, as part of Santander, a highly regarded banking group."

He added that he believed it would be "an excellent fit for our loyal customers".

Santander has a track record of buying up UK banking brands and absorbing them into the business, with past takeovers including Abbey, Bradford & Bingley, and Alliance & Leicester.

On the future of the TSB brand, Santander said: "This kind of detail will be provided once the deal is completed."

Ana Botin, executive chair of Santander Group, said buying TSB shows the Spanish bank's confidence both in its strategy and the UK market.

A sale would be the latest step in an eventful history for TSB, which can trace its roots back more than 200 years.

It was once owned by Lloyds, which was forced by the European Commission to spin off the business as a separate brand after Lloyds received a £20bn bailout during the global financial crisis in the late 2000s.

Lloyds eventually sold its remaining stake in TSB to Sabadell of Spain in 2015 in a deal worth £1.7bn.

Following that takeover, TSB suffered an IT meltdown in 2018 which left customers unable to access online accounts for several weeks.

The problems were caused when TSB tried to move 1.3 billion customer records from an old system run by former parent Lloyds to one managed by Sabadell.

It was fined nearly £49m by the Financial Conduct Authority for "widespread and serious" failings.

On Tuesday, TSB said it will continue to use its current IT system "until migration" to Santander in order to guarantee "operational continuity".

Sabadell is selling TSB as it attempts to fend off a long-running hostile takeover bid from Spain's BBVA.

Small boat crossings in first half of year up 48%

8 hours ago Share Save Sam Francis Political reporter Simon Jones BBC News, South East Reporting from Dunkirk, France Share Save

BBC speaks to migrants determined to cross the channel

Nearly 20,000 people arrived in the UK in the first half of this year by crossing the English Channel in small boats - up 48% on the first six months of 2024. Just under 1,500 people have crossed since Sunday, taking the total until the end of June to 19,982, according to latest Home Office figures. The figure for the first six months of this year is also 75% higher than the equivalent figure for 2023, which was 11,433. The Conservatives said the government "had broken a new national record - for failure". Ministers have previously pointed to clear weather and the willingness of people smugglers to put more people onto boats as factors driving the spike in migration crossings.

Since coming to power in July last year, Labour has announced a series of measures to tackle people smuggling, including a new criminal offence of endangering the lives of others at sea. Legislation going through Parliament sets out plans to use counter-terror powers against people smugglers - with suspects facing travel bans, social-media blackouts and phone restrictions. But the latest figures show 2025 has already set a new record for small boat arrivals in the first six months of the year, since the data was first collected in 2018. In 2024, Home Office figures recorded 13,489 people arriving in the UK via small boats in the first half of the year. In 2023, the figure was 11,433 - which was slightly lower than the 12,747 recorded the year before. Tackling small boat crossings will be a key point of discussion when French President Emmanuel Macron visits the UK later this week, after Downing Street said last month the situation in the English Channel was "deteriorating." The French authorities are considering allowing the police or coastguard to intervene in shallow waters to try to stop so-called taxi boats which pick migrants up from the beaches. In addition, London and Paris have reportedly been negotiating a deal under which the UK could return some Channel migrants to France, in exchange for accepting asylum seekers from France seeking family reunion in Britain. On Monday the European Commission, the executive arm of EU, announced it had been in contact with the UK government to "seek clarity" on the deal, after five member states criticised the proposals. Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus warned in a letter seen by the Financial Times that the deal could see people deported from the UK to their countries. A Commission spokesperson said the rising number of Channel migrants was "alarming" - but it would only accept "solutions that are compatible with the spirit and letter of EU law".

PA Media

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp blamed the increase on Labour "tearing up" the previous Conservative government's plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda shortly after it took office. Philp said: "This is the worst year on record, and it's become a free-for-all. "We need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant who arrives is removed to a location outside Europe. The crossings will then rapidly stop." A Home Office spokesperson said the "government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage".

'Red days'

This morning near Dunkirk, the BBC witnessed a boat carrying around 20 migrants making its way to the beach to pick more people. But it developed engine trouble and started drifting. The police got the people off the boat, but they were allowed to head back into town without being questioned about what had happened. Officers did however slash the dinghy to make sure it could not be used in another crossing attempt. Several boats have launched from other beaches and waterways along the coast of northern France. The number of crossings can vary according to factors like the weather and the supply of boat parts. Last month, the Home Office released figures showing that the number of "red days" - when conditions are considered favourable for small boat crossings - peaked in 2024-25. But Dr Madeleine Sumption, head of Oxford University's Migration Observatory, said there was "no evidence to suggest that the weather is a major factor explaining long-term increases in small boat arrivals. "The data published today suggest that over long periods of a year, the number of crossings seems to be broadly unrelated to the number of 'red' days. "Other factors, such as the number of people wanting to reach the UK and the number and professionalisation of smuggling gangs are likely to be more important," she added.

Millions of websites to get 'game-changing' AI bot blocker

8 hours ago Share Save Chris Vallance Senior Technology Reporter Share Save

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Millions of websites - including Sky News, The Associated Press and Buzzfeed - will now be able to block artificial intelligence (AI) bots from accessing their content without permission. The new system is being rolled out by internet infrastructure firm, Cloudflare, which hosts around a fifth of the internet. Eventually, sites will be able to ask for payment from AI firms in return for having their content scraped. Many prominent writers, artists, musicians and actors have accused AI firms of training systems on their work without permission or payment. In the UK, it led to a furious row between the government and artists including Sir Elton John over how to protect copyright.

Cloudflare's tech targets AI firm bots - also known as crawlers - programmes that explore the web, indexing and collecting data as they go. They are important to the way AI firms build, train and operate their systems. So far, Cloudflare says its tech is active on a million websites. Roger Lynch, chief executive of Condé Nast, whose print titles include GQ, Vogue, and The New Yorker, said the move was "a game-changer" for publishers. "This is a critical step toward creating a fair value exchange on the Internet that protects creators, supports quality journalism and holds AI companies accountable", he wrote in a statement. However, other experts say stronger legal protections will still be needed.

'Surviving the age of AI'

Initially the system will apply by default to new users of Cloudflare services, plus sites that participated in an earlier effort to block crawlers. Many publishers accuse AI firms of using their content without permission. Recently the BBC threatened to take legal action against US based AI firm Perplexity, demanding it immediately stopped using BBC content, and paid compensation for material already used. However publishers are generally happy to allow crawlers from search engines, like Google, to access their sites, so that the search companies can in return can direct people to their content. Perplexity accused the BBC of seeking to preserve "Google's monopoly". But Cloudflare argues AI breaks the unwritten agreement between publishers and crawlers. AI crawlers, it argues, collect content like text, articles, and images to generate answers, without sending visitors to the original source—depriving content creators of revenue. "If the Internet is going to survive the age of AI, we need to give publishers the control they deserve and build a new economic model that works for everyone," wrote the firm's chief executive Matthew Prince. To that end the company is developing a "Pay Per Crawl" system, which would give content creators the option to request payment from AI companies for utilising their original content.

Sir Elton John spoke to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg about AI and Copyright

Battle the bots

Will Dalai Lama reveal succession plan as he turns 90?

5 hours ago Share Save Geeta Pandey BBC News, Delhi Samira Hussain BBC News, Dharamshala Share Save

AFP The Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism reaches a milestone this week

Hundreds of followers of the Dalai Lama have gathered in northern India for the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's 90th birthday, amid growing anticipation that he could give a clue about his eventual successor. The Dalai Lama is due to release a video message and a statement on Wednesday, his office has told the BBC, although there's no clarity on what he will say. The Dalai Lama fled across the border to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. He set up a government-in-exile in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala and has been seen as an alternative source of power for those who resent Beijing's tight control of Tibet.

Getty Images Hollywood actor Richard Gere (right) is a long-time follower of the Dalai Lama

The milestone birthday on Sunday will be preceded by the three-day 15th Tibetan Religious Conference, starting on Wednesday morning. Celebrations began on Monday - the Dalai Lama's birthday according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. Celebrations will be attended by more than 7,000 guests, including a number of Indian ministers. On Monday, photos showed the Dalai Lama blessing Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a long-time follower. The Dalai Lama, who had earlier said he would release details about his succession around his 90th birthday, told a gathering on Monday that "there will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lamas". He did not elaborate. In the past, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism has been torn between whether to continue with the 600-year-old institution or not. A few years ago, he said his successor might be a girl, or that there might be no successor at all. But in recent years, he has also said that if there's widespread support among Tibetans-in-exile for the post - which there is - then it would continue and his office would choose a successor. He has always insisted that his successor would be born outside China, something that has angered Beijing. Even though the Dalai Lama has always advocated a "middle way" to resolve the status of Tibet - genuine self-rule within China - Beijing regards him as a separatist. It says the standard of living of people in Tibet has greatly improved under its rule.

Youdon Aukatsang, an MP in the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, said he did not expect "a clear-cut procedure would be laid down" this week. "I think everyone is kind of anticipating some kind of revelation from His Holiness about his reincarnation. But I do not expect a very specific kind of revelation," he told the BBC. The present Dalai Lama, he said, "is a binding and unifying force for the Tibetan movement" and some Tibetans feel somebody should be recognised soon as his successor because they worry that there may be an impact on the community and the movement going forward. "The Dalai Lama institution is very important for the Tibetan struggle. It's also a symbol of Tibetan identity and a beacon of our spiritual refuge. That will continue. I think there will be a vacuum, but we have to continue, we don't have a choice," he said. "We have very, very big shoes to fill but we have to fill them, right? I think many people will have to get into that role, one person will not be enough." Experts, however, say if he does announce a successor, then China is also expected to name its own Dalai Lama. "China will argue that only the Communist Party of China based in Beijing has the authority to find the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama," Dibyesh Anand, professor of International Relations at the University of Westminster, told the BBC. "After a period of a few months or a few years, they will have their own proteges identify a small boy as the next Dalai Lama and impose that. Of course, a majority of Tibetans are going to reject it and the majority of people in the world are going to make fun of it. But remember China has immense authority in terms of resources so they will try to impose that." Mr Aukatsang says that "despite all these years of trying to control the hearts and minds of Tibetan people inside Tibet", Beijing has "completely failed". A Dalai Lama chosen by China, he says, "will not be recognised, not only by the Tibetans but the world will not recognise it because China doesn't have the legitimacy to find the future Dalai Lama". "We are concerned but we know that irrespective of our concern, China will come up with their own Dalai Lama, we will call it the Chinese-recognised Dalai Lama. I am not worried that Dalai Lama will have any credibility in the Tibetan world or the Buddhist world."

Getty Images Sunday's birthday celebrations will be attended by more than 7,000 people

BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour

8 hours ago Share Save Emma Saunders Culture reporter Share Save

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The wait is over, K-pop fans - BTS are back. The South Korean band confirmed their highly-anticipated comeback on Tuesday, scheduling a new album and tour for next year. Announcing the news during their first live stream since all band members completed their mandatory military service, the seven-strong group said they would head to the US later this month to begin working on new music. "Hey guys, we are back," Jimin said, with the group adding that their album would be released in spring 2026. "We're also planning a world tour alongside the album. We'll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you're as excited as we are," the band said.

It will be BTS's first world tour since the group's Permission to Dance on Stage tour back in 2022. And the new album will be the band's first full-length release since 2020. All South Korean men must do 18 months in the military, which forced the world's most successful boy band in recent years to pause their careers at the height of their global fame in 2022.

Reuters BTS members Jungkook and Jimin were discharged from military service in June

The royal train is going to be taken out of service by 2027, in a cost-saving measure announced by Buckingham Palace.

It move has been revealed as part of the annual publication of royal finances. The new report shows the single biggest travel item was £400,000 for the King and Queen's trip to Australia and Samoa in October 2024.

Our royal correspondent Daniela Relph breaks down the costs and looks ahead to next year's sovereign fund.

More on this story here.

Police reflect on Sarah Payne's murder 25 years on

18 hours ago Share Save Rosie Blunt & Hsin-Yi Lo BBC News, South East Share Save

PA Media Sarah Payne was eight-years-old when she was abducted and murdered by Roy Whiting

Sarah Payne was just eight years old when she was abducted while playing near her grandparents home on 1 July 2000. Her body was found 17 days later, several miles away in a field, just off the A29 near Pulborough in West Sussex. Roy Whiting was jailed for life in December 2001 for her murder. On the 25th anniversary of her disappearance, Martyn Underhill, the deputy senior investigating officer in charge of the murder investigation, has spoken of the legacy she left behind.

Sara and Michael Payne arrive at Guildford Cathedral, Surrey, for the memorial service of their daughter Sarah in August 2000

Martyn Underhill MBE served as a police officer in both the Metropolitan Police and Sussex Police from 1979 to 2009. Mr Underhill, who now lives in Dorset, told the BBC it was one of the biggest investigations he was involved in. There were 1,300 police officers involved and it cost nearly £3m. He said: "The enormity of the task was the size of the search area which was hundreds of square miles. "We had thousands of people helping, but it was a lengthy and laborious task trying to find Sarah's body." He said the chances of finding Sarah was "diminishing rapidly" when there was no news of her whereabouts within three days of the search. "It was almost a relief for the family and police when she was tragically found," he said.

Following Sarah's death, "Sarah's Law" was introduced to protect and safeguard children in the UK

Kevin Moore, now-retired, was head of Sussex Police CID during the investigation. He said local detective inspector, Paul Williams identified "a number of individuals" at the time, including Whiting. He said Whiting came on their radar because he could not account for his movements and had access to the van. Later, crime scene investigation officers took the van "to pieces", he said, and found forensic evidence linking Sarah to the vehicle.

Sarah's legacy

Following Whiting's conviction, Mr Underhill said a "source of pride" for him was helping launch Child Rescue Alert and for seeing Sarah's Law on the statute books. Sarah's Law allows parents to ask police if someone with access to their son or daughter has been convicted or suspected of child abuse. Sarah's mother, Sara Payne, had been advocating for such an initiative to be in place since her daughter's murder. Sarah's Law followed a similar scheme, Megan's Law, in the United States. Mr Underhill said: "The legacy of the tragedy of little Sarah is enormous. "Millions of children in the UK have grown up in a safer environment. "Not just because of Sarah's Law, but the whole process of managing high-risk paedophiles in the community which has changed so much since her murder. "There's no doubt the case was tragic, but her legacy is enormous and her family must take some comfort from that."

Elmbridge Borough Council A memorial plaque for Sarah was installed in Coronation Recreation Ground Play Area in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

Sussex Police said Sarah's murder was "tragic and is still in the thoughts of many police officers and staff, past and present". "Our thoughts remain with Sarah's family as we approach the 25th anniversary of her death." Emily Konstantas, chief executive of The Safeguarding Alliance, said Sarah's Law was significant but there were limitations. She said information cannot be passed on to others who may be responsible for safeguarding the child, which "hinders" taking a "collective and preventative approach to child protection". "It is time to strengthen Sarah's Law to ensure that those best placed to protect children can share relevant information lawfully, responsibly, and without unnecessary barriers", she said. "Protection must be proactive, not bound by red tape. "We must also consider the urgent need for reforms such as Della's Law, which seeks to close the loophole allowing sex offenders to change their names and conceal their identities. "Without addressing this, we risk rendering disclosure schemes ineffective. "A joined-up approach is essential if we are to truly prioritise the safety of children." A Home Office spokesperson said Sarah's Law had meant children were better protected from "vile sex offenders". "This government will make it a statutory duty for chief police officers to follow published guidance and be consistent in their approach towards disclosures to prevent sexual harm," they said. "This will help ensure children are as safe as possible against those with previous convictions for sexual offences."

Outcry after Algeria sentences French sports journalist to seven years in jail

The journalist, who specialises in African football for the Paris-based So Foot magazine, travelled to Algeria in May 2024 for an article on the well-known club JSK (Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie) based in Tizi Ouzou, some 100km (62 miles) from the capital Algiers.

Christophe Gleizes, who is 36, was sentenced on Sunday, after being found guilty of holding exchanges with a proponent of self-determination for Algeria's Kabyle minority.

French journalists' unions on Tuesday called on Algeria to release a French football writer who has been jailed for seven years for supporting terrorism.

He was detained a few days later in Tizi Ouzou and for the last 13 months has been under a form of limited freedom, unable to leave the country and obliged to report regularly to police.

Under advice from French diplomats, his family and fellow journalists kept his plight under wraps pending the result of the trial.

"The imprisonment of a journalist for carrying out his profession is a red line that must never be crossed. Christophe Gleizes must be given back his freedom, his family and his writing," journalists' representatives from around 40 different French media said in a statement.

"Nothing can justify the ordeal that Christophe is going through now," his family said.

"In all his writing he showed a passionate interest in the lives of African footballers. Is this his reward?"

Gleizes's case recalls that of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who has been in jail since being arrested at Algiers airport in November last year.

On Tuesday an appeals court in Algiers confirmed the five-year prison sentence handed down in March, after Sansal's conviction for breaking state security laws.

The writer, who is 80 and suffers from cancer, was found to have "threatened national unity" in an interview he gave to a rightwing French website in which he questioned the official Algerian account of its pre-independence history.

Following the appeals court sentence, French prime minister Francois Bayrou expressed the hope that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune would use the occasion of Algeria's 63rd independence anniversary on Saturday to grant a pardon to Sansal.

On the Gleizes case, the foreign ministry in Paris said Tuesday it "regretted the heavy sentence" imposed on the journalist, but fell short of calling for his release.

Relations between the two countries have been on a knife-edge for the last year, since President Emmanuel Macron appeared to shift France's position on north Africa towards greater support for Algeria's historic rival Morocco.

Since then there has been a series of diplomatic rows, with tit-for-tat expulsions and a breakdown of cooperation over extradition and visas.

Supporters of Sansal say he is in effect a hostage, and is being used by the Algerian government to put pressure on Paris.

Algeria says he was convicted following due process of the law.

Gleizes's employer Franck Annese, founder of So Press media group, described him as a "super guy, enthusiastic, willing, and full of humour."

"He has absolutely no political axe to grind. His interviews and articles prove it."

According to Mr Annese, Gleizes "fell in love" with African football when he investigated the death in 2014 of Albert Ebossé, a Cameroonian forward who died after being struck on the head by a projectile while playing for JSK.

This led to his co-authoring a book – Magic System: Modern Slavery of African footballers – which strongly criticised the agents who "exploit the confidence and dreams of these young players."

According to the campaigning group Reporters without Borders (RSF), in researching his article on JSK Gleizes had contacted an exiled Kabyle opposition figure who was once an influential figure at the football club.

This person is now leader of the Movement for Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK), RSF said.

In 2021 MAK was proscribed as terrorist by the Algerian government.

Gleizes's supporters contend that two of the journalist's three exchanges with the opposition figure took place before the MAK was banned; and that all the exchanges concerned football, not politics.

British number one Jack Draper began his Wimbledon bid with a commanding performance before his opponent Sebastian Baez retired through injury.

Draper, who is seeded fourth after a stunning rise over the past 12 months, was leading 6-2 6-2 2-1 when Baez retired after one hour and 14 minutes.

Clay-court specialist Baez needed treatment in the second set after slipping on the Court One baseline.

"I wanted to play a bit longer in all honesty. I felt I was getting my tennis together," said Draper, who recorded only his third main-draw win at the All England Club.

"Obviously it is no way to win like that and I wish Sebastian the best in his recovery."

In the first Championships since Andy Murray's retirement, there is increased focus on 23-year-old Draper.

Much tougher tests lie ahead than Argentina's Baez, who has not won on grass in more than two years.

Nevertheless it was a confident start from the host nation's biggest hope of success this fortnight.

Draper next faces 36-year-old Marin Cilic, the 2017 runner-up whose grass-court nous should still provide a threat.

Israel has agreed to conditions for 60-day Gaza ceasefire, Trump says

Israel has agreed to the "necessary conditions" to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, US President Donald Trump has said.

During the proposed 60-day ceasefire, "we will work with all parties to end the War", Trump said in a post on Truth Social, without detailing what the conditions are.

"The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope... that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," Trump wrote.

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza after Hamas's 7 October, 2023 attack on Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed. At least 56,647 have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Diddy jury to keep deliberating after deadlocking on most serious charge

Mr Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to all five charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The atmosphere was tense as the rapper sat with head bowed, hands folded in his lap. His lawyers occasionally put their arms around him. Deliberations will resume on Wednesday morning.

At the federal court in New York, the 12 jurors announced they had agreed on four of the five counts, but were unable to decide on the racketeering charge, which carries a possible life prison term.

The jury in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs will keep deliberating after reaching a partial verdict, but deadlocking on the most serious charge faced by the hip-hop mogul.

At around 16:30 EDT on Tuesday (20:30 GMT), the jury announced they had reached a verdict on four of the five counts, after two days of deliberations.

Judge Arun Subramanian heard arguments from both the prosecution and the defence on how to proceed, before urging the jurors to keep trying.

The prosecution urged the judge to use an Allen charge, which is a set of instructions given to a hung jury to press its members to reach a unanimous decision.

Allen charges are controversial, as some believe they can put undue pressure on juries, forcing them to change their stances or cave to peer pressure - especially when their opinion is in the minority.

The foreperson eventually sent a note to the judge saying the jury had finished for the day.

They will return on Wednesday, and could potentially continue on 3 July - when the court is normally closed ahead of the 4 July public holiday.

Over the past two months, the jury has heard from 34 witnesses, including ex-girlfriends, former employees of Mr Combs, male escorts and federal agents.

The defendant, who has also gone by the names Puffy, Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Love, and Brother Love, is a well-known figure in the music industry.

In 2023, he released his fifth record The Love Album: Off The Grid and earned his first solo nomination at the Grammy awards. He also was named a Global Icon at the MTV Awards.

Will there be a drought where I live?

26 minutes ago Share Save Mark Poynting, Jess Carr and Phil Leake BBC Climate and Verify data journalism teams Share Save

Getty Images Many reservoirs in northern England, like Lindley Wood in Yorkshire, have hit extremely low levels

If you live in north-west England or Yorkshire, you are already in an official state of drought, the Environment Agency says, and people living in other English regions could follow if the dry weather continues. Those of us in eastern Scotland or parts of Wales are also seeing low water levels, according to water companies there. Drought can affect different aspects of our lives and the environment. It can make it harder for farmers to grow crops, do harm to nature and mean you have to change how you use water. So how is your area doing and how close are you to a drought? Here's a look at what's happening around the country, including our rain, rivers and reservoirs.

One of the driest springs on record

There is no single definition of drought or water scarcity - the measure in Scotland - but a long period of low rainfall is needed. And it rained less than normal across almost all of the UK between March and May, the UK's sixth driest spring since records began in 1836. So there has been less moisture to top up our rivers, reservoirs and rocks below the ground. If that lack of rainfall continues for a long time, it can strain the water supplies that serve our homes and businesses.

In June there was slightly more rainfall than average for the UK overall, but with a big difference between east and west. Parts of Northern Ireland, western Scotland, Wales and south-west England saw wetter conditions than usual. But most of central and eastern England and Scotland saw dry weather continuing. Long-term forecasts suggest drier than average conditions through much of July and possibly August too. That would further increase the risk of drought.

Drier rivers for most of the UK

Monitors in rivers show us how they are flowing. At the end of May these river flows were below normal for about three-quarters of monitored sites around the UK. About one in five experienced "exceptionally low" flows.

Provisional June data doesn't look much better. River flows at the end of last month were about the same as - or even below - previous drought years of 1976, 2011, 2018 and 2022 for many eastern, central and southern regions, said Lucy Barker, hydrologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Exceptionally low reservoirs in north England

Reservoirs are a crucial part of water supplies in northern England, Scotland and Wales. At the end of May, England's reservoirs were at their lowest combined levels for the time of year in records going back more than 30 years. Reservoir levels in the North East and North West were exceptionally low - an important factor for drought being declared in Yorkshire and the North West. The main reason for this is, of course, the lack of rain, but a small number reservoirs can be affected by other factors.

Normally at this time of year, Scottish reservoirs are 85% full. Last week they were at 79%, according to Scottish Water. They are even lower in eastern Scotland. In Wales, most are around normal, although the reservoirs serving Mid and South Ceredigion in west Wales are below average, Welsh Water said. Reservoir levels are about average in Northern Ireland, according to NI Water.

A more mixed picture underground

Much of south-east England relies more heavily on groundwater than reservoirs. Groundwater originates as rainfall and is naturally stored beneath the surface in the pore spaces and fractures in rocks. Rocks that store lots of groundwater are called aquifers. It accounts for a third of England's water supply, though this is much higher in the south and east. That is down to the UK's varied geology, which affects how much water can be stored in the ground. Water can flow more quickly through some rock types than others, sometimes taking years to respond to current conditions. This is the case for parts of south and east England, which is why these regions are currently closer to normal.

These groundwater stores "respond more slowly to changes in the climate than rivers which is why they provide a useful buffer during periods of drought," said Prof Alan MacDonald of the British Geological Survey. It is why groundwater droughts in the South generally take a longer time to develop but can be longer-lasting if they do occur.

What are the consequences of the dry weather?

People and nature are already feeling the effects. "It's quite shocking that we are still only [in early] July," Rachel Hallos, deputy director of the National Farmers' Union, told BBC News. "It's like it's the end of August when you look at the ground." With this little rain, farmers have had to get water onto their crops using irrigation. That has made things more expensive for them and means there is even less water to go around. There is widespread concern about the months ahead, Mrs Hallos added. "What am I going to have to harvest? What am I going to have to feed my livestock over winter?" And then there is the impact on wildlife. A spokesman from the bird protection charity RSPB said that a big challenge has been making sure enough water is getting to key wetland habitats so that birds have safe places to nest. "We need to be thinking about making our sites more resilient to climate change, as these periods of prolonged dry weather become the norm." And it's not just water-loving birds that are having a hard time. Even in our gardens, common visitors like blackbirds can struggle to find worms and insects on our parched lawns, the RSPB says.

Is climate change to blame?

Droughts are complex phenomena, driven by a mix of natural and human causes. The Met Office expects the UK to experience drier summers on average in future as the world warms, though there has been no clear trend so far. But rising temperatures can play a more fundamental role by sapping moisture from the soil via evaporation. "A warmer atmosphere is thirstier for moisture and this can mean water in the soil, rivers and reservoirs are depleted more effectively, leading to more rapidly onsetting droughts, heatwaves and wildfires," said Richard Allan, professor of climate science at the University of Reading. But there are other factors that determine whether dry conditions lead to water shortages, including how we use water. As part of plans to address water shortages, the government is planning nine new reservoirs for England by 2050, in addition to one under construction at Havant Thicket in Hampshire. But the Environment Agency has warned that measures to tackle water leaks and control water demand - potentially including hosepipe bans and more smart meters - may be needed in England too. Water companies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also said they were taking steps to secure future supplies.

Additional reporting by Dan Wainwright and Christine Jeavans

'Starmer guts welfare reform' and 'Buggy useless'

33 minutes ago Share Save Share Save

BBC Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's "gutted" welfare bill has prevented a "full-scale Labour rebellion" but left "a multibillion hole in the public finances", writes the FT. The PM "authorised a last minute climbdown" as "fears of imminent defeat" swirled. A photo of US President Donald Trump in a red cap that reads "Gulf of America" tops the paper as his "big, beautiful" tax-and-spend bill "moves a step closer after slim Senate victory". Also on the front page, Swiss voters "face a Brexit-like dilemma".

The i Paper also headlines on the "last minute climbdown" over the welfare bill writing, "Labour rebels force Starmer to retreat on benefit cuts again." Those who opposed him are now "emboldened" and "likely to keep challenging PM and [Chancellor Rachel] Reeves". There is a "Yimby town" that wants the UK's "first nuclear power plant in three decades" and "anger at BBC boss [Tim Davie] over Glastonbury" after the corporation live-streamed a chant of "death, death to the IDF" from an act at the festival. The BBC has said "the antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves". It added that it would review guidance around live events after featuring a warning on screen at the time of the chants. The performance will not be available on iPlayer.

Sir Keir's benefits bill "turns to farce" writes The Daily Telegraph, citing a government minister who called the changes "shambolic". Tim Davie is "fighting for job after Glastonbury hate chants", the Telegraph suggests. It also writes that three hospital bosses have been arrested for gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the Lucy Letby case. A large picture of actress Cate Blanchett with Wimbledon's Centre Court reflected in her sunglasses is splashed across the paper.

The Daily Express headlines on opposition leader Kemi Badenoch calling the altering of the welfare reform bill "utter capitulation". A shot of British tennis player Jack Draper accompanies the story on the front page, as he "storms through at Wimbledon".

There are "no winners" in the "welfare bill fiasco" according to the Daily Mirror. "Fear and uncertainty remain for thousands of vulnerable people" amid "relief as PM delays the most controversial Pip eligibility changes".

The Guardian says Sir Keir is "bruised" by the bill. In Europe, there are "wildfires and warnings as heatwave hits" and in the Middle East, "dozens die" as the Israeli Defence Forces target a "seafront cafe". There's "no safe place in Gaza", the paper writes. The Israeli military has said it has launched a review into the strike on Monday.

"20,000 this year... and counting" writes the Daily Mail after it says the number of migrants crossing the Channel is at a "record high". It says the Mail "witnessed scores awaiting traffickers" which took it past the "milestone not reached until mid-August in previous years". The official government count stands at 19,982 crossings at time of writing.

The Sun also runs with the "migrant tide" for its top story. "Buggy useless" reads the headline as The Sun says "French kit" - including the buggy pictured with police atop it on the front page - is "paid for by UK" while the "cops don't stop boats". In a showbiz exclusive, singer and former X-factor judge Cheryl is making her "talent show return", the tabloid writes. On the welfare bill, The Sun says Sir Keir's plans to "tighten disability payments" were "torn up".

Metro reports that a teenager fatally stabbed at school said he had been scared to go there days before. Harvey Willgoose died aged 15. The other pupil admits manslaughter but denies murder.

"Send in the clowns!" shouts the Daily Star, maintaining that the "scary Pennywise look" has been ditched as part of a "modern makeover" for jesters.

The first half of 2025 has been a whirlwind for England's women.

It started with a demolishing at the hands of Australia, which resulted in an upheaval in leadership, before the new era under Charlotte Edwards and Nat Sciver-Brunt inflicted a similarly dominant thrashing on West Indies.

But that win came with the warning not to get carried away, considering the weak opposition, and to expect a much tougher examination once India arrived for five T20s and three one-day internationals.

That warning has been delivered immediately as the tourists have taken a 2-0 lead, with the opportunity to seal the T20 series at The Oval on Friday.

Of course, adjusting to new leadership will always take some time to bed in, and this could be seen as a good thing for England to be tested by high-quality opposition before the autumn's World Cup in India - something they did not have before the fateful series against Australia.

However, these two defeats felt all too familiar - and England have barely competed in either.

Under pressure, catches have gone down, bowling plans have become muddled and the batting has not fired, particularly struggling against spin.

England, Sciver-Brunt and Edwards have had a sharp bump back down to earth.

There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Real Madrid paid Liverpool around £8.4m for Trent Alexander-Arnold when they could have got him for free just a month later.

Xabi Alonso's side were determined to sign the right-back in time for the start of their Club World Cup campaign, and they opted to pay the fee to release the 26-year-old from his contract early.

It was certainly a bonus for Liverpool, who looked like losing their prized asset for nothing.

But - on the day Alexander-Arnold would otherwise have been able to sign for the Spanish club - his first month with them has more than paid for their calculated gamble.

Having started every game in Real's Club World Cup campaign, Alexander-Arnold provided his first assist as 21-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia further enhanced his growing reputation by heading home his cross to send them past Juventus and into the quarter-finals.

That goal alone was worth an extra £10m for Madrid, with the club having already received about £43m for just reaching the last 16.

Madrid will meet either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the quarter-finals, and could earn up to £125m if they go on to win the tournament.

"Of course it was worth paying the extra money," former France centre-back Gael Clichy told Dazn. "You don't have time in football, but this competition has given Real Madrid and Trent extra time.

"This has allowed Trent to get used to Real Madrid. He has to be excited by what is to come - and so will Real Madrid."

The sunny climes of City's Florida base appeared to refresh and rejuvenate a side that was so disappointing this season - but on Monday night their Club World Cup hopes fell apart.

The new signings all played a significant part in the tournament and it was evident that Dutchman Tijjani Reijnders will bring much-needed energy and enthusiasm to the midfield.

France international Rayan Cherki got off the mark in the group stages and provided a glorious assist for Phil Foden's extra-time goal against Al-Hilal, but there are major concerns at the other end of the pitch.

While Algerian full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri's attacking ability is undoubted, there are question marks over his defensive capabilities, having been caught out on occasion against the Saudi side.

Matheus Nunes is a midfielder playing at right-back and though City managed to paper over it during the group stages, the square peg in a round hole was glaringly obvious once up against decent opposition.

Sources had not ruled out the signing of a new right-back before the tournament and it remains to be seen whether the club make a move for one.

Guardiola also needs to address the lack of pace in the heart of the defence, with the two central defenders looking particularly sluggish when attempting to chase back the speedy Al-Hilal forwards.

The Spanish boss has made it clear he needs to trim his squad heading into the new season and there may be question marks over the future of England international John Stones, who was the only outfield player not to see any minutes on the trip.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether midfielder Rodri, who missed most of the season through injury, has suffered a setback.

Guardiola said he "complained about his situation" having come on as a second-half substitute before being taken off in extra-time.

In a stadium that has in its day danced to the tune of many different teams from many different sports - the Kangaroos and the Jillaroos, the Reds and the Roar, the Matildas, the Broncos and the Dolphins - it's the Lions that will fill the place on Wednesday in Brisbane.

Formerly the site of a burial ground and then Lang Park sports stadium, named after a particularly fiery Presbyterian minister from Greenock in Renfrewshire, the Suncorp stands on some interesting terrain in the inner city.

When people say there's an elephant in the room in this place they're literally talking about an elephant. Carley, a circus animal, was a beloved performer on this land in the 1950s, so much so that they buried her here after the poor thing performed her last trick for the entertainment of the masses.

The Queensland Reds - coached by Les Kiss who for six years was an assistant with Ireland and for another three was the director of rugby with Ulster - will be looking to do a different kind of burial.

Much of the preamble to the Lions' second game on Australian soil has, unsurprisingly, centred around the half-back partnership of Scotland's Finn Russell and Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park, two players that serve as a constant reminder that rugby, though a playground for big beasts, can still be artistic and beautiful.

Their combination is one that will have people shifting forward in their seats with quickening pulses. Rugby is forever in danger of eating itself with its inexorable march towards grunt and aggression, but these two remind you of why you might have fallen in love with rugby in the first place.

Not many have ever had their rugby heart stolen by a one-dimensional big banger. But Russell and Gibson-Park and their potential to thrill? That's different.

They've never played together, but Wednesday is the night it happens and if it's all right then we're going to be seeing a whole lot more of it in the Saturdays to come.

They're very different people - Russell gregarious and charismatic, Gibson-Park quiet and laidback - but they're one and the same when it comes to how the game should be played: fast and furious, off the cuff and adventurous.

Scrum-halves are supposed to be loud and bossy, but Gibson-Park isn't either of those things. His Lions and Ireland coach Andy Farrell calls him horizontal, such is his unflappable personality.

His speed of thought is electrifying, his accuracy when firing passes that are so on the money that they can eliminate two and three defenders in an instant is unerring.

His quick taps bamboozle defences, his support lines mess with their heads, his ability to scan a field and know in an instant where the space is is a large part of the reason why Ireland have been so consistent over so many years. He's a totem of that team - tiny but towering at the same time.

It's said that there is only one Antoine Dupont, but that's not really true. There's one and three-quarters and the three-quarters is Gibson-Park. At his best, he's very much in the same conversation as the great Frenchman.

And now we get to see him play with Russell, the great conductor at 10, a figure of growing authority on the back of a confidence-boosting and trophy-laden season with Bath.

The double threat is what Lions' fans have wanted to see. Normally a coach wouldn't necessarily play his first-choice 10 on Saturday and Wednesday, but Farrell is making an exception in Brisbane because he, as much as anybody else, is mustard keen to see how these two will gel. Why wait? Just crack on.

They've had a few training sessions but no game time together. Will the lack of familiarity get in the way or will it be chemistry from minute one? Intriguing.

Novak Djokovic overcame physical issues to join Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon second round, but third seed Alexander Zverev was stunned by Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

Seven-time champion Djokovic, who could meet Sinner in the semi-finals, began his latest pursuit of an outright-record 25th major title by overcoming Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 6-2 on Centre Court.

The Serb appeared to struggle early in the third set - later confirming that "something was off with the stomach" - but rediscovered his form following a medical timeout to win 10 of the final 12 games.

"I went from feeling my absolute best for a set and a half to my absolute worst for about 45 minutes. Whether it was a stomach bug, I don't know what it is," Djokovic said.

"I struggled with that but the energy came back and I managed to finish the match on a good note."

Contesting his first Grand Slam match since losing one of the all-time great French Open finals to Carlos Alcaraz last month, world number one Sinner lost just seven games in a dominant a 6-4 6-3 6-0 win over fellow Italian Luca Nardi.

But Germany's Zverev became the fourth top-10 ranked men's player to exit the tournament across the first two days of action.

Defeats for third seed Zverev and Italy's Lorenzo Musetti came on a day when French Open champion Coco Gauff became the third top-five seed to lose in the women's draw.