64 m. ago Voices: A burqa ban won’t protect or unite Britain – it will divide us

When politicians stir up fear around the burqa or the veil, they are not defending public safety – they are inflaming prejudice for political gain, writes Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE

Politics

77 m. ago Netanyahu outplayed Trump on Iran. Now the US risks being mired in another war | Mohamad Bazzi

If Trump wants to be the peacemaker he claims to be, he must negotiate a new deal with TehranBefore dawn on Friday, Israel unleashed a wave of air strikes against more than 100 targets in Iran, including nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and air defense systems. The surprise Israeli attack also killed some of Iran’s most senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. The Iranian regime called it a “declaration of war” – and western powers raced to prevent a wider regional conflict that could draw in the US along with other countries in the Middle East.While the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claims that he’s trying to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the attack is as much intended to blow up ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Donald Trump’s administration. While Trump’s overall foreign policy has been a disaster, for months he had resisted Netanyahu’s pleas to give Israel a green light to attack Iran, with US assistance. Trump insiste...

Events

1 hour ago Voices: If the BBC licence fee is scrapped, Doctor Who should disappear behind a paywall

Radical new plans to overhaul BBC funding could link the price of your house with how much you pay for your TV licence. I’ve got an even better idea, says Clair Woodward

Events

1 hour ago How to watch the US Open: TV channel and live stream for Round 3 today

Defending US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and record six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson missed the cut

Politics

1 hour ago Why female athletes are challenging the NCAA’s $2.8bn settlement

Eight women have appealed the NCAA’s antitrust deal, arguing it violates Title IX and unfairly favors men’s sports. Here’s what the settlement does and what’s nextCollege athletes spent decades fighting for the right to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL). In 2021, they won. Now, a $2.8bn NCAA settlement is set to compensate hundreds of thousands of current and former athletes who missed out on those earnings. But not everyone thinks the deal is fair.Eight female athletes filed an appeal this week, arguing the agreement violates Title IX, the US law banning sex-based discrimination in education. They say the way the money is divided, largely favoring football and men’s basketball players, shortchanges women by more than $1bn. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago US Open: Angry Rory McIlroy narrowly survives cut as Scottie Scheffler clings on to leaders

Brutal Oakmont course spits out the world’s best

Politics

3 h. ago Liverpool transfer news: Florian Wirtz record deal agreed as transfer details emerge

Liverpool have agreed a British-record deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen after the two clubs finally reached an agreement on a £116million fee

Economics

3 h. ago Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd's Mbeumo move hijacked, Liverpool's Wirtz medical, Arsenal face battle

Manchester United now face genuine competition from Tottenham for Bryan Mbeumo as Liverpool agree a record deal for Florian Wirtz and Barcelona go after Arsenal target Nico Williams

Sport

4 h. ago ‘On a peak under a blue sky’: the joy of summer in Europe’s mountains

Our writer recalls his favourite mountain experiences, from hard-won views to splendid isolation and the comforts of simple refugesAfter a tough scramble to the summit of Rhinog Fach, we look down into the deep valley holding the chilly waters of Llyn Hywel, then west across several miles of heather, bilberry and bare rock to the Welsh coast. Turning my gaze north, there is the entire Llyn peninsula leading east to the peak of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), no doubt weighed down by thousands of visitors. Up here there are just two of us in an utterly peaceful landscape. No clouds on the horizon. No surprises.I lie down for a few minutes and feel myself drift off. There are no human voices to be heard, only birds. Summer has come early to these mountains and I wouldn’t be anywhere else, drinking in that particular kind of tranquillity to be found on a peak under a blue sky. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Inside Florian Wirtz transfer and how Liverpool blew away rivals to seal £116m deal

Liverpool have agreed a potential British transfer record deal which will see Florian Wirtz move to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen

Economics

5 h. ago Voices: Starmer and Reeves are back from the brink – here’s what they must do next

After a spending review that came as a relief to many Labour backbenchers, the government must now start making the case for the ‘inevitable’ tax rises in the autumn that will be needed to deliver better public services, says Andrew Grice

Politics

5 h. ago Joe Browns’ ‘whimsical and cute’ strawberry clutch bag is a must

As Wimbledon approaches, now's the time to shop for the perfect accessory to complete your Wimbledon look - and this strawberry clutch from Joe Brown may be just the ticket

Politics

6 h. ago A Border Patrol agent died in 2009. His widow is still fighting a backlogged US program for benefits

When her husband died during a U.S. Border Patrol training program for new agents, Lisa Afolayan applied for the federal benefits promised to families of first responders whose lives are cut short die in the line of duty

Events

6 h. ago Liverpool transfer news: Record Florian Wirtz deal agreed as payment structure revealed

Liverpool have finally agreed a deal to sign Florian Wirtz in what will be a British-record deal as the Reds cough up £100m up front with more signings of their radar

Economics

6 h. ago Man City given contract warning amid Real Madrid transfer plan

Rodri is being linked with a move to Real Madrid and the speculation is a reminder that Manchester City need to tie him down on a new deal.

Events

6 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv repatriates more bodies of fallen soldiers amid major exchange with Russia

Ukraine says return in line with deal reached in Turkey while Russia hands over 1,200 bodies; Moscow claims capture of another Sumy village. What we know on day 1,207Ukraine has repatriated more bodies of fallen soldiers in accordance with an agreement reached during peace talks in Istanbul, Ukrainian officials said Friday. Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said Russia had returned 1,200 bodies, and “according to the Russian side, the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, in particular military personnel”. The repatriation of the bodies was carried out with the help of Ukraine’s armed forces, the country’s security service, the interior ministry and other government agencies, its statement said. Forensic experts would now work to identify the remains. The repatriation marks one of the war’s largest returns of remains.Russia says its forces have captured another village in Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region amid its ramped-up offensive there. M...

Events

7 h. ago Arsenal transfer news: Real Madrid ditch Martin Zubimendi hijack amid fresh Viktor Gyokeres bid

Arsenal's summer transfer window is gathering pace once again, with Martin Zubimendi closing in on a move to the Gunners and fresh hope a deal can be agreed for Viktor Gyokeres

Sport

10 h. ago Reeves faces welfare revolt after Labour rebels rejected an 'olive branch' designed to head off a Commons mutiny over benefit cuts

The Chancellor is facing a ferocious backlash from her own MPs over plans to trim £5 billion from the benefits bill.

Politics

10 h. ago Millions of patients to be treated by GPs instead of hospitals under radical reforms to cut NHS waiting list

NHS bosses claim half of the 135 million hospital outpatient appointments every year are 'pointless' and follow-ups and consultations could instead be done in high-street surgeries.

Science

10 h. ago US Open: Rory McIlroy makes cut as defending champion DeChambeau bows out at Oakmont

Northern Irishman’s birdie on 18th secures placeBig names tumble out as DeChambeau finishes on +10Clubs were thrown but the towel was not. Rory McIlroy battled Oakmont’s treacherous setup and his own frustrations to survive for the weekend at the 125th US Open. As McIlroy clung on, high-profile exits from Pennsylvania included the defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood, Dustin Johnson, Joaquin Niemann, Justin Thomas and Shane Lowry. In epitomising how Oakmont can mess with the mind, Lowry earned a one-stroke penalty after lifting his ball on the 14th green while forgetting to mark it. The Irishman could only laugh and, to be fair, did.McIlroy’s day began with two double bogeys inside three holes. By the 12th, the Masters champion flung his iron 30 yards down the fairway in anger at a loose shot. Five holes later, McIlroy broke a tee marker after cracking it with his three-wood. Yet amongst this was admirable fighting spirit; McIlroy fired an approach shot to within 4f...

Politics