1. Government to end ‘truly wicked’ deportations
The Government has agreed to stop deporting migrants under an immigration rule designed to tackle terrorism, following reports that the rule was being misused. Highly skilled people have been deported over minor tax errors, according to The Guardian, which says the rule been called “truly wicked” by MPs and experts.
2. Political crisis talks in Italy as snap election looms
Italy’s prime minister-designate, Carlo Cottarelli, is to meet the country’s President Sergio Mattarella for crisis talks today after failing to secure support from major political parties for even a stop-gap government. The BBC reports that Cottarelli may not be sworn in, with snap elections looking increasingly likely. A fresh ballot may take place in July.
3. Caroline Lucas to step down from Green leadership
Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s only MP, is to step down from its co-leadership, after serving her two-year term of office. The 57-year-old said she wanted to focus on her constituency rather than standing for the top job again. She has shared the leadership with Jonathan Bartley since 2016. Lucas won Brighton Pavilion from Labour in 2010.
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4. Kremlin dissident journalist shot dead in Kiev
A journalist who left Russia last year saying he no longer felt safe has been shot dead outside his Kiev apartment in a targeted killing. Arkady Babchenko, 41, had written critically about Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea and support for Ukrainian separatists. Police in Kiev say they believed his journalism was the reason for the killing.
5. Bus ploughs into 25 cars in Dartford
A man has been arrested for careless driving after an Arriva bus ploughed into 25 cars in Dartford, injuring 17 people. Eyewitness Tony Brown told The Sun: “Whether it was brake failure or throttle jammed, he made it a good way through at least five rows of cars before coming to a stop.” Kent Fire and Rescue said one person required oxygen following the incident.
6. Report finds response to Grenfell Tower fire ‘flawed’
An independent report on the response to the Grenfell Tower fire – as opposed to the causes – commissioned by the charity Muslim Aid has found that the official reaction was “badly flawed”. The review criticises “weak leadership” at Kensington and Chelsea council and says that the voluntary sector was forced to step in to fill the gaps.
7. Scottish government bans single-use coffee cups
Single-use coffee cups are to be banned from key Scottish government buildings, from next Monday. Hot drinks will be served only in reusable ceramic mugs at the sites, and staff are to bring their own cups for takeaway drinks. The move is expected to prevent government staff from throwing away an annual total of more than 450,000 paper cups, which cannot be recycled because they contain plastic.
8. Roseanne Barr’s TV show cancelled after racist tweet
US television network ABC has dropped Roseanne Barr’s revived sitcom following an outcry over racist tweets posted by the comedian. The Roseanne star, a supporter of Donald Trump, insulted former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett, who is African-American and was born in Iran. She said Jarrett looked like an “ape” and was connected to the Muslim Brotherhood.
9. Jimmy Page wins latest round of row with Robbie Williams
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page yesterday won the latest round of a planning row against his neighbour, former Take That singer Robbie Williams. The 74-year-old said he was “really pleased” that a decision to give Williams, 44, permission to build a swimming pool underneath his Kensington mansion had been deferred.
10. Briefing: is the Le Pen name now toxic – even to the far-right?
The name Le Pen, “for decades associated with anti-immigration and often racist politics in France”, says The Guardian, appears to have become so out of favour that even a leading member of the country’s far-right has abandoned it.
Jean-Marie Le Pen’s granddaughter Marion Marechal-Le Pen, often tipped as a future leader of the far-right despite stepping back from public life last year, has revealed she has dropped one of the most famous names in French politics.
Marion Marechal: is the Le Pen name now toxic – even to the far right?
