WeekDay AM: 10 Things you need to know this morning
Gamblegate, New Zealand's 'brain drain', and a three-eyed fish

 
today's politics story

Gamblegate scandal grows

What happened 
The Conservative election betting scandal deepened further yesterday when a Tory politician in the Welsh Parliament was revealed to be under investigation by the Gambling Commission and a cabinet member admitted to betting on the election date three times.

Montgomeryshire MP Russell George became the fifth Conservative to face inquiries by the gambling watchdog while Scottish Secretary Alister Jack (pictured above) said in a statement that he had placed three bets on the date of the general election, but insisted they had been laid before the May time period currently being investigated.

Who said what
In a "day of fast-moving developments" the Conservatives suspended two candidates, noted The Telegraph, but Rishi Sunak still came under fire for "failing to act sooner".

The Metropolitan Police also confirmed that five more police officers had been identified by the gambling watchdog as having placed bets on the election date. And Labour has been "drawn into the gambling row", said The Guardian, with North Ipswich candidate Kevin Craig under investigation.

The scandal is "disastrous for Mr Sunak and the Conservative Party", said The Independent's editorial board. "The greed, entitlement and recklessness on display is awe-inspiring."

What next? 
The Conservatives have now withdrawn support for two candidates caught up in the scandal, Craig Williams and Laura Saunders. Both will remain on the ballot, but could become independents in the unlikely event that they are elected. Additionally, two Conservative staffers have taken leaves of absence amid the Gambling Commission investigation.

For now the five Met officers under investigation have not been suspended or placed on restricted duties, but an investigation into their behaviour continues.

 
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today’s international story

Five die in Kenyan anti-tax protests

What happened
At least five people have been shot dead and about 31 injured after Kenyan police opened fire on demonstrators protesting against tax increases that critics say will drive up the cost of living for millions.

Who said what
The introduction of Finance Bill 2024 has led to widespread protests under the slogan of "7 Days of Rage". The bill proposes tax hikes on bread, cars, vegetable oil and mobile money transfers.

In the turmoil that followed demonstrators stormed Kenya's parliament in Nairobi, setting the building on fire and stealing the ceremonial mace. In response Kenyan President William Ruto announced that he was deploying the military to crack down on what he called "treasonous events".

The unrest has "shaken Kenya", an "East African economic powerhouse" that has long been an "anchor of stability in a tumultuous region", said The New York Times.

What next?
Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for the arrest of the police officers who allegedly shot and killed protesters, as well as for the immediate withdrawal of the country’s controversial finance bill. The UN has expressed concern over the violence and urged calm.

 
 
Today’s health story

Plastic bottles increase diabetes risk

What happened
A key ingredient in plastic bottles increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, a study has found. The chemical BPA, used in food and drink packaging, has been linked to diabetes, but 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day is classified as safe in the US.

But even this dose reduced healthy adults' sensitivity to insulin (the hormone that regulates sugar) in four days, according to research published in the journal Diabetes.

Who said what
The US should reconsider safe limits for BPA exposure, said Todd Hagobian, study author and professor at California Polytechnic State University. This is "only the beginning of highlighting the need for informed public health recommendations", said Robert Gabbay, chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association.

What next?
The European Commission has proposed that a ban on the use of BPA in products that come into contact with food or drink be in place by the end of this year.

 
 

It's not all bad

Mangalitsa pigs and cattle are being used as "living lawnmowers" in Devon, wolfing down shrubs that have taken over critical butterfly habitats, said the BBC. The endangered high brown fritillary butterfly can only be found in three spots in England and the hope is that clearing out the invasive bushes and planting dog-violets will create a balanced environment with ideal breeding conditions. Organisers said the project would also benefit several other species.

 
 
under the radar

New Zealand's 'brain drain'

Record numbers of people are leaving New Zealand as the cost of living crisis is being compounded by limited job opportunities.

In a "significant exodus" the year to this past April saw a net migration loss of 56,500 citizens, up 12,000 from the previous record, said Firstpost. With fewer people arriving in New Zealand there are fears of a brain drain and skills shortage.

With New Zealand experiencing a second recession in less than two years employers in neighbouring Australia are trying to lure workers with offers of higher pay and better conditions.

And while New Zealand continues to languish in recession the exodus may well continue. Tehseen Islam, Stats NZ's population indicators manager, said "changes in migration are typically due to a combination of factors" including the "relative economic and labour market conditions between New Zealand and the rest of the world".

Meanwhile, there are fewer people arriving. Although the net migration gain in New Zealand remains "historically high", it "shows a declining trend", said Firstpost. In the year to April New Zealand gained 98,500 migrants, down from 106,000 in the year to March.

More people leaving and fewer arriving: these twin trends could worsen New Zealand's skills shortage, David Cooper, director of immigration firm Malcolm Pacific, told The Guardian.

The record number of Kiwis leaving "are not the desperate and dateless", he added. They're "young, skilled people" and "it's hard to attract the highly skilled people we need to replace the ones leaving".

 
 
on this day

26 June 1997

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was published. J.K. Rowling's book – and the six that followed – became the bestselling literary series of all time, with more than 600 million copies sold globally. This week residents near Glenfinnan viaduct, an iconic filming location for the film adaptations of the works, have complained that hordes of visiting Potter fans are causing traffic gridlock.

 
 
Today’s newspapers

The Mirror's headline picks up on Keir Starmer and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting's promise to fix the health care service. The Telegraph focuses on the Scottish Secretary, Alistair Jack, who reportedly claimed he won more than £2,000 betting on the election date. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is featured on the front of the Daily Express, declaring the UK must bring a halt to funding France until small boats are stopped from crossing the English Channel.

► See the newspaper front pages

 
 
tall tale

Three-eyed fish comes to life

"The Simpsons'' seems to have a knack for predicting the future, from Super Bowl scores to Donald Trump's presidency. Most recently it appears to have foreshadowed the existence of a three-eyed fish, first shown in a 1990 episode. A fisherman has posted a picture of one such animal on Reddit, with users quickly noting its resemblance to the fictional fish Blinky.

 
 

Morning Report was written and edited by Arion McNicoll, Harriet Marsden, Julia O'Driscoll and Chas Newkey-Burden, with illustrations by Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: Wiktor Szymanowicz / Future Publishing via Getty Images; Patrick Meinhardt / Getty Images; Justin Sullivan / Getty Images.