today's MIGRATION story

'World first' UK sanctions target people smugglers

What happened
People smugglers will be publicly named, have their assets frozen and be barred from entering the UK under new powers introduced today. Operating similarly to existing sanctions on terrorists and cybercriminals, they will target anyone involved in assisting illegal immigration, including those who supply small boats and fake passports.

Who said what
Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured) called it the "world's first sanctions regime" against those involved in people smuggling. The crackdown aims to target human trafficking gangs "wherever they are in the world and disrupt their flow of cash", said The Times.

The move comes as record numbers of people are illegally crossing the Channel. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said "the truth is you don't stop the Channel crossings by freezing a few bank accounts in Baghdad or slapping a travel ban on a dinghy dealer in Damascus".

What next?
More than 20 "linchpins" in the people smuggling trade are to be named for the first time today after the new legislation was rushed through Parliament yesterday before MPs broke for summer recess.

Today's CULTURE story

Outrage over 'misleading' Elvis immersive experience

What happened
Visitors to a new "immersive" Elvis show in London say they are angry and upset after the show failed to live up to its hype. Publicity for "Elvis Evolution", based on the life and music of the king of rock 'n' roll, had suggested an "Abba Voyage"-style life-sized hologram of Elvis, but audience members instead see a live band playing in front of a montage of his life. Tickets for the show range from £75 to £300 for the super VIP option.

Who said what
One fan told the BBC that it was "one of the most misleading shows I've ever seen", while another couple said the experience was a "shambles from start to finish". Critical reception was more mixed – The Telegraph's one-star review called it "limp" and "underwhelming", but City A.M. described it as "incredibly touching". "The concert is enjoyable once you accept it for what it is," said Time Out.

What next?
The show is scheduled for a six-month London run. Plans to transfer it to Las Vegas, Berlin and Tokyo have yet to be confirmed.

It's not all bad

Birmingham has been named the UK's first "Nature City" as part of a nationwide "greener places" scheme developed by Natural England, the National Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The designation was awarded after its city council developed a 25-year plan to improve residents' access to nature and foster biodiversity in urban green spaces. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole were also named the UK's first "Nature Towns".

UNDER THE RADAR

Melting glaciers may lead to more volcanic eruptions

Climate change is likely to have an explosive consequence: volcanic eruptions. Antarctic glaciers have been slowly melting as temperatures rise, unearthing hidden volcanoes in the process – and their eruptions could further worsen climate change and disrupt global ecosystems.

According to a recent study presented at the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague and set to be peer reviewed later this year, "hundreds of dormant sub-glacial volcanoes worldwide – particularly in Antarctica – could become more active as climate change accelerates glacier retreat".

Evidence suggests that the "thick ice caps act as lids on volcanoes", said Inside Climate News. Once the weight is removed there is no longer pressure on the magma chamber underneath, allowing eruptions to occur. "It's just like opening a Coca-Cola bottle or a champagne bottle," said Brad Singer, a geoscientist at the University of Wisconsin.

Increased volcanic activity will likely have detrimental effects on the climate and global ecosystems. "The cumulative effect of multiple eruptions can contribute to long-term global warming because of a build-up of greenhouse gases," said Pablo Moreno-Yaeger, who presented the research at the conference. "This creates a positive feedback loop where melting glaciers trigger eruptions and the eruptions, in turn, could contribute to further warming and melting."

And the potential consequences go beyond just volcanic eruptions. Eruptions "release sulphate aerosols that reflect sunlight back into space" and this has led to "cooling events following past eruptions, some of which have triggered major famines", said Live Science.

on this day

23 July 1999

US astronaut Eileen Collins made history as the first woman to command a space mission at the head of Nasa's Columbia space shuttle. Back in April Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin launched an all-female crew into space for a 11-minute flight that was widely criticised as a marketing stunt.

Today's newspapers

'RIP Ozzy'

"RIP Ozzy," says The Mirror, after the death of Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne at the age of 76. "The wonderful wizard of Ozzy", says The Sun, while the Daily Star describes him as a "trailblazer and rock god". Meanwhile, Israel is facing growing outrage over its "indefensible" killing of civilians, says The Guardian. "For pity's sake stop this now", says the Daily Express, alongside a photo of a starving, emaciated child in Gaza.

See the newspaper front pages

tall tale

Sinking teeth into law

A summer intern at a prestigious Manhattan law firm has been kicked out for repeatedly biting her colleagues. The bites were apparently accompanied by roaring, in what legal industry website Above the Law called a "faux-quirky manic pixie dream girl crossed with the Donner party vibe". Employees at Sidley Austin were initially hesitant to "elevate the matter", but after nipping as many as 10 co-workers – including a member of HR – the unidentified intern was dismissed.

Morning Report was written and edited by Holden Frith, Rebecca Messina, Chas Newkey-Burden, Elliott Goat and Martina Nacach Cowan Ros, with illustrations from Stephen Kelly.