Shabana Mahmood to introduce legislation on migration to take on Reform

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is to introduce new legislation to overhaul Britain’s asylum system as she pushes for bold action on migration to blunt the appeal of Reform UK.

She will say the Government must cut migration or risk opening the door to the right who would divide communities with the kind of anti-immigration raids seen in the US.

Ms Mahmood, who faces the prospect of a backbench revolt over the plans, will argue next week that migration reform is consistent with Labour values.

According to a Government source, she is expected to say Britain will always provide sanctuary to people genuinely fleeing war and danger, but the generosity of the asylum system is attracting people from across the world, funding human traffickers and encouraging false asylum claims.

This week, the Home Secretary visited Denmark which has one of the toughest asylum and immigration systems in Europe.

Denmark’s Social Democrat-led government has reduced the number of asylum applications to the lowest number in 40 years and removed 95% of rejected asylum seekers.

Ms Mahmood has made little secret of her admiration for the approach.

Denmark has sought to deter new arrivals by largely moving from a permanent to a temporary stay model where most asylum seekers are sent back to their home country once they are deemed safe.

The Home Secretary believes that unless Britain follows a similar approach, the far right will gain momentum, bringing “havoc and chaos” to Britain’s streets.

Touring the Danish asylum system earlier this week, Ms Mahmood was taken to a reception centre on the outskirts of Copenhagen where asylum seekers are taken by police to stay on a short-term basis.

The migrants’ biometrics are taken and they are given health checks.

The Home Secretary was then taken to a returns centre where migrants go before being sent back to their country of origin.

The centres, operated by the Danish Red Cross, included communal canteens and outdoor exercise machines.

She was shown accommodation which included plain rooms furnished with small single beds or bunkbeds and lockers.

Denmark’s tough stance on asylum seekers began in the mid 2010s when the hard-right Danish People’s Party began to rise in the polls.

Facing a collapse of working-class support for her party, Mette Frederiksen – now the prime minister but then in opposition – moved to make protection for asylum seekers temporary.

Her Social Democrats also argued that uncontrolled immigration was placing huge pressure on working-class communities.

Ms Mahmood is likely to face opposition in her efforts to emulate the Danish model from at least a few dozen Labour MPs.

Varoufakis to stand trial after admitting ecstasy use nearly 40 years ago

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has been charged with promoting drug use after admitting to having taken ecstasy nearly four decades ago, his party said.

The outspoken economics professor, who briefly served in the left-wing Syriza government during the country’s financial crisis in 2015, said on a recent podcast that he had once tried ecstasy at a festival in Sydney in 1989.

“It was a terrific experience until the days after,” he said on the vidcast ‘3026: Human Algorithm’ in January, adding that he was able to dance for hours but then suffered migraines. He also said he had smoked marijuana in the past.

His political party, MeRA25, said he has since been summoned to stand trial in December for “provocation and drug advertising”, and accused Greece’s conservative government of trying to silence him through the courts.

The 64-year-old Varoufakis, who is still a popular figure among the European Left, insisted that he told the anecdote to highlight the risks of drug use, telling listeners that addiction represents the “end of liberty”.

“That was my introduction to making the point that, however pleasant drug taking may seem, there is a price to pay,” he explained last month, after he was summoned by police for questioning.

“The Greek police have opened an investigation of me under the charge of… aiding and abetting the narco-mafia. [Do me a favour folks: Please don’t tell Trump, OK?]” he wrote.

Mr Varoufakis wrote on social media on Thursday that the charge had “nothing to do with drugs”, but instead “must be seen within the wider, West-wide, surge of an insidious new form of fascism”.

“In this context, I am honoured by their determination to persecute me – as it grants me the privilege of calling upon people of good conscience, from around the world, to stand together, to oppose them,” he wrote.

His party said in a statement on Wednesday: “The idea of a political party leader standing trial for referring to his experience with substances many decades ago is not a random and innocent blunder.

“We will not remain silent. Neither about the provocative manipulation of the judiciary nor about the major problem of addiction.”

Mr Varoufakis, a self-described “erratic Marxist”, is leader of the European Realistic Disobedience Front (MeRA25) party, which is a part of the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25), which he co-founded in 2016.

Paramount to buy Warner Bros in $110bn deal after Netflix bidding war

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) has agreed to a $110 billion acquisition by Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O), ending a high-stakes bidding war.

The deal, announced on Friday, follows Netflix’s earlier withdrawal from its agreement with the HBO Max owner.

Reuters first reported the development, citing an audio clip from a company townhall.

“Netflix had the legal right to match the PSKY offer. As you all know, they ultimately decided not to do that. That then resulted in a signed agreement with PSKY as of this morning. So that’s where everything stands,” Bruce Campbell, Warner Bros’ chief revenue and strategy officer, said in the townhall.

On Thursday, Netflix declined to match Paramount’s latest $31-per-share offer, which Warner Bros deemed superior to the streaming pioneer’s $27.75-per-share agreement for its studio and streaming assets.

While Paramount has won the bidding war for Warner Bros Discovery, the merger has drawn scrutiny. California regulators are preparing a vigorous review of the $110 billion deal, which could reshape Hollywood.

Paramount, led by billionaire Larry Ellison’s son David Ellison, has deep political connections to the Trump administration, which could get it federal regulatory approval for its deal.

California State Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Thursday that California is already investigating the deal and will be “vigorous” in its review.

Paramount is expected to easily win European Union antitrust approval, with any required divestments likely to be minor, Reuters reported on Friday, citing sources.

The deal – which includes some $29 billion in debt – is among Hollywood’s biggest media shake-ups and will create one of the largest film studios in the world, allowing Paramount to tap Warner’s trove of intellectual property, including franchises such as “Fantastic Beasts” and “The Matrix”.

It will also allow Paramount to bolster its streaming efforts, with a potential combination of HBO Max and Paramount+, enabling it to gain market share and tussle with market leader Netflix.

Paramount was in pursuit of Warner Bros since late last year when it launched a hostile campaign to wrestle the company from the streaming giant by consistently raising its offer.

The company, led by billionaire Larry Ellison’s son David Ellison, enticed Warner’s board back to the bargaining table by raising the possibility of an improved cash offer.

In its revised bid, Paramount raised the termination fee it would pay should the deal fail to gain regulatory approval to $7 billion from $5.8 billion.

Paramount paid the $2.80 billion termination fee that Warner Bros owed Netflix, the streaming giant said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

Activist investor Ancora Holdings, which owns a small stake in Warner Bros, had also stepped up pressure on the HBO owner to engage more with Paramount.

Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have raised concerns that any deal to acquire Warner Bros could result in fewer choices and higher prices for consumers.

Cinema operators are also concerned that combining large Hollywood studios could cost jobs and reduce the number of movies released in theaters.

Neil Sedaka, legendary ‘Amarillo’ songwriter, dies aged 86

Neil Sedaka, the legendary songwriter behind hits including “(Is This the Way to) Amarillo,” “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” and “Love Will Keep Us Together,” has died. He was 86.

The New York-born songwriter was reportedly rushed to hospital in Los Angeles this morning. No cause of death has yet been announced.

In a statement posted to social media, Sedaka’s relatives said: “Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka.

“A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.”

Sedaka was born in Brooklyn on March 13, 1939. His father was a New York City taxi driver. Sedaka showed a talent for piano from a young age, and won a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music’s Preparatory Division for Children at the age of eight.

While still a teenager, he teamed up with lyricist Howard Greenfield and the pair found work at New York’s Brill Building, one of the most influential hit factories of the era.

In 1958, Sedaka released his own debut single “The Diary,” which became a Top 20 hit. The song was included on his debut solo album Rock with Sedaka the following year.

Sedaka had a number of further hits in the following decade, including 1960’s “You Mean Everything To Me” and 1962’s “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.”

He also continued writing songs with Greenfield for other artists, including Connie Francis (1958’s “Stupid Cupid”) and “When Love Comes Knockin’ (At Your Door)” for The Monkees in 1967.

In 1971, Sedaka and Greenfield’s song “(Is This The Way To) Amarillo” was recorded by English singer Tony Christie. The song was very successful in mainland Europe but only a minor hit in England until many years later.

In 2002, the song enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after its use in comedian Peter Kay’s sitcom Phoenix Nights. It was re-released in 2005 accompanied by a video starring Kay, and in 2006 a soccer-themed version was re-recorded by Christie under the title “(Is This The Way To) The World Cup”.

Sedaka released his version of “Love Will Keep Us Together” in 1973. It was covered two years later by pop duo Captain & Tennille, becoming a worldwide hit.

Sedaka married Leba Strassberg in 1962. He is survived by his wife and his two children, Marc and Dara Sedaka.

Peter Mandelson’s business emails ‘missing’, lobbying firm admits

A “significant tranche” of Lord Peter Mandelson‘s business emails is missing, an internal investigation by the lobbying firm he founded has revealed.

Global Counsel, which Lord Mandelson set up in 2010, but left when he was made Britain’s ambassador to the US in 2024, went into liquidation last week, amid growing scrutiny over the disgraced politician’s friendship and business dealings with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Before calling in administrators, the company vowed to conduct an internal audit of Lord Mandelson’s emails, following an announcement from the UK government that it would publish tens of thousands of messages from his time as US ambassador to Washington.

Concerned about the potential impact this might have on the firm’s business interests, the company said it conducted the internal review as part of a due diligence process.

The audit revealed a gaping hole with “significant” numbers of emails missing, according to a report in The Times.

“The company does not know how the emails came to be missing,” the article, which does not name its sources, says.

The revelation comes after Lord Mandelson was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as business secretary. He has been bailed until May.

Global Counsel’s audit of Lord Mandelson’s account reportedly found that the remaining emails include interactions with senior officials and ministers in government, and relate directly to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador.

They are said to include messages to David Lammy, then-foreign secretary, and Morgan McSweeney, then-Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. The overall cache of emails, dating back almost a decade, is thought to amount to 1.4 million messages.

According to The Times, Lord Mandelson stopped being able to access his Global Counsel email address in February 2025 after he took up his role as Washington ambassador.

For its part, Global Counsel reportedly said it had been prepared to provide the emails to the government or police but had not received a request to do so before the firm went into administration.

The company’s electronic devices and emails are now in the hands of the administrators.

This week, the government confirmed that the prime minister will not be able to overrule Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) on what documents related to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador are made public. The move came amid persistent questions surrounding the vetting process for Lord Mandelson’s appointment in 2024, and in particular, concerning what was known about his links to Epstein at the time.

The revelation that the emails have vanished also comes immediately after the European Commission asked the EU’s anti-fraud agency to open an inquiry into Lord Mandelson’s time as trade commissioner in Brussels, in the wake of the release of the Epstein files.

The Independent has contacted Global Counsel for comment.

Idyllic beaches and vivid sunsets: Relaxing Spanish island escapes

More than 300,000 lose benefits as DWP makes major changes

Hundreds of thousands of benefit claimants have had their payments stopped in recent years, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed, as it continues to overhaul the universal credit system.

Official statistics show that 356,521 households in the UK have had their benefits closed due to failing to claim universal credit after being invited to.

This means a loss of payments averaging over £1,000 a month, for failing to respond to the “migration notice” that the DWP has sent to most households still on “legacy benefits”.

These include tax credits, income support, jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance, and housing benefit. The government is aiming to complete the migration of all of these benefits to universal credit by the end of March 2026.

Of the 2.3 million households that have been sent a migration notice so far, 1.9 million have successfully migrated. Around 10,000 are still undergoing the migration process, which started in July 2022.

While anyone who has their legacy benefits closed can later apply to universal credit, they will not be guaranteed the same transitional protection. This ensures that all people who undertake the DWP’s managed migration process will not see their total payments decrease as a result.

However, the payments will also not increase annually in line with inflation as in previous years, instead staying the same until they are equivalent to universal credit levels.

Anyone who receives a migration letter has three months to make a universal credit claim. If no reply is received within 11 weeks, the DWP says it will intervene with an “enhanced support journey” which could involve letters and even home visits.

Welfare experts continue to advise any benefit claimant who receives a letter to act in good time to ensure they do not miss out.

Conor Lawlor, a benefit specialist at Turn2Us, said: “If someone gets a managed migration letter now, they should make a claim for universal credit before the deadline in their letter to ensure they get transitional protection.

“They should already be going through the enhanced support journey, so the DWP will be in touch with them if there’s no response following a notice being issued. If they need additional support with their claim, they should use the Turn2us find an adviser tool.”

Research from the DWP released this week found that some of the key reasons that people choose not to claim after receiving a letter are confusion about eligibility requirements, believing they were earning too much, and feeling the process was too much effort.

Some also believed they had too much in savings as, unlike with legacy benefits, no claimant with over £16,000 in savings can claim universal credit. However, the DWP has said this rule will be disregarded for 12 months for anyone who undergoes managed migration.

A DWP spokesperson said: “It is important people respond to the letter asking them to make the move to universal credit in order to continue receiving benefits.

“Help is at hand for those making the move, including our dedicated helpline, guidance on gov.uk, and the Citizens Advice’s free and independent help to claim service.

“We’re also giving extra help to people moving from employment and support allowance, such as phone calls and additional guidance.”

Pakistan declares ‘open war’ on Taliban after bombing Afghanistan

Pakistan has declared “open war” on the Taliban after bombing Afghanistan’s major cities, including its capital Kabul, on Friday.

The strikes mark a serious escalation after months of clashes between the warring nations, threatening the breakdown of a fragile Qatar-mediated ceasefire negotiated last year.

Both sides claim their actions are in retaliation in response to provocation from the other.

“Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you [Afghanistan],” Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said in the aftermath of the escalation.

On Thursday night, the Taliban launched a large-scale offensive against Pakistani military posts along their shared border, which runs 2,600km (1,615 miles).

They had previously threatened action after a Pakistani attack on Sunday killed 13 civilians.

The group said the operation marked a “response to repeated provocations and violations by Pakistani military circles”, in a statement by Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban administration.

But Pakistan insisted the actions were “unprovoked” and launched what it called an “immediate and effective response” in return. Major cities, including Kabul and Kandahar and the province of Paktia, were hit in the attacks.

Thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising about the residential neighbourhood of Darulaman in western Kabul and a fierce blaze engulfed part of a depot in video footage verified by Reuters.

The clashes have resulted in heavy casualties with 274 Afghan Taliban officials killed and more than 200 wounded, according to Pakistan’s military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. He said 12 Pakistani soldiers had died.

At least 22 Afghan military targets are reported to have been destroyed.

Afghanistan’s defence ministry says more than 55 Pakistani soldiers have been killed and several “captured alive”. It says eight Afghan soldiers have died, while 11 others have been wounded. It says that it has hit 19 Pakistani military outposts.

The countries’ allies have expressed concern about the escalation and urged both parties to resolve their differences through diplomacy.

Russia’s foreign ministry called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to halt the conflict with immediate effect and to return to the negotiating table.

Officials from Russia, Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia are reportedly attempting to mediate, according to diplomats and news reports. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, announced Tehran is also ready to mediate.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk also appealed for “urgent political dialogue” between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Afghanistan said on Friday that it hopes to resolve its conflict with Pakistan through dialogue, according to Afghanistan’s spokesperson Mr Mujahid.

But Pakistan’s military says it is continuing its operation at the direction of prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Islamabad has long accused Kabul of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban militants, also known as the “Pakistani Taliban”, claims that the Taliban deny.

The group have been involved in several terror attacks across Pakistan as Pakistan saw its deadliest year for combat deaths in a decade in 2025 due to counterterrorism operations.

Both countries share a significant Pashtun population, complicating the conflict.

The instability comes at a delicate time for the region, which is facing the prospect of war between the US and Iran after American warships and fighter jets inched ever-closer to the Islamic Republic in recent weeks.

Afghanistan is gripped by extreme poverty, unemployment and hunger since a collapse in the delivery of aid after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 after the withdrawal of US forces and a two-decade insurgency against the US-backed government.