Marian Shields Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama, dies at 86

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Robinson, who moved to White House when Barack Obama won presidency, helped to care for granddaughters Malia and Sasha

Marian Shields Robinson, the mother of Michelle Obama who moved with the first family to the White House when son-in-law Barack Obama was elected president, has died. She was 86.

Robinson’s death was announced in an online tribute by Michelle Obama, and included details of the time she spent living in the White House, as an informal first grandmother to the Obama children.

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Biden says Trump’s claim of rigged trial is ‘dangerous’ and ‘reckless’ in White House speech – as it happened

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The president said ‘Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself’ and ‘no one is above the law’. This blog is now closed.

While Donald Trump and his team argued for a change of venue for the New York hush money trial because Manhattan was so heavily Democrat, New York was where Trump made his name. The 58-storey Trump Tower has been a part of the skyline since 1983. His hit reality show, The Apprentice, took place here.

After the verdict was read yesterday, New Yorkers reacted with both jubilation and horror.

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Things Can Only Get Better group ban Labour from using song

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D:Ream members regret association with Tony Blair and do not want song played at July general election

The pop group that sing Things Can Only Get Better – which became an anthem for Labour at the 1997 general election victory – will deny any request from Keir Starmer to use the track at this year’s election.

D:Ream’s founding members Peter Cunnah and Alan Mackenzie said they were dismayed to hear their song play through a loudspeaker as the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, called a 4 July general election on a wet afternoon in Downing Street.

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US navy admiral arrested for alleged bribery scheme with training company

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Robert Burke, four-star admiral and once navy’s second-highest-ranking officer, accused of trading contract for high-paying job

A retired four-star admiral who was once the US navy’s second-highest-ranking officer was arrested on Friday on charges that he helped a company secure a government contract for a training program in exchange for a lucrative job with the firm.

Robert Burke, who served as vice-chief of naval operations, faces federal charges including bribery and conspiracy for what prosecutors allege was a corrupt scheme that led to the company hiring him after his retirement in 2022 with a starting annual salary of $500,000. He oversaw naval operations in Europe, Russia and most of Africa.

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Biden presents new Israel ceasefire plan, calls on Hamas to accept – Reuters

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  1. Biden presents new Israel ceasefire plan, calls on Hamas to accept  Reuters
  2. Biden says it’s ‘time for this war to end’ as he lays out Israeli ceasefire proposal  CNN
  3. Biden announces Israel has offered a three-part plan to end the war in Gaza  NBC News
  4. Biden's Bold Gaza Cease-Fire Gambit  The Atlantic
  5. Biden details Irsael's proposed three-phase hostage, ceasefire deal  The Associated Press
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Moscow warns of escalation after Ukraine told it can hit Russia – BBC.com

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  1. Moscow warns of escalation after Ukraine told it can hit Russia  BBC.com
  2. Moscow decries US move to allow its weapons to be used on targets in Russia  The Guardian
  3. Ukraine using Western missiles on Russia won't change war: experts  Business Insider
  4. The Weapons That Ukraine Might Use to Shoot Into Russia  The New York Times
  5. Ukraine gets more military aid from Europe but Putin warns of consequences if Russian soil is hit  The Associated Press
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Tories pledge £20m each of levelling-up funds to 30 more towns

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Rishi Sunak says the money, paid over 10 years, would help regenerate areas such as Mansfield, Rotherham and Hartlepool

The Conservatives have promised to give another 30 towns in the UK £20m each in levelling up funding over the next decade if they win the election.

Rishi Sunak said the 30 would be added to the government’s long-term plan for towns, which is intended to pay for the regeneration of underfunded areas.

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Man charged with murder after fatal stabbing of Amie Gray in Bournemouth

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Nasen Saadi, 20, also charged with attempted murder of another woman following incident on beach, Dorset police say

A 20-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder over the stabbing of Amie Gray and another woman on a beach in Bournemouth, police have said.

Nasen Saadi, from Croydon in south London, was arrested by Dorset police on Wednesday and will appear at Poole magistrates court on Saturday.

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UK ambassador left post after ‘pointing gun at staff’ – BBC.com

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  1. UK ambassador left post after 'pointing gun at staff'  BBC.com
  2. British ambassador to Mexico sacked after pointing gun at embassy employee  The Guardian
  3. UK envoy to Mexico was sacked after pointing gun at employee, FT reports  Reuters Canada
  4. U.K. Ambassador to Mexico Booted After Waving Massive Gun at Staff  The Daily Beast
  5. UK Removes Mexico Ambassador After Video Surfaces of Gun in Car  Bloomberg
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Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton dies after assault in prison

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Pickton, 71, who died in hospital following attack on 19 May, fed his victims’ remains to pigs on his farm

Robert Pickton, a notorious Canadian serial killer who fed his victims’ remains to his pigs on his farm near Vancouver, has died after being assaulted in prison.

The Correctional Service of Canada said in statement that Pickton, 71, died in hospital on Friday, following the attack on 19 May by another inmate of Port-Cartier Institution in the province of Quebec.

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Idaho jurors mull death penalty for man convicted over ‘doomsday’ killings

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Chad Daybell found guilty of murder of wife and girlfriend’s two children in 2019, linked to apparent extremist religious beliefs

Jurors in Idaho on Friday were deciding whether to deliver the death sentence to Chad Daybell, the 55-year-old man convicted of killing his wife and his then girlfriend’s two children over beliefs in the extremist religious concept of doomsday.

Deliberations began a day after jurors found Daybell guilty of murdering 49-year-old Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow in 2019.

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