Australia v Lions live: Score and latest updates from second Test battle at the MCG
Close Andy Farrell’s iconic ‘hurt arena’ speech from British and Irish Lions’ 2013 tour of AustraliaSign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeThe British and Irish Lions clinched a series win against Australia in a thrilling second Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Will Skelton’s imposing figure set the tone in a bruising first half at the MCG, with James Slipper, Jake Gordon and Tom Wright tries earning a deserved advantage for the Wallabies, who added plenty to their pack through the powerful Rob Valetini. But Lions hopes were boosted by a quickfire double from Tom Curry and Huw Jones before the interval and Tadhg Beirne scored to set up a thrilling finale with Keenan’s late winner settling an iconic battle in front of nearly 100,000 fans at a raucous MCG. Follow all of the fallout, reaction and analysis from the second Test in Melbourne with our live blog below:
Source:The Times
July 26, 2025 12:10 UTC
Newspaper headlines: 'Don't look away' and 'Prostate patients ignored by NHS'
The Mirror devotes its front page to a photograph of a mother in Gaza holding a starving child, external - with a headline which pleads: 'Don't Look Away.' The Daily Mail has interviewed the freed British-Israeli hostage, external, Emily Danari. The Times reports that the prime minister's reluctance to recognise a Palestinian state is likely to deepen divisions within the Cabinet, external. The Daily Telegraph says his deputy, Angela Rayner, is among the ministers "piling pressure" , externalon him to take the step. County lines gangs are switching from dealing drugs to snatching phones, external, according to the front page of the The Mail.
Source:The Times
July 26, 2025 06:42 UTC
India's children face health risks as tariff-free British junk food enters market under new FTA
SynopsisIndia-Britain FTA may allow tariff-free entry for British food. This includes chocolate and soft drinks. A similar FTA with EU nations indicates cheaper chocolates. Strong regulations are needed on marketing HFSS foods. Otherwise, Indian children will pay the price.
Source:The Times
July 26, 2025 02:58 UTC
Whisky sales: Indian liquor cos seek end of discrimination in UK
This is a representative AI image (Pic credit: Lexica)NEW DELHI: Scotch and British gin makers may have been successful in gaining lower duty access to the Indian market, but domestic players are miffed and allege discrimination against Indian brands when they ship their products to the UK. "The UK and even the European Union do not allow fair imports of most Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) products due to non-tariff barriers related to maturation and ingredients. "In India, the maturation is much faster. "He said that the rules force Indian companies to classify their whisky as 'Indian spirits', effectively keeping them off bounds in the UK market. "We would like to label our products as Indian Whisky or Indian Rum/Brandy and sell the same in the UK/EU and allow the market and consumer to decide.
Source:The Times
July 26, 2025 02:32 UTC
Pharma cos get access to UK's NHS procurement plan
"The agreement opens govt procurement in both countries... The agreement is mutually beneficial for both the economies," commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said at a press conference.India is eyeing major gains in pharmaceuticals sectors, where its exports are under $1 billion. Currently, 48.2% of India's exports by value (47.3% of tariff lines) enter the UK at zero duty under the MFN regime. With the FTA, the coverage will be 99% of the goods and 100% of the value.On its part, India has opened 89.5% of its tariff lines, covering 91% of the UK's exports. "It strengthens cooperation while preserving India's sovereign rights in matters of patent policy and access to essential medicines," it said.
Source:The Times
July 26, 2025 01:03 UTC
Newspaper headlines: 'Threat to NHS from strikes' and 'UK must do more on Gaza'
The Guardian features a similar image alongside the latest warning about starvation in the territory, made by the UN. The Times highlights the recognition of a Palestinian state by France and says pressure is growing on Sir Keir to do the same. The Daily Telegraph is alarmed by official figures which suggest a record number of agricultural, forestry and fishing businesses closed over the past year. It says opposition parties have blamed the rise on the chancellor's decision to cut inheritance tax relief for some family farms. The government says farming profits in the UK increased by £1.6bn last year.
Source:The Times
July 26, 2025 00:10 UTC
Singer Cleo Laine, regarded by many as Britain’s greatest jazz voice, dies at 97
Cleo Laine, a British singer who excelled at the primarily American music genre of jazz, has died at age 97. Cleo Laine, whose husky contralto was one of the most distinctive voices in jazz and who was regarded by many as Britain’s greatest contribution to the quintessentially American music, has died. AdvertisementMusic JAZZ REVIEW : An Evening With Cleo Laine at the Hollywood Bowl Spending an evening with Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, even outdoors at the Hollywood Bowl, is not unlike sitting by the fireside, admiring its beauty and being warmed by its glow. AdvertisementA decade later, in 1951, she tried out for the Johnny Dankworth Seven, and succeeded. “Clementina Campbell” was judged too long for a marquee, so she became Cleo Laine.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2025 23:35 UTC
White House to Release $5.5 Billion in Frozen Education Funds
Image President Trump has accused former President Barack Obama of treason and shared a fake video of Mr. Obama being led off to prison. But Mr. Trump and his allies have long chafed at the third asserted goal — that Russia also hoped to help him win. It did so in a fourth bullet point under the judgment that Mr. Putin aspired to help Mr. Trump’s chances of winning. Three became support for the assessment’s judgment that Mr. Putin’s motives included wanting to bolster Mr. Trump’s chances of winning the election. Mr. Trump reacted gleefully, reposting materials on social media based on her timeline and remarks, including a fake video of Mr. Obama being led off to prison.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2025 22:49 UTC
‘Eddington’ actor Micheal Ward charged with rape and sexual assault in U.K.
British actor Micheal Ward, who stars in Ari Aster’s “Eddington,” faces two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. British actor Micheal Ward, known for the Netflix series “Top Boy” and and most recently Ari Aster’s movie “Eddington,” is facing charges of allegedly raping and sexually assaulting a woman in the United Kingdom in 2023. London’s Metropolitan Police announced in a Friday statement that prosecutors had charged BAFTA winner Ward, 28, with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault following an investigation into an alleged January 2023 incident. The statement did not provide details about the incident, including the location and the identity of Ward’s accuser. The actor is due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court in London on Aug. 28.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2025 20:27 UTC
Trump Flies to Scotland, Leaving Chaos Swirling in Washington
President Trump headed to Scotland on Friday for a five-day visit, hoping to leave behind the chaos of Washington and the persistent questions over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files for what will be a mix of personal business and diplomacy. Mr. Trump will celebrate the opening of a new 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links outside of Aberdeen, which initially had been announced as the MacLeod Course after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in Scotland. He also plans to play at the Trump Turnberry course, which Mr. Trump bought in 2014, on the other side of Scotland. The Scots are generally not fans of Mr. Trump, and protests were already planned. A group called “Stop Trump Scotland” said it was organizing a “festival of resistance” against Mr. Trump during the trip and has called on John Swinney, the first minister of Scotland, to cancel plans to meet with him.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2025 20:11 UTC
Starmer rejects call to recognise Palestine despite cabinet pressure
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Source:The Times
July 25, 2025 19:08 UTC
'India "handed" Rishabh Pant's runs back to England': Ex-England captain questions Shubman Gill's captaincy
Rishabh Pant (Getty Images)How and why Rishabh Pant's England tour could come to an abrupt end due to toe fractureGo Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. Poll Who do you think will win the fourth Test match between England and India? England IndiaNEW DELHI: England asserted their dominance on Day 2 of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Manchester, ending Thursday’s play at 225/2. The deficit now stands at just 133 runs, despite Rishabh Pant ’s earlier half-century.Duckett and Crawley resumed the final session at 77 without loss and continued to pile on the runs. "The former captain added: "Rishabh Pant went out there on one leg, and got valuable runs today.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2025 15:56 UTC
Trump hails ‘good meeting’ with Jerome Powell over interest rates
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Source:The Times
July 25, 2025 14:43 UTC
Review: It’s Feminism vs. a Mother’s Instinct in ‘Inter Alia’
By day, Jessica Parks is a formidable judge in a London court, handing down sentences to drug-dealers, sex offenders and domestic abusers. By night, she’s a floundering parent to a teenage son who is being bullied at school. When he is accused of raping a female classmate, Jessica’s maternal instincts butt up against her feminist politics. She has always argued that victims must be believed, but her son protests his innocence, and she feels duty bound to stand by him. This follow-up, which runs at the National Theater in London through Sept. 13, essentially inverts the plotline: Whereas in “Prima Facie” the criminal justice system was on trial, in “Inter Alia,” the family unit is in the dock.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2025 13:43 UTC
India, UK start a new chapter with FTA
Tariffs on automotive imports will fall to 10% from over 100% under quotas on both sides. Indian manufacturers will gain access to the UK market for electric and hybrid vehicles, also under a quota system.“A new chapter begins today in the India-UK economic partnership!” Modi said in a post on X. India’s tariffs on British products will drop to 3% from 15%.Modi added: “India-UK CETA will add momentum to the ‘Make in India’-led growth and export promotion. This agreement will also provide Indian consumers with high-quality goods at competitive prices. Makhana, shahi litchi, Araku coffee, and Kashmiri saffron will also gain greater access to the UK market.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2025 12:11 UTC