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Today — 11 July 2025News

La Scala Warns Opera Patrons: No Flip-Flops or Tank Tops Allowed

11 July 2025 at 00:25
Milan’s famed opera house is cracking down on the underdressed, even as it and other European opera companies try to attract a wider audience.

© Maurizio Fiorino for The New York Times

Visitors dressed in formal attire in the Teatro alla Scala bar in December.

Israel Will Allow More Aid Into Gaza, Officials Say

The decision followed discussions with the European Union, which has pressed Israel to ease the dire humanitarian conditions for Palestinians in the territory.

© Saher Alghorra for The New York Times

Palestinians waiting in line to receive flour from an aid center in Gaza City in June.

Gregg Wallace faces backlash over autism defence for misconduct claims

10 July 2025 at 21:10
BBC/ShineTV A picture of Gregg Wallace on MasterChefBBC/ShineTV

Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is facing criticism from charities and groups working with disabled people after he appeared to link claims of misconduct he is facing to his autism diagnosis.

Several dozen people have come forward with allegations about Wallace, including inappropriate sexual comments, touching and groping, which he denies.

In a statement this week, the presenter defended himself and also said he had recently been diagnosed with autism, but that TV bosses had failed to "investigate my disability" or "protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment".

One charity told BBC News that autism is "not a free pass for bad behaviour", while others warned that such remarks risked stigmatising the autistic community.

Wallace has been sacked as MasterChef host, and a report into the accusations is expected to be published shortly. He has said it has cleared him of "the most serious and sensational allegations".

On Tuesday, Wallace wrote on Instagram: "My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef.

"Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years."

The Telegraph reported on Thursday that he plans to sue the BBC and the makers of MasterChef for discrimination on the grounds of his autism following his sacking.

And the Times reported friends of Wallace as saying his autism means he can't wear underwear, and that his condition was partly to blame for his alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Speaking to BBC News, Seema Flower, founder of disabilities consultancy Blind Ambition, said there was "no excuse" for being inappropriate to people in society.

"Where does it leave us if we use autism as excuse to behave in whatever way we like?" she asked.

Her comments were echoed by Emily Banks, founder of neurodiversity training body Enna.

"To be clear: being autistic is never an excuse for misconduct. It doesn't absolve anyone of responsibility, and it certainly doesn't mean you can't tell the difference between right and wrong."

Dan Harris, who runs the charity Neurodiversity in Business and is himself autistic, said people like him "may miss social cues sometimes".

"But autism is not a free pass for bad behaviour," he added.

"Comments like this stigmatise us and add an unfortunate negative focus on our community."

Last year, the charity Ambitious About Autism dropped Wallace as an ambassador in the wake of the original claims against him.

BBC/Shine TV A picture of Gregg WallaceBBC/Shine TV

The comments have also sparked debate online and on radio phone-ins.

On BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show, Jessie Hewitson, Director of NeuroUniverse, said people with autism "have been stereotyped since the dawn of time".

She said she worried that remarks like this risk "forming a connection in peoples' minds - either that autistic people behave inappropriately in the workplace or that we cannot take personal responsibility".

But on social media, many people responded positively to Wallace's post and sent him supportive messages.

And on BBC Radio 5 Live's Nicky Campbell Show, which dedicated an hour to the topic on Thursday, some callers were sympathetic.

One called Danielle, who is autistic, said people with the condition "can misread situations quite often".

"I think growing up undiagnosed, you grow up thinking everything you're doing is wrong because you're different and you then internalise a lot of that so you're very oversensitive as well," she said.

Another caller, Jake, said he thought Wallace should have had support a long time ago.

"You've got a man here who's clearly out of touch, he's been out of touch for a long time, he's had nobody putting him back in line, whether that's an employer, whether that's a friend, whether that's anybody, and at the moment that's what he needs.

"He needs some compassion to get him back where he needs to be and I feel for his mental health."

Report expected

As the face of BBC One cooking show MasterChef, Wallace, 60, was one of the most high-profile presenters on British television for 20 years.

He stepped aside from the show in November after an initial BBC News investigation, when 13 people accused him of making inappropriate sexual comments.

This week, new claims have come from 50 more people who say they encountered him across a range of shows and settings.

The majority say he made inappropriate sexual comments, while 11 women accuse him of inappropriate sexual behaviour, such as groping and touching.

The inquiry into allegations of misconduct against Wallace, has been conducted by an independent law firm on behalf of MasterChef's production company Banijay.

BBC News has not seen that report, but Wallace said it had found the "most damaging" allegations to be "baseless".

He also accused the BBC of "peddling baseless and sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories".

A spokesperson for Wallace has said he denies engaging in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.

Banijay UK said: "While the external investigation is ongoing, we won't be commenting on individual allegations. We encourage anyone wishing to raise issues or concerns to contact us in confidence."

A BBC spokesperson said: "Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace.

"We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published."

If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at BBC Action Line.

It's too easy to claim benefits in UK, Badenoch says

10 July 2025 at 21:48
Getty Images Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives, shown speaking at a business conference in June Getty Images

Kemi Badenoch will call for foreign nationals to be barred from claiming disability and sickness benefits, as she sets out plans for tighter curbs on welfare.

In a speech on Thursday, the Tory leader will describe Britain's benefits bill as a "ticking time bomb" that could "collapse the economy".

It comes after the party outlined some of its own proposals to reduce spending, after Labour largely gutted its own plan for benefits cuts after a backbench revolt.

Legislation to bring in remaining government cuts to sickness benefits was approved by MPs on Wednesday evening.

But other proposals, including changes to the eligibility criteria for disability benefits, have effectively been put on hold.

The government announced plans to shrink welfare spending in March, warning the working-age welfare bill was set to rise by nearly £30bn by 2030 and reforms to the system were required to ensure it remained sustainable.

It wanted to make it harder to claim personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability benefit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and make health-related top-ups for universal credit less generous.

But ministers significantly watered down the cuts earlier this month after a huge rebellion from Labour MPs, all but wiping out savings estimated to be worth £5bn a year by the end of the decade.

Plans to freeze the higher rate of universal credit for existing health-related claimants have been reversed, whilst all changes to the Pip system have been parked pending a government review into the assessment regime.

In her speech on Thursday, Badenoch will accuse Labour of being "beholden to left-wing MPs" and "turning a blind eye" to rising benefit costs.

She will also seek to create a dividing line with Reform UK over the two-child benefit cap, which Nigel Farage's party has pledged to scrap, branding him "Jeremy Corbyn with a pint and a cigarette".

"On welfare he shows his true colours - promising unaffordable giveaways with no plan to fix the system," she is expected to add.

A Labour spokesperson said "The Conservatives had 14 years to reform welfare - instead, they left the country with a broken system that holds people back and fails to support the most vulnerable."

The party also warned that the Conservative proposal could see disabled British nationals living abroad being denied support if other countries decided to take a similar approach.

Tory welfare proposals

The Conservatives have not backed the government's legislation to deliver the changes, arguing its proposals do not go far enough.

They have set out some plans of their own to shrink welfare spending in the form of amendments to the government's plans, which were defeated on Wednesday.

These include limiting access to Pips and the health-related part of universal credit to those with "less severe" mental health conditions, and preventing claimants from receiving payments without a face-to-face assessment.

They also say both benefits should only be paid to British citizens, with exceptions for those covered by international agreements, such as citizens from EU countries who have acquired settled status in the UK.

At the moment, foreign nationals gain access to the welfare system when they are granted indefinite leave to remain or refugee status. Applicants for Pip generally need to have lived in Britain for at least two of the last three years.

Asylum seekers are not allowed to apply for benefits, although they have access to taxpayer-funded accommodation and separate financial support.

Conservative shadow minister Neil O'Brien has said he has obtained figures under freedom of information laws showing universal credit payments to households containing at least one foreign national stood at £941m a month as of March.

But working out the exact scale of payments to non-UK nationals specifically is complicated, because the Department for Work and Pensions does not provide a breakdown of claimants by immigration status and nationality.

However, the department is due to publish the first such breakdown next week, and has committed to updates every three months thereafter.

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Police declare major incident over Belfast bonfire site after power supply fears

10 July 2025 at 21:03
Drone footage shows the proximity of the bonfire to infrastructure.

The police have declared a major incident over a bonfire in south Belfast that is due to be lit on Friday as part of annual Twelfth events across Northern Ireland.

Belfast City Council have requested the police assist contractors to dismantle the bonfire before it is lit.

There are concerns that the power supply to Belfast City Hospital and the Royal Victoria Hospital would be put at risk because the bonfire lies near a major electricity substation.

On Thursday afternoon, bonfire builders voluntarily removed tiers of pallets from the top of the bonfire and told BBC News NI the action was an "olive branch" to those concerned.

PA Media yellow tape reads WARNING ASBESTOS in front of a tall bonfire. Houses are visible in the distancePA Media
The electricity substation buildings are behind the fence just metres from the bonfire, while asbestos is not far away

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said no decision had been taken on assisting the removal of the bonfire and they continued to work with agencies and community representatives on this matter.

Bonfires are lit as part of Eleventh night celebrations in some unionist areas of Northern Ireland, to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the parading season.

The Twelfth commemorates the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 when the Protestant King William III - also known as King Billy and William of Orange - defeated Catholic King James II.

Bonfires were lit on 11 July to welcome - and guide - William.

There are separate concerns about the presence of asbestos at the bonfire site which is between the Donegall Road and the Westlink and the council voted to write to the environment minister to act immediately to have it removed.

The Deputy First Minister and DUP MLA, Emma Little-Pengelly, said: "No one wants anyone to be hurt or for there to be any risks to health or wellbeing".

On Facebook she said those involved in the bonfire had engaged for "some time" on "size and other mitigations" and she believed that would continue.

Earlier, Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that the police had a "responsibility" in the situation.

He said the issue had only been brought into the public domain because it is "the first time a bonfire has been held in this site".

He also called on action from the landowner and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) regarding the asbestos.

Sheehan had also urged unionist politicians to "show leadership" and said Emma Little Pengelly "should be out today calling for that bonfire to be dismantled. Where is her leadership?"

Carol Walsh is standing smiling in front of the bonfire, wearing a light blue t-shirt and her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. She is also wearing glasses. The sun is shining on her face.
Carol Walsh says the bonfire means everything to the community

Residents of the Village area of Belfast, where the bonfire is situated, said the bonfire means "everything".

"This bonfire has been going for all of our generations… and we want our next generations to know our culture. This isn't to get up anybody's nose.

"The children of this area have been collecting for the bonfire since Christmas time."

Billy Garrett is standing in front of the bonfire with stubbled grey hair and is wearing a grey and blue jacket. The sun is shining on his face.
Billy says this is another attack on their culture

Billy Garrett, another resident, said there was "a lot of frustration".

"It's just another attack on our culture and our traditions. We don't see any harm in what we're doing here, especially in the Village area of south Belfast. It's just knocking the heart out of everyone," he told BBC News NI.

He said the organisers of the bonfire site had been making sure it was safe since September last year.

"They've went through all the proper people to make sure it is safe for everyone in the community."

Gates with signs saying danger keep out
In a statement, the council said it previously took enforcement action and secured the site due to asbestos in 2011

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson planned to take legal action to stop the bonfire being dismantled and has questioned the decision-making process behind the vote.

However, the council rejected claims that the decision to dismantle the bonfire breached legal guidelines and said the move was part of its "emergency" decision-making processes.

It also said it was in line with the rules of council, those cases on which an "inability to immediately implement a decision would result in a breach of statutory or contractual duty".

Power for hospitals

Belfast Health Trust said the bonfire was near a substation that supplies both hospitals.

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said it had expressed concerns over the bonfire's "proximity to the substation causing potential risk to critical infrastructure and power outages".

The trust said it had contingency measures including back-up generators and it was confident there was no need to cancel any planned treatments or procedures.

The NIEA said it was first alerted to the issues of asbestos near the bonfire on 16 May and had been engaging with the landowner and the city council regularly since then.

An inspection was carried out and the NIEA said if the asbestos was not cleared by 11 July, "mitigating measures" would need to be put in place.

PA Media The bonfire at night stands with people facing it by a small fire. PA Media
People gathered at the south Belfast bonfire on Wednesday night

Tensions are escalated

Julian O'Neill
BBC News NI crime and justice correspondent

The PSNI appears to have been put between a rock and a hard place here by a political decision at the 11th hour.

One of its considerations is most certainly: Would any operation trigger disorder which could spread to other areas?

Just 36 hours ago, the PSNI felt the mood music going into the 12th of July was pretty positive.

Now we have a significant bonfire row which has escalated tensions.

We saw evidence last night of how the local community has reacted to the prospect of a police operation.

Site entrances were blocked, a protest took place on the road, people were in an around the bonfire, and there is also a risk it could be lit early if any operation is mobilised.

Who owns the site?

The landowners, Boron Developments, bought the site in the summer of 2017 and were made aware of asbestos at that time.

Boron Developments have said it engaged a waste management company to remove the asbestos but the company needed "no personnel" on the site in order to complete the removal of asbestos.

Due to people "bringing in materials and building the bonfire" the company told the landowners it could not complete its work.

Belfast City Council said while the lands at the site remained "the responsibility of the landowner" the council and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) were "working together in relation to this site".

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said it had put in place mitigations "over the past week including the further covering of the asbestos containing material, the use of fire-retardant material and the erection of additional fencing".

Five things Trump should know about Liberia after he praised leader's 'good English'

10 July 2025 at 22:59
Watch: Trump praises Liberian president's English, the country's official language

US President Donald Trump has praised Liberian President Joseph Boakai for speaking "good English" and asked him where he went to school.

What Trump might have missed is that Liberia shares a unique and long-standing connection with the US.

English is the country's official language and many Liberians speak with an American accent because of those historical ties to the US.

It may have been this accent that Trump picked up on.

Here are five things to know about the country:

Founded by freed slaves

Liberia was founded by freed African-American slaves in 1822 before declaring independence in 1847.

Thousands of black Americans and liberated Africans - rescued from transatlantic slave ships - settled in Liberia during the colonial era.

Former US President Abraham Lincoln officially declared Liberia's independence in 1862 but the country retained a lot of US heritage and it remained in the American "sphere of influence" during the colonial period.

Due to this integration, Liberian culture, landmarks, and institutions have a heavy African-American influence.

Ten of Liberia's 26 presidents were born in the US.

AFP via Getty Images Former US President George W. Bush wearing a black suit reaching out to dancers who are wearing traditional attire and holding Liberian flags AFP via Getty Images
Liberia shares a long-standing historical connection with the US

The capital is named after a former US president

Reuters A view of a busy street in Monrovia - with many cars and shops Reuters
Some streets in Monrovia are named after colonial American figures

Liberia's capital, Monrovia, was named in honour of America's 5th President, James Monroe, who was a strong supporter of the American Colonization Society (ACS).

The ACS was the organisation responsible for resettling freed African-Americans in West Africa - which eventually led to the founding of Liberia.

Not surprisingly the early architecture of the city was largely influenced by American-style buildings.

Many streets in Monrovia are named after colonial American figures, reflecting the city's founding and historical ties to the US.

Nearly identical flags

AFP via Getty Images Former US President George W. Bush and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf walk past Liberian and US flags AFP via Getty Images
There is a striking resemblance between the flags of the two countries

The flag of Liberia closely resembles the American flag. It features 11 alternating red and white stripes and a blue square with a single white star.

The white star symbolises Liberia as the first independent republic in Africa.

The US flag, in comparison, has 13 stripes representing the original 13 colonies and 50 stars, one for each state.

The Liberian flag was designed by seven black women - all born in America.

Ex-president's son plays for US football team

Reuters President Donald Trump wearing a suit and a yellow ties shakes hands with Timothy Weah, wearing white jumper Reuters
Timothy Weah, seen here shaking hands with President Donald Trump, plays for Juventus in Italy

Timothy Weah, the son of Liberia's former President George Weah, is an American professional soccer player who plays for Italian club Juventus as well as the US national team.

The 25-year-old forward was born in the US but began his professional career with Paris St-Germain in France, where he won the Ligue 1 title before moving on loan to the Scottish team, Celtic.

His father, George, is a Liberian football legend who won the Ballon d'Or in 1995 while playing for Juventus's Italian rivals AC Milan. He is the only African winner of this award - and went on to be elected president in 2018.

Former president won the Nobel Peace Prize

Reuters A close-up of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wearing an African glasses and and an African headscarfReuters
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served as the 24th president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018

Liberia produced Africa's first elected female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

She was elected in 2005, two years after the nation's bloody civil war ended, and served as president until 2018.

Sirleaf has a strong American background as she studied at Madison Business College and later went to Harvard University where she graduated as an economist.

She has received worldwide recognition and accolades for maintaining peace during her administration.

Her story is pitted with remarkable feats of defiance and courage.

In 2011, along with Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karmān, she won the Nobel Prize for Peace for her efforts to further women's rights.

In 2016, Forbes listed her among the most powerful women in the world.

What do Liberians make of the comments?

There has been a mixed reaction.

Accountant Joseph Manley, 40, told the BBC that Trump should have been properly briefed before meeting Liberia's leader.

"Liberia has always been an English-speaking country. Our president represents a country with a rich educational tradition."

For human resources professional Henrietta Peter-Mogballah, The US president's surprise at Boakai's eloquence reflects a broader problem of global ignorance about African nations and its peoples.

"From travel experiences and observations, most citizens of other nations outside Africa do not know a lot about African countries," she said. "The few that know a little, their minds are clouded by narratives of war, poverty, and lack of education."

While many have criticised Trump, others see nothing wrong in his comments.

"I believe President Trump's remark was a genuine compliment on President Boakai's command of English," lawyer and politician Kanio Gbala told the BBC. "There is no evidence of sarcasm. Reading it as disrespectful may reflect political agendas."

More about Liberia from the BBC:

Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News AfricaGetty Images/BBC

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

'You're not just a tennis player' - Wimbledon stars open up about mental health

10 July 2025 at 13:21

'You're not just a tennis player' - taking care of mental health

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Break away from tennis was necessary - Anisimova

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Wimbledon 2025

Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England Club

Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full coverage guide.

Before she was a Wimbledon semi-finalist, Amanda Anisimova was a teenage prodigy tipped to win Grand Slam titles.

She reached the 2019 French Open semi-finals as a 17-year-old, stunning defending champion Simona Halep along the way, and moved inside the world's top 25.

But four years later, Anisimova knew she needed to stop. Struggling with her mental health and burnout, she found it "unbearable" to be at tennis tournaments.

She did not touch a racquet for months. She took holidays, saw friends and family, attended her university in person for a semester, and stayed away from tennis until the itch returned.

Now set to face world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday for a place in a first Grand Slam final, Anisimova is thankful she could take the time to reset.

"I learned a lot about myself, my interests off the court and just taking some time to breathe and live a normal life for a bit," the 23-year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"What I've learned is to listen honestly to yourself, to your intuition and what your body is telling you."

With an 11-month season, players go from hotel room to hotel room around the world in a push for points and prize money.

That goes alongside the psychological impact of trying to break a losing streak, the pressure of trying to win a Grand Slam and abusive messages on social media.

Matteo Berrettini, who has spent three years battling injuries, said it was a "heavy" feeling to be on court, while world number three Alexander Zverev said he was "lacking joy" both inside and outside of tennis and had "never felt this empty before".

Andrey Rublev has been open about his struggles, telling the Guardian in January, external that he worked with a psychologist to stop feeling "that crazy anxiety and stress of not understanding what to do with my life".

He also has a new perspective. At one point, winning a Grand Slam was everything to Rublev. Now, he says he knows it would not change his life at all - but he also knows how difficult it is to give yourself space away from the sport.

"In the end, tennis is just the trigger point. It's something inside of you that you need to face," Rublev said.

"You tell Sascha [Zverev] to take a break, it will get tough for him. He would love to play. For sure, Casper [Ruud], maybe, for him it's also not easy."

Amanda Anisimova throws the ball to serve in her Wimbledon quarter-final against Anastasia PavlyuchenkovaImage source, Reuters
Image caption,

Amanda Anisimova is into a second Grand Slam semi-final

Five-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz said in a Netflix documentary that his biggest fear was that tennis would become an "obligation".

The relentless pursuit of success, the determination to clinch that long-awaited Grand Slam or to snap a losing streak against a particular player becomes a part of someone's personality, and they can find it difficult to know where tennis ends and they begin.

Alcaraz makes a concerted effort to enjoy himself on and off the court. It is not unusual to see him laughing after an amazing point - even when he was struggling against Fabio Fognini in the Wimbledon first round, he still managed to smile at his opponent's ridiculous shot-making.

He has also spoken about how mentally refreshing his trips to Ibiza have been, even if his team did not want him to go after his 2024 French Open triumph.

"It's about having fun playing tennis, have fun stepping on the court and not thinking about the result," the Spaniard said.

"It's just live in the moment."

Australian Open champion Madison Keys has spoken about how therapy helped her gain perspective.

The American previously worked with sports psychologists, but said focusing on sport "was not as helpful as I needed it to be".

"From a pretty young age, our identity becomes very wrapped up in being a tennis player," Keys said.

"That's great but when you have tough weeks, months and years on tour, that can take a toll on how you think about yourself as a person.

"Being able to dive into that and figure out how to separate the two and know that you're not just a tennis player, you're a full person that has all of these other really great attributes and interests, was a really important piece for me.

"That kind of made the tennis a bit easier."

Carlos Alcaraz hits a forehand during his Wimbledon quarter-final win against Cameron NorrieImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Carlos Alcaraz is a five-time Grand Slam champion

Sabalenka worked with a therapist for five years before deciding she was ready to "take responsibility", describing herself as "my own psychologist".

She talks openly with her team, saying: "We can talk about whatever. I know they're not going to judge me.

"They're not going to blame me. They just going to accept it, and we are going to work through."

Anisimova says her break was "a necessary thing" and put her on the trajectory she is on today.

Since returning to the tour, she has won the biggest title of her career at the WTA 1,000 event in Doha and broken into the world's top 10.

"It was something that I needed to for myself," she added.

"I definitely had to find my way back, really work on the fitness side, and get in my hours of training.

"It's been a journey. I finally found my game and my confidence."

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What is an Isa and how might the rules change?

10 July 2025 at 19:44
Getty Images Woman sits at a desk with paperwork and a laptop in front of her. A smartphone in her hand has a calculator on the screen.Getty Images

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is thought to be planning to make changes to the rules surrounding tax-free Individual Savings Accounts (Isas).

The details are expected to be set out in her Mansion House speech on Tuesday - traditionally an opportunity for chancellors to outline their strategic vision to City leaders.

But some have warned against tampering with a very popular savings product.

What are Isas and how much money can you save in them?

An Individual Savings Account (Isa) is a savings or investment product which is treated differently for tax purposes.

Isas are offered by a host of banks, building societies, investment companies and other financial providers.

Any returns you make from an Isa are tax-free, but there is a limit to how much money you can put in each year.

The current £20,000 annual allowance can be used in one account or spread across multiple Isa products as you wish.

These accounts do not close automatically at the end of the tax year. When the next tax year begins, you can open a new Isa or - in some cases - can keep adding money to your existing accounts.

You have to be 18 to open an Isa. You also have to live in the UK or be a member of the armed forces or a so-called Crown servant who works abroad.

Isas were first introduced by then-chancellor Gordon Brown in 1999, but the annual allowance and the way they work have changed several times since then.

What is the difference between cash Isas and stocks and shares Isas?

Cash Isas are typically offered by banks or building societies, and function like a normal savings account.

Savers pay in money and interest gets added on top.

With regular saving accounts, once the interest goes above a certain threshold, you start to pay income tax.

A basic rate taxpayer can earn £1,000 in savings interest a year before paying tax. For higher rate taxpayer the limit is £500, but additional rate taxpayers don't have any allowance - they pay tax on all their savings income. Those on low incomes may get an extra allowance.

When the money is saved in a cash Isa, the interest is tax-free, however much you earn.

Cash Isas are very popular, with millions of savers holding billions of pounds in them.

Stocks and shares Isas work in much the same way.

However, instead of simply being held in an savings account, the money is invested in shares in companies, unit trusts, investment funds or bonds.

Unlike other investments any returns are protected from income tax and capital gains tax.

Crucially, while the returns can be greater, so too are the risks. The amount of money you have in a shares Isa can go down as well as up.

What other types of Isa are available?

Junior Isas allow young people to save - or let their parents save for them - until they reach 18 - when they can access regular Isas.

Lifetime Isas (Lisas) are designed to help people save towards a deposit when buying a first home, or for retirement. Savers can put in up to £4,000 a year and the government adds an extra 25%.

However, critics argue the rules about how they work are too strict, and some savers have fallen foul of property purchase price limits.

Innovative Finance Isas let people use other types of financial arrangements such as peer-to-peer loans, without going through a bank.

How might the Isa rules change?

Despite a lot of media speculation, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has not yet set out her plans.

Documents released by the Treasury as part of the Spending Review in June said only that the government was "looking at options" for Isa reform.

It wants to "get the balance right between cash and equities [shares] to earn better returns for savers, boost the culture of retail investment, and support the growth mission".

However, there is an expectation that Reeves will make an announcement at her Mansion House speech in the City of London on 15 July.

Many experts think she will reduce the annual allowance for putting money into a cash Isa.

Some have argued that she should scrap cash Isas completely, but that is considered extremely unlikely.

Why might the government cut the cash Isa limit?

It is thought the government wants to encourage savers to put money into stocks and shares Isas instead of cash Isas. This could potentially benefit British companies, and boost economic growth in the UK.

Many investment companies which sell stocks and shares Isas back the change, while banks and building societies who dominate the cash Isa market are against it.

Those in favour say there are billions of pounds languishing in savings accounts, which do not need to be accessed in a hurry.

They say that money could be better used for personal, and the greater, good by being invested in stocks and shares in the long-term, rather than sitting in savings accounts.

They want any change to the Isa rules to go hand-in-hand with other reforms to encourage personal investing.

What are the pitfalls of cutting the cash Isa allowance?

Opponents say there is little evidence that the move would encourage people to invest in shares instead of saving in cash.

They warn many people may not save at all, or would simply pay more tax on any money held in non-Isa accounts.

Building societies, in particular, point out it would also reduce the amount of money they receive from savers' deposits which can then be lent out as mortgages or other loans.

As a result, the cost of borrowing could rise.

Yesterday — 10 July 2025News

EU chief von der Leyen survives rare confidence vote

10 July 2025 at 21:01
Reuters Ursula von der Leyen wearing a red jacket pointing and smiling at something off-cameraReuters
Ursula von der Leyen secured a second term as Commission chief last July

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has survived a confidence vote tabled by a far-right faction in the European Parliament.

Although the outcome was not a surprise, the fact that it came about at all was not a positive signal for von der Leyen, who began her second term as Commission chief only a year ago.

Confidence votes of this kind are rare and the last one was tabled against Jean-Claude Juncker more than a decade ago.

Two-thirds of all 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) - or 480 - would have had to back the motion for it to pass.

Instead, only 175 voted in favour; 360 voted against and 18 abstained. The remaining MEPs did not vote.

The vote was initiated by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who accused von der Leyen of a lack of transparency over text messages she sent to the head of Pfizer during negotiations to secure Covid-19 vaccines.

The text of the motion said that von der Leyen's Commission could no longer be trusted to "uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance essential to a democratic Union".

During a fierce debate on Monday von der Leyen slammed her accusers as "conspiracy theorists".

Hitting back at Piperea and what she called "his world of conspiracies and alleged sinister plots", she said he and his cohort were "extremists", "anti-vaxxers" and "Putin apologists".

She also said the accusations against her over so-called Pfizergate were "simply a lie."

Piperea had the backing of figures such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who posted on X a photo of von der Leyen alongside the caption "Time to go".

But his own European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group was split.

A sizeable portion of the ECR is made up by Brothers of Italy (FdI), the party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. FdI has been fostering a good relationship with von der Leyen and its MEPs voted against the motion.

In the end the votes in favour came primarily from the far-right groups Patriots for Europe (PfE) and the European of Sovereign Nations (ENS).

Von der Leyen survived the vote thanks to the support of her own centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the Socialist & Democrats (S&D), the liberal Renew, the Greens and left-wing groups.

However, the days in the lead-up to the vote saw several groupings caveat their support with gripes over von der Leyen's leadership.

Over the last year her centre-right EPP has increasingly teamed up with the far-right to pass amendments and resolutions on issues like migration and the environment, often irking liberals and left-wing parties.

Valérie Hayer, president of the centrist Renew Europe, echoed the sentiment, warning von der Leyen that her group's support was "not guaranteed" and urging the Commission chief to "take back control" of the EPP and end "alliances with the far right."

Ahead of the vote Iratxe García, leader of the S&D, said dismantling the Commission in the midst of geopolitical crisis would have been "irresponsible".

"Our vote doesn't mean that we are not critical of the European Commission," García said, citing "the recent shifts by von der Leyen towards far-right pledges."

Earlier this week there was a suggestion that the S&D might abstain from the vote, but were eventually persuaded to back von der Leyen after she reportedly ruled out cuts to social programmes in the upcoming budget.

As the vote against her leadership was taking place, Von der Leyen was giving a speech at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome.

Shortly after the motion was turned down, however, she posted on X: "As external forces seek to destabilise and divide us, it is our duty to respond in line with our values."

"Thank you, and long live Europe," she added.

Five things Trump should know about Liberia after he praised leader's 'good English'

10 July 2025 at 22:59
Watch: Trump praises Liberian president's English, the country's official language

US President Donald Trump has praised Liberian President Joseph Boakai for speaking "good English" and asked him where he went to school.

What Trump might have missed is that Liberia shares a unique and long-standing connection with the US.

English is the country's official language and many Liberians speak with an American accent because of those historical ties to the US.

It may have been this accent that Trump picked up on.

Here are five things to know about the country:

Founded by freed slaves

Liberia was founded by freed African-American slaves in 1822 before declaring independence in 1847.

Thousands of black Americans and liberated Africans - rescued from transatlantic slave ships - settled in Liberia during the colonial era.

Former US President Abraham Lincoln officially declared Liberia's independence in 1862 but the country retained a lot of US heritage and it remained in the American "sphere of influence" during the colonial period.

Due to this integration, Liberian culture, landmarks, and institutions have a heavy African-American influence.

Ten of Liberia's 26 presidents were born in the US.

AFP via Getty Images Former US President George W. Bush wearing a black suit reaching out to dancers who are wearing traditional attire and holding Liberian flags AFP via Getty Images
Liberia shares a long-standing historical connection with the US

The capital is named after a former US president

Reuters A view of a busy street in Monrovia - with many cars and shops Reuters
Some streets in Monrovia are named after colonial American figures

Liberia's capital, Monrovia, was named in honour of America's 5th President, James Monroe, who was a strong supporter of the American Colonization Society (ACS).

The ACS was the organisation responsible for resettling freed African-Americans in West Africa - which eventually led to the founding of Liberia.

Not surprisingly the early architecture of the city was largely influenced by American-style buildings.

Many streets in Monrovia are named after colonial American figures, reflecting the city's founding and historical ties to the US.

Nearly identical flags

AFP via Getty Images Former US President George W. Bush and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf walk past Liberian and US flags AFP via Getty Images
There is a striking resemblance between the flags of the two countries

The flag of Liberia closely resembles the American flag. It features 11 alternating red and white stripes and a blue square with a single white star.

The white star symbolises Liberia as the first independent republic in Africa.

The US flag, in comparison, has 13 stripes representing the original 13 colonies and 50 stars, one for each state.

The Liberian flag was designed by seven black women - all born in America.

Ex-president's son plays for US football team

Reuters President Donald Trump wearing a suit and a yellow ties shakes hands with Timothy Weah, wearing white jumper Reuters
Timothy Weah, seen here shaking hands with President Donald Trump, plays for Juventus in Italy

Timothy Weah, the son of Liberia's former President George Weah, is an American professional soccer player who plays for Italian club Juventus as well as the US national team.

The 25-year-old forward was born in the US but began his professional career with Paris St-Germain in France, where he won the Ligue 1 title before moving on loan to the Scottish team, Celtic.

His father, George, is a Liberian football legend who won the Ballon d'Or in 1995 while playing for Juventus's Italian rivals AC Milan. He is the only African winner of this award - and went on to be elected president in 2018.

Former president won the Nobel Peace Prize

Reuters A close-up of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wearing an African glasses and and an African headscarfReuters
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served as the 24th president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018

Liberia produced Africa's first elected female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

She was elected in 2005, two years after the nation's bloody civil war ended, and served as president until 2018.

Sirleaf has a strong American background as she studied at Madison Business College and later went to Harvard University where she graduated as an economist.

She has received worldwide recognition and accolades for maintaining peace during her administration.

Her story is pitted with remarkable feats of defiance and courage.

In 2011, along with Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karmān, she won the Nobel Prize for Peace for her efforts to further women's rights.

In 2016, Forbes listed her among the most powerful women in the world.

What do Liberians make of the comments?

There has been a mixed reaction.

Accountant Joseph Manley, 40, told the BBC that Trump should have been properly briefed before meeting Liberia's leader.

"Liberia has always been an English-speaking country. Our president represents a country with a rich educational tradition."

For human resources professional Henrietta Peter-Mogballah, The US president's surprise at Boakai's eloquence reflects a broader problem of global ignorance about African nations and its peoples.

"From travel experiences and observations, most citizens of other nations outside Africa do not know a lot about African countries," she said. "The few that know a little, their minds are clouded by narratives of war, poverty, and lack of education."

While many have criticised Trump, others see nothing wrong in his comments.

"I believe President Trump's remark was a genuine compliment on President Boakai's command of English," lawyer and politician Kanio Gbala told the BBC. "There is no evidence of sarcasm. Reading it as disrespectful may reflect political agendas."

More about Liberia from the BBC:

Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News AfricaGetty Images/BBC

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

Brazil vows to match US tariffs after Trump threatens 50% levy

10 July 2025 at 19:30
Reuters Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva speaks during a joint press statement  at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil July 9, 2025. He is wearing a blue suit and wearing an ear piece during a joint press statement with the Indonesian president. Reuters

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has said he is ready to match any tariffs imposed on Brazil by the United States.

Lula was responding to Wednesday's threat by his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to impose a 50% import tax on Brazilian goods from 1 August.

In a letter, Trump cited Brazil's treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro as a trigger for tariff-hike.

Bolsonaro is currently on trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup against Lula after being defeated by him in the 2022 election.

Trump referred to Bolsonaro as "a highly respected leader throughout the world". "This Trial should not be taking place," he wrote, calling on Brazil to immediately end the "witch hunt" against the former president.

Trump's support for Bolsonaro does not come as a surprise as the two men have long been considered allies.

The US president had already slammed Brazil for its treatment of Bolsonaro on Monday, comparing it to the legal cases he himself had faced in US courts.

The 50% tariff threat was met with a robust and lengthy response by President Lula.

In a post on X, he stressed that Brazil was "a sovereign country with independent institutions and will not accept any tutelage".

The Brazilian leader also announced that "any unilateral tariff increases" would be met with reciprocal tariffs imposed on US goods.

The US is Brazil's second-largest trade partner after China, so the hike from a tariff rate of 10% to an eye-watering 50% - if it comes into force - would hit the South American nation hard.

But Lula also made a point of challenging Trump's assertion that the US had a trade deficit with Brazil, calling it "inaccurate".

Lula's rebuttal is backed up by US government data, which suggests the US had a goods trade surplus with Brazil of $7.4bn (£5.4bn) in 2024.

Brazil is the US's 15th largest trading partner and among its main imports from the US are mineral fuels, aircraft and machinery.

For its part, the US imports gas and petroleum, iron, and coffee from Brazil.

Brazil was not the only country Trump threatened with higher tariffs on Wednesday.

Japan, South Korea and Sri Lanka were among 22 nations which received letters warning of higher levies.

But the letter Trump sent to his Brazilian counterpart was the only one focussing matters beyond alleged trade deficits.

As well as denouncing the treatment of ex-President Bolsonaro, Trump slammed what he said were "secret and unlawful censorship orders to US social media platforms" which he said Brazil had imposed.

Trump Media, which operates the US president's Truth Social platform and is majority-owned by him, is among the US tech companies fighting Brazilian court rulings over orders suspending social media accounts.

Lula fought back on that front too, justifying the rulings by arguing that "Brazilian society rejects hateful content, racism, child pornography, scams, fraud, and speeches against human rights and democratic freedom".

Rafael Cortez, a political scientist with Brazilian consulting firm Tendências Consultoria, told BBC News Brasil that rather than hurt him, the overly political tone of Trump's letter could end up benefitting Lula.

"Those confronting Trump win at home when Trump and other conservative leaders speak out on issues pertaining to their countries. That happened, to a certain degree, in Mexico, and the elections in Canada and Australia," Mr Cortez says of other leaders who have challenged Trump and reaped the rewards in the form of rising popularity levels.

Creomar de Souza of the political risk consultancy Dharma Politics told BBC News Mundo's Mariana Schreiber that it would depend on the Lula government coming up with organised and united response if it is to "score a goal" against Trump.

Trump’s Push for Influence Over Fed Decisions May Hobble Next Chair

10 July 2025 at 23:24
The president hasn’t named a successor to Jerome H. Powell, but his insistence on someone who will lower interest rates has already raised doubts about their credibility.

© Kendrick Brinson for The New York Times

Whoever replaces Jerome H. Powell to lead the Federal Reserve will face scrutiny because of the president’s attacks on the central bank’s current leadership and his demands that the next chair lower interest rates.

Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order in Class-Action Challenge

The federal judge reignited the legal standoff over President Trump’s efforts to deny citizenship to children born to undocumented parents.

© Nate Raymond/Reuters

The federal courthouse in Concord, N.H. Judge Joseph N. Laplante allowed the case to proceed as a class action.

L.A. Area Bishop Excuses Faithful From Mass Over Fear of Immigration Raids

10 July 2025 at 22:06
San Bernardino Bishop Alberto Rojas lifted the obligation for members of the diocese to celebrate Mass if they had a “genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions.”

© Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, via Getty

Bishop Alberto Rojas leading mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills, Calif., in 2023. Federal agents have arrested about 2,000 immigrants in the Los Angeles area since June 6.

As Israel and Ukraine Advance Drone Warfare, U.S. Sees Its Own Vulnerabilities

Israel and Ukraine have used drones against their adversaries in audacious ways that have helped the Pentagon see the need for new technology.

© Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

Ukrainian soldiers at an air defense position, where they monitor for, and shoot down armed Russian drones in May.

Trump Administration Is Forcing Prosecutors to Ignore Law, Whistle-Blower Says

10 July 2025 at 22:41
In an interview with The New York Times, a former Justice Department lawyer, Erez Reuveni, said officials pressed subordinates to mislead judges, and dared the courts to stop it.

© Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

At his confirmation hearing for a judgeship, Senate Democrats asked Emil Bove III about a claim that he and Trump administration officials were willing to defy rulings regarding deportation.

德国外贸联合会:中国对德出口跃升

10 July 2025 at 22:17

2025-07-10T14:12:01.601Z
据德国联邦统计局数据,1-5月,从中国的进口增加超过10%

(德国之声中文网)“中国对德国出口比前一年跃增,并非偶然”,该联合会主席扬杜拉(Dirk Jandura)周四(7月10日)向路透社表示。他说,这是美国总统特朗普关税战的一个直接后果。“无法输往美国的,如今加大力度转向欧洲市场”。

据中国海关数据,5月该国对美出口锐减34.5%,跌幅为2020年新冠疫情爆发以来最大。相形之下,中国对欧出口上升12%。

据德国联邦统计局数据,1-5月,从中国的进口增加超过10%,达到675亿欧元。

德国外贸联合会表示,过去数周有关航空货运和集装箱业务的数据显示,可能还有明显更多的商品涌向欧洲。

由于美国高关税,中国电商对美出口急剧下跌:据咨询公司Aevean分析,5月同比下跌43%。该公司负责人布略门(Marco Bloemen)表示,这一趋势预计还将继续,“6月对欧洲的电商出口预计将增加”。

德国零售业联合会(HDE)表示,来自中国电商平台如希音、Temu的竞争加剧,特朗普的贸易政策也是原因之一,因进入美国市场更困难。“这些商品转而涌向欧洲”,该联合会主席冯普林(Alexander von Preen)说道。特别是德国玩具行业备受冲击。

德国外贸联合会主席扬杜拉表示:“中国出口上升,不单是美国关税的后果,也是大规模产能过剩的明显症状。”他说,中国在许多行业的生产大于自身需求,将过剩产品以廉价充斥世界市场。“这并非经济实力的彰显,而是本国问题的出气阀:内需疲弱、关键工业产能过剩、日益不确定的个人消费。”

扬杜拉表示,中国出口过剩对双边关系构成新的挑战。“我们亟需与中国达成可靠的协议”,以管控这一趋势。他呼吁同中国达成投资协定。“在全球竞争中,需要的不是防护栅栏,而是明确的规则。”他认为,目前被搁置的所谓“全面投资协定”是确保标准、稳定市场的杠杆。

(路透社)

DW中文有Instagram!欢迎搜寻dw.chinese,看更多深入浅出的图文与影音报道。

© 2025年德国之声版权声明:本文所有内容受到著作权法保护,如无德国之声特别授权,不得擅自使用。任何不当行为都将导致追偿,并受到刑事追究。

A Lethal Israeli Airstrike Hits Near a Gaza Aid Clinic

The attack struck near a facility run by an American aid organization as negotiators from Hamas and Israel wrangle over a potential new cease-fire agreement.

© via Reuters

A screen grab from a video shows a wounded child being treated in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the town of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza on Thursday.

Ferrero to Buy WK Kellogg in $3.1 Billion Candy-Meets-Cereal Deal

The $3.1 billion acquisition would combine Ferrero, which makes Tic Tacs and Nutella, with the producer of Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops.

© Brandon Bell/Getty Image

Many consumers, squeezed by food inflation, have cut back on their spending or switched to less expensive, private-label store brands.

Woman and three teens arrested over M&S and Co-op cyber-attacks

10 July 2025 at 19:44
Getty Images / PA The M&S and Co-op logosGetty Images / PA

Four people have been arrested by police investigating the cyber-attacks that have caused havoc at M&S and the Co-op.

The National Crime Agency says a 20 year old woman was arrested in Staffordshire, and three males - aged between 17 and 19 - were detained in London and the West Midlands.

They were apprehended on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences, blackmail, money laundering and participating in the activities of an organised crime group.

All four were arrested at their homes in the early hours on Thursday. Electronic devices were also seized by the police.

Paul Foster, head of the NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit, said the arrests were a "significant step" in its investigation.

"But our work continues, alongside partners in the UK and overseas, to ensure those responsible are identified and brought to justice," he added.

The hacks - which began in mid April - have caused huge disruption for the two retailers.

Some Co-op shelves were left bare for weeks, while M&S expects its operations to be affected until late July, with some IT systems not fully operational until October or November.

The chairman of M&S told MPs this week that it felt like the hack was an attempt to destroy the business. The retailer has estimated it will cost it £300m in lost profits.

Harrods was also targeted in an attack that had less impact on its operations.

A wave of attacks

M&S was the first to be breached. A huge amount of private data belonging to customers and staff was stolen.

The criminals also deployed malicious software called ransomware scrambling the company's IT networks making them unusable unless a ransom was paid.

The BBC revealed that the hackers had sent an offensive email to the M&S boss demanding payment.

A few days after M&S was breached the Co-op was also targeted by the criminals who broke in and stole the private data of millions of its and staff.

The Co-op was forced to admit that the data breach had happened after hackers contacted the BBC with proof that the firm was downplaying the cyber attack.

The BBC later discovered from the criminals that the company disconnected the internet from IT networks in the nick of time to stop the hackers from deploying ransomware and so causing even more disruption.

Shortly after Co-op announced it had been attacked, luxury retailer Harrods said it too had been targeted and had been forced to disconnect IT systems from the internet to keep the criminals out.

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Armed police in Romania carry out raids linked to UK tax scam

10 July 2025 at 19:18
Romanian Police/HMRC A screengrab from a video shows an armed police officer searching a houseRomanian Police/HMRC

Romanian police have targeted a gang suspected of being behind a complex scam in which stolen data was used to fraudulently claim millions in tax repayments from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), police have said.

Thirteen people were detained during armed raids around Bucharest, and luxury cars and piles of cash were seized. A fourteenth man was arrested in Preston.

According to HMRC, scammers gained access to the personal data of British taxpayers through a sophisticated phishing operation, which was used to make bogus claims for tax refunds.

HMRC said "millions" was believed to have been stolen without specifying an amount, while Romanian police said over £1m had been taken.

Romanian Police/HMRC Three armed police officers climb stairsRomanian Police/HMRC
Armed police officers raided the properties in Romania, leading to the seizure of wads of cash

A joint operation between HMRC and Romanian police saw male and female suspects, aged between 23 and 53, arrested during the armed raids.

They were held on suspicion of computer fraud, money laundering and illegal access to a computer system.

A 38-year-old man was arrested in Preston on Thursday. His electronic devices were seized and he was questioned by HMRC officers.

In footage published by Romanian authorities on Thursday, armed police officers were seen searching a large property, where jewellery and large quantities of cash were found.

A joint investigation team - composed of Romanian prosecutors, HMRC and the Crown Prosecution Service - was established earlier this year.

HMRC/Romanian Police A stack of pound notes and Romanian currency on a tableHMRC/Romanian Police
Cash was found by officers as part of the raids

HMRC said the organised gang had used stolen data to submit fraudulent claims for PAYE, child benefit and VAT refunds.

It is unclear how many people had their information stolen, but HMRC said it had contacted "around 100,000" customers to inform them they had detected attempts to access their accounts.

Romanian police said scammers accessed the Government Gateway accounts of over 1000 UK taxpayers, and then laundered the stolen funds.

The scammers tricked people into disclosing their security information using various methods, and HMRC stressed that its systems had not been subject to a cyber-attack.

Phishing scams involving HMRC in common: in 2022, the National Cyber Security Centre found it was the government body third most likely to be impersonated by criminals trying to obtain information.

Additional reporting by Mircea Barbu.

Mum was detained in immigration raids - but she still supports Trump's deportation plan

10 July 2025 at 04:22
Arthur Sahakyan A family of six pose for a selfie taken by the dad Arthur who is wearing a red Make America Great Again hat. Two of the young boys wear MAGA/Trump hats as well. The mom and dad and all four children are wearing football jerseys from different teams. Arthur Sahakyan
Arpineh and her husband Arthur with their children in happier times before ICE agents arrived at the family's home

If Arpineh Masihi could vote, she would have cast her ballot for Donald Trump. She's a devout supporter of the US president – even now that she's locked up as an illegal immigrant.

"He's doing the right thing because lots of these people don't deserve to be here," Arpineh told the BBC over the phone from the Adelanto immigrant detention centre in California's Mojave Desert.

"I will support him until the day I die. He's making America great again."

Sixty miles (96 km) away in her home in Diamond Bar, a wealthy suburban city in eastern Los Angeles County, a Trump flag flies over the family's front yard. Maga hats adorn a shelf next to a family photo album, while the family's pet birds chirp in a cage.

It's a lively home, with three dogs and four young children, and Arpineh's husband and mother are bleary eyed and exhausted with worry, trying to put on brave faces.

"Our home is broken," says Arthur Sahakyan, Arpineh's husband.

'We all make mistakes'

In many ways, Arpineh, 39, is an American success story - a prime example of how the country gives people second, even third chances. Arpineh's mother wells up with tears as she talks about her daughter, who has lived in the US since she was three.

She had a rough patch many years ago, in 2008, when she was convicted of burglary and grand theft and was sentenced to two years in prison. An immigration judge revoked her Green Card, which is a common practice. But because she is a Christian Armenian Iranian, the judge allowed her to remain in the country instead of being deported.

"We are Christians. She can't go back, there's no way," Arthur says as their 4-year-old daughter runs in and out of the room. He fears her life would be at risk if she is sent back.

Arthur Sahakyan A Ring camera shows a woman from behind with her arms out talking to federal agents outside a suburban home in Los Angeles County. Arthur Sahakyan
Arpineh talks with ICE agents outside her home before she's detained

But since her release from prison, Arpineh has rebuilt her life, starting a successful business and a family among hundreds of thousands of Iranian immigrants who call Southern California home.

West Los Angeles - often called Tehrangeles - has the largest population of Iranians outside of Iran.

Some, like Arpineh, have been detained in recent weeks, swept up in immigration raids that have put the city on edge. While the majority of those detained in LA come from Mexico, daily updates from the Department of Homeland Security show immigrants from seemingly every corner of the globe have been arrested.

Trump was elected in part because of his promise to "launch the largest deportation programme of criminals in the history" - a promise Arpineh, her husband and mother say they all still believe in.

Yet her family says they have faith that Arpineh will be released, and believe that only hardened, dangerous criminals will actually be deported.

"I don't blame Trump, I blame Biden," Arthur says. "It's his doing for open borders, but I believe in the system and all the good people will be released and the ones that are bad will be sent back."

While many of those detained do not have criminal records, Aprineh is a convicted felon, which makes her a prime target for removal.

ICE did not respond to a request for comment about Arpineh's case.

Arthur says he doesn't know details of the burglary. They spoke briefly about it before they were married and then he forgot about what he considered a youthful indiscretion by his wife.

Instead, he focuses on his wife's good deeds over the last 17 years, volunteering with the local school district and bringing food to firefighters and police.

"We all make mistakes," he says.

'No matter what, we're going to catch you'

So, when ICE phoned Arpineh on 30 June as the family was having breakfast, the couple thought it must be a joke.

But immigration enforcement pulled up to their home 30 minutes later.

Despite signs all over Los Angeles County urging immigrants to "Know Your Rights" and not to open the door to immigration enforcement agents, the couple came outside to speak with the officers.

Arpineh explained how a judge had allowed her to stay in the US because of the situation in Iran, as long as she didn't commit any other crimes, and as long as she frequently checked in immigration officials. Her last check-in was in April, she showed them, presenting her paperwork.

Arthur even invited them into the house, which they declined, he says.

The immigration enforcement agents told her circumstances had changed and they had a warrant for her arrest.

They allowed her to go back inside and say goodbye to her children – aged 14, 11, 10 and 4. The officers told her that if she didn't come back outside, they would get her eventually.

"They told us no matter what we're going to catch you – maybe if you're driving on the street with your kids - so we thought, what we'd been seeing on the news: flash bombs, cornering cars," Arthur says. They didn't want to risk her being violently detained, possibly with their children watching.

"She came and kissed the kids goodbye," he recalls. "She came outside like a champion and said, 'Here I am'."

Arthur asked the immigration officers not to handcuff his wife. They said that wasn't possible, though they agreed to do it on the far side of the vehicle so the couple's children wouldn't see.

"I knew my kids were watching from upstairs," he says. "I didn't want them to see their mom handcuffed."

Arpineh was then taken to a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, a centre used by ICE to process those arrested in the ongoing raids across the region. The building became the centre of sometimes violent anti-ICE protests that riled Los Angeles for weeks.

She says those being held at the building "were treated like animals".

Arpineh told the BBC she was held in a freezing, brightly lit room with 28 other women for three days. They survived on snacks and one bottle of water a day, she says, the women huddling together for warmth, and sleeping on the floor.

Getty Images An arm reaches out from a cell inside the Adelanto immigrant detention centre to reach for a pay phone. A stairway in the background is covered in a cage and the cell only has a small opening for the arm to reach out. Getty Images
A November 2013 file photo shows a detainee making a call inside Adelanto

Waiting for reprieve

Because Arpineh speaks three languages – Armenian, Spanish and English – she was able to communicate with many of the other women and says they helped each other.

Three days later, she was moved to Adelanto, the privately-run ICE detention centre in the desert northeast of Los Angeles, which has a reputation for harsh, prison-like conditions.

But Arpineh says it's much better than what they faced in downtown LA, now having three meals a day, access to showers and a bed. Though she's heard it's difficult to get medical treatment if you need it, Arpineh is young and healthy.

"But it's still very challenging," she says.

She and her husband say they still have faith in the Trump administration and believe that she will be released.

"I'm not deportable to any country," Arpineh told the BBC from the detention facility.

But that hasn't stopped immigration officials in the past. In February, a group of Iranian Christians who had just crossed the border from Mexico were deported - but to Panama, not Iran.

Arpineh remains hopeful for a reprieve, but she notes that she's felt discouraged, too.

She says she loves America and that she feels American, even if she lacks the paperwork.

She calls her husband collect once an hour so they can share updates on her legal case, though so far there isn't much to share. The older children understand what's happening, but their 4-year-old daughter keeps asking when mommy is coming home, he says.

All four children are US citizens, born and raised in California. The couple believes officials will take that into consideration when deciding Arpineh's fate.

"I have four citizen children. I own a business. I own a property. I own cars," Arpineh says. "I haven't done anything wrong in so many years."

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