People face penalties if they miss the annual deadline

Specialists are cautioning taxpayers as a crucial HMRC deadline approaches, with one expert warning that “many get caught out”.

With just one month remaining, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging millions of Self Assessment taxpayers to gear up for the July 31 deadline for the second payments on account for the 2025 to 2026 tax year. Customers are able to arrange monthly or weekly payment plans, and any payments already made through these schemes will count towards their next Self Assessment tax bill.

Payments can be made via the HMRC app, with nearly two million Self Assessment taxpayers having done so since its launch in January 2022. The app makes it straightforward for people to contribute towards their tax bill, set payment reminders, and monitor their payment history.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “We know managing a Self Assessment tax bill isn’t always straightforward and we are here to help. From paying instantly via the HMRC app to spreading the cost through a payment plan, there’s support available for every customer. Search ‘Pay your Self Assessment tax bill’ on GOV.UK to choose the payment option that works for you.”

Matthew Knight, chief freelance officer at Freelancing.Support, said many people did not know the deadline.

He added: “While everyone knows the January 31 deadline, many who are new to freelancing often get caught out by payment-on-account deadlines, which asks you to pay your taxes ahead of your income. Getting into the habit of doing your accounts monthly or quarterly helps you keep on top of the admin, rather than waiting for HMRC to remind you. This is where Making Tax Digital could actually help small businesses, ensuring they’re on top of their taxes.”

Ross Lacey, director and Independent Financial Adviser at Rayleigh-based Fairview Financial Management, said it was important to keep your books up to date.

He added: “It’s good practice to get on top of this as early as possible. That way, you can ensure the payments on account remain appropriate for the level of income you’ve actually earned.

“It also helps with any changes you may want to make to your business in the current tax year, using the information on how much profit, or not, was generated in the previous tax year. Far too many people are almost a year behind in knowing how their business is really doing. Keeping the book up to date throughout the year makes this less of a mammoth task.”

Samuel Mather-Holgate, managing director and IFA at Swindon-based Mather and Murray Financial, said “silence is usually the most expensive option”.

He added: “The Self Assessment system is creaking because it asks millions of ordinary people to behave like unpaid tax administrators. Staying up to date matters. If you miss the July 31 payment on account you can quickly face interest, penalties and nasty cash-flow shocks.

“But HMRC cannot keep relying on last-minute nudges and an app to fix a system many people find confusing. There should be far clearer prompts, plainer language and earlier warnings, especially for the self-employed and side-hustlers.

“The practical advice is simple – check your online account now, do not assume payments on account are optional, put money aside weekly, and speak to HMRC before the deadline if you cannot pay. Silence is usually the most expensive option.”

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Nouran Moustafa, practice principal and IFA at Roxton Wealth, said taxpayers needed to act before the deadline.

She added: “Self Assessment needs year-round organisation. The July 31 payment catches people off guard because it lands months after the January rush, just when many self-employed people, landlords and business owners are focused on keeping cash moving through the summer.

“Being up to date matters because this is not a bill you can wish away. Missing it can mean interest, stress and a much bigger problem by January, when the balancing payment and next payment on account can arrive together. There is publicity, but not enough explanation. Too many people still misunderstand what a payment on account is, or assume income received is fully theirs to spend.

“My advice is simple: make tax part of managing money all year round. Put aside a percentage of every payment, check your HMRC account now, and only reduce a payment on account where there is a genuine, evidenced reason your income will be lower. If cash flow is tight, act before the deadline, not after it. A payment plan is a tool, not a failure.”

A Love Island USA star has spoken out after being removed from the reality series following resurfaced footage and social media posts.

Alannah Keyser, who left the villa mid-episode last Thursday, issued an apology video for using a racial slur in a video.

Taking to TikTok, the 21-year-old addressed a clip circulating online of her using the n-word while singing along to Roddy Ricch’s 2019 song The Box.

In addition, an alleged screenshot of her using a racist slur on social media was widely shared.

She captioned her post by saying: ‘Remember that reality tv is HEAVILY edited & my chats/kisses with the other boys were unfortunately not aired.’

In the video, which has over 81,000 likes, she speaks to camera by saying: ‘Hi everyone, I’m coming on here to address some things that have been circulating online.

‘I do want to begin by addressing the video of me singing along to a Roddy Ricch song that contains a racial slur.

‘I’m sorry to whoever’s seen that video and has been offended by it, that was never my intention. The video is from six years ago and that word is just not in my vocabulary anymore.’

She continued by saying: ‘I’d also like to address the screenshots that have been going around online that have been falsified. What has been shared does not reflect the truth and it’s never been in my character to discriminate against anybody’s skin colour.

‘I do want to say directly that I do not support racism or discrimination of any kind, and I never have.

‘When I first found out that these things were going around online it really broke my heart and I couldn’t do anything about it. But this has definitely been a learning lesson for me and it sucks that I didn’t really get a chance to really show off my personality and who I am.’

The video then cut to a black screen with white text which read: ‘The video cut, but its always been in my nature to spread positivity and help others, and I will continue to do so.’

Keyser is the second contestant on Love Island USA season eight to get removed from the villa for saying the n-word.

In late May, Vasana Montgomery was fired in the days leading up to the season eight premiere after two videos of her using the slur went viral.

In last year’s Season seven, two contestants, Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega, were also caught using racial slurs and had to exit the Villa.

Peacock, which is the network who airs Love Island, told Deadline that it was not aware of Keyser’s social media posts prior to casting her as they had not been shared publicly until after her appearance on the show.

The streamer said that it vets each contestant, but sources say these posts would not be accessible during that vetting process.

Love Island USA season 8 is available to watch on Peacock.

MORE: Love Island star removed from villa after ‘involvement in stabbing’

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MORE: Love Island USA producer dies during filming in Fiji after ‘unexpected medical emergency’

Speaking to the media on Monday, Gavin Robinson said: “As a party we were not aware of allegations that have subsequently come to light.

“I may only have been leader of this party for a short period of time, but I am convinced that that is the case for a longer period of time.”

He added: “It is clear there are a number of individuals, either former members of the Democratic Unionist Party, or current who did indicate publicly on Friday that they had information that they did not share, information that was not reported through our appropriate channels and therefore information about which we could do nothing formally.

“Whilst I say that with confidence, I am also clear it is not okay for that to continue to be the case.

“I cannot countenance a circumstance or situation where I allow that to be the case.

“That is why I and my deputy leader and senior party colleagues agreed on Friday to institute a review; a review that will be independent of our party, a review that will be conducted by an individual with impeccable credentials in child safeguarding, sexual exploitation.

“I want them to establish if members of my party had information which they did not share.

“I also want them to establish if there are people within my party who continue to hold information which they haven’t yet felt about to share.”

Mr Robinson said he wanted the review to examine the party’s safeguarding policies.

But he added: “If somebody doesn’t come forward and whistleblow, you can’t use the safeguarding policies.

“It is my job to set our standards and what we have heard over the last number of days falls well below the standards that I hold and my colleagues hold for our party.

“It is our job to make sure we are not turning a blind eye and that we deal with the issues that we are in charge of.”

Mr Robinson said he had not yet spoken to Mr Poots about the issues raised in the Spotlight programme.

The Prince of Wales has revealed some of the moments he shared with his late grandmother that he “will always hold dear” in a video memorial project

Prince William has recalled some of his fondest memories of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth in a video memorial for the late monarch. Filmed from inside Windsor Castle, the Prince of Wales spoke fondly of the late Queen, saying he will “always hold dear” some of their quiet moments spent together away from the public eye.

The video was filmed for a digital memorial for Queen Elizabeth, which is also open to the public to share some of their fond memories of the late monarch, marking what would’ve been her centenary year. Others who have shared their memories of the Queen include athlete Tom Daley, former Lord Bishop of London Lord Richard Chartres, and royal photographer Arthur Edwards.

In the video, William said: “It’s a privilege to know the late Queen better than most. Some of my fondest memories of my grandmother are from here in Windsor.

“I remember many a quiet afternoon, having tea with her and my grandfather at the castle, chatting, sharing stories, and seeing how completely at ease she was here, surrounded by family and her much-loved dogs and horses. To this day, she’s given me a love of teatime that I never knew I needed.”

In the short clip, recorded for the Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial website, the future King went on to talk about how riding around the Windsor Estate showed a rare “off-duty and relaxed” side to the former monarch.

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He said: “Watching her ride her horses in the Great Park, even well into her later years, showed a side of Granny the world didn’t often see, off-duty, relaxed, and utterly at home. These moments with my grandmother are ones I’ll always hold dear.”

William has previously spoken about spending time with his late grandparents in Windsor Castle when he was at secondary school at nearby Eton, where his eldest son Prince George will be attending later this year.

Speaking with Eugene Levy during his appearance on AppleTV’s The Reluctant Traveller series last year, William said: “I do miss my grandmother, and my grandfather.” William told the actor and TV host that the Queen, with whom he was especially close, was always in his thoughts when he was at Windsor Castle.

“It’s been quite a bit of change, so you do sort of, you think about them not being here any more, and particularly being in Windsor, for me Windsor is her. She loved it here, she spent most of her time here.”

The digital memorial site, led by the Cabinet Office, also features archive material, photography and video from key events of the late Queen’s historic 70-year reign.

The site started to commemorate what would’ve been Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday, which was marked on April 21 this year.

Dubai’s plan to operate the world’s largest airport is one step closer to reality as the emirate says it will open to passengers by 2032.

Al Maktoum International airport will become the world’s largest aviation hub with an annual capacity of 260 million passengers.

Plans show the airport having five runways, two terminals and more than 430 plane stands, as well as shuttle service around the site connecting passengers to gates and transport links.

The Dubai Government said earlier this month that work on the first phase of the new airport is proceeding in line with timelines for the project, remaining on course to start running flights in 2032.

Work started over a year ago on the airport’s runway infrastructure and the initial structural foundations for passenger terminals and gates.

The project has been allocated a budget of AED16 billion (over £3bn).

The next phase of work will focus on building the Western Passenger Terminal, a fourth aircraft concourse building, an automated shuttle and the baggage handling system.

Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said that Al Maktoum International airport will allow Dubai to serve more travellers as the country anticipates growth in passenger and cargo traffic over the coming decade.

“Al Maktoum International airport is far more than an expansion of aviation infrastructure; it is a fully integrated global platform that will redefine the future of travel and logistics,” he explained.

“The airport is being designed to deliver a seamless, intelligent, and customer-centric experience powered by advanced technologies, integrated automation, operational intelligence, and seamless connectivity across airport systems and transport networks.”

Dubai’s current main airport, Dubai International (DXB) is a key travel hub for people travelling to the emirate and for stopovers between Europe and Asia.

It held the status of the second busiest airport in the world in 2025, with 95.2 million passengers passing through.

Yet after conflict broke out in the Middle East, passenger numbers plummeted to 2.5 million in March, down 65.7 per cent year on year.

After the UAE lifted restrictions on airspace, Dubai Airports said it has entered a recovery phase by increasing daily flights and enabling airlines to restore schedules as much as neighbouring airspaces allow.

Read more: Is it safe to travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi? Foreign Office issues new UAE travel advisory

A new plan will help businesses recruit young people who have been out of a job for at least six months, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

The Prime Minister said the youth jobs grant will offer firms £3,000 to hire an 18 to 24-year-old who has been on universal credit for six months or more, in a bid to help the more than a million young people not in employment, education or training (Neet).

Sir Keir was hosting a No 10 roundtable with hospitality industry leaders, including from Burger King, KFC and Costa Coffee, with Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden also present.

The PM said: “From tomorrow we’re announcing a £3,000 incentive to businesses to take young people who’ve been out of work for six months and give them a job.”

He said university should not be seen as the only route to success, and “it is crucial that when we say every young person should go as far as their talent and ability will take them, we mean it.”

Sir Keir added: “I have a vested interest, I should declare, not just as Prime Minister – I’ve got two teenage children. My son is 18 tomorrow, and therefore these are live discussions in our household.

“And actually, it’s really interesting to see first-hand the sort of pressures and opportunities that young people actually go through when they’re in their teenage years.”

He said the youth jobs grant will go hand in hand with the jobs guarantee, which funds six months’ part-time employment for those out of work for at least 18 months.

The guarantee of a job for those who have been out of work is “probably the most single effective way to help people into work,” he said.

The youth jobs grant and jobs guarantee were part of a strategy aimed at lifting children out of poverty and helping young people into work, Sir Keir said.

The Government introduced free breakfast clubs, and more than 300,000 children have already taken part since the programme began in the summer term last year.

The strategy also included the expansion of free childcare to 30 hours a week for eligible working parents in England with children aged between nine months and four-years-old, and lowering the target number of university entrants to encourage other pathways for young people such as apprenticeships.

The outgoing prime minister said he wants the next Government to build on what he has done to help young people out of poverty and into work.

He told the roundtable: “What I want to make sure is that, having put these blocks in place over the last two years, that the next stage of this administration takes that on and builds from there.”

A report from the Resolution Foundation think tank estimated the youth jobs grant will create 2,800 additional jobs at a cost of around £36,700 each.

It also found the jobs guarantee comes in at roughly £38,000 per additional job, making it three-and-a half times cheaper than scrapping employer national insurance contributions.

Five people have been killed in a shooting in a town in northern Germany, police said.

A large police operation is under way on Dankersstraße in Stade, near Hamburg, with residents urged to avoid the area. Citing police sources, local media report that the shots were fired at a youth centre.

The situation has been described as “dynamic” and rapidly evolving, with reports saying that “many shots” were fired. The reasons behind the shooting are unclear.

Hundreds of ball boys and ball girls will take to the courts in SW19 over the next fortnight to ensure things run smoothly

The sporting world’s attention will turn to SW19 this week as Wimbledon commences.

Some of tennis’s most prominent figures will compete on the renowned grass courts over the coming fortnight, with the likes of defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner, seven-time winner Novak Djokovic, women’s world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and British favourite Emma Raducanu all anticipated to draw significant interest.

However, it will not only be the players taking the limelight in south-west London. Also commanding attention will be Wimbledon’s renowned ball boys and ball girls (BBGs), who are responsible for ensuring all 675 matches proceed seamlessly by retrieving stray balls and providing players with fresh ones promptly.

Wimbledon officials typically receive approximately 1,400 applications annually from youngsters keen to become a BBG. Around 280 are subsequently chosen, with the majority aged between 14 and 17.

In total, roughly 180 of those are Year 9 and Year 10 students from participating schools in the surrounding area, with an additional 100 who served at previous Championships asked to return for another period of duty.

Serving as a BBG can be an arduous undertaking, with preparation for the position commencing in February. Would-be candidates attend several weekly sessions at the All England Club’s training facility in Raynes Park, where they undergo rigorous speed drills, court exercises and written examinations designed to evaluate their understanding of rules and procedures.

Former Wimbledon ball boy Alex Crockford, who served at the Championships during the 2000s, said the preparation was considerably more challenging than many spectators appreciate. “The training was intense and very physical,” he told the Express. “We practiced how to throw the ball perfectly to the players and how to stand still for long periods.”

From mid-May onwards, preparation shifts to the grass courts at Wimbledon, with BBGs refining their skills in full uniform as they gear up to perform before millions of viewers worldwide. Despite the rigours of the role, they do not receive a wage.

Instead, they generally receive a stipend of approximately £200 to cover costs during the fortnight of competition. For most youngsters, though, the chance to work at one of the most esteemed events on the British sporting calendar is valued far beyond any financial reward.

There are extra benefits as well. BBGs are provided with complimentary meals and drinks while on shift and are allowed to retain their official Wimbledon kit, which is supplied by high-end fashion label Ralph Lauren.

The highest-performing BBGs may also secure the opportunity to work on the premier show courts such as Centre Court or Court One, offering them a prime vantage point for some of the most significant matches in world tennis.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Carol Kirkwood will not be part of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage this year after retiring from BBC Breakfast, as host Isa Guha leads tributes to the beloved weather presenter

BBC presenter Isa Guha paid tribute to former weather presenter Carol Kirkwood who is not featuring during the broadcaster’s Wimbledon coverage for the first time this year.

Tens of thousands of tennis enthusiasts will descend upon SW19 over the coming fortnight as the Wimbledon Championships get under way once again.

Guha returned to front the BBC‘s early morning coverage on Monday (June 29), alongside Tim Henman and Anne Keothavong. However, one much-loved BBC stalwart will not be joining them in the broadcaster’s line-up this year.

Kirkwood, who has traditionally provided weather updates throughout the Championships, will be absent from screens after stepping down from her role on BBC Breakfast back in April.

Following a remarkable 28-year career, Carol announced her retirement to concentrate on her marriage and travelling the world.

Guha paid a warm tribute to Kirkwood just minutes into Wimbledon’s opening coverage on Monday, saying: “Now, this is normally the time in the show that we head across to Carol Kirkwood for a British weather update, especially here in the sunshine.

“It would have been great to see her, but after 28 years on BBC Breakfast, Carol has moved on. So, we wish you all the best, Carol. Hopefully you’ve got your feet up on the sofa with a cup of tea to enjoy the tennis this week.”

Confirming Kirkwood’s replacements, Guha continued: “Of course, there isn’t one presenter who could replace Carol, so we’re going to have a selection of BBC weather’s finest over the two weeks, including today with Matt Taylor.

“Welcome along, Matt. How is it looking today, and for the rest of the fortnight?”

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Taylor, who was standing outside the training courts, then said: “Morning Isa. Absolute pleasure to be here, even if we are missing Carol. But I suspect eagle-eyed viewers may be able to spot her in the crowd somewhere today indulging in a love of tennis right here at Wimbledon itself.

“For her, for the crowds, also those warming up behind me, almost perfect conditions – certainly compared to the heat and humidity last week.”

While Kirkwood soaks up the tennis, she will be replaced by a rotating roster of BBC weather presenters, expected to include Sarah Keith-Lucas, Elizabeth Rizzini, Tomasz Schafernaker, and Helen Willetts.

There is plenty to look forward to at this year’s Wimbledon, with American icon Serena Williams set to make a headline-grabbing singles return after a four-year absence from the sport. She will also revive her celebrated doubles partnership with her elder sister, Venus.

British great Andy Murray is likewise back at the scene of one of his finest achievements, this time as part of Jack Draper’s coaching set-up.

Novak Djokovic continues his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, where he will face fierce competition from reigning World Number One Jannik Sinner.