Yvette Cooper has piled pressure onto Sir Keir Starmer as she backs his former defence secretary in a row over defence spending.

John Healey resigned as defence secretary over Sir Keir’s highly anticipated Defence Investment Plan (DIP) earlier this month, arguing it does not provide adequate funding for Britain’s military.

In an intervention on Friday, the foreign secretary also warned the DIP will “have to go further”, heaping pressure onto Sir Keir and his likely successor, Andy Burnham, to lay out his defence plans and boost spending.

In an interview with ITV, Ms Cooper said the government must go “further and faster” on its defence spending, as the outgoing prime minister prepares to publish the plan ahead of next month’s Nato summit.

“So there’s a whole series of things as part of the Defence Investment Plan we have to be able to get on with, but we are also going to have to go further. We just are,” she said.

“That is the reality of the challenges that we face in terms of security, in terms of global instability and conflict. So we have to face up to the fact as a country, that means we are going to have to go further on defence spending.”

Mr Healey quit as defence secretary earlier this month because a long-delayed military investment plan was only due to provide an extra £13.5 billion, far short of the £28bn over four years which officials had argued for.

He suggested the UK was on course to spend only 2.68 per cent of GDP on core defence by 2030, casting doubt on the country’s ability to meet its Nato target of 3.5 per cent by 2035.

Asked if Mr Burnham will have to deal with the issue of defence spending during his first weeks as prime minister, Ms Cooper said: “Well, we’re going to have to get to 3 per cent. We’ve made a longer term commitment to get to 3.5 per cent. We are going to have to do that.

“We are going to have to increase our defence spending. So of course, all of this is going to have to be continually reviewed, continually improved on.

“We are going to have to do that. I don’t think we have any choice as a country.”

Ms Cooper backed Mr Burnham to be the next prime minister this week, having said she had spoken to the former mayor and he was “100% behind our unwavering support for Ukraine”.

Though Mr Burnham will be bringing in his own Cabinet in No 10, Ms Cooper is expected by some to remain in government due to her experience.

Sir Keir has vowed to publish the DIP ahead of the Nato leaders’ summit on July 7, despite the fact it will be left to his likely successor Mr Burnham to implement it – and he may have a different view.

Speaking during a visit to Milton Keynes on Thursday, Sir Keir was resolute that moving ahead with publishing the plan is the right move.

He told broadcasters: “Everybody understands why it’s important that we spend the money that we must spend on our armed forces, and so it’s my intention to publish that ahead of the Nato summit.

“That’s the right time to publish it, when we will be coming together as Nato countries – the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen – to share our capabilities, and to make sure we emerge from that summit stronger as a military force.”

But Downing Street has failed to rule out any uplift to the long-awaited DIP following Mr Healey’s resignation.

Asked whether the government would still rule out any uplift to the £13.5bn extra investment that was proposed to Mr Healey, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “The defence secretary has said he’s working very closely with colleagues in government, with the prime minister, with the chancellor, and there have been good and constructive meetings between the chancellor and defence secretary over the past few days.

“The defence secretary has been clear he’s determined to secure the best possible deal sooner rather than later.”

Pressed on whether there would be any uplift, the spokesperson refused to rule it out, saying: “I’m just not going to comment ahead of the publication of the DIP.”

We’ve teamed up with Slimming World to offer you the chance to join your local group for FREE, saving you £5/€9 – here’s the reasons why you should

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In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

Catalina Birlea was killed at an address in Cambridge on October 2, 2025

A man has been found guilty of murdering a woman in Cambridge. Jurors found Jon Ismaili, 34, guilty of murder after nine hours of deliberation at Cambridge Crown Court.

Ismaili, of School Lane, Waterbeach, killed Catalina Birlea at a property in Chesterton Road on October 2, 2025. The court heard that Ismaili travelled to where Catalina was staying at around 8.50am.

He stayed in the house for around two hours, covering his face from CCTV cameras when he left. Around an hour and a half later, a friend entered the Chesterton Road property and found Catalina unresponsive.

Emergency services were called and despite best efforts, Catalina was pronounced dead at the scene. A manhunt was launched to find Ismaili and he was arrested on October 5.

Phone data showed Catalina’s phone had been connected to the local area around his home after the murder. A post-mortem concluded that Catalina died as a result of compression of the neck.

During interview, Ismaili made no comment and pleaded not guilty to murder. He will be sentenced on June 29.

Detective Inspector Mark Dollard said: “Only Ismaili knows what happened at the property that morning and why he murdered Catalina.

“He left the house knowing exactly what he had done, covering his face and actively avoiding police. I am pleased officers were able to catch up with him so quickly through diligent detective work putting together a comprehensive investigation.

“Catalina was working as a sex worker that morning, and this case underlines the risks faced by those in this industry. To those working in the sex industry who have experienced violence please report it to the police. We will listen, we will investigate without prejudice and we will support you.”

Dr Suzanne Moyes has explained the action all small animal owners need to be taking

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As temperatures continue to stay well above average, veterinary experts are warning that rabbits and guinea pigs are at particular risk of heatstroke because, unlike dogs, they cannot pant effectively to cool themselves down.

To help owners protect their pets, Burgess Pet Care’s in-house vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes, has shared advice for keeping small animals safe during hot weather.

Dr Moyes said: “Sadly, pets die every year from heatstroke. Small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable because they have dense fur, cannot pant or sweat efficiently, and often live in enclosed spaces.

“With nearly 40% housing their small animals inside in summer, owners of small pets must take action this summer to keep their furry companions cool, happy, and healthy.”

What can small animal owners do to prevent heatstroke this summer?

1. Move outdoor enclosures to a shaded part of your garden

Dr Moyes said: “Direct exposure to the sun on hot days can be very dangerous for small animals that live outdoors, like rabbits. Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency for rabbits, as they are unable to sweat or pant efficiently to reduce their body temperature. If possible, move your pet’s enclosure out of the sun. Don’t forget that the sun will move throughout the day, so you’ll need to keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not exposed.”

2. Drape cold, damp towels over hutches

“If you’re unable to move the outdoor enclosure out of the sun, a good alternative is to drape a damp towel over the top. This will not only keep the sun out but also actively help to cool animals down. You can do this for small animals that live indoors as well. Always make sure the towel is well wrung-out and only damp, not wet. Guinea pigs in particular are very sensitive to temperature changes and could even go into shock if they get wet and aren’t dried thoroughly.”

3. Beat the heat with plenty of hay

“In the wild, during hot spells, small pets would naturally seek the safety of their cool burrows. Making sure their shelter is filled with plenty of high-quality feeding hay can act as insulation whilst allowing your animal to eat in the shade.”

4. Stroke fur with a cool, damp flannel

“Stroking your rabbits’ or guinea pigs’ fur with a cool, damp flannel can also provide some relief during a heatwave. With rabbits, focus on carefully dampening their ears, this is the part of their body that they lose heat from.”

5. Clean the enclosure regularly

“Cleaning the enclosure regularly is especially important when the weather is hot. This can reduce the risk of flies and unwanted insects being attracted to them and help prevent flystrike, a painful, sometimes fatal condition caused by flies laying eggs in their host’s flesh. Remove any uneaten vegetables as soon as possible, as these can start to rot quickly in hot weather, attracting flies to your small animal houses and shelters.”

6. Always avoid giving small pets a cool bath

“It may be tempting to give small animals a cold bath to cool them down, but this is a big no-no, especially for guinea pigs. Not only is bathing very stressful for them, but it can also cause their small, sensitive bodies to go into shock.”

This weekend, WWE returns to Saudi Arabia for Night of Champions 2026.

As part of the wrestling giant’s ongoing 10-year partnership with the kingdom, the likes of Cody Rhodes, Oba Femi and Trick Williams are heading to Riyadh for a blockbuster event.

There had been some speculation from fans earlier in the year about whether or not the event would go ahead given the current state of the world, but WWE has pushed on with its plans.

It marks the 15th major WWE event in Saudi Arabia so far, following February’s Royal Rumble, while the first WrestleMania outside North America will be in Riyadh in April 2027.

This evening, the company has loaded the six-match card with three championship bouts, a Steel Cage grudge match, and both the King and Queen of the Ring tournament finals.

The Night of Champions card has massive implications for the future of WWE, with plenty at stake, so here’s everything you need to know.

When is WWE Night of Champions 2026?

WWE Night of Champions will stream tomorrow evening (Saturday, June 27), at 6pm for fans in the UK.
The special early start time means it’s a 1pm ET/10am PT kickoff for US fans.

How to watch Night of Champions on Netflix?

You know the drill by now, but if not, it’s quite simple.

With the exception of Saturday Night’s Main Event, almost every single WWE event is available live or on demand via Netflix, and Night of Champions is no different.

It’s all part of your regular subscription, meaning it’s as easy as logging in, hitting play, and enjoying the action.

For most of the world outside the US, WWE on Netflix includes a wealth of WWE content, including live weekly episodes of Raw, NXT and

SmackDown, plus monthly PLEs and hundreds of historic events.
There’s also a behind-the-scenes series, with tell-all documentary WWE Unreal returning in July for season 3, featuring the likes of John Cena, Matt Cardona, CM Punk and Liv Morgan.

WWE Night of Champions 2026 full match card

• WWE Title: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. GUNTHER vs. Sami Zayn
• WWE Women’s United States Title: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
• WWE United States Title: Trick Williams (c) vs. Ricky Saints
• King of the Ring Final: Jey Uso vs. Oba Femi
• Queen of the Ring Final: Iyo Sky vs. Liv Morgan
• Steel Cage Match: Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker

Why Jey Uso should not win King of the Ring

Metro’s WWE expert Alistair McGeorge breaks down the polarising match

Look, Jey Uso is undoubtedly a huge star for WWE.

I was at SmackDown in London earlier this week, yeet-ing along with the rest of The O2 (which will air tonight), and without giving too much away, he got a great reaction.

I’ll even admit there’s plenty of interesting matches if he wins King of the Ring, between a family feud with Roman Reigns, to all his history with the likes of GUNTHER, Sami Zayn and former tag partner Cody Rhodes.

I’m almost arguing against myself, as there’s an embarrassment of riches waiting if he gets the crowd and secures himself a world championship match at SummerSlam in August.

But… he’s no Oba Femi.

WWE needs to turn the future into the now, and back the likes of Oba, Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, Kendall Grey and Sol Ruca to become megastars right now.

They’re doing a fine job, but the King of the Ring final is a toughie for WWE to juggle.

The path for Oba is clear either way. If he loses to Jey, it’ll likely be because Brock Lesnar costs him, setting up their rubber match at SummerSlam, where he can retire the Beast for good in his hometown.

However, just imagine if he wins, still retires Brock on night one, before beating Roman Reigns the next night to instantly become WWE’s next breakout megastar, bulletproof and ready made.

It would be the kind of star-making weekend WWE and wrestling is built on, so let’s see how it plays out.

MORE: Furious WWE fans jump on SmackDown spoilers days before show airs on Netflix

MORE: WWE fans in London being treated to historic World Cup viewing party this week

MORE: Traitors legend Faraaz ‘wants to be taken seriously’ with surprise new sports career

People receiving the full State Pension have been advised some other changes will go ahead

The DWP has released a statement regarding a significant change in how the state pension is taxed. State pension payments rise each April thanks to the triple lock policy, which delivered a 4.8 per cent increase to payments this past April.

Under existing rules, state pension payments land in your bank account without any deductions, though they do count as taxable income, much like other earnings such as wages or any private pension income you receive. Should you be required to pay tax on your payments, HMRC can collect this through several methods. These include adjusting your tax code if you have a private pension or are employed, via self assessment if you complete one, or through simple assessment.

However, a report by City AM suggested the Treasury was considering changing this, and was “drawing up plans” to automatically deduct income tax from state pension payments before they are paid out. The report claimed that the Treasury was collaborating with the DWP on proposals to deduct tax at source, similar to how employers deduct work-related taxes from staff wages before transferring them into employee bank accounts.

DWP statement

The DWP was asked what work is being carried out on such a proposal. A Government spokesperson said: “There has been no change to the tax treatment of the state pension.

“The Government routinely undertakes research to better understand pensioners’ experiences with the tax system.” However, tax officials are pressing ahead with a significant reform to state pension taxation, which is set to take effect shortly.

Tax changes coming soon

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed at the Autumn Budget 2025 that a new policy would be introduced, ensuring that those whose sole income is the state pension without any additional increments would be exempt from paying income tax. This tax relief measure is necessary as the full new state pension is edging ever closer to the threshold at which income tax becomes payable.

The full new rate currently stands at £241.30 per week, or roughly £12,550 annually, falling just short of the £12,570 personal allowance — the standard maximum amount you can earn each tax year before income tax kicks in.

State pension payments rise every April, in accordance with the triple lock policy, which increases payments by whichever is highest out of 2.5 per cent, the rate of inflation, or the growth in average earnings. This means the full new state pension will definitely incur a tax bill next year under the current rules.

Treasury statement

The Government was recently asked to provide an update regarding the implementation of this new policy. An HM Treasury spokesperson said: “Anyone whose only income is the full new or basic state pension without any increments will not pay income tax, and we are committed to that over this Parliament.

“By keeping the triple lock, 12 million pensioners will see their income rise by up to £470 this year, and they continue to benefit from the highest personal allowance in the G7.”

HMRC officials previously said that new legislation would need to be introduced to implement the change. They told the Treasury Committee in January that this could potentially be included in the 2026 autumn finance bill.

New signage suggests the popular US chicken chain will be joining the food and drink offering at the centre

A popular US chicken chain is preparing to open a new location in Northern Ireland.

Popeyes, founded in New Orleans in 1972, is known for serving up American Southern-style chicken dishes, seafood and sides.

It currently has two locations in Northern Ireland, one at Forestside Shopping Centre in Belfast and the other at The Junction in Antrim.

New signage at Lesley Abbeycentre in Newtownabbey has teased the opening of a new Popeyes store as construction of the centre’s expansion gets underway.

Although no dates have been confirmed, the sign suggests that the fast food store is “coming soon”.

It comes after Bloomfield Shopping Centre in Bangor, owned by The Herbert Group who own Forestside and Abbeycentre, confirmed they also would be opening a Popeyes location next year.

Popeyes has also submitted plans to Belfast City Council to open a store in the heart of the city centre, hoping open its doors in the former GAME store on Castle Place.

Customers can expect chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, hot wings, wraps and more when they open the doors of their new locations.

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