Kemi Badenoch has announced her intention to “repeal the public sector equality duty in its entirety”.

The PSED, or simply “the duty”, requires public sector leaders to abide by equality considerations set out in the 2010 Equality Act.

Principally, this means working to prevent discrimination against people with protected characteristics (race, sex, disability etc), and monitoring the outcomes of that work.

The news comes just a week after Nigel Farage weaponised the tragic murder of Henry Nowak as an excuse to attack diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Vickrum Digwa, a British Asian man, stabbed Nowak, then told police he had been the victim of a racially-motivated assault. The police arrested Nowak even as he lay dying, ignoring his pleas and him saying he’d been stabbed.

Shamelessly, the Reform leader used the incident to claim that the UK is a “two-tier system” biased against white people.

He called for an “end to DEI and positive discrimination” and “a country that treats everybody equally and fairly before the law”.

Badenoch claims laws ‘delivering perverse outcomes’

In today’s speech, Badenoch followed suit, trailing after her further-right counterpart. She claimed that the public sector equality duty had led to a pursuit of “equality of outcome” rather than “equal treatment and equality under the law”.

Badenoch went on to brand the duty a “Blairite legal settlement”, and claimed that she was installed as Tory leader to undo it.

Likewise, she added:

There are many laws which were brought in with good intentions but are delivering perverse outcomes and unintended consequences.

Demonstrating that there are truly no depths to which she won’t stoop, the Tory-in-chief attacked the Macpherson report. After the racially-motivated murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, and the disdainful reaction from law enforcement, the landmark report recognised that the UK policing is institutionally racist.

Badenoch claimed that the report “wanted to put right what went wrong with policing in the 1990s”.

However, in attempting to do so, it also enshrined a principle which I believe is wrong: that a racist incident is racist, if it is perceived as racist by the victim or any other person.

This may have made sense in a different context long ago, but today when we look at the response to Henry Nowak’s murder, and the police’s acceptance that the murderer was correct when he accused Henry of racism, it’s clear that mere accusations are being accepted as facts.

‘Fear of being called racist’

As examples of ‘equalities law overreach’, the Badenoch named the Southport murders, Nottingham stabbings and the Manchester Arena bombing.

She claimed:

All these crimes could have been stopped if people had intervened instead of having a fear of being called racist.

An official inquiry into the Southport debacle highlighted that the Prevent counter-terrorism agency repeatedly ignored referrals for the murderer, Axel Rudakubana, because his ideology wasn’t terror-related.

At the Canary, we phrased this another way:

The UK has invested so much in the very idea that (Muslim) terrorism is the greatest threat to our safety that we’ve actively started to damage the capacity to respond to non-terror threats.

That’s a far cry from the police being afraid of being called racist. However, we’re not exactly surprised that Badenoch has failed to take basic facts into account. There’s no other way you could get to the conclusion that the police are somehow too anti-discrimination.

Labour and Reform condemned by Tory leader

In spite of presenting what amounts to a watered-down Farage talking point, Badenoch attacked both Reform and Labour in her speech. The latter were, in her words, “not yet sure anything is wrong”.

Meanwhile, Reform’s plan to rip up the Equality Act completely, as announced by ex-Tory turncoat Suella Braverman, would apparently “make it legal to discriminate against white people”.

Badenoch’s words have been truly vile. She’s ignored years of findings on police racism, yet again betraying Black and Brown people across the country. What’s more, she and others have ignored Nowak’s parents’ plea not to use his murder to stir up hatred and division.

Beyond that, however, there’s something so desperately pathetic about the Badenoch right now.

She’s outflanked on the right by Nigel Farage, the figurehead of a party of white supremacists and bigots. Meanwhile, on her (near) left, Starmer has managed to sleepwalk into becoming prime minister simply by not being a Conservative.

The racist scum that used to vote for the Tories have a white man to vote for now. There’s no level of self-hatred that Badenoch can display that will win them back. One day, she might even realise that.

Featured image via Alishia Abodunde/ Getty Images 

By Alex/Rose Cocker

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Just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the latest valuations from the website ‘Transfermarkt’ have revealed which clubs dominate the market. Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) rise to the top of the world’s most valuable clubs for the first time in its history, whilst Premier League clubs have exerted a striking dominance over the global elite.

Paris Saint-Germain oust giants from the top

The Parisian club has taken the top spot with a market value of €1.37 billion, ahead of second-placed Manchester City at €1.32 billion and Arsenal in third place at €1.25 billion.

This rise reflects the transformation the French club’s sporting project has undergone in recent years, relying on a group of the world’s most promising young talents and the rising market value of several of its stars, which has seen it overtake clubs that used to dominate the top of the table, such as Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Real Madrid came fourth with a value of €1.22 billion, followed by Barcelona in fifth place with €1.17 billion, whilst Chelsea retained sixth place after the value of its squad surpassed the €1 billion mark to reach €1.11 billion.

The Premier League dominates the scene

Although Paris Saint-Germain topped the list, the English Premier League was the biggest winner in the rankings, having made an exceptional showing with 11 clubs in the top 20.

Alongside Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea, the list included Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, a clear indication of the significant economic gap between the English league and its European rivals.

Liverpool ranked eighth with a value of €940 million, whilst Manchester United came ninth with €752 million, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.

Notable surprises and the decline of some traditional powerhouses

The list was not without surprises, as Nottingham Forest managed to secure 13th place globally with a value of €578 million, ahead of established clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Juventus.

Bournemouth and Crystal Palace also made an unexpected appearance among the world’s top 20 clubs by market value, reflecting the financial boom experienced by English Premier League clubs in recent years.

In contrast, Bayern Munich came in seventh as the highest-ranked German club with a value of €958 million, whilst Inter Milan finished twelfth to top the Italian clubs with a value of €647 million, while Juventus slipped to twentieth place with a value of just €500 million.

With the World Cup fast approaching, these figures confirm that the balance of power in modern football is no longer measured by titles alone, but also by the value of the talent clubs possess and their ability to invest in the future, making the list of clubs with the highest market value a true reflection of the shifts the game is undergoing within the global economy.

List of the 20 most valuable clubs in the world

1. Paris Saint-Germain — €1.37 billion
2. Manchester City — €1.32 billion
3. Arsenal — €1.25 billion
4. Real Madrid — €1.22 billion
5. Barcelona — €1.17 billion
6. Chelsea — €1.11 billion
7. Bayern Munich — €958 million
8. Liverpool — €940 million
9. Manchester United — €752 million
10. Tottenham Hotspur — €700 million
11. Newcastle United — €696 million
12. Inter Milan — €647 million
13. Nottingham Forest — €578 million
14. Atlético Madrid — €577 million
15. Brighton — €567 million
16. Bournemouth — €566 million
17. Crystal Palace — €553 million
18. Aston Villa — €532 million
19. Leipzig — €505 million
20. Juventus — €500 million

Featured image via Getty/Franco Garland

By Alaa Shamali

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The 2026 World Cup is set to enter a radically different phase in its history, following the decision to increase the number of participating teams from 32 to 48. This expansion has not only increased the number of teams but has also completely reshaped the tournament’s structure, from the group stage right through to the knockout rounds.

This change has led to an increase in the number of matches from 64 to 104, with the adoption of a completely new competition format, the biggest since the tournament’s inception.

A completely new format: 12 groups and an expanded knockout stage

In the previous format, which ran from 1998 to 2022, the tournament was organised into eight groups of four teams each, with the top two teams in each group qualifying directly for the round of 16, whilst the remaining 16 teams were eliminated.

For the 2026 World Cup, however, the number of groups has increased to 12, with four teams in each group, making the format both broader and more complex.

Under the new system, the top two teams from each group qualify directly for the round of 32, a new stage introduced to accommodate the significant expansion, bringing the total number of direct qualifiers to 24 teams.

The most significant change is that the eight best third-placed teams are given the chance to continue in the tournament by qualifying for the round of 32, bringing the total number of qualifiers for the knockout stages to 32.

Conversely, 12 teams will be eliminated immediately, namely those finishing fourth in their groups.

Criteria for determining the best third-placed teams

In the event of a tie between teams finishing third, a series of progressive criteria will be applied to determine the outcome:

First: points scored in the group stage.

Second: goal difference. Third: number of goals scored.

Fourth: fair play record.

The fair play record is based on disciplinary points as follows:

• Yellow card: 1 point
• Sending off after two yellow cards: 3 points
• Straight red card: 4 points
• Yellow card followed by a straight red card: 5 points

If the tie persists, the FIFA World Ranking is used to determine the winner.

Draw for the Round of 32

Once the 32 qualifiers have been determined, the tournament bracket is reconfigured according to a specific draw:

• The 8 group winners face the 8 third-placed teams.
• Another 4 group winners face 4 runners-up.
• The 8 runners-up also face each other in a direct knockout stage.

Final qualification table

At the end of the group stage, the places are distributed as follows:

• 12 group winners
• 12 runners-up
• 8 best third-placed teams
• 12 teams will be eliminated in the first round

This brings the number of teams qualifying for the knockout stages from 16 in the old system to 32 in the 2026 edition, ushering in a new era for the tournament that is the largest and most extensive in World Cup history.

Featured image via Getty/Orlando Ramirez

By Alaa Shamali

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In what may be his strangest move yet, Tommy Robinson has released a video of himself with Elon Musk‘s father, Errol, an alleged sex offender.

Tommy Robinson is in Russia with Erroll Musk, who has been accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren. pic.twitter.com/kHKxFiVpC4

— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) June 9, 2026

For clarity’s sake, we’re not saying it’s a ‘strange move’ because Errol has faced accusations of sexual abuse. After all, hanging around with alleged sex offenders is par for the course with Robinson. What’s not standard practice, however, is pissing off his wealthy backers and as we’ll get into, Elon despises his father.

Tommy Robinson and Errol Musk

Elon Musk has previously covered Robinson’s legal costs, as Robinson openly admitted. People also suspect Elon has artificially boosted Robinson’s reach on the Musk-owned X/Twitter because Robinson is all over its timeline posting suck-up posts like this:

How did I just make a full blown movie trailer with myself in it all on grok imagine 1.5

This would’ve cost 100s of thousands to produce years ago @elonmusk really doing his thing. pic.twitter.com/DYaan3LCRc

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— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) June 4, 2026

In the video above, Robinson says:

Enjoying my day with… This is for my ex-subscribers, Errol. Say hello to them.

Errol responds:

Hi, ex-subscribers of Tommy.

Tommy then says:

We’re gonna go and cause some trouble.

Errol retorts:

Yeah, no trouble. Doing things right.

Robinson then laughs as he says:

Trying our best to.

He likely won’t be laughing once Elon gets a look at this little love in.

The relationship between Elon and his dad

While there really is no excuse for Elon being the way he is, knowing more about his father does at least explain how we ended up with this absolute dustbin of a human being.

Elon Musk Confirms He Used Burner Account On X To Role-Play As Toddler Son https://t.co/TE6xciuk2K

— HuffPost (@HuffPost) April 8, 2024

There are ‘daddy issues’, and there’s whatever the f*ck this is. And as we said, this strange behaviour doesn’t come from nowhere.

Benzinga reported that Elon said the following about his “terrible” father:

In my experience, there is nothing you can do. Nothing, nothing. I wish. I’ve tried everything. I tried threats, rewards, intellectual arguments, emotional arguments, everything to try to change my father for the better, and he, no way, it just got worse.

Speaking on how he came to live with Errol, Elon said (summarised by the Guardian):

I felt sorry for my father, because my mother had all three kids. He seemed very sad and lonely by himself. So I thought, ‘I can be company’.

I didn’t really understand at the time what kind of person he was…It was not a good idea.

Elon isn’t the only Musk to have accused Errol of being a wretched human. A New York Times investigation revealed that Errol has faced multiple accusations of sexual abuse from family members, including:

• A stepdaughter who accused him of touching her in 1993, aged four
• The same stepdaughter accused him of sniffing her worn underwear a decade later
• Three police investigations into his behaviour

Outside of the allegations, it’s 100% confirmed that Errol fathered two children with his former stepdaughter. Oh, and Errol has also admitted to killing three men, supposedly in self-defence.

Given all this, then, it’s understandable why Elon would say:

He was such a terrible human being, you have no idea. My dad will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil. He will plan evil. Almost every crime you can possibly think of, he has done. Almost every evil thing you could possibly think of, he has done. It’s so terrible, you can’t believe it

The question is how will Elon feel about seeing his minion, Tommy Robinson, with his abuser?

Curtains for Tommy Robinson

As of right now, Elon still follows Robinson. This could change, however, because Elon is incredibly spiteful.

A good example of Elon turning on a former plaything is the case of Matt Taibbi.

Taibbi was once a well-respected investigative journalist. This changed when Elon took over Twitter, and he brought Taibbi in to curate the so-called Twitter Files — a release of internal documents exchanged between the site’s former owners.

If you’ve never heard of the ‘Twitter Files’, it’s because nothing came out which was all that surprising. As a result, many accused Taibbi of doing paid-for propaganda on behalf of a billionaire.

Things later turned sour between Elon and Taibbi because of the journalist’s relationship with Substack, a site which Elon regarded as a rival.

Since sharing links to my articles is a primary reason I come to this platform, I was alarmed and asked what was going on. I was given the option of posting articles on Twitter instead.

I’m obviously staying at Substack, and will be moving to Substack Notes next week.

— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) April 7, 2023

The following messages show how things panned out:

Since @elonmusk published parts of these conversations, I might as well include others. I was under a “blanket search ban” at one point and a lot of my 1.9 million followers still don’t see my content. https://t.co/vFRtJFierF pic.twitter.com/k29MFxLUTC

— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) February 15, 2024

There’s also a more recent example which exemplifies how weird and fickle Elon is.

Everything is Cheong

In late May, Musk unfollowed Ian Miles Cheong, a guy who’s made a career out of sucking up to Elon. For an example of this, see the time Cheong claimed to have “never finished GTA5” despite the fact that IT WAS HIS JOB TO PUBLISH GUIDES ON GTA 5.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

You mean to tell me the game series named "Grand Theft Auto" is gonna involve doing crimes?!

Count me out, sir!
Not me, Upstanding Citizen Cheong! https://t.co/tDc1NAY64n

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— 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 (@thocpodcast) December 5, 2023

Readers added a Community Note to this Tweet: https://t.co/yEdKu6hqQA

— Helpful Community Notes (@HelpfulNotes) December 6, 2023

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The Tesla billionaire unfollowed Cheong after the man made the following observation about the mother of one of Elon’s children:

Ashley St. Claire is now trying to smash Hasan Piker. Third baby on the way, I guess. pic.twitter.com/NDBmo0zFtC

— Ian Miles Cheong (@ianmiles) May 26, 2026

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It's pretty cool how some of you who act like you're friends with me are publicly gloating over Elon's decision to unfollow me. Good to know where I stand with you!

— Ian Miles Cheong (@ianmiles) May 27, 2026

As Cheong has 1.2 million followers on X, it looks like Elon may now be throttling the man’s reach.

To be clear, it’s almost certainly not the case that Musk unfollowed Cheong because he insulted the mother of his child. If we had to guess, we’d say it’s because Cheong drew attention to a conversation in which Ashley St. Claire talked at length about how weird and abusive Elon is.

St. Claire has said the following about Musk:

No one’s going to believe me, but he was so much more normal before I got pregnant. It was a very normal conversation. His demeanor was normal. I know I’m going to get roasted for this, but in private, he was funny, but then it just got so f–king weird, man.

Singer Grimes has also accused Musk of being manipulative and controlling in regards to their parental arrangements. It doesn’t end there, either, as the Atlantic reported:

Musk has an undisclosed number of children that is likely well above the 14 already publicly known, and he’s shown no obvious intention to stop sowing his seed.

But perhaps more interesting than the presence of contracts between Musk and his harem of mothers is the apparent absence of traditional family ties. He appears to acknowledge few, if any, bonds of genuine duty and responsibility among family members, much less bonds of care or love.

Musk seems to have reduced traditional family relationships to mere financial arrangements, undermining longtime conservative agreement around the importance of family.

What goes around comes around

All this is a roundabout way of noting that Elon is a weird and spiteful creature who is every bit the progeny of his father, which could be a problem for Tommy Robinson.

If he does lose Elon, though, he will still have his Zionist backers, as Lowkey exposed in the following thread and video:

Tommy Robinson has previously stated he would "fight for Israel in a war."

This thread examines Robinson and EDL's very clear material relationship with the Zionist Movement and considers the possibility that the racist attacks and pogroms in Britain are part of that fight.

— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) August 4, 2024

Featured image via Leon Neal/ Kevin Dietsch/ Getty Images

By Willem Moore

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Christian Eriksen’s collapse during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine sent a jolt through the Nature Energy Park crowd and brought the match to an immediate halt. What began as a routine warm‑up fixture ahead of the summer schedule turned into a moment of collective fear, one that revived memories no Danish supporter ever wanted to relive.

The 34‑year‑old midfielder went down shortly after the hour mark, appearing to clutch his chest before falling to the turf. Players reacted instantly, waving urgently for medical staff while forming a protective circle around him. The stadium, loud only minutes earlier, fell into a stunned, suspended silence.

Within minutes, the referee abandoned the match. Supporters were told the players would not return.

Eriksen reassurance from home

Hours later, the tension eased. Eriksen released a short statement confirming he was back home, recovering, and doing well. It was the message Denmark and much of the football world needed to hear.

He clarified that the incident was not a repeat of his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. Instead, his implantable cardioverter‑defibrillator (ICD), fitted after that life‑threatening episode, had activated as designed. The device had done its job. He emphasised that he felt stable, was in good spirits, and was already focusing on rest with his family.

The tone was calm, measured, and reassuring, mirroring the way he plays on the pitch.

Echoes of Copenhagen

For many watching, the scene in Odense was painfully familiar. Eriksen’s collapse at Euro 2020 remains one of the most harrowing moments in modern football. His heart stopped on the pitch. CPR was administered. Teammates shielded him from cameras. The world held its breath.

That day changed the trajectory of his career. Italian regulations prevented him from continuing at Inter Milan with an ICD, prompting his return to the Premier League with Brentford in 2022. His performances there earned him a move to Manchester United, where he made over 100 appearances and lifted both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup before moving to Wolfsburg in 2025.

Through it all, Eriksen has been open about his recovery, his gratitude, and his determination to keep playing. Saturday’s incident was a reminder of the journey he has already travelled and the resilience that defines him.

Players’ immediate response

The reaction on the pitch was swift and emotional. Denmark captain Simon Kjær, who played a crucial role in Eriksen’s care in 2021, was among the first to call for medical assistance. Ukrainian players, visibly shaken, stepped back to allow space while joining the applause as Eriksen was taken off.

Some players were in tears. Others knelt, heads bowed. It was a moment that stripped away rivalry and left only human concern.

Medical clarity 

Eriksen will undergo further tests in the coming days, but early indications suggest he avoided serious complications. His club, Wolfsburg, issued a brief statement echoing Denmark’s update and offering full support.

For now, there is no timeline on his return to training. That will come later. The priority is stability, rest, and careful monitoring.

In Denmark, the relief was palpable. Supporters who had lived through the trauma of 2021 feared the worst when Eriksen fell. The news that he was home, recovering, and in good condition brought a collective exhale.

Messages of support poured in from across Europe, teammates, former clubs, rival players, and supporters who have followed his remarkable comeback story. Eriksen has long been one of football’s most admired figures, not just for his talent but for the grace with which he has navigated adversity.

Featured Image via Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

By Faz Ali

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Somalia’s top referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has been dramatically ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, ending what would have been a landmark moment for Somali football. The 34‑year‑old, voted Africa’s best referee in 2025, was set to become the first Somali official to take charge at a men’s World Cup finals. Instead, he was forced to fly back to Istanbul after being turned away at Miami International Airport.

FIFA confirmed the decision late on Monday, acknowledging that one of Africa’s most respected officials would not be part of the tournament after US authorities refused him entry.

A dream shattered at the final checkpoint

Artan travelled to Miami believing he held the correct visa to work at the tournament. Somalia remains on the US travel‑ban list, but he had been assured he could enter under the accreditation and documentation provided for World Cup officials. That confidence evaporated the moment he landed.

According to US Customs and Border Protection, Artan was subjected to “additional inspection” upon arrival on Saturday as officers assessed whether he met the criteria for entry. After hours of checks, he was deemed “inadmissible due to vetting concerns” and denied entry.

He was placed on a return flight to Istanbul, where he had been based for refereeing assignments in recent seasons.

FIFA: ‘Host governments determine who receives a visa’

FIFA moved quickly to clarify its position, stressing that it has no authority over immigration decisions made by host nations.

A spokesperson said:

“FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States. FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present. In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

The statement leaves no room for appeal. With the tournament days away, FIFA has already begun the process of replacing Artan within its refereeing pool.

A historic first that never materialised

For Somalia, Artan’s appointment was more than a personal milestone — it was a national breakthrough. No Somali referee had ever been selected for a men’s World Cup finals. His rise through African football, culminating in being named CAF Referee of the Year in 2025, had been celebrated across the continent.

His absence now leaves a glaring void.

Artan had been scheduled to join the final pre‑tournament training camp in the US, where referees undergo fitness testing, VAR calibration sessions, and match‑specific briefings. Instead, he watched his World Cup dream collapse at the airport gate.

Somali officials condemn the decision

News of the visa denial sparked immediate frustration within Somali sporting circles. Ciise Aden Abshir, an advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Sports, told Agence France-Presse:

Omar is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community. Denying him entry and preventing him officiating harms not only him personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit and the spirit of fair play.

The sentiment has been echoed across Somali media, where Artan’s story had been held up as proof that Somali football could produce world‑class officials despite decades of instability at home.

A wider problem of visa complications

Artan’s case is not isolated. In recent weeks, multiple athletes, journalists, and officials from countries on US travel‑restriction lists have reported delays or denials in securing visas for the World Cup. While FIFA has insisted it is working with US authorities to streamline the process, the governing body has repeatedly emphasised that it cannot override immigration decisions.

For referees, the stakes are particularly high. Unlike players, who travel with national teams and federations, match officials must meet strict logistical and training deadlines. Missing even a few days of preparation can rule them out of the tournament entirely.

Artan’s removal underscores the fragility of that system.

A career defined by resilience

Artan’s rise through the refereeing ranks has been anything but straightforward. Born and raised in Mogadishu, he began officiating in local leagues before earning CAF recognition for his composure, fitness, and command of matches. His performances in the CAF Champions League and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers earned him a place on FIFA’s elite list.

By 2025, he had become one of the most trusted referees on the continent, praised for his calm authority and ability to manage high‑pressure fixtures. His selection for the 2026 World Cup was widely viewed as overdue recognition.

That journey now hits an unexpected and painful halt.

What happens next for FIFA and African officiating

FIFA will now reassign Artan’s scheduled matches to other officials, likely drawing from its standby list. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to push for another African referee to be added to the roster, though time is running short.

For African officiating, Artan’s exclusion is a symbolic blow. His presence at the World Cup would have represented a step forward for Somali football and a broader statement about the continent’s refereeing depth.

Instead, the conversation has shifted to immigration policy, travel bans, and the complexities of hosting a global tournament across multiple countries with differing entry rules.

For Artan, the disappointment is profound. For Somalia, it is a missed moment of global visibility. For FIFA, it is another reminder of the corruption when tournaments intersect with geopolitics.

The World Cup will go on without him. The image of a top African referee being turned away at a US airport days before the biggest tournament of his life will linger a stark reminder that even in football, borders can still close doors that talent alone cannot open.

Featured Image via Khaled Desouki/Getty Images

By Faz Ali

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After three packed days of music in some of London’s finest grassroots music venues, the inaugural edition of Bulletproof Festival has concluded.

Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace & Justice Project founded Bulletproof Festival as part of the Music For The Many campaign. It aims to support grassroots music venues, UK live music and new artists.

The inaugural edition of the festival was headlined by Maruja, SPRINTS, and Pussy Riot who performed their new production Riot Days.

There were also performances from CQ Wrestling, SNAYX, The Oozes, Currls, Cody Frost, Dead Air, Hongza, YARD, Jools, and many more. Fast-rising live band Westside Cowboy performed a secret set on the Friday night of the event.

EartH in Hackney was the main stage, with a second stage rotating between The Victoria, Shacklewell Arms and The Jago. Overall, Bulletproof Festival brought together thousands of people in support of independent venues and action to ensure the long-term sustainability of live music.

Founder of the Peace & Justice Project and Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the crowd and introduced Maruja on the first night of the event. Corbyn said:

We have built a festival from scratch to raise the plight of Britain’s grassroots music venues. We call on the government to act to fund live music and support the next generation of artists.

We also call on the government to end its censorship of those speaking out against social injustice and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Bulletproof Festival’s lead organiser Samuel Sweek said:

Bulletproof was set up to show that independent music venues and community creative spaces have an absolutely invaluable role in the music industry, where the power dynamic between up-and-coming artists and small venues against the huge sponsorship deals of massive arenas, stadiums and festivals couldn’t be more stark.

We’ve shown that things can be different, things can be fairer and that the heart of British live music is still beating.

Featured image via Bekky Calver

By The Canary

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4 min read16 min

The chair of the Red Wall caucus of Labour MPs has called on ministers to keep British oil and gas in the energy mix as the government’s net zero policy comes under backbench pressure. 

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Jo White, the Labour MP for Bassetlaw, told PoliticsHome that North Sea reserves should be kept in the picture until the UK has shifted to homegrown green energy.

“We need an energy policy that lifts the foot off the throttle for UK growth and jobs by ensuring that the severe impacts of rising costs from imported energy are mitigated through targeted interventions, a faster shift to home-grown green energy production, and keeps UK oil and gas in the mix until that point is reached,” said White, whose caucus is made up of Labour MPs representing seats in the North and the Midlands.

The government is under pressure to take more action to protect household bills from the effects of the Iran war on global energy prices. 

At the same time, questions over Keir Starmer’s future in No 10 have given rise to debates about the direction of government policy, such as the net zero agenda.

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Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, is opposed to new drilling for gas and oil in the North Sea, arguing that it would not bring down energy bills as some of Labour’s political rivals claim.

However, this position is coming under pressure from within the Labour Party. Andy Burnham, who is expected to launch a bid to become prime minister if he wins the Makerfield by-election, recently said he’s got “something of an open mind” and no “fixed position”.

Earlier this week, Gary Smith, General Secretary of the Labour-supporting GMB union, compared the government’s net zero agenda to the deindustrialisation policies of Margaret Thatcher, saying it is “closing factories, hitting investment and hitting jobs”. He told Times Radio that the policy of phasing out North Sea oil and gas was “economic madness”, warning that it would result in thousands of job losses.

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Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, said the government must “listen carefully” to Smith’s intervention and take a “pragmatic” approach to energy policy.

“I do think ministers need to listen carefully to what the GMB, one of Labour’s largest affiliates, is saying about the industrial and employment impact of our energy policies, and take a pragmatic approach that safeguards well-paid, unionised jobs in the oil and gas sector,” he told PoliticsHome.

“The promised ‘green industrial revolution’ hasn’t involved enough job creation yet here in the UK. My constituents don’t get any jobs from the mass import of solar panels from China.”

Jonathan Hinder, MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, added: “Britain must be pragmatic in our energy transition. We need oil and gas, and will do so for many decades to come. It is common sense to use our own resources as much as possible, supporting jobs and tax receipts in the process, rather than relying on foreign imports.”

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Last month, former Labour prime minister Tony Blair urged the government to slow down its net zero agenda and prioritise cheap energy over clean energy. He told the News Agents podcast that China’s president Xi Jinping “is not sitting there in Beijing saying: ‘I wonder what that Ed Miliband thinks it [about global energy policy]’.”

Henry Tufnell, Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, said the government “must take stock and change course if we are to protect British Industry and the communities and livelihoods that it sustains”.

“UK energy prices that are four times more expensive than the USA and six times more expensive than Texas cannot support a competitive industrial base,” he told PoliticsHome.

In a sign of the divide within Labour, Miatta Fahnbulleh, the former energy minister who is helping Burnham build policy ahead of a bid to replace Starmer, recently told PoliticsHome that Blair was “wrong” about net zero in his intervention.

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“There is a global industry that is building up around the green transition around renewables,” she said.

“China is at the absolute forefront of that. Why the hell would we not want a piece of that? Why would we not want to be on the front foot?”

 

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The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been suspended from his duties following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Khan has now been referred to disciplinary proceedings which will see a vote by all 125 ICC member states, with the upcoming vote set to decide his fate.

However, prior reports regarding the investigation suggested that three judges found that the evidence was not conclusive, despite a UN probe initially finding a “factual basis” for the allegations of sexual misconduct raised by a female aide.

Khan has refuted the allegations levelled against him as a “politically motivated smear campaign,” stating:

The decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence.

As a result, fresh concerns are raised as to why this has now resulted in a member-state vote which could kick Khan out of the ICC.

Moreover, this grows particularly concerning in light of threats and sanctions imposed by Western states towards Khan and the court itself following his decision to issue arrest warrants for genocidal Israeli leaders.

BREAKING: ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been suspended pending a vote by member states after a probe found he committed serious misconduct.

Khan denies the allegations and faces a possible removal vote.

More on https://t.co/5H0QqpfIYw pic.twitter.com/mmSG5phi1t

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) June 8, 2026

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ICC: Khan denies any wrongdoing, and evidence is inconclusive

Khan will now face a vote by all 125 member states, but further disciplinary action will require at least 65 states to decide against him. Nevertheless, prior reports surrounding the allegations, which prompted Khan to take a voluntary leave of absence when first raised, suggest that there is not conclusive evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the claims are valid and legitimate.

Despite that lack of evidence, the bureau – the executive committee of the court’s oversight body – has chosen to refer to a member state vote after making its own decision regarding Khan’s disciplinary proceedings. Frustratingly, the executive committee has not offered an explanation for why it chose to formally suspend Khan, despite reports from Reuters and the Associated Press that a three-judge panel selected to assess the case found that the evidence was not conclusive enough to support the allegations.

However, any faint prospect of understanding the rationale behind such a strong rebuke of the ICC prosecutor will be challenging, given that the Bureau has stated:

The decision of the ⁠Bureau and the related documentation will remain confidential.

In contrast, Khan has come under significant pressure, receiving threats and sanctions by leaders of Western states following his principled decision to issue arrest warrants for genocidal Israeli leaders, PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of defence Yoav Gallant. Since charging the pair with war crimes and crimes against humanity seen in Gaza, the ICC and its prosecutor have faced widespread political pressuring to withdraw the warrants.

Defiantly, and in keeping with his stated commitment to upholding international law, Khan has stood by his position and resisted attempts by pro-Zionist governments and political actors in the West to pressure him into silence.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan remains defiant and set on justice for victims of genocide, as US sustain sanctions on him and his family

By @MaddisonW92 https://t.co/xF9OGt5Hlu

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— Canary (@TheCanaryUK) June 3, 2026

Sanctions and threats from Western pro-Zionist leaders

Khan has condemned the decision taken as a politically motivated smear campaign. A majority of 21 diplomats sitting on the executive committee recommended the finding of ‘serious misconduct’ despite three judges finding no real evidence of wrongdoing. Given the lack of evidence and the strong position taken by this executive body, the suggestion of sinister political motivations being at play is hard to discount.

After all, we know that then-foreign secretary David Cameron threatened Khan in an attempt to intimidate him into refraining from issuing arrest warrants, saying that the UK would withdraw from the ICC if he didn’t. Khan did not back down, and we are still a member of the ICC – but resistance to holding Israel accountable for its flagrant war crimes, abuses, and crimes against humanity is still going strong as the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ‘lost’ all recorded evidence of Israel’s crimes.

Furthermore, and likely relevant to his subsequent character assassination, a British-Israeli lawyer acting on Netanyahu’s behalf reportedly warned Khan in May 2025 that, unless the ICC abandoned the case against the Zionist, genocidal leader, they would “destroy” both the prosecutor and the court itself. Such a warning is surely designed not merely to influence a legal proceeding, but to intimidate the very institution charged with upholding international law.

This state-led intimidation should be illegal

The law rightly treats the intimidation of jurors as a serious offence because it undermines the integrity of the judicial process. In the same way, attempts to pressure or coerce an international court and its officials should bring equal criminality. But that principle only holds if Western leaders are, in practice, prepared to defend the rule of law consistently and without fear or favour.

Nonetheless, this principled, moral leadership certainly won’t come from the US. We wrote recently about Khan’s dogged resistance to the US’ abusive, maligned pressure – which saw unfair, and arguably illegal, sanctions applied against himself and his children by US President Trump:

Khan opened up about the coercive agenda at play to intimidate him as he pursues justice and accountability for the tens of thousands of victims of flagrant war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In response, Khan defiantly centered those who have lost everything as a result of imperialist aggression, saying:

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“.. it’s not about us. It’s about victims and their right to justice.

They’re not worthless. They’re not numbers. They’re not abstract concepts.

They’re people that have lost their babies, their wives, their husbands, their grandparents.”

Sanctions didn’t work – now they’re weaponising disciplinary processes

Therefore, Khan argues that this may be yet another attempt at intimidation and silencing by the powers he believes dominate the West—Israel and its closely aligned allies in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Regardless of the cynical and potentially subversive agenda that may be driving these actions against him, the member states will ultimately decide any further steps through a vote. International law must matter. Without it, the world risks descending into barbarism, where the most powerful actors remain untouchable and can act with complete impunity. In such a status quo, no one can truly be safe.

Featured image via Getty/Michael M. Santiago

By Maddison Wheeldon

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