Guardian Weekly

In a surprise to almost no one, official figures confirmed that net immigration levels into the UK reached a record high in 2022. As our big story explores, perhaps the main talking point is not so much why the numbers are so high but why, when migration is a dynamic and enduring reality of the modern world, successive Conservative governments have perpetuated a simplistic notion that UK immigration could easily be reduced. Home affairs editor Rajeev Syal breaks down the figures, while South Asia correspondent Hannah Ellis-Petersen finds out why Indians studying abroad are so keen on British universities. Finally, Daniel Trilling outlines how the UK’s controversial policy to stop small migrant boats crossing the Channel is partly inspired by Greece’s hardline crackdown, one area in which post-Brexit Britain seems happy…

1 UNITED STATES Push to get lawmakers’ support on debt ceiling deal Political leaders appeared bullish on Monday that they could sell a bipartisan compromise debt ceiling deal to enough lawmakers – overcoming criticism from left and right – to avert a first-ever national default on the $31.4tn the US owes creditors. Despite the diplomacy and even arm-twisting still required this week, Joe Biden left the White House to head to Delaware on Monday. The president declared: “There is no reason why it should not be done by the fifth,” referring to Congress passing legislation on the debt ceiling before the US is predicted by the treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, to run out of money to pay its bills after 5 June. But the deal, agreed by the Democratic president and the Republican House…

Tina Turner Rock’n’roll singer, whose comeback after an early career blighted by her husband’s violence made her a superstar. She died on 24 May, aged 83. Bill Lee Jazz musician who worked with Bob Dylan and on his son Spike Lee’s films. He died on 24 May, aged 94. Joy McKean Known as the Queen of Australian country music. She died on 25 May, aged 93. Rick Hoyt Boston Marathon wheelchair racer who finished the race 36 times. He died on 22 May, aged 61. Robert Zimmer Mathematician and University of Chicago president, who promoted free speech on campus. He died on 23 May, aged 75. Kenneth Anger Underground film-maker and Hollywood Babylon author. He died on 11 May, aged 96. Rolf Harris Convicted sex offender and entertainer. He died on 10 May, aged 93.…

NEUROSCIENCE ‘Digital bridge’ allows paralysed man to walk again A man who was paralysed in a cycling accident in 2011 has been able to stand and walk with an aid after doctors implanted a device that reads his brain waves and sends instructions to his spine to move the right muscles. Gert-Jan Oskam, 40, was told he would never walk again after breaking his neck in an accident, but has climbed stairs and walked for more than 100 metres at a time since having the operation. “A few months ago, I was able, for the first time after 10 years, to stand up and have a beer with my friends,” said Oskam, who is from the Netherlands. The “digital bridge” is the latest from a team of neuroscientists in Switzerland who are developing brain-machine…

BREXIT Majority of voters want to forge closer ties with EU A clear majority of British voters favours building closer relations with the European Union, according to new polling that highlights a reversal in the tide of public opinion since Brexit. Even in constituencies that recorded the highest votes to leave the EU in 2016, more than twice as many voters want to forge closer ties with Brussels. The survey of more than 10,000 voters, for the internationalist campaign group Best for Britain, accompanied by detailed MRP (multilevel regression and poststratification) analysis based on new constituency boundaries, provides sober reading for Rishi Sunak, who backed Brexit as a route to greater economic success. The poll by Focaldata found three times as many adults (63%) believe Brexit has created more problems than it has solved, compared…

PLUS Academic returns Why Indian students head for the UK Page 13 → Daniel Trilling Europe’s rising trend for refugee crackdowns Page 14 → Immigration has long been a highly charged debate in UK politics, but with the end of free movement after Brexit, the ruling Conservative party’s hope was that the argument on formal migration would be largely settled, with debate focusing on people arriving via unofficial routes such as small boats. Successive Conservative prime ministers have aimed to reduce net migration but they never seem to get there. In 2010, David Cameron pledged to bring net migration – the difference between the numbers who arrive in the UK and the numbers leaving – down to “tens of thousands”. He missed every year. Theresa May, the longest serving home secretary for 60 years with a hardline reputation, said…