In the headlines
Salman Rushdie has been taken off a ventilator and is able to speak. “Though his life-changing injuries are severe,” says his son Zafar, “his usual feisty and defiant sense of humour remains intact.” Iran’s government denies having any links to the attacker, but says the writer brought it on himself with his “insults on religion”. Labour leader Keir Starmer has thrown down the gauntlet to the Tories with a proposal to freeze energy bills for six months. YouGov polling says three quarters of Conservative voters back the £29bn plan. “Drip drip hooray,” says The Sun: sweltering Britain is finally in for some rain this week. However, thundery downpours hitting “bone-dry” ground could lead to flash floods in some areas.