The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said it had shut down Rashid & Rashid in South Wimbledon, Kingswright Solicitors in Birmingham and Lincoln Lawrence in Hounslow following the undercover operation by the Daily Mail. 

The newspaper reported that numerous solicitors agreed to help an undercover reporter posing as an economic migrant to submit a false asylum application in exchange for thousands of pounds.

The SRA is an independent regulatory body for solicitors in England and Wales. Its rules prevent lawyers from misleading courts, and acting dishonestly or with a lack of integrity could see someone struck off.

In a statement, the SRA said: "We have closed down three solicitor firms that were named in a Daily Mail undercover operation involving immigration services.

"These firms are Rashid & Rashid in South Wimbledon, Kingswright Solicitors Birmingham, and Lincoln Lawrence in Hounslow."

The watchdog said its intervention meant it had stopped the firms from operating, had taken possession of all documents and papers held by the companies and had seized all money in its possession, including clients' money.

The practising certificates of the following solicitors have been automatically suspended so they cannot practice as a solicitor, the regulator added.

The SRA said its "interventions can be challenged at the High Court" but "if that challenge is not successful, intervened firms remain closed, they do not re-open".

Sky News approached the three law firms in question but did not receive a response to requests for comment.

The SRA's intervention was welcomed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman who tweeted: "Immigration lawyers who cheat and lie are taking the British public for a ride. Good to see this quick action by the SRA."

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick echoed her words, saying: "Immigration lawyers who cheat the system must be struck off. Good to see the first of what needs to be many more actions by @sra_solicitors."

The SRA investigation was launched after the government wrote to the watchdog to say the "full force of sanctions" should be employed in the wake of the Daily Mail investigation.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk also called for a follow-up to the review the body carried out on immigration advice last year - highlighting the importance of "ensuring public confidence in our immigration system".

The SRA's immigration and asylum thematic review found the overall quality was satisfactory and there were no widespread or systemic failings or issues with quality. By Alexandra Rogers, Sky News

DAR ES SALAAM, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST) said in its survey released Saturday that the country's central region of Dodoma has the highest deposits of different types of critical minerals.

Maswi Solomon, the geological manager of the GST, said the survey carried out by the state-run GST has shown that Dodoma boasts four critical minerals.

According to the survey undertaken in mainland Tanzania in collaboration with stakeholders, minerals found in the Dodoma region were lithium, chrysoprase, iron, nickel, uranium and gypsum.

Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential components in many of today's rapidly growing clean energy technologies -- from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles.

Speaking after the GST official handed over the survey, the Dodoma regional commissioner Rosemary Senyamule said the survey will help the region to promote investment in the mining sector.

One of the roles of the GST is to acquire geoscientific data and information from new areas and mineral prospects to encourage further evaluation by the private sector. - Xinhua

Azimio La Umoja Coalition has appointed a five member delegation team led by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka to engage in dialogue with their counterparts in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance Coalition.

The Musyoka-led team will include Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi, Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi, Democratic Action Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa and Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni respectively.

This comes after former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo brokered a pact between President Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga to facilitate a ten-member team to hold talks aimed at ending the social, economic and political situation facing Kenyans.

In a statement, the Opposition Coalition stated that the team will be required to engage in dialogue on four thematic areas which include ways to lower the escalating cost of life and the audit of 2022 presidential elections.

Others include the bipartisan reconstitution of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Inclusivity in national affairs and respect for political parties in line with the Constitution.

“Our position remains that no party to these negotiations can claim a right to determine for the other what to raise and what not to raise. Azimio will respect Kenya Kwanza’s right to bring all its issues to the table. We expect Kenya Kwanza to do the same with our issues,” the statement read.

The President William Ruto bandwagon is yet to appoint a team to represent them in the deliberations aimed at unlocking the stalemate between the two opposing sides with Azimio indicating that the talks should begin tomorrow.

Both sides were required to appoint a five member team; two Members of Parliament, two members from outside Parliament and the leader of the parliamentary leadership. By Irene Mwangi, Capital News

Senegal's state prosecutor Abdou Karim Diop has announced new judicial proceedings against the country's opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who is currently in custody following his arrest on Friday night.  

Sonko was arrested after grabbing the mobile phone of a female law enforcement officer stationed outside his house. 

“He will be sued for calling for insurrection; criminal conspiracy; threatening national security; plotting against the government; maneuvering to compromise public security and create serious political trouble; criminal conspiracy with a terrorist organisation; and theft,” he said in an address to the media. “We should also note that Ousmane Sonko himself admitted violently grabbing the mobile phone of a female gendarme.” 

Speaking from Dakar, FRANCE 24’s Sam Bradpiece said that the announcement was bad news for the opposition leader. 

“Having already been found guilty for defaming a government minister and corrupting the youth earlier this year, he now faces a litany of further charges,” he said. “Ousmane Sonko has been under house arrest since June, and it is unclear if he’ll be transferred to prison any time soon.” Source: France24