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The day’s news from outlets across the spectrum, side by side. Follow what you care about, vote on what matters and have your say.
Democrat Troy Jackson defeats Susan Collins to win Maine US Senate seat in blow to Republicans
- Troy Jackson defeated Susan Collins in Maine’s Senate race.
- The win ends Collins’ nearly three decades in the Senate.
- Jackson’s campaign focused on living costs and Trump’s agenda.
Troy Jackson has defeated five-term Republican senator Susan Collins in Maine, giving Democrats a major midterm gain and ending her nearly 30-year tenure in the Senate. The result is a significant upset in a closely contested race shaped by arguments over Collins’ record, Jackson’s experience and the cost…
Talarico wins Texas Senate race as Democrats score major gains
- Talarico wins Texas’s first Democratic Senate seat since 1988.
- Democrats also defeat Republican governor Greg Abbott.
- More than $500 million was spent on the Senate race.
The Senate result is part of a broader Democratic surge that has also seen Republican governor Greg Abbott lose, the first time a Democrat has won a Texas governor’s race since the 1990s. James Talarico’s victory over Ken Paxton is a major setback for Republicans in a state…
Miliband says slavery apology will cost taxpayers no extra money
- Miliband ruled out extra taxpayer costs for a possible apology.
- Burnham declined to rule out additional spending.
- The UK says it opposes reparations but supports co-operation.
Ed Miliband said the Government’s willingness to consider a formal apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade would not cost UK taxpayers “a penny more”. His assurance contrasts with Andy Burnham’s refusal to rule out extra public spending, fuelling criticism that Labour is sending mixed signals…
Savills forecasts a 1.5% fall in British house prices in 2027
- Savills forecasts a 1.5% house price fall in 2027.
- The firm expects recovery to begin in the second half of 2028.
- More than 2.3 million households face mortgage deal changes in 2027.
Savills has forecast that British house prices will fall by 1.5% in 2027, as conflict in the Middle East keeps mortgage rates higher for longer and deters buyers. The firm expects the sluggish market to recover from 2028, with prices beginning to rise in the second half of…
▶Swift telescope hurtles towards Earth as Trump’s defamation case is dismissed
A Nasa observatory is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry today. A judge has dismissed Trump’s lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, while a former DJ Khaled flight attendant alleges harassment in a new lawsuit.
Iran claims four oil tankers struck mines in Strait of Hormuz
- Iran says mines destroyed four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The claim has not been independently verified.
- Iran links reopening the strait to US acceptance of its peace plan.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says four oil tankers were destroyed after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with the United States and Israel remain high. The claim has not been independently verified, and the reported incidents underline the risks to shipping as Iran keeps the…
Democrats seize both congressional chambers as Trump allies voice dismay
- Democrats won control of the House and Senate.
- Ben Shapiro blamed voter dissatisfaction with Trump.
- Trump cited candidates and petrol costs as factors.
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections, prompting dismay among prominent Trump supporters and raising questions about the political impact of his presidency. Ben Shapiro said Republicans were “just getting wiped out”, arguing that voters’ dissatisfaction with Trump, rather than candidate quality alone,…
First 10 Australian songs inducted into the National Songbook after ‘very robust’ judging
- Australia has launched a National Songbook with ten inaugural entries.
- The selection spans more than a century of music.
- The archive is set to add songs each year.
Australia’s National Songbook has launched with ten songs recognised for their influence on the country’s cultural identity. The digital archive, created by the National Film and Sound Archive and Apra Amcos, is intended to grow each year and preserve songs that have shaped Australian life. An 11-member panel…
Democrat Poindexter unseats Miller in Trump-won Ohio district
- Brian Poindexter defeated incumbent Max Miller in Ohio’s 7th District.
- Miller received 45.7 per cent, with 88 per cent counted.
- Miller denies abuse allegations and has not been charged.
Democrat Brian Poindexter defeated Republican Congressman Max Miller in Ohio’s 7th District, winning 54.6 per cent to Miller’s 45.7 per cent with 88 per cent of votes counted. The result is notable because Donald Trump carried the district by about 11 points in 2024, while allegations against Miller…
Charles ends Caribbean tour with Commonwealth message and umbrella joke
- Charles joked about the viral umbrella moment.
- He hosted 84 dignitaries at a farewell dinner.
- He called the 56-nation Commonwealth a source of encouragement.
King Charles joked about an earlier viral moment in which he appeared to ask for an umbrella during a tropical downpour, as he hosted a farewell dinner for Commonwealth leaders in Antigua. The dinner marked the end of his Caribbean trip and included a more serious message about…
David Jones nears administration as talks with Scentre collapse
- David Jones is expected to enter administration after rent talks failed.
- Its landlord says rent has gone unpaid since September.
- The retailer has been seeking a much smaller store network.
David Jones is expected to enter administration after talks between its owner, Anchorage Capital Partners, and its main landlord, Scentre Group, broke down. The 188-year-old department store chain has suffered steep losses and weak trading, and its future now depends on a process that gives administrators control and…
Rogue UK energy bosses and brokers face crackdown on mis-selling
- Ofgem would regulate energy brokers and curb mis-selling.
- The changes are expected to save businesses over £100m a year.
- The bill also targets inefficient rentals and new fracking licences.
The government plans to give Ofgem stronger powers to tackle energy suppliers and brokers that mis-sell contracts, including ordering compensation, issuing fines and banning rogue operators. Brokers, who are currently largely unregulated, will come under Ofgem’s remit, and executives could face restrictions on bonuses when their companies break…
Elon Musk hit with blue wave of reality after donating historic $445 million to Republicans for midterm elections
- Musk gave at least $445.7 million to Republican election efforts.
- Democrats won control of both the House and Senate.
- In Texas, James Talarico defeated Musk-backed Ken Paxton.
Elon Musk spent at least $445.7 million backing Republican candidates and political groups in the US midterm elections, but Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress. The result highlighted the limits of even record-breaking campaign spending and was also described in the article as a setback for…
China sets out plan to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030
- China aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.
- Two Long March 10 rockets would carry the crew capsule and lander.
- Tests and an uncrewed lunar mission are planned first.
China has outlined a plan to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030, using two Long March 10 rockets to send a lander and crew capsule into lunar orbit. The proposal matters as Beijing sets out its ambitions for the next five years of its space programme. The…
Frances Crawford’s notes detail doubts before husband’s alleged staged mower death
- Frances Crawford’s notes on her troubled marriage were shown to jurors.
- Her husband is accused of killing her and staging a mower accident.
- Forensic evidence included bloodstains at the home and apparent accident scene.
Frances Crawford’s private notes, presented to a Brisbane Supreme Court jury, described her struggle over whether to remain with her unfaithful husband, Robert. He is accused of strangling her and staging her death to look like a ride-on mower accident at their Queensland property in July 2024; the…
Australian mortgage repayments jump by nearly $20,000 a year since 2022
- A $600,000 mortgage repayment is projected to rise by $19,884 a year.
- The latest increase is the fifth Australian rate rise this year.
- Further hikes remain possible if inflation stays stubborn.
An Australian mortgage rate rise has intensified pressure on households, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended a dinner with King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Antigua. The article contrasts the event with rising repayments at home and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher’s claim that Labor deserves recognition for…
Ilhan Omar wins re-election despite claims she married her brother and Trump’s deportation threat
- Ilhan Omar has won another term in Congress.
- She led John Nagel 76 per cent to 16 per cent.
- Allegations about her marriage remain under investigation.
Ilhan Omar has won re-election in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, retaining her seat as a prominent progressive Democrat despite Republican attacks and renewed attention to allegations about her 2009 marriage. Omar denies claims that she married her alleged brother to help him obtain US immigration status; the Justice…
Owen Wilson’s Stick returns with warm comedy and a US Open bid
- Pryce returns to competitive golf at 55.
- Santi must make his own choices about his career.
- The comedy mixes golf with grief, family and warmth.
The comedy series *Stick* returns for a second season, with retired golf star Pryce Cahill deciding to revive his playing career and try to win the US Open at 55. The review praises the show as an easygoing, warm comedy that also explores grief, parenthood and the difficulty…
UK apologises to Ukrainian child refugees who were told to study Russian
- The UK apologised to Ukrainian refugees urged to study Russian.
- A Ukrainian GCSE is being developed for 2028.
- AQA received £340,000 to develop the qualification.
The UK has apologised to Ukrainian child refugees who were encouraged to take Russian GCSE because schools lacked a Ukrainian qualification. The government is funding a new Ukrainian GCSE, giving pupils a way to study and gain recognition for their native language. The qualification is being developed by…
CJ Reay’s activist slogans take quilt form in new exhibition
- CJ Reay made 14 slogan-led textile works.
- The quilts connect handmade art with resistance to tech power.
- Exhibitions are planned in Sheffield and Lincoln.
Artist CJ Reay has turned his activist poster style into 14 felt and appliqué works called the Anarchist Prayer Quilts. Their slogans challenge authoritarianism, wealth and technology, while the handmade form reflects his belief that art can affirm human creativity in an increasingly digital culture. Based in East…