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UK authorities examine bets on HSBC and Lloyds failing amid manipulation fears
US-based prediction market Polymarket has begun accepting bets worth $77,507 on whether major banks, including UK lenders HSBC and Lloyds, will fail by the end of the year. The revelation has triggered alarm from UK authorities and lawmakers who fear the betting mechanism could incentivise market manipulation, insider trading, and trigger the kind of rapid…
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Karen Spencer buys £3.6m mansion near Althorp after divorce settlement
Karen Spencer, ex-wife of Earl Spencer, has purchased a £3.6 million country mansion approximately 10 miles from Althorp estate in Northamptonshire using funds from her divorce settlement. After their 13-year marriage ended in 2024, she chose to remain in the UK to be near their 14-year-old daughter, keeping the title of Countess Spencer. The six-bedroom…
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The expansion of Heathrow would be an expensive disaster for Britain and the world. Burnham needs to block it | George Monbiot
A third runway at Heathrow would impose massive economic and environmental costs that far outweigh its benefits, according to government analysis, yet ministers continue to support the project. The Department for Transport calculated the construction would cost between £23.4bn and £62.5bn, yet add only 0.03% to 0.05% to GDP—far less than the airport’s claimed 0.43%—whilst…
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BT faces criticism over broadband pauses to prompt digital landline switch
BT has been accused by campaigners of pressuring customers to move to digital landlines by temporarily pausing their broadband. The dispute highlights concerns about how providers will complete the UK’s switch from copper telephone lines before the old network is retired at the end of January, particularly for customers who may be vulnerable or hard…
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What are we all playing this weekend?
Staff writers describe their gaming plans for the weekend in a lighthearted column that begins with seasonal reflections on October’s arrival. The piece covers a mix of unreleased titles under NDA, the new Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse demo, established franchises like Star Wars, and indie titles, with each writer offering personal context for their gaming choices.…
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One Nation launches Victorian campaign with crime policies amid protests
One Nation held its Victorian campaign launch on Saturday with party leader Pauline Hanson, state president Warren Pickering and more than 750 supporters attending the event at Melbourne’s Crown conference centre. The party announced policies centred on crime reduction and increased police powers, releasing merchandise including “MAGA: Make Albo Go Away” apparel. Heavy police presence…
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Devon volunteers map River Dart sewage spills in real time
Citizens in Devon have created an online platform called River Hub to track sewage spills in the River Dart in real time, highlighting repeatedly polluted spots and showing where improvements are planned or absent. The initiative by Friends of the Dart (FOD) fills a gap the organisation believes should be filled by water companies and…
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Dance theatre explores how political images shape public belief
Jess and Morgs’ *Deepfake* turns a political interview into a dance-theatre production, as an interviewer tries to uncover the truth behind a prime minister’s bizarre alleged escapades. Its inventive staging explores how images, performance and media effects can shape what audiences believe. Kennedy Muntanga plays the PM opposite Rebecca Bassett-Graham as his interrogator, while seven…
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How to prepare for Glastonbury and Bayeux tapestry ticket sales
Tickets for Glastonbury Festival and the Bayeux tapestry exhibition are in high demand, with sales opening in October. The article sets out ways to improve the chance of booking, while stressing that success is never guaranteed and some tactics can risk losing a place in the queue. For Glastonbury, general admission tickets go on sale…
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London’s luxury property market slumps as prices fall and buyers retreat
London’s prime housing market is weakening, with owners cutting prices on multimillion-pound homes as wealthy buyers leave or hold back. The downturn matters because it reverses years in which London prices outpaced the rest of the UK, while the capital continues to face wider affordability and housing pressures. Prices have fallen sharply in several central…