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Putin’s nuclear threat; Navy chief stripped of honours; White House exodus
Vladimir Putin has threatened NATO with nuclear retaliation, as Britain’s former Royal Navy chief loses his honours following an affair investigation. Senior White House staff are departing ahead of the US midterms.
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Kemi Badenoch warns Tories must be ready for snap election in May despite Burnham trying to kill fevered speculation
Kemi Badenoch has told Conservatives to prepare for a possible general election in May, arguing that Andy Burnham’s policy plans appear to depend on voters returning Labour to power. Burnham has publicly dismissed speculation about an early poll, saying he expects no election before 2029. Badenoch pointed to proposals Burnham says would take effect after…
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Zack Polanski fights for survival at Greens conference – with Labour MPs looking to burst his bubble at Holborn by-election next week
Zack Polanski, Green Party leader, faces a critical test as he delivers his second conference speech amidst a severe slump in the party’s support and an expected defeat in next week’s Holborn and St Pancras by-election. The 43-year-old initially saw a surge in backing following his election just over a year ago, but the Greens’…
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For too long, only the right has expanded the boundaries of what governments can do. Can Burnham change that? | Andy Beckett
Andy Burnham used Labour’s conference to argue for major changes to public services, the economy and Britain’s political system, challenging the belief that governments have little room to act. His proposals could widen what Labour is willing to debate, while his hopeful, less partisan style may set him apart from political opponents. He raised electoral…
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Recent lobbyist for Palantir had key role in helping Andy Burnham become PM
A recent lobbyist for the US tech company Palantir played a senior role in helping Andy Burnham become prime minister, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. Martha Dalton, whose company Lodestone worked for Palantir until 2025, campaigned for Burnham in the Makerfield byelection and advised his team on strategic communications. The revelation emerges as…
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US prepares third carrier and 10,000 troops for Middle East as Trump weighs Iran strikes
The Pentagon is preparing to send about 10,000 additional sailors and Marines to the Middle East, including a third aircraft carrier, as President Donald Trump considers whether to launch further strikes on Iran. The deployment would significantly strengthen US forces in the region while the conflict develops and US midterm elections approach. The ships en…
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Trump weighs diesel export ban as Europe faces supply pressure
US President Donald Trump has threatened to ban diesel exports and said he may ask European countries to release some of their reserves. The prospect matters because the US is a major supplier to Europe, including the UK, where diesel prices have reached record highs as the Iran war disrupts fuel supplies. US diesel exports…
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Airliner plunges after attack; pilot praised; Trump signals pardons
An attacker stabbed a co-pilot on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, causing it to plunge 17,000 feet before passengers subdued him and the pilot restored control. Separately, Donald Trump signalled he could pardon allies if Republicans lose Congress.
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Melbourne council ends campaign to move Australia Day from 26 January
Melbourne City Council has voted to end its ‘Change the Date’ campaign for Australia Day. The decision marks a reversal of a four-year effort that acknowledged January 26 as a date of mourning and pain for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Almost 60 per cent of Melbourne residents had supported changing the date,…
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Backlash erupts as Isaac Heeney claims Sydney Swans’ biggest honour and receives standing ovation from supporters in the room
Isaac Heeney has won the Sydney Swans’ Bob Skilton Medal for the third consecutive year, sparking significant internal and external backlash. The controversy centres on awarding the honour to Heeney amid sexual assault allegations involving dancers at an August gathering attended by him and other players. Heeney did not attend Thursday’s awards ceremony, instead appearing…