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Early election speculation clouds Labour as trade deficit soars to twenty-year peak
Downing Street advisers urge PM to call spring election amid police reform tensions and record trade deficit. Also in the bulletin: Trump-Xi state dinner and Waymo’s driverless expansion milestone.
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Polanski sparks fury at Holborn by-election hustings as he tells Jews that ‘in practice’ Zionism is racism
Green Party leader Zack Polanski was booed at a Holborn and St Pancras by-election hustings after describing himself as anti-Zionist and saying Zionism was racism “in practice” if defined by the displacement and alleged genocide of Palestinians. He also said Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to genocide and argued that labelling criticism of Israel as…
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GOP handed new lifeline on biggest pocketbook fight of midterms
The Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy group, has distributed a strategic memo to Republican lawmakers outlining how to address high living costs during the upcoming November midterm elections. The memo argues that federal government expansion, particularly deficit spending and subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic, is responsible for persistently higher costs rather than simply slower…
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Beckham paid £39m as World Cup campaigns fuel record profits
David Beckham received about $51m (£39m) in dividends from his commercial empire, as World Cup-related advertising partnerships helped drive record profits. His appearances in roughly 12 campaigns for brands including Lenovo, McDonald’s, Bank of America, Verizon and Lay’s contributed to a 20% rise in revenue, highlighting the continuing commercial strength of his global profile. DRJB…
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Tales Of Syria’s Disappeared; Lebanese Wartime Adoption & Palestinian Mental Health Set For Cinemed-Aflamuna Project Incubator
The Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival and Beirut-based Aflamuna have selected seven Arab film projects for their fifth joint incubator, to be held during Cinemed in October. The programme highlights stories involving Syria’s disappeared, Palestinian mental health and family trauma, while helping filmmakers connect with European producers, institutions and potential partners. Among the projects is Anas…
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Labour figures urge Burnham to call early election next spring
Downing Street advisers and some Labour MPs are reportedly urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to call an early general election next spring, believing it could give Labour the best chance of retaining power. Government opinion is divided, however, and supporters of the plan say it would depend on the Middle East crisis easing, the cost-of-living…
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Can’t Get You Out of My Head by Michael Cragg review – what’s the secret of Kylie’s genius?
Michael Cragg’s book presents Kylie Minogue as a uniquely adaptable pop star whose longevity, self-awareness and instinct for joyful entertainment have made her a powerful cultural figure. The review argues that qualities often dismissed as frivolous or lightweight are central to her appeal, allowing her music to be embraced through camp and giving audiences a…
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Trump and Xi extend trade truce as major disputes remain unresolved
President Xi Jinping’s White House visit showcased ceremonial pomp but yielded limited substantive progress on fundamental disputes. The trade truce between Washington and Beijing was extended only until January rather than the year-long agreement China sought, signalling that the US intends to extract greater concessions before offering longer-term stability. This compressed timeline is particularly significant…
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Trump hosts Xi at White House; UK AI supercomputer delayed
President Trump welcomed Xi Jinping to the White House with full military ceremony, tensions simmering beneath the pageantry. Britain’s flagship AI supercomputer project faces years of delays owing to power supply problems.