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Albanese government pledges extra $4.6billion for AUKUS shipyard – but critics warn it will make Australia a nuclear target
Australia’s Albanese government has pledged an additional $4.6 billion for the AUKUS submarine shipyard at Osborne in Adelaide. The investment is intended to support Australia’s role in the security pact with the UK and US, but critics argue that hosting nuclear-powered submarine infrastructure could increase the country’s strategic risk. The funding forms part of the…
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‘Burnham bounce’ and World Cup lift mood in July, says data firm
UK consumer confidence rose sharply in July, helped by expectations that Andy Burnham could become prime minister, England’s World Cup progress and sunny weather, according to GfK. The improvement matters because confidence can influence household spending, but it remains far below pre-Brexit levels and could prove fragile amid weak growth and cost-of-living pressures. GfK’s headline…
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Burnham urged to ‘build bridges’ with sacked Starmerites
Harriet Harman has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to repair relations with Labour figures removed from government who were closely associated with Sir Keir Starmer, including Darren Jones. Her intervention highlights concerns that the new administration could deepen internal divisions at a time when it needs party unity to deliver its programme. Burnham’s reshuffle removed…
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Comedian hits back over triggering Anthony Albanese’s ‘shag, date or marry’ furore with a cringe response
A comedian who sparked controversy after putting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the spot with a “shag, marry or kill”-style question during a podcast appearance has responded to the ensuing backlash. The exchange caused a public furore, with the comedian, named in the URL as Kylie Osborne, apparently facing criticism over the awkward moment,…
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Kagan says Supreme Court is not a ‘rubber stamp’ for Trump
Justice Elena Kagan said the US Supreme Court is conservative but is not simply approving President Donald Trump’s agenda. Her remarks matter because they address concerns about the court’s independence and public confidence, after it has backed the administration in many important cases. Speaking to lawyers and judges in Washington state, Kagan said the court…
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Mom warns ‘truth will come out’ after daughter, 18, found shot dead in congresswoman’s husband’s $1.15m house
An 18-year-old woman was found shot dead inside a $1.15 million house owned by the husband of US congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, prompting her mother to publicly insist that “the truth will come out” about the circumstances of her death. The case has attracted attention partly because of the property’s connection to a sitting member of…
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Federal judges allow Tennessee congressional map dividing majority-Black Memphis district
A panel of federal judges allowed Tennessee’s new congressional map to take effect, despite objections that it divides Memphis’s majority-Black district among three separate constituencies. The decision mattered because the redistricting plan was expected to reduce Black voters’ ability to elect their preferred candidate and strengthen Republican prospects in the area. The map split the…
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What to know about Trump’s new tariffs on more than 80 countries
The Trump administration has imposed new US tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from more than 80 countries, effective from Friday. The move matters because it seeks to maintain broad global trade levies after the US supreme court ruled that Trump had previously exceeded his executive authority in introducing similar tariffs without Congress. Major…
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Trump DOJ withdraws subpoenas targeting New York Times journalists amid leak probe
The US Justice Department has withdrawn subpoenas aimed at New York Times journalists as part of a leak investigation. The move removes an immediate legal threat to reporters’ communications and is significant because it concerns press freedom and the government’s ability to compel journalists to reveal confidential sources. The subpoenas were issued during an investigation…
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Is the ‘no wars’ president about to start another one?
The article examines whether Donald Trump, who has presented himself as a president opposed to new wars, may significantly escalate the US conflict with Iran. It matters because a larger attack could deepen an already costly regional war, increase risks to US personnel and shipping, and further test his domestic political support. Trump was reported…