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DAN HODGES: Kemi will have to be swift and bold to halt the snap election Andy Burnham is planning – and is on course to win
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is considering announcing the complete abolition of Inheritance Tax at the party conference next month, according to this opinion piece. The article argues this would be a game-changing policy announcement that could boost the party’s political position, drawing a parallel to 2007 when George Osborne’s inheritance tax pledge helped prevent a…
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The Battle of Piddington is NOT over: Campaigners hope Home Office great crested ‘blunder’ may halt plans for asylum camp near Oxfordshire village that has voted to leave the UK
Campaigners say a Home Office ecological assessment may have overlooked protected crested newts and other wildlife at a former military site near Piddington, Oxfordshire. They argue the alleged omission could support a legal challenge to plans for temporary accommodation for more than 1,200 male asylum seekers. The proposed facility at the former Bicester Garrison would…
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US interest rates raised for first time in three years
The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time in more than three years, lifting its target range to 3.75%-4% to tackle persistently high inflation. The unanimous decision defied President Donald Trump, who had urged rapid rate cuts, highlighting tensions over the central bank’s independence and economic policy. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh…
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The Daily Debate: Should Huw Edwards be allowed to return to TV?
The article asks whether former BBC presenter Huw Edwards should be allowed to return to television after completing his suspended sentence. It reports that Edwards is preparing for a possible comeback and believes he can rebuild his career, while inviting readers to vote and explain their views. In September 2024, Edwards pleaded guilty to three…
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Trump expects Iran war to end soon, threatens European tariffs
President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he hopes the war in Iran is nearing its end, saying Tehran wants to make a deal, as the conflict continues to loom over the US midterm election campaign. In the same appearance, he dismissed as “laughable” a proposal for Canada to join the European Union as…
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Robert Kraft Responds to Macklemore’s Invite to Match $1 Million to Palestinian Support Groups
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has responded to Macklemore’s challenge to match his $1 million donation to organisations supporting Palestinians. Kraft said Ed Sheeran had already asked him to commit $2 million towards humanitarian aid in the region, while presenting the contribution as part of efforts to “build bridges” between communities. The response follows…
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Two thirds of students say their university was not ‘straight’ about their course’s job prospects
A survey of undergraduates has found that two thirds felt their university was not upfront about their course’s job prospects, with 34 per cent saying they were never told at all what proportion of graduates in their subject land graduate-level jobs. This matters because it feeds into wider anxiety about the value of a degree,…
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Taylor Sheridan Officially Meets His Match With 2026’s Wackiest Horror Movie
The parody film Scary Movie 6 has become the most-watched movie on Paramount+ in the US, riding a surprisingly strong box office run into streaming success. It arrives just as Taylor Sheridan’s spy drama Lioness, which has topped Paramount+ viewing for over a month, nears the end of its third season, positioning the horror-comedy sequel…
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Reform in freefall, British mother missing in Malawi, Saudi-Houthi clashes escalate
Sixteen Durham councillors have now quit Reform UK amid its Welsh leader’s arrest, while Leicester mother Nusrat Osman remains missing in Malawi and Saudi Arabia says it downed a Houthi drone near Mecca; also: the EPA scraps power-plant pollution limits and Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro draws a muted reception.
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Energy minister defends €480,000 ESB pay deal as households face electricity arrears
Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien has defended his decision to approve a pay package for ESB chief executive Paddy Hayes that could see his salary rise to €480,000 by June 2028, calling him an “exceptional person” who runs an “exceptional organisation”. The defence comes after the Irish Daily Mail revealed the scale of the pay deal,…