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Andy Burnham’s vow of ‘biggest council house boom since the War’ has blown £8BILLION hole in Government spending plans, think-tank warns
A think-tank has warned that Andy Burnham’s proposed expansion of council housebuilding could create an £8 billion gap in the Government’s spending plans. The claim matters because it raises questions over how an ambitious programme of social housing would be funded and whether it could be delivered without reducing other public spending or increasing borrowing.…
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One of Australia’s most wanted and alleged Comanchero bikie associate is arrested by cops at airport eight years after going on the run
Daniel Toutounji, 37, an alleged associate of the Comanchero motorcycle gang, was arrested at Sydney International Airport after returning to Australia following about eight years abroad. The arrest ends a long-running police search and brings him before the courts to face serious organised-crime and drug allegations. Police say the case began with a 2018 raid…
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UK defence spending ‘not enough to protect the country’, BAE boss warns
BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn has warned that UK defence spending remains insufficient despite an additional £15 billion announced in June. He said the security environment was the most threatening he had experienced, citing Russia’s military activity, cyber attacks and the closer prospect of war in Europe as reasons for greater investment. Woodburn said…
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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 lineup adds three choices
Samsung has introduced three new Galaxy Z foldable phones, each aimed at a different type of user. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is positioned for productivity, photography and larger-screen work, while the standard Fold8 focuses on reading, gaming and video; the Flip8 expands access to apps and AI tools on its outer display. The phones…
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Trump gifts Saudi Arabia a nuclear win | Politics Weekly America
Donald Trump has announced what is described as a landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, while continuing efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The agreement matters because it could reshape US relations with Riyadh and affect the balance of power and security calculations across the Gulf. The episode examines what the deal…
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The two big unanswered questions around Burnham’s ‘overdue’ action for pubs
Andy Burnham’s government has announced a 20 per cent business-rates cut for most pubs, clubs and live music venues from April 2027, describing it as support for community businesses and local jobs. The measure is broadly welcomed by operators, but the article questions whether a typical £1,100 annual saving will be large or timely enough…
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What animal is the deformed-but-adorable Jimothy? The quiz knows — do you?
NPR’s weekly news quiz tests readers on recent events, including the identity of Jimothy, a viral Seattle raccoon with an apparent spinal deformity. It uses light-hearted questions alongside major international and political news to review the week’s headlines. – Jimothy became an online sensation after videos showed the unusually round, short-spined raccoon in Seattle. -…
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SEN MIKE LEE: Trump proves America can stand up to a power-mad foreign court
The article argues that the Trump administration’s sanctions and visa restrictions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) demonstrate a defence of US sovereignty against what its author portrays as an overreaching foreign institution. Written by Senator Mike Lee, it frames the measures as part of a longstanding American resistance to outside powers influencing US policy…
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Canada’s wildfire smoke is choking America — Congress must clear the air
The article argues that smoke from Canadian wildfires has created hazardous air conditions across parts of the United States, disrupting daily life and posing particular risks to older people, children and those with respiratory illnesses. It contends that Congress should address the cross-border impact while reconsidering US environmental policies that, in the author’s view, contribute…
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Burnham is acting like he’s mayor of everywhere – that’s not devolving power to local communities | Simon Jenkins
The column argues that Andy Burnham’s early interventions on homelessness, bus fares, pub business rates, social housing and social care contradict his previous commitment to localism. It says these policies risk further centralising services that are better managed by councils, communities and local organisations, and warns that national announcements can overlook local needs. It cites…