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Indian activist Wangchuk ends 26-day hunger strike as ‘Cockroach’ protesters vow to press on
Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended a 26-day hunger strike that helped propel a youth-led protest movement calling for education reform and accountability over examination paper leaks. The protest’s continuation despite his decision underlines the scale of public anger and keeps pressure on the government, particularly Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Wangchuk began fasting on 28…
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Rubio says U.S. is ready to help end war in Ukraine but no quick deal ahead
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration is prepared to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine, but that no rapid agreement is in prospect. His comments underline that previous US-mediated efforts have stalled and that any settlement would need terms acceptable to both Moscow and Kyiv. Rubio spoke after meeting Russian Foreign…
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Noah Kahan Gets a Fake Call From Congress Ordering Fans to Wear Diapers at Concerts
Noah Kahan jokingly told fans at his Washington, DC concert that Congress had ordered them to wear nappies after reports of people urinating and defecating on venue floors to avoid losing their places. The staged phone call highlighted an apparent concert-etiquette problem and the burden such behaviour places on venue staff. Kahan had already urged…
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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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Sheffield Traders Backed as Google Faces Billion-Dollar EU Fine
Council aid follows Moor Market closure; US House tensions grow despite Johnson wins, while Ossoff leads Georgia Senate polling. Ozric Tentacles and The Avalanches unveil new music.
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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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‘It’s more than backcombing a beehive!’ How tribute acts got massive – and put the live music scene back in the black
Tribute acts are thriving across the UK, filling festivals and music venues by offering audiences familiar songs at far lower prices than concerts by original artists. The trend is helping financially strained live-music venues and creating lucrative careers for performers, while also raising questions about the personal demands of impersonation and whether original musicians are…
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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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Rob Bonta on blocking the Paramount merger, CNN concerns and Trump’s DOJ
California Attorney General Rob Bonta discussed the prospect of challenging Paramount’s merger, concerns about CNN, and the role of Donald Trump’s Justice Department in a Politico video interview. The issues matter because they touch on media ownership, competition policy and fears about political influence over major news organisations. The supplied article text contains no substantive…
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Justice Dept. drops ‘New York Times’ subpoenas under pressure from judge
The US Justice Department withdrew subpoenas seeking testimony and phone records from New York Times journalists after a federal judge sharply criticised the government’s handling of the case. The subpoenas concerned reporting on security concerns surrounding President Trump’s Qatari-donated Air Force One aircraft, and their withdrawal reduces an immediate threat to reporters’ confidential sources while…