-
Chancellor tries to cool Budget tax hikes panic in Labour conference speech today… amid fears lower immigration has wiped £7bn off ‘headroom’
Chancellor John Healey is attempting to reassure the Labour conference and financial markets about the Government’s economic situation during his speech in Liverpool, amid growing concerns over Budget tax increases and deteriorating public finances. The situation has been exacerbated by Middle East tensions driving up inflation, sluggish economic growth, and lower immigration forecasts—which could reduce…
-
Lithuania and Poland plan evacuations around vulnerable Suwalki Gap
Lithuania and Poland are developing evacuation plans in preparation for potential Russian military action, focusing on the strategically vulnerable Suwalki Gap—a 60-mile corridor that NATO military leaders consider the alliance’s critical weak point. This bilateral preparation reflects growing concerns that Russia could attempt to isolate Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from the rest of NATO by…
-
England penetrated Spain’s defence but lacked precision in the Nations League defeat
England repeatedly reached Spain’s penalty area in their Nations League match at Wembley, recording 36 touches there, but struggled to turn that pressure into clear chances. The figures suggest Thomas Tuchel’s side made unusual headway against one of international football’s strongest teams, yet Spain’s greater precision in the box proved decisive. Since records began at…
-
AI index ranks Victoria as the Western world’s worst-run regional government
An AI-based index compiled by economist and former BlackRock Australia boss Maurice O’Shannassy ranks Victoria as the worst-run state or regional government among 366 jurisdictions in the Western world. The result highlights concerns about how regional administrations manage public finances and maintain accountability, though the ranking reflects O’Shannassy’s analysis rather than an official assessment. The…
-
Citrix fixes eight NetScaler flaws as attackers exploit two critical bugs
Citrix has disclosed eight vulnerabilities in its NetScaler application delivery controller and gateway products, including two critical flaws that allow remote code execution and are already being exploited. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency says it has reports of attackers exploiting the vulnerabilities globally, and has urged organisations to assess their exposure and prioritise…
-
Geelong football coach’s ‘exceedingly private’ texts before Bali death plunge at centre of girlfriend’s court battle: Now police hit back
Zagi Kozarov, a 52-year-old lawyer, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court facing stalking charges related to the death of her partner, Geelong football coach Zoran Vidovic, who fell from a luxury hotel balcony in Bali in January 2024. Kozarov is demanding access to Vidovic’s private correspondence with friends and family, arguing the material is vital to…
-
JP Morgan director Kathryn Benwell survived years of abuse by her husband
Kathryn Benwell, a highly successful JP Morgan managing director, endured years of severe domestic violence from her second husband despite her professional accomplishments and intelligence. Her case illustrates how psychological abuse can affect anyone, regardless of status or resources, and demonstrates how victims may struggle to recognise warning signs even after experiencing repeated trauma. Benwell…
-
Kylie Ellina Truswell-Mobbs – who helped ill husband die – walks out of court to the sound of cheers after pleading guilty
Kylie Ellina Truswell-Mobbs, 52, was sentenced in Brisbane after pleading guilty to assisting the suicide of her terminally ill husband, David Mobbs, and the prosecution accepted her plea in place of murder. The judge imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspended immediately because she had already spent 14 months in custody; he said she had acted…
-
Documentary traces colonial land theft and exploitation on Kenya’s tea estates
A new documentary, “Kikuyu Land,” examines how Kenya’s renowned tea plantations—worked primarily by Kikuyu people—perpetuate a legacy of colonial exploitation that continues under corporate control. Directed by Andrew Harrison Brown and investigative journalist Bea Wangondu, the film reveals how Britain’s colonial authorities stripped the Kikuyu of their ancestral lands, and how multinational corporations have since…
-
Obama and Tom Hanks have an inspirational chat: best podcats of the week
The article recommends five podcasts available this week, spanning Barack Obama’s conversations with guests to investigations of scandals, rumours and family histories. Obama’s new Audible series, made through Higher Ground, discusses books that have inspired him; its first episode features Tom Hanks talking about parenting and family through Marilynne Robinson’s *Gilead*. The other picks include…