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Labour reaches 30 per cent in Opinium poll after Burnham speech
Labour has reached 30 per cent in the latest Opinium poll, marking the highest rating the firm has recorded since 2024, following a two-point gain after Andy Burnham’s conference speech. The strong showing has intensified speculation about a potential snap election, despite Burnham’s repeated declarations that an early ballot is “dead”. In the survey, Reform…
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Cleveland Police dog Harley retires after eight years of service
Police Dog Harley of Cleveland Police has retired after eight years of tracking criminals, finding missing people and supporting armed officers. His service included dangerous deployments, and his retirement marks the end of a career credited with helping protect handlers and the public. The Belgian Malinois worked with PCs Liam Sewell and India Landers, attended…
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US Marine, 20, is arrested in Japan for murdering woman in hotel room, police say
A 20-year-old US Marine was arrested on suspicion of robbing and murdering a woman at a hotel in Naha, Okinawa, Japanese police said. Japan has lodged a formal protest with the US, bringing renewed attention to the presence of American service members on the island. Police identified the woman as 39-year-old Anna Yagi and said…
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Daughter of billionaire LA Times owner berates her own father’s newspaper for running advert for Israeli tourism
Nika Soon-Shiong, daughter of billionaire LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, publicly criticised her father’s publication for running an Israeli tourism advertisement that omits Palestinian territories and the occupied Golan Heights. The 33-year-old pro-Palestine activist and publisher of independent news site Drop Site News sparked significant online backlash, highlighting ethical questions around sponsored content in major…
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Half of Scottish swimming hotspots polluted… with one 20 TIMES over the safe E.coli limit
Almost half of Scotland’s 90 designated bathing waters recorded high levels of E. coli or intestinal enterococci on at least one occasion between May and September. The findings raise concerns about the safety of popular swimming spots and have prompted calls for more action on sewage pollution. Lower Largo in Fife had an E. coli…
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Lorraine Kelly changes lifestyle to keep up with granddaughter Billie
Lorraine Kelly, the Glasgow-born daytime TV host, has overhauled her lifestyle to get as fit and healthy as possible so she can be present for her two-year-old granddaughter Billie. The 66-year-old broadcaster says becoming a grandmother has given her a new motivation and a “new lease of life”, prompting her to make significant changes to…
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Badenoch pledges to oppose independence efforts by nationalist parties
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would oppose efforts by the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin to break up the United Kingdom. Speaking at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, she argued that the Union is under threat and presented defending it as a defining role for her party. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay…
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Scottish Conservatives propose tougher penalties for benefit fraud
The Scottish Conservative Party has proposed new legislation to reform Scotland’s devolved benefits system, citing concerns about rising costs and insufficient fraud enforcement. Party leader Russell Findlay unveiled the proposals at the Conservative conference, criticising the SNP’s approach and highlighting that only three benefit fraud convictions have been recorded in Scotland since 2022. He argued…
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Fans mistook Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr for an usher at his gig
Jim Kerr, frontman of Scottish rock band Simple Minds, was mistaken for an usher at one of his own gigs during an acoustic tour. Rather than being embarrassed, the charismatic 67-year-old found the incident amusing, joking he should have carried a torch to complete the part. The mix-up happened because Kerr had deliberately positioned himself…