UK politics live: Burnham says he wants to fight next election on plan for new taxes to pay for free social care in England

UK politics live: Burnham says he wants to fight next election on plan for new taxes to pay for free social care in England

The Guardian •

PM appears to be anticipating criticism of reforms that he will set out on Tuesday at the Labour party conference‘I can deliver’: Burnham pledges radical change on eve of Labour conferenceKuenssberg puts it to Burnham that, according to the Health Foundation, a system offering adult social care free at the point of deliver (like healthcare delivered by the NHS) would cost £18bn.Burnham says the co...

Poland fears Ukraine war could spill over

Poland fears Ukraine war could spill over

France 24 •

In Poland, a close ally of neighbouring Ukraine, concerns are growing that the war could spill across the border. Our next report comes from Suwałki, a city in a region bordering Russia and Belarus that is considered particularly sensitive for NATO countries. Caitlin Brown reports.

Heathrow expansion faces fresh hurdle as UK PM withholds third runway backing

Heathrow expansion faces fresh hurdle as UK PM withholds third runway backing

Times of India •

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has voiced significant concerns regarding the proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport. He pointed out the necessity of addressing the long-standing worries of local residents. The expansion's timeline could stretch by four years, with operations potentially starting in 2039. Heathrow's struggle with capacity issues sharply contrasts with other major European a...

‘Rip the plaster off’: Andy Burnham sets out vision for universal free social care

‘Rip the plaster off’: Andy Burnham sets out vision for universal free social care

The Guardian •

PM says he will put proposals for NHS-style service funded by everybody into Labour’s next general election manifestoUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has said that he is going to “rip the plaster off” to fix the broken social care system, as he set out a vision for a universal service that would be free at the point of use for everybody in England.The prime minister said the new NHS-s...

The other crop that built China: how millet became foundation for Chinese civilisation

The other crop that built China: how millet became foundation for Chinese civilisation

SCMP •

Rice may be the most universal ingredient in the world, serving as a cornerstone of the diet for billions in Asia. However, for much of Chinese history, rice faced a serious competitor, and entire cultures developed around a different cereal grain, one that has since diminished in significance: millet. Millet is a cereal grain that behaves and tastes similarly to rice but has a rounder form. It is...

Hong Kong men turn to plush ‘bag charms’ for self-expression, comfort

Hong Kong men turn to plush ‘bag charms’ for self-expression, comfort

SCMP •

Whether he is commuting to work or meeting clients, 31-year-old Hong Kong architect Bryan Hui always has a plush toy keychain of Chiikabu – a beetle-like creature from the popular Japanese anime Chiikawa – hanging from his black backpack. Beyond its cute appearance, Hui is drawn to Chiikabu’s backstory as a conflicted character who practises self-restraint out of loyalty to his friends. “I carry i...

Trump allies could use midterms ‘counting window’ to disrupt results, experts warn

Trump allies could use midterms ‘counting window’ to disrupt results, experts warn

The Guardian •

Fears grow that loyalists in key states could use critical period when votes are counted to amplify false claimsElection experts have warned Donald Trump’s administration could use the crucial hours and days after November’s midterm elections to disrupt the results after struggling to enforce a crackdown on voting.With less than six weeks remaining until polls close, and control of US Congress in ...

Remote section of China’s Great Wall damaged by 20 years of mine waste dumping

Remote section of China’s Great Wall damaged by 20 years of mine waste dumping

SCMP •

While foreign leaders and their families walk the iconic restored sections of the Great Wall around Beijing, the ancient stones of a remote Ming-era stretch of the structure in northern central China have been sacrificed for cheaper dumping of coal-mining waste. For nearly 20 years, a section of the wall in Ningwu county, Shanxi province, was used as a short cut to dump slag, despite whistle-blowe...

7 teens swept up in police crackdown on bicycle-related offences in Tseung Kwan O

7 teens swept up in police crackdown on bicycle-related offences in Tseung Kwan O

SCMP •

Hong Kong police have clamped down on bicycle-related offences in Tseung Kwan O, with seven teenagers facing prosecution for allegedly failing to display bike lights at night and cycling on pavements. In a social media post on Saturday, police in Tseung Kwan O district said officers had recently issued summonses to seven boys, aged 14 to 17, as part of an enforcement operation. The force said the ...

Russian strikes kill four in Ukraine

Russian strikes kill four in Ukraine

France 24 •

Meanwhile, Moscow and Kyiv continued to exchange strikes on Saturday, with Russian attacks killing at least four people across Ukraine. As both sides intensify their aerial attacks, US President Donald Trump said he hoped Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin would reach an agreement and “settle” their differences. Morgan Ayre reports.

‘Right now, it’s fine’: Trump brushes off questions about summit talk on Taiwan

‘Right now, it’s fine’: Trump brushes off questions about summit talk on Taiwan

SCMP •

US President Donald Trump has sought to play down exchanges with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Taiwan independence, saying on Saturday that they touched on the subject only briefly. “We didn’t talk about it too much. Right now, it’s fine. It’s just moving along,” Trump said. “We didn’t spend a lot of time talking about Taiwan. He understands very much how I feel.” During the summit in Wash...

Florida man bought home for pool and golf view; 11 years later, developer disputes boundary

Florida man bought home for pool and golf view; 11 years later, developer disputes boundary

Times of India •

Joe Donzelli bought his Tamarac home in 2015 for its pool, enclosed patio and golf-course view. Now, as 13th Floor Homes develops the former Woodlands Country Club into 335 homes, the developer says parts of his backyard may cross its property line. Donzelli says he was initially given three days to remove the pool area, while a Broward County property map appears to place his patio within his bou...

'Gaza on verge of exploding': Egypt spy chief warned Israel of Hamas escalation before Oct 7

'Gaza on verge of exploding': Egypt spy chief warned Israel of Hamas escalation before Oct 7

Times of India •

Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel visited Israel on September 26, warning officials about impending Hamas aggression. He urged Israel to make economic concessions to prevent escalation, signaling a dangerous situation in Gaza. Despite his warnings, Israeli officials reportedly did not take specific action in response. Numerous warnings continued to emerge from Egypt and other nations leading ...