Kemi Badenoch accuses Andy Burnham of ‘fiddling while Europe risks burning’
The Guardian •

Kemi Badenoch accuses Andy Burnham of ‘fiddling while Europe risks burning’

Tory leader claims prime minister is avoiding difficult decisions as she urges him to increase defence spendingKemi Badenoch has accused Andy Burnham of “fiddling while Europe is at risk of burning”, as she repeated her call for the prime minister to cut the welfare budget to fund increased spending on defence.Speaking to the Telegraph, the Tory leader said that “Burnham may be a people pleaser bu...

Baby born via surrogate can leave Texas for treatment in California, court rules

Baby born via surrogate can leave Texas for treatment in California, court rules

The Guardian •

Ruling latest step in legal fight over medically fragile child born after surrogate rejected couple’s request for abortionThe Texas supreme court has decided that the month-old infant that surrogate McKenna West gave birth to can be relocated to Los Angeles, a Thursday ruling that came weeks after a California court had recognized the biological parents’ custody rights.“Sustaining the life of the ...

Footballers and fans pay tribute to Noah Woods after toddler’s death in Suffolk

Footballers and fans pay tribute to Noah Woods after toddler’s death in Suffolk

The Guardian •

Players in Everton v Ipswich Town match wear black armbands as supporters join in minute’s applausePlayers wore black armbands during Everton’s home match against Ipswich Town on Saturday, as part of a tribute to three-year-old Noah Woods, whose body was found after he went missing in Suffolk this week.A photograph of the boy was shown on the big screen before the Premier League game in Liverpool ...

Analysts tip a stronger hand for China ahead of Xi-Trump summit in Washington

Analysts tip a stronger hand for China ahead of Xi-Trump summit in Washington

SCMP •

When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the second part of a series, Fan Chen looks at Beijing’s stronger position going into the high-stakes visit. Beijing is poised to begin this week’s summit with Washington from a p...

Pop, Protests & Palestine: Ed Sheeran’s Moral Maze

Pop, Protests & Palestine: Ed Sheeran’s Moral Maze

France 24 •

A clash over music, politics and Palestine is putting freedom of expression in the spotlight. Macklemore’s outspoken support for Palestinians has sparked a backlash around Ed Sheeran’s US tour, raising a bigger question: should artists be expected to take a political stand, or are they equally free to stay silent? France 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by Dr Adam Behr, Reader in Music, Politics and Socie...

Ed Davey takes aim at Reform and Elon Musk as Lib Dem conference begins

Ed Davey takes aim at Reform and Elon Musk as Lib Dem conference begins

The Guardian •

Leader says party ‘won’t give up the fight’ to defeat ‘nasty populism’ in first-day speech to delegatesThe Liberal Democrats’ leader, Sir Ed Davey, took aim at Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Elon Musk on the first day of his party’s annual conference, saying that they “won’t give up the fight” to defeat “nasty populism” and the far-right party’s “£72m arsenal of hate and lies”.Speaking from the main...

What China really means when it says it’s being ‘strategic’

What China really means when it says it’s being ‘strategic’

SCMP •

On September 12, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Brics summit in New Delhi. In their talks, Xi said China approached the relationship “from a strategic and long-term perspective”. He called for an objective and rational “strategic” perception. That means the two sides should treat each other as partners rather than rivals, and as opportu...

Israeli president pardons combat medic who shot dead wounded Palestinian attacker

Israeli president pardons combat medic who shot dead wounded Palestinian attacker

The Guardian •

Elor Azaria’s conviction in 2017 for manslaughter of man who stabbed soldier continues to divide countryIsrael’s president has pardoned a combat medic who shot dead a badly wounded Palestinian attacker who had stabbed a soldier in the occupied West Bank, in a case that divided the country a decade ago.Elor Azaria’s conviction in 2017 for manslaughter and his release after serving two-thirds of his...

Rugeley Riverside Park: former power station golf course becomes wetland; 1.5km trail to open 2026

Rugeley Riverside Park: former power station golf course becomes wetland; 1.5km trail to open 2026

Times of India •

The abandoned Rugeley Power Station site is set to transform into a vibrant wetland park, focusing on the revival of natural river ecosystems and enhancing biodiversity. Visitors can look forward to a newly established walking trail that invites them to explore the reimagined landscape. This park is an integral part of a broader redevelopment plan that will include residential units and community ...