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Andy Burnham has been planning what he would do as prime minister for at least a year, according to his close ally Louise Haigh. Burnham is currently the only candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader, and he has clear ideas for devolving power and reforming the welfare system.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham has prepared for a potential prime minister role for more than a year.
Burnham is the sole candidate so far to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader.
Louise Haigh, a Labour MP and former transport secretary, supports Burnham and plays a key role in his team.
Burnham has run twice before for Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015.
He spent nine years as Greater Manchester mayor, gaining experience in regional governance.
Burnham plans to devolve more power from Westminster to regional authorities and reduce the Treasury’s dominance.
Welfare reform is a major challenge, as the current disability benefit system is considered “not fit for purpose.”
Burnham wants to avoid cuts that would increase other costs in the system, emphasizing a sustainable approach.
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Democrat Graham Platner has quit the Maine Senate race following allegations of sexual assault made by a former partner. His withdrawal changes the dynamics for Democrats trying to win the seat from Republican Senator Susan Collins in the upcoming November midterms.
Key Facts
Graham Platner, a Democrat and military veteran, launched his Senate campaign in Maine in August 2025 as an anti-establishment candidate.
Platner won the Democratic primary in June 2026 with 72% of the vote, defeating Maine Governor Janet Mills who dropped out.
He has strong support from progressive Democrats like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
Allegations surfaced accusing Platner of sexually assaulting a former partner in 2021, which he denies.
Other controversies include a Nazi-era symbol tattoo, deleted social media posts about sexual violence, and reports of abusive behavior.
Some of Platner’s endorsers have withdrawn their support following the sexual assault claims.
Platner’s exit leaves Democrats without a candidate in a closely watched race against Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has held the seat for five terms.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority, and Maine is considered a key battleground state for control of the Senate.
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A man was fatally shot by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents in Memphis during a federal task force operation. This is the second fatal shooting by a member of the same task force in four days.
Key Facts
The shooting happened in Memphis, Tennessee.
It occurred around 8:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time.
DEA agents were involved in the shooting.
The agents were part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, a federal crime-fighting team.
This is the second fatal shooting by a federal task force member in Memphis within four days.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is handling the investigation.
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Nigeria is facing pressure to reform its police force due to public distrust and worsening security problems. The country has not yet approved state-level police forces, which could help improve security under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.
Key Facts
Nigeria has 36 states in its federation.
None of these states have approved the creation of their own state police forces.
Currently, Nigeria relies mainly on a national police force.
The government wants to create both national and local police forces.
This plan is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s response to increasing security challenges.
Public trust in the police remains low.
Security in Nigeria continues to decline, prompting calls for police reform.
The issue is connected to Nigeria’s overall efforts to improve internal security.
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The Secret Service advised President Donald Trump to use an older Air Force One plane when leaving Turkey as a safety measure due to rising tensions with Iran. While President Trump said the switch was not about security, sources say it was done because of the older plane’s better security for this situation.
Key Facts
The Secret Service recommended using the old Air Force One plane for President Trump’s departure from Turkey.
This decision was made as a precaution during increased tensions with Iran.
The newer Air Force One was a gift from Qatar and has advanced security features but was not used for the Turkey departure.
President Trump denied that the change was due to security concerns.
Trump mentioned he is "No. 1 on the kill list for Iran."
Passengers were asked to keep window shades down during the flight for security reasons.
The plane with the president turned on its tracking system only after flying over the Black Sea.
The new Air Force One later joined the president’s flight in England after initially leaving Turkey earlier.
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Mark Esper, who was once the U.S. Secretary of Defense, said that Iran will try to gain as much advantage as possible in peace talks with the United States before the upcoming midterm elections. He also predicted that President Donald Trump will use the U.S. military more strongly against Iran after the elections.
Key Facts
Mark Esper is a former U.S. Secretary of Defense.
He said Iran wants to get the best deal it can in peace negotiations before the midterm elections.
Midterm elections are coming soon and are important for U.S. politics.
Esper believes President Trump will have more freedom to act after these elections.
He predicts President Trump will increase U.S. military actions toward Iran once the elections are over.
Iran is aware of the timing and is trying to use it to its advantage in talks.
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Reform UK is under investigation for undisclosed donations totaling millions of pounds. Nigel Farage announced his resignation following reports that large money transfers made to the party and its leaders, including a £5 million gift to Farage, triggered anti-money laundering alerts. Questions remain about the timing and sources of these donations.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage plans to resign and hold a byelection after a £5 million gift to him was reported to the National Crime Agency (NCA) due to money laundering concerns.
The £5 million donation was reportedly given by billionaire Christopher Harborne on 5 April 2024.
Reports to the NCA about the £5 million were made on 16 May 2024, after Farage had started preparations for a political campaign.
Other transactions totaling over £1 million involving senior Reform UK figures also triggered Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to the NCA.
A separate £1 million donation to a Reform-affiliated group came from Fiona Cottrell, connected to a close associate of convicted fraudster George Cottrell; its source raised further concerns.
The £1 million donation was moved through an Australian money exchange called Oneify, which caused additional banking scrutiny.
Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, was questioned about the origin of the £1 million donation and a personal loan of £80,000 from George Cottrell.
There are unresolved questions about when Farage received the £5 million gift and whether he fully disclosed this to parliamentary authorities.
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Nigeria is investigating a fake government agency that was created by a conman. This agency had offices on government grounds and received public funds, even though it did not officially exist.
Key Facts
The agency was invented by a conman and was not officially recognized.
It managed to set up offices inside government buildings.
The fake agency was listed in the government budget and received money.
Its claimed goal was to attract foreign investment to Nigeria.
Authorities only discovered the fraud after the agency had been operating for some time.
The situation raised questions about how the government manages public resources.
Nigerian police and officials are under pressure to improve oversight and trust.
The investigation started in early July 2026.
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Graham Platner has left the race for the U.S. Senate in Maine after an accusation of sexual assault, which he denies. The Democratic Party in Maine is now working to pick a new candidate through a special meeting.
Key Facts
Graham Platner was running for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine.
He dropped out of the race because of a sexual assault allegation.
Platner denies the accusation.
The Maine Democratic Party will hold a nominating convention to choose a replacement candidate.
The news was reported by CBS News and correspondent Fin Gómez.
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The US Space Force added two companies, Impulse Space and Relativity Space, to its list of bidders for military rocket launch contracts. Impulse Space is unusual because it focuses on spacecraft that operate in space rather than rockets, but it is developing a special "kick stage" to help launch satellites to higher orbits.
Key Facts
The US Space Force’s National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program selects companies to bid on military rocket launch contracts from 2025 to 2029.
Two companies, Impulse Space and Relativity Space, were recently added as eligible bidders.
Relativity Space is working on launching its heavy-lift Terran R rocket.
Impulse Space builds spacecraft for operations in space, not traditional rockets.
Impulse Space is developing a "kick stage" called Helios to boost satellites from low-Earth orbit to geostationary orbit (about 36,000 km high).
Helios can increase the performance of medium-lift rockets like SpaceX's Falcon 9, acting like a powerful extra booster.
To bid on contracts, Impulse Space must first demonstrate Helios in a successful test flight.
Impulse Space is testing Helios components in Mojave, California, including a test tank and the Deneb engine, which runs on liquid oxygen and methane.
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An Indonesian farmer became popular online for using a drone to travel. A video shows him flying above the ground on the drone as he moves through Java.
Key Facts
The farmer is from Indonesia.
He used a drone as a way to get around.
A video captured his drone journey.
The drone carried him safely over the ground.
The location of the trip was Java, an island in Indonesia.
The video quickly gained attention and spread widely online.
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Germany plans to pass a law making rental e-scooter companies responsible for accidents caused by their vehicles. This will help victims get compensation without needing to prove the rider’s fault, similar to car insurance rules. The law aims to address rising e-scooter accidents and problems with scooters left in unsafe places.
Key Facts
Germany’s government is introducing a law to make rental e-scooter operators liable for accidents caused by their scooters.
Victims will not have to prove that the rider was at fault to claim compensation.
The law puts rental e-scooters on a legal level similar to cars regarding accident liability.
E-scooters have been allowed on German roads since 2019 for riders aged 14 and older.
The number of e-scooter accidents doubled from 5,535 in 2021 to nearly 12,000 in 2024.
In 2024, 27 people died and about 1,500 were seriously hurt in e-scooter accidents.
The number of non-riders hit by e-scooters rose from 1,150 in 2020 to about 5,000 in 2023.
The new law also targets hazards from e-scooters left improperly on sidewalks and pavements.
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Former Maine state Senator Troy Jackson announced he will run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Senator Susan Collins. He made this announcement after the previous Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, withdrew from the race following several scandals.
Key Facts
Troy Jackson is a former state senator from Maine.
He is running against Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine.
The previous Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, suspended his campaign.
Platner dropped out because of multiple scandals.
Jackson highlighted support from working-class people in Maine.
This is a U.S. Senate election race in the state of Maine.
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NATO leaders met in Ankara for a summit focused on defence budgets and support for Ukraine. While the alliance showed agreement on some points, President Donald Trump criticized some members, including Spain, and announced a trade embargo.
Key Facts
NATO held a two-day summit in Ankara, Turkey, discussing defence spending and support for Ukraine.
NATO leaders promised to support each other under Article 5, which means they will protect allies if attacked.
European countries agreed to increase defence budgets, with over $50 billion planned for new military purchases.
Only 5 out of 32 NATO members are expected to meet the goal of spending 3.5% of their economy on defence by 2026.
NATO members pledged around 70 billion euros ($80 billion) to help Ukraine against Russia.
President Trump criticized NATO partners, especially Spain, and ordered a trade embargo on the country.
Trump also expressed unhappiness with NATO over Greenland and concerns about limited support against Iran.
These disagreements may weaken the unity of NATO, an alliance important for Western security for over 75 years.
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The TV shows "The Pitt" and "Hacks" received the most nominations at the 2026 Emmy Awards, with 25 and 24 nominations each. These nominations highlight the shows as leading contenders in the award competition.
Key Facts
"The Pitt" earned 25 Emmy nominations.
"Hacks" earned 24 Emmy nominations.
The Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievements in television.
These two shows had the highest number of nominations in 2026.
The information was reported by Entertainment Tonight's Emily Curl.
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A report by Glaad shows that LGBTQ+ characters appeared in only 20.4% of major films released in 2025, continuing a three-year decline in representation. The study highlights fewer LGBTQ+ characters of color and almost no transgender characters in mainstream films, while smaller film companies are praised for more inclusive work.
Key Facts
Only 46 out of 225 films released in 2025 included LGBTQ+ characters.
LGBTQ+ representation dropped from 28.5% in 2023 to 20.4% in 2025.
LGBTQ+ characters mostly had supporting roles; fewer lead roles were present.
Transgender characters were nearly absent in over 200 films analyzed.
Mid-budget and horror films showed higher LGBTQ+ inclusion and box office success.
Smaller distributors like Mubi and Bleecker Street released notable LGBTQ+ inclusive films.
Younger audiences (Gen Z) have a higher percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals, making this market important for studios.
Glaad warns that ignoring LGBTQ+ viewers could hurt studios financially and their cultural relevance.
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Since President Donald Trump began his second term, 10 people have been fatally shot by federal immigration officers nationwide. These deaths occurred during various immigration enforcement actions, with some families and groups calling for independent investigations.
Key Facts
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by ICE officers during an enforcement operation while he was driving to work.
Since the start of President Trump's second term, 10 fatal shootings involving ICE and CBP agents have been reported.
Some shootings happened outside of enforcement operations, including incidents involving off-duty agents.
Department of Homeland Security claims some victims "weaponized" their vehicles during arrests, but these claims are disputed by families and rights groups.
A recent report says 52 people died in ICE custody in the first 500 days of the second Trump administration.
The UN human rights office has raised concerns about the rising number of deaths in US immigration custody.
Congress approved $70 billion in funding for ICE and CBP, though critics say there is little accountability for related violence.
High-profile cases in Minnesota involved the shooting deaths of two US citizens by federal immigration officers, sparking protests.
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A Texas oil company linked to President Donald Trump is trying to drill for oil in Greenland. The company says it has permission to bring equipment and wants to start drilling soon, but Greenland’s government says no active permits have been granted. The situation raises tension over American business interests and political influence in Greenland.
Key Facts
Greenland Energy, a Texas oil company tied to President Trump’s backers, plans to drill for oil in Greenland.
The company claims it has a permit to bring drilling equipment but has not received final approval to start drilling.
Greenland’s resources ministry denies there are any active permits or permissions for exploration.
The company is shipping equipment to Greenland’s east coast on an Arctic-capable vessel, planning to begin drilling in October.
Jeff Landry, President Trump’s special envoy to Greenland, promotes the idea Greenland could soon export 2 million barrels of oil per day.
Greenland stopped issuing oil exploration licenses in 2021 due to environmental concerns after 50 years of unsuccessful attempts.
Some Greenlanders are worried about American companies and political efforts threatening their peaceful way of life.
President Trump has expressed interest in Greenland for its natural resources and potential strategic importance.
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Giorgia Meloni has often supported President Donald Trump when other European leaders have not. The article suggests that President Trump may be harming his relationship with Meloni.
Key Facts
Giorgia Meloni has shown support for President Trump.
Other European leaders have refused similar opportunities to President Trump.
Meloni has gone out of her way to back President Trump.
The relationship between President Trump and Meloni may be weakening.
Maintaining good relations with Meloni could be important for President Trump.
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A group of UK MPs and NHS workers have urged the Labour Party to end a £330 million contract with the US tech company Palantir, which provides software for managing NHS health data. Critics worry about patient privacy and public trust due to Palantir’s links to military and government agencies, while the company claims its software improves patient care.
Key Facts
Palantir has a £330 million contract with NHS England since 2023 to manage and analyze health data.
MPs on two parliamentary committees want the NHS to cancel the contract by using a break clause in 2027 or finding a UK alternative.
Around 117 NHS data and technology workers signed a letter criticizing the contract, citing risks to patient privacy and trust.
Palantir’s software is used by US, Israeli, and UK militaries, raising concerns about its involvement beyond healthcare.
Palantir's CEO, Alex Karp, responded controversially about the company’s military work, which has added to public debate.
Palantir says its software has helped reduce surgery delays by 15% and improve cancer diagnosis times.
Sadiq Khan, London’s mayor, prevented the Metropolitan Police from awarding Palantir a £50 million contract over similar concerns.
The NHS controls how the software is used and data is processed according to legal and contractual rules.
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