Andy Burnham, the likely next prime minister of the UK, will present his economic and regional power plans in a speech soon. He aims to raise living standards over ten years by focusing on industry, housing, infrastructure, and public control of services.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is the leading candidate to replace Keir Starmer as UK prime minister.
Starmer resigned two years after winning a large Labour majority.
Burnham plans to give more power to local regions and communities, especially in the North of England.
His economic plan includes reindustrialisation, improving housing and infrastructure, and reforms in utilities like transport, water, and energy.
Burnham calls his approach “Manchesterism,” which favors business-friendly socialism and rejects trickle-down economics.
He supports keeping Labour’s fiscal rules on borrowing and debt control.
Fiscal challenges include economic impacts from the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.
United States President Donald Trump described Burnham as “extremely liberal” and doubted a North Sea oil and gas drilling opening under him.
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Israel's military caused a large explosion in the southern Lebanese village of Majdal Zoun. They said they destroyed a long tunnel used by the group Hezbollah, even though there is a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon backed by the United States.
Key Facts
The explosion happened in Majdal Zoun, a village in southern Lebanon.
Israel’s military said the blast destroyed a tunnel about 200 meters (about 650 feet) long.
The tunnel belonged to Hezbollah, a Lebanese group.
The explosion was very large and shaken the village.
There is a US-led ceasefire framework between Israel and Lebanon to stop fighting.
This event happened despite the ceasefire agreement.
Hezbollah is considered a political and military group in Lebanon.
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South Korea announced a large investment plan of over $1 trillion focused on making advanced semiconductor chips and artificial intelligence (AI) projects. The government and major companies like Samsung and SK Hynix will build new chip factories and AI data centers, especially in the southwestern part of the country, aiming to lead in these technologies by 2035.
Key Facts
South Korea will invest more than $1 trillion in AI and chip industries over several years.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, two leading chipmakers, plan to spend $518 billion to build new chip factories in the southwest.
The government plans to invest between $3.2 billion and $13 billion in projects in Gwangju and South Jeolla province.
An additional $52.5 billion will be used to build a chip-packaging cluster near Seoul.
AI data centers will be developed with $356 billion of investment from companies like SK Group, GS Group, and Naver.
By 2035, South Korea aims to build AI data centers with a total investment of $648 billion.
The government focuses on developing regions outside the capital area to reduce economic gaps.
Some critics say the choice of location favors President Lee’s political stronghold rather than business needs, but Lee defends the plan, citing local power resources and industrial benefits.
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This article honors people who take great risks and explore unknown areas. It focuses on daredevils and pioneers who challenge limits and inspire others through their bravery and creativity.
Key Facts
The article celebrates individuals known as daredevils.
Daredevils are people who take physical and mental risks.
It highlights pioneers who explore new and uncharted areas.
These individuals push themselves beyond normal limits.
Their actions often inspire others to overcome fear and be brave.
Examples mentioned include Evel Knievel and Chuck Yeager, famous for their bold feats.
The theme is about imagination and courage driving progress.
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Pakistan carried out airstrikes and sent troops into Afghan border provinces, killing dozens, including civilians. Afghanistan’s Taliban government condemned the attacks, while Pakistan said the strikes targeted militants linked to recent attacks inside Pakistan.
Key Facts
Pakistan launched airstrikes and ground troops into Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces in Afghanistan.
At least 36 civilians, including women and children, were killed according to the Taliban government.
Pakistan’s information minister said 29 militants were killed in the strikes aimed at their hideouts.
The Taliban government called the attacks a "crime and atrocity," saying civilian homes were hit.
Pakistan claims the strikes were in response to recent terrorist attacks on innocent people in its territory.
The Taliban rejects Pakistan’s accusation that it harbors terrorists who attack Pakistan.
The border area has seen intermittent clashes and strikes in recent months, causing deaths on both sides.
The latest strikes followed a suicide attack in Karachi that killed three Pakistani paramilitary members, claimed by a banned militant group linked to Afghanistan.
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Indian journalist R Rajagopal has lost his voting rights and faced delays in renewing his passport due to his name being removed from the voter list in West Bengal. The removal happened during a voter list update called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which aims to remove ineligible voters but has also affected millions of eligible people.
Key Facts
R Rajagopal, former editor of The Telegraph, had his name removed from West Bengal's voter list during the SIR exercise.
The SIR is an election commission effort to identify and remove ineligible voters, started on 4 November 2025.
Around 60 million names nationwide were removed from voter lists, including about 9 million in West Bengal.
Rajagopal’s passport renewal was delayed because police could not complete verification without his name on the voter list.
Rajagopal has lived in the same constituency for over 25 years and has been a registered voter since 2010.
The Editors Guild of India condemned the removal, calling it a hardship for millions and warning about its effects on ordinary citizens.
Political parties and journalists have expressed support for Rajagopal and criticized the voter removal process.
Rajagopal’s appeal against the voter list removal is pending in court following Supreme Court guidelines.
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Liberal Party member Melissa McIntosh suggested the party might need to change its image or name to attract more voters, as their support has fallen to a historic low in recent polls. Opposition leader Angus Taylor admitted the party lost trust during the COVID pandemic, and despite efforts, voter support for the Coalition remains low compared to other parties.
Key Facts
Liberal frontbencher Melissa McIntosh said the party may need a “rebrand” to win back voters.
The Coalition’s polling dropped to a historic low of 17% in Newspoll.
Labor leads with 33% support, One Nation has 29%, and the Greens have 13%.
Angus Taylor, the opposition leader, said the Coalition lost trust during the pandemic by supporting a larger government.
Taylor said rebuilding trust will take time and compared the challenge to turning a large ship slowly.
Some Liberal members have privately expressed concern about the party’s direction.
Labor politicians criticized McIntosh’s comments about rebranding or changing the party name.
Andrew Hastie, a Liberal MP, supported Taylor’s leadership and said policy work is ongoing.
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A mother and her 18-day-old baby were rescued from the rubble after two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela, killing many people. The mother said her baby gave her hope to stay awake and survive until rescuers found them.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing widespread destruction and killing at least 1,450 people.
Dayana Patino was trapped under rubble with her newborn son, Juan David, who was 18 days old.
She felt her leg was trapped under concrete and was unable to move, but held and cared for her baby.
Dayana stayed calm and used a Bible she found for hope during her time under the rubble.
Her brother heard her calls and led rescuers to her and her baby.
Both mother and baby were rescued after several hours; Dayana had leg injuries and her baby had minor injuries.
Their home was completely destroyed, and their family dog is still missing.
The family plans to start their lives over after the disaster.
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Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan said cost increases in the state’s Big Build projects were due to inflation, not corruption. However, experts and investigations claim that union demands and payments linked to gangland figures have caused large cost overruns and call for a royal commission to investigate.
Key Facts
Victoria’s Big Build infrastructure projects have seen major cost increases, reaching over $100 billion in total.
Premier Jacinta Allan says inflation and fair wages for union workers explain higher costs, not corruption.
An integrity expert, Geoffrey Watson SC, says blaming inflation alone is “nonsense” and calls for a royal commission to investigate corruption.
Reports show that union demands raised labor costs on the Metro Tunnel project by around 22% above normal levels.
Contractors were forced to add extra non-productive workers due to union pressure, driving labor costs higher.
Investigations revealed money from these projects has been paid to gangland figures, despite government attempts to clean up corruption.
Allan has not read the leaked report detailing these issues but said investigations and law enforcement have powers to act.
The Labor government previously supported meeting the union’s demands during the projects.
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Gabriele Stötzer is an East German artist known for her creative work during the communist era in the former East Germany (GDR). Her first major exhibition is now on display in Berlin, showing 150 pieces and highlighting her art created despite tough conditions and political repression.
Key Facts
Gabriele Stötzer was a radical artist in communist East Germany who faced material shortages and political restrictions.
She spent a year in prison for protesting against the exile of a dissident singer and began developing her art during that time.
The exhibition "Dabei Sein und nicht schweigen" (Show up and don’t be quiet) is at the Martin Gropius Bau gallery in Berlin until 6 December.
The show presents 150 works and is the largest celebration of an East German female artist in a state museum.
Stötzer refused to leave East Germany to avoid supporting the capitalist West German government and stayed to use the GDR as an artistic and feminist experimental space.
She co-founded a women’s artists’ collective that operated under surveillance and frequent bans by the Stasi, East Germany’s secret police.
Stötzer used everyday materials and her lived experiences, including dreams and traumas, as part of her art.
She preferred to buy film for her Super 8 camera instead of food, capturing personal and rebellious expressions against state control.
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A U.S. rescue team saved a mother and her 9-month-old baby from the rubble of a collapsed building after two earthquakes hit Venezuela, killing over 1,400 people. Multiple countries, including the U.S., Mexico, and El Salvador, are helping with rescue and relief efforts amid widespread destruction and many missing people.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing buildings to collapse and killing more than 1,400 people.
A U.S. Urban Search and Rescue team pulled a mother and her baby from the rubble; both had minor injuries.
The U.S. military deployed about 100 airmen to manage airport traffic and 130 Marines to reopen a key port in La Guaira.
Other countries like Mexico, El Salvador, and Switzerland are also involved in rescue operations.
Venezuelan officials say about 200 people have been rescued, but around 51,000 are still missing or unaccounted for.
The earthquakes happened very close together in time and were shallow, causing strong damage near the surface.
Many survivors are searching on their own for loved ones because of limited government aid in some areas.
Rescue teams emphasize the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster are crucial for finding people alive.
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A 23-year-old woman named Mallorie Jane Roberts died from gunshot wounds in a home in Biggera Waters, Gold Coast, Queensland. Ethan Midgley, also 23, was charged with domestic violence-related murder and illegal possession of weapons connected to the shooting.
Key Facts
Mallorie Jane Roberts was found with gunshot wounds at her home around 8 pm on Sunday.
Emergency services arrived after a neighbor called the emergency number.
Roberts was declared dead at the scene despite efforts to save her.
Ethan Midgley was arrested at the home and charged with murder and unlawful weapon possession.
The weapon used was an unregistered homemade firearm.
Roberts and Midgley were in a relationship and lived together; he is not the father of her two-year-old son.
Police had previously been called to the same address.
The Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Alliance expressed sorrow and highlighted the impact of such violence.
Midgley was held in custody and is scheduled to appear in court in July.
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A drug called Xonvea helps treat severe pregnancy sickness known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). While it is approved and works well for many women, some have trouble getting it through the NHS because doctors tend to prescribe cheaper medicines first, and approval can be complicated.
Key Facts
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of pregnancy sickness that makes women feel very sick and unable to eat.
Xonvea is a drug approved by the UK’s Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) specifically for treating HG.
Some women find Xonvea more effective than other common treatments for pregnancy sickness.
Access to Xonvea is not always easy; some women must fight to get it prescribed or pay for private appointments.
General practitioners (GPs) often prescribe cheaper anti-sickness drugs first due to cost differences.
Approval for prescribing Xonvea sometimes requires a consultant’s permission, causing delays.
The Pregnancy Sickness Support charity calls access to Xonvea a "postcode lottery," meaning it depends on where a woman lives.
Specialists recommend Xonvea but acknowledge cost and access issues affect its availability to patients.
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A fossil found in 1985 on James Ross Island was recently identified as the first dinosaur bone discovered in Antarctica. It is a tail bone from a Titanosaur, a group of large, plant-eating dinosaurs, and helps scientists understand more about dinosaurs that lived on the continent millions of years ago.
Key Facts
The fossil was found in 1985 but was stored in a drawer for 40 years before being studied again.
It was discovered on James Ross Island in Antarctica during a 1985 expedition.
The bone is a vertebra from a Titanosaur, one of the largest dinosaurs ever.
Titanosaurs were four-legged, plant-eating dinosaurs with long necks and tails.
Scientists estimate this Titanosaur was about 7 meters (23 feet) long, possibly a juvenile or small adult.
This dinosaur lived around 82 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous Period.
At that time, Antarctica was covered in lush forests, unlike its icy environment today.
The discovery adds valuable information about dinosaur life in Antarctica, where fossils are rare.
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Germany's eastern states have seen a large drop in population since reunification in 1990, mainly because many people moved to the western states for better opportunities and because of low birth rates. This population decline has contributed to political changes, including rising support for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, especially in states like Saxony-Anhalt.
Key Facts
After German reunification, many businesses in East Germany closed or shrank, causing job losses.
Between 1990 and 2025, the overall population in Germany grew by 3.8 million due to immigration, but the eastern states lost 16% of their population (excluding East Berlin).
Saxony-Anhalt experienced the greatest population drop in the east, with a decline of 26%.
Population decline in the east is expected to continue because of low birth rates and ongoing migration westward.
The eastern states outside Berlin are projected to have fewer people by 2070 under various scenarios.
The economic transition from a socialist to a capitalist system was difficult, resulting in mass unemployment and social challenges in the east.
Some of the population loss occurred in two waves: immediately after reunification and another in the early 2000s.
The demographic changes may be increasing support for the AfD party, which is seen as right-wing extremist by German domestic intelligence.
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People in parts of Venezuela affected by a recent earthquake are upset with how the government is handling the recovery efforts. Volunteers are helping to find survivors trapped under the collapsed buildings, especially in the coastal city of Catia la Mar.
Key Facts
An earthquake hit areas in northern Venezuela, including Catia la Mar.
Many buildings fell down, leaving people trapped under rubble.
Local volunteers are working quickly to find and rescue survivors.
Residents feel the government has not provided enough help.
The situation is causing frustration and anger among people in the affected communities.
The news report was filed by the BBC from the disaster area.
This event happened recently, with the report published about 10 hours ago.
The article focuses on the response to the natural disaster rather than the cause of the earthquake.
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The UK Ministry of Defence has changed its plan to replace old destroyers with large new ships. Instead, it will build at least six smaller, drone-equipped warships to better handle modern threats. The new vessels aim to improve naval reach and defense while keeping costs and crew numbers lower.
Key Facts
The UK will stop plans to replace ageing Type 45 destroyers with Type 83 vessels.
Instead, the Ministry of Defence will build at least six "Common Combat Vessels" that can use drones in the air, on water, and under the sea.
These new ships are designed for modern warfare and to counter threats like Russian activity in the North Atlantic.
The vessels are expected to be ready in the 2030s but no exact budget has been announced.
This change is part of a larger defence investment plan to be published before the NATO summit in July 2026.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis supports the updated plan, aiming to get new technology to frontline forces quickly.
Recent resignations of defence officials happened over disagreements about defence funding levels.
The UK government plans to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3.5% by 2035, in line with NATO goals.
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Catherine, the Princess of Wales, completed the Three Peaks Challenge by climbing the highest mountains in England, Scotland, and Wales in one day to raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. She took on the challenge to support holistic healthcare for cancer patients and to raise awareness about the emotional and physical impact of cancer.
Key Facts
The Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing the tallest peaks in England (Scafell Pike), Scotland (Ben Nevis), and Wales (Snowdon) in 24 hours.
Catherine was treated for cancer in 2024 and was in remission by early 2025.
She completed the challenge to raise funds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Holistic healthcare means supporting the whole person, including physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing alongside medical treatment.
Catherine shared that cancer affects more than just the body; it also impacts emotions and how people think.
She wants to highlight the importance of combining medical treatment with other types of care to improve cancer patients’ quality of life.
At the finish in Wales, she was greeted by family members, including Prince William and their children.
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust praised her support and said it will help many cancer patients and their families.
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An Australian man was charged with murder after the body of a 17-year-old Thai girl was found in a suitcase in Pattaya, Thailand. The man was arrested while trying to leave the country and denies killing the girl, claiming self-defense.
Key Facts
The girl, Tunchanok Donhomla, was 17 years old and reported missing on Friday in Pattaya.
Police found her naked body inside a suitcase near a railway track early Saturday morning.
Simon Peter Carman, the Australian suspect, was arrested at Bangkok airport as he tried to flee.
CCTV footage showed Carman entering a condominium with the girl and leaving alone with a large suitcase.
Carman denies murder and other charges but admits an argument over payment for sexual services.
Police say Carman had scratch marks consistent with a struggle, but he claimed they were from a spider.
The girl was an only child from Kalasin province and had traveled to Pattaya on holiday.
If found guilty, Carman could face the death penalty in Thailand.
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Three firefighters died and two were burned while fighting fast-moving wildfires near the Colorado-Utah border. The fires combined to form the large Snyder Fire, burning about 44 square miles, with hot and windy weather making firefighting difficult.
Key Facts
Three firefighters died, and two were injured by burns during a wildfire near the Colorado-Utah border.
The affected firefighters were from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and U.S. Forest Service.
The Knowles and Gore fires merged to create the Snyder Fire, which has burned about 44 square miles.
Weather conditions included temperatures up to 93°F (34°C) and wind gusts up to 44 mph (71 kph).
The firefighting agencies closed nearby public lands to keep people safe and asked residents to evacuate and wet the land.
Wildfires are spreading rapidly in the western U.S. due to hot, dry, and windy weather and low humidity.
A large fire in southwest Utah, the Cottonwood Fire, has burned over 144 square miles and damaged a ski resort.
The dry conditions are worsened by Utah’s record-low snowpack and warmest winter, increasing fire risk across the West.
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