PoliticsAndy Burnham’s return to parliament serves as a vital proof of concept for the Labour Party’s electoral viability, yet the victory carries a sharp warning for the current leadership. Wes Streeting insists that while the win offers a glimmer of hope, it also underscores the urgent necessity for internal reform.
PoliticsWith Andy Burnham securing a parliamentary seat and fueling speculation over his own ambitions, Housing Minister Steve Reed has moved to preempt any internal power struggle. Reed confirmed on Friday that Prime Minister Keir Starmer remains fully prepared to defend his position against any potential challenge to his authority.
PoliticsSecuring a parliamentary seat with 54.8% of the vote, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has positioned himself as the primary challenger to Keir Starmer. As Labour navigates historic local election losses and the rise of Reform UK, internal pressure is mounting for a transition of power within the governing party.
PoliticsBritish housing minister Steve Reed has publicly rejected suggestions that the Labour Party faces an internal collapse, dismissing speculation that leadership rival Andy Burnham’s successful return to parliament signals a power struggle against Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
PoliticsThe Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has bypassed traditional militia networks to establish secretive cells in Iraq, launching a series of drone strikes against Gulf neighbors. These elite, small-scale units report directly to Tehran, marking a tactical shift designed to maintain regional force projection while avoiding detection and political blowback.
PoliticsAt least 24 people have died during two weeks of violent clashes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where a government-imposed blackout and territory-wide shutdown have brought daily life to a grinding halt. The region remains in turmoil following the banning of the Joint Awami Action Committee amid widespread public defiance.
PoliticsThe planned diplomatic summit in Switzerland to cement a US-Iran ceasefire collapsed on Friday after Vice President JD Vance canceled his travel. The abrupt retreat, following a tenuous 60-day truce, leaves the future of the Middle East conflict in limbo as Israel continues its military campaign in Lebanon.
PoliticsWith a commanding 54.8% of the vote in Makerfield, Andy Burnham has secured his return to the House of Commons, immediately positioning himself as the primary threat to Keir Starmer’s premiership. The Greater Manchester mayor’s victory now provides the platform needed to force a contest for the Labour Party leadership.
Fifteen people died in southern Lebanon on Friday following a heavy wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting the Nabatieh district. The bombardment, which local reports describe as the most intense in weeks, follows Israel’s claims of ongoing Hezbollah activity and persistent violations of the recently negotiated ceasefire agreement.
PoliticsDuring the G7 summit in France, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung secured a critical alignment with Donald Trump regarding the immediate future of the Korean Peninsula. The two leaders reached a consensus that the primary, short-term objective for North Korea must be a complete halt to its ongoing nuclear weapons development.
PoliticsFive missing votes during Friday’s Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand have sparked a rift within the opposition alliance. Congress candidate Pranav Jha’s defeat has prompted party leaders to question the loyalty of their coalition partners, specifically pointing to a breakdown in support from the RJD and CPI(ML)L.
PoliticsMumbai streets are blanketed in competing banners today as two rival Shiv Sena factions mark the party’s foundation day, their public displays masking a deeper instability. Behind the celebratory rhetoric, persistent rumors of an alleged 'Operation Tiger' suggest that several key MPs may soon abandon the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp.
PoliticsA Russian drone strike in the Black Sea killed a crew member on a Panama-flagged vessel and left two others wounded, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. The attack marks a violent escalation against commercial shipping in waters vital for international grain and commodity exports.
Politics“This is their family grudge; we have no say in it,” BJP leader Priyanka Tibrewal said Friday, framing the escalating rebellion within the Trinamool Congress as a private affair. The comments arrive as TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee prepares to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to address a splintered parliamentary delegation.
PoliticsWith a decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has cleared the final procedural hurdle required to mount a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The win grants Burnham a seat in the House of Commons, transforming him into a formidable contender for the party helm.
PoliticsAmid swirling rumors of an exodus within the Shiv Sena (UBT), MP Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje dismissed claims of a rebellion upon his return to Nashik on Friday. Waje asserted that he and two other party colleagues remain firmly committed to their current alliance, seeking to quell growing speculation of a shift.
PoliticsSix Shiv Sena (UBT) members of parliament skipped a high-stakes meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, fueling intense speculation of a party fracture. While the leadership has initiated disqualification proceedings against the absentees, senior figures remain divided over how to manage the fallout of this public display of internal dissent.
PoliticsWith plans to gather 30,000 participants, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will headline this year's International Yoga Day celebrations in West Bengal. Local leadership confirmed the event will feature a unique session held on the Ganga River, marking a significant expansion of the state’s annual observance of the global practice.
PoliticsWith a seat in Parliament secured, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has positioned himself as the primary successor to Keir Starmer. As Labour lawmakers grow restless following historic local election losses, the prospect of a leadership challenge has moved from speculation to a calculated, albeit complex, strategic maneuver.
PoliticsAndy Burnham’s rise from regional champion to potential prime minister rests on a combative brand of politics that defied Westminster’s authority during the pandemic. Yet, as the 56-year-old eyes the keys to Downing Street, his signature defiance of central government risks colliding with the harsh realities of Britain’s constrained public finances.
PoliticsAndy Burnham’s return to Westminster has positioned the Greater Manchester mayor as a frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer. His proposed "Manchesterism" model aims to rewire the nation’s economy by decentralizing power, championing "business-friendly socialism," and shifting financial control away from London to local communities.
PoliticsAfter a decade of relentless expansion, Europe’s refugee and asylum-seeker population leveled off in 2025. Data from the Rockwool Foundation Berlin reveals that the total count held steady at 9.59 million, a stark pivot from the surge that followed the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
PoliticsA sharp divide has emerged among European Union leaders as they prepare to debate a 2 trillion euro budget for 2028–2034. With net contributors and beneficiaries already rejecting a preliminary compromise, the bloc faces a difficult path to secure the funding needed for both traditional policies and modern industrial competition.
PoliticsTwo civilians died and two others suffered injuries following a multi-pronged Russian aerial assault on the Sumy region, according to local police reports issued Friday. The barrage, which utilized a combination of drones, missiles, and guided bombs, marks another escalation in the ongoing campaign against Ukraine's northern border territories.
PoliticsGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham secured a decisive victory in the Makerfield parliamentary constituency on Friday, capturing 54.8% of the vote. This win provides the popular politician a formal platform to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose leadership faces mounting scrutiny following a series of political setbacks and plummeting approval ratings.
PoliticsThe high-stakes diplomatic summit slated for Friday at the Burgenstock resort has been abruptly scrapped. The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed the cancellation after the White House announced that Vice President JD Vance would no longer attend the meeting, which was intended to formalize an agreement aimed at ending the ongoing war.
PoliticsUkrainian defense firms are courting Japanese and Taiwanese partners to export combat-proven drone technology to Asia, aiming to capitalize on a regional military spending surge as allies prepare for potential conflict. The push follows successful deployments of Ukrainian maritime drones that have neutralized Russian naval assets in the Black Sea.
PoliticsGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has secured a parliamentary seat in Makerfield, securing 24,927 votes and providing a focal point for internal Labour Party opposition. The result, described as a potential turning point in British politics, intensifies the pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down amid plummeting approval ratings.
PoliticsThe U.S. Department of Defense is requesting $80 billion in emergency funding to address mounting costs from the ongoing Iran conflict and various non-defense obligations. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg outlined the figure in private discussions with lawmakers, signaling an imminent supplemental package headed for Capitol Hill.
PoliticsGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham secured a parliamentary seat in Makerfield on Friday, immediately positioning himself as the primary threat to Keir Starmer’s premiership. With 24,927 votes, Burnham’s decisive win in the industrial heartland provides the political leverage needed to challenge a leader currently battling record-low approval ratings.