Author: Gulf News Week
Australia’s One Nation party has won its first-ever lower-house seat in what is being seen as an important test for the right-wing populist party.With most ballots counted, One-Nation candidate David Farley has won an unassailable 60% of the primary vote in Farrer, a vast regional constituency in New South Wales. Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe is far behind.The contest was triggered by the resignation of Sussan Ley, who quit when she was ousted as leader of the opposition conservative Liberal Party.While the result will not affect the Labor government’s large majority, it is a clear sign that voters are moving away…
I’ve attended many Victory Day parades on Red Square.This year’s version felt very different.In previous years I’ve had to sprint from the media bus that normally parks up by St Basils’ Cathedral, in order to nab a decent spot in the press area at the side of the square.No running was required this year. There were far fewer journalists at the event. Many international media organisations had not been granted access.”Steve, you’re proof that foreign media have been allowed in,” beamed the reporter.”Not really,” I replied. “I can’t see any others.”I was glad to be there, though. To see for…
An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon has killed at least seven people, including a child, Lebanon’s health ministry said.The strike on the town of Saksakiyeh wounded a further 15, including three children, the ministry added. Lebanese official media also reported that an Israeli strike killed a Syrian national and seriously injured his 12-year-old daughter in the southern city of Nabatieh. Lebanese armed group Hezbollah targeted northern Israel with a drone, which the Israeli military said wounded three soldiers.Israeli forces and Hezbollah have continued to trade fire since US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire deal between the governments of Israel…
The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has sought to reassure residents of Tenerife that their risk of infection is low ahead of the arrival of a cruise ship on which an outbreak of hantavirus occurred.Tedros Ghebreyesus stressed that “this is not another Covid” and that there were no symptomatic passengers currently aboard the MV Hondius, in a personal message to people on the Canary Island.The MV Hondius is due to arrive in the port of Granadilla in the early hours of Sunday morning, sparking concern among locals.Six cases have been confirmed among the ship’s passengers, including in…
The Royal Navy is sending a warship to the Middle East where it could join an international mission to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.HMS Dragon, a type 45 destroyer, will “pre-position” in the region ahead of its “potential role” in what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) described as a “strictly defensive and independent” mission.Sir Keir Starmer, who together with French president Emmanuel Macron is championing the mission, has said the shipping mission would only take place once fighting in the region ends.Iran has been controlling the Strait of Hormuz for months in retaliation for the US and Israeli…
“Over to you Keir,” says a senior minister, not mincing his words.Not everyone in the Labour Party wants there to be a challenge to the leadership, but even Sir Keir Starmer’s most loyal ministers are pushing him to change – and fast.The prime minister is nothing if not a determined man. But can he show he can turn it round?Millions of voters have told him they aren’t impressed with what he’s been doing in 22 months of government – and, as each hour passes, more of his colleagues are going public to say, neither are they.Labour has been battered at…
Several injured after car crashes into multiple pedestrians in UK town, police sayOne man sustained life-threatening injuries. The car was abandoned and a search is under way for the driver, police say.
Summer holidays might look different for some people this year as the war in Iran disrupts travel across the Middle East and pushes up prices for flights and package deals to European hotspots.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned last week “people might change where they go on holiday this year,” and while the government insists there is no need to cancel flights some Brits are deciding to stay put.Booking.com and Airbnb both told the BBC they were already seeing an increase in demand for domestic bookings, with searches for May half-term UK holidays up 20% on Booking.com compared with last…
They chased him all day Sunday throughout the mountains of Tennessee, a team of cops and executives and avian specialists all racing to bring a bald eagle named Rockland back home safe and sound.First he was spotted at a local hotel. Next a caller reported him perched on a car across town. Each time, team members rushed to the site, but “the advantage of those little stinkers have, that we don’t, is they can take off,” wryly notes one who watched him soar away – twice.Rockland first vanished two weeks ago, along with winged compatriots Wesley and Caesar, when a…
More than 200,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since records began in 2018, new figures show.The Home Office recorded 70 people arriving in the UK on Friday, taking the total to 200,013 in the last nine years. Calm weather conditions meant 70 people on one boat were able to make the crossing.Successive governments have promised to reduce migrant arrivals through this route and halt the smuggling operations that facilitate the dangerous crossings, but the number of small boat arrivals has more than doubled in the last three years to reach this new milestone.At least eight migrants…