Rising inflation underlines scale of Andy Burnham’s cost of living challenge

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PM’s plan to shield households from more pressure risks being overwhelmed by wider price rises

July’s increase in inflation, to 2.9%, is likely to be the first of several, underlining the challenge facing Andy Burnham in shielding consumers from a fresh cost of living squeeze this autumn.

Rising energy bills, as an increase in Ofgem’s quarterly price cap came into force, were the main driver of the jump in inflation, from 2.6% in June. That was partly offset by cheaper fuel prices – the knock-on effect of hostilities easing in the Middle East, after Donald Trump hailed his “memorandum of understanding” with Iran in June.

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Spain ignores EU and prepares transfer of 500 migrant girls from Ceuta – Euronews.com

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  1. Spain ignores EU and prepares transfer of 500 migrant girls from Ceuta  Euronews.com
  2. Spain plans transfer of 500 migrant children from Ceuta to mainland  aljazeera.com
  3. Ceuta: Madrid to transfer 500 vulnerable youths to mainland  dw.com
  4. EU to Migrants: ‘Go Back to Where You’ve Never Been’  Truthdig
  5. Spain to allow 500 children in Ceuta to go to mainland in immigration U-turn  The Guardian
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Israel strikes an air base in Syria to prevent Turkish troops from deploying – NPR

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  1. Israel strikes an air base in Syria to prevent Turkish troops from deploying  NPR
  2. US condemns 'unnecessary escalation' after Israeli airstrikes on Syrian airbase  BBC
  3. Israel-Turkey Tensions Rise After Strikes on Syria Air Base  Bloomberg.com
  4. Israel defends strike on Syria as U.S. frustration with Bibi grows  Axios
  5. Israel attacks airbase in Syria’s Idlib as US, Turkiye slam ‘escalation’  Al Jazeera
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Peta Murphy called for gambling reform three years ago. Her husband says Labor’s changes fall ‘well short’

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The government’s gambling ad changes are expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday night or Thursday morning with the Coalition’s support

The husband of the late Labor MP Peta Murphy has said the government’s gambling reform “falls well short” of what she called for in 2023, lamenting that its shortcomings were due to the “considerable lobbying power” of the wagering, sporting and media industries.

Rod Glover said he had “mixed emotions” about Labor’s reforms, which are expected to pass parliament by Thursday, praising Anthony Albanese and minister Anika Wells for changes he said would reduce harms. But he said reform had taken too long and could have gone even further in meeting Murphy’s recommendations, which called for a full ban on gambling ads and inducements.

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Ukrainian Drone Strikes Oil Refinery in Bashkortostan – The Moscow Times

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  1. Ukrainian Drone Strikes Oil Refinery in Bashkortostan  The Moscow Times
  2. Ukraine hits Russia's TANECO oil refinery, oil terminal, military says  Reuters
  3. Ukraine Says It Hit Russia’s Taneco Refinery, Small Oil Terminal  Bloomberg.com
  4. Drones attack oil refinery, oil terminal in Russia - media  Ukrinform
  5. Ukraine strikes Russia's Taneco oil refinery, Tamanneftegaz terminal, General Staff confirms  The Kyiv Independent
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China completes first stage of work at disputed South China Sea reef, images show – Reuters

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  1. China completes first stage of work at disputed South China Sea reef, images show  Reuters
  2. Is a New Chinese Runway Taking Flight at Antelope Reef?  Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
  3. Antelope Reef: China's Strategic Stronghold in the South China Sea  Devdiscourse
  4. How Could China’s New South China Sea Base Affect Taiwan?  Modern Diplomacy
  5. China has completed the first phase of construction of an artificial island at Antelope Reef, a strategic military location in the South China Sea  Gamereactor UK
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Iran reportedly weighs attacks on U.S. targets in Europe as UAE severs trade with Tehran – CNBC

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  1. Iran reportedly weighs attacks on U.S. targets in Europe as UAE severs trade with Tehran  CNBC
  2. Iran eyes military targets in Europe if Donald Trump escalates war, insiders say  Financial Times
  3. NATO says it’s ready for any threat after Iran reported to mull targeting Europe  timesofisrael.com
  4. Iran Weighs Strikes On US Military Assets In Europe If Washington Escalates Conflict - Report  i24NEWS
  5. Iran weighs attacks on military targets in Europe – FT  Iran International
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Burnham hits back after Russia threat over Ukraine’s ‘use of British drones’ in record attacks – The Independent

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  1. Burnham hits back after Russia threat over Ukraine’s ‘use of British drones’ in record attacks  The Independent
  2. Why has Russia threatened the UK and what happens next?  BBC
  3. Russia's Lavrov says Britain risks being seen as party to Ukraine war  Reuters
  4. ‘We Won’t Be Bullied’: U.K. Responds to Russian Threat Over Ukraine Drone Support  Time Magazine
  5. Why is Russia threatening UK with ‘consequences’ over Ukraine drones?  aljazeera.com
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In cutting joint drills, Trump has given South Korea’s president what he wants. So why is Seoul so uneasy?

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Lee Jae Myung has long pushed for stronger homegrown defences, yet Donald Trump’s move has sparked alarm in some quarters

At their first summit, in August last year, the South Korean president, Lee Jae Myung, told Donald Trump: “If you, Mr President, become the peacemaker, then I will assist you as the pacemaker.”

The remark at the Oval Office captured the thrust of Lee’s approach to North Korea: dial down the military posturing and make repeated peace overtures to revive dialogue, even if they have been consistently rejected by Pyongyang largely over Seoul’s insistence on denuclearisation.

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Moscow warehouse burns as Ukraine drone crews prepare to strike again – The Independent

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  1. Moscow warehouse burns as Ukraine drone crews prepare to strike again  The Independent
  2. Ukraine targets Moscow with huge drone strike as Russia warns U.K. will pay price for supplying attack drones  CBS News
  3. Why Kyiv keeps attacking Russian retail giant Wildberries  DW.com
  4. A warehouse burns near Moscow. In Ukraine, drone crews prepare to strike again  AP News
  5. The Moscow region is hit by almost 800 drones as Russian missiles kill 10 in a Ukrainian village  PBS
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The Real Danger of Russia’s Fake Elections – by Cathy Young – The Bulwark

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  1. The Real Danger of Russia’s Fake Elections - by Cathy Young  The Bulwark
  2. Russian court jails Kremlin critic for 11 years for opposing the war in Ukraine  CNN
  3. Barred From Ballot, a Party Becomes a Vessel for Russians’ Discontent  The New York Times
  4. 8,000 people apply to join anti-war Yabloko amid its removal from Russia’s State Duma race. That’s twice the party’s current membership.  Meduza
  5. Putin Is Afraid Of An Election He Can’t Lose  Forbes
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