‘Not an attractive place to shop’: how Poundland lost its appeal to shoppers

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Budget retailer had a pre-tax loss of more than £51m last year and is struggling to lure back customers amid stiff competition from rivals

“It’s not actually that cheap any more. It’s kind of lost its appeal because everything is not a pound.”

Samantha, a shopper outside Poundland’s Luton retail park outlet who is heading off to B&M to find some better deals, sums up the feelings of many of her fellow bargain hunters and a central problem facing the new owner of the budget retailer.

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Pakistan to nominate Donald Trump for Nobel peace prize

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Islamabad says US president helped resolve India conflict but critic says ‘Israel’s sugar daddy in Gaza’ not candidate for any prize

Pakistan has said it will recommend Donald Trump for the Nobel peace prize for his work in helping to resolve the recent conflict between India and Pakistan.

The move, announced on Saturday, came as the US president mulls joining Israel in striking Iran’s nuclear facilities.

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Pope Leo praises work of journalists in first public comments on clerical abuse scandal – CNN

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  1. Pope Leo praises work of journalists in first public comments on clerical abuse scandal  CNN
  2. Pope Leo XIV says there should be no tolerance for abuse of any kind in Catholic Church  AP News
  3. Pope commits to weeding out church sexual abuse, praises role of press in democracy  The Guardian
  4. Pope Leo delivers fiery defense of freedom of the press, supports Peru journalists  Crux | Taking the Catholic Pulse
  5. Pope urges Church to foster a culture that does not tolerate abuse  Vatican News
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Esther Rantzen hails Commons passage of ‘rigorous and safe’ assisted dying bill

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Campaigner, who has terminal cancer, hopes bill will make it past any potential obstacles in the Lords

The assisted dying bill, if it becomes law, will remove the burden of seeing a loved one die in pain, the campaigner Esther Rantzen has said, insisting its backers have got right the balance between helping those who ask for it and protecting vulnerable people.

The terminally ill adults (end of life) bill cleared the Commons with a majority of 23 votes on Friday, but must yet be debated by the Lords before returning to the Commons for consideration of any amendments they may make.

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Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize – Yahoo

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  1. Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize  Yahoo
  2. Pakistan to nominate Donald Trump for Nobel peace prize  The Guardian
  3. "Won't Get Nobel Prize For Stopping India-Pak War": Trump Claims Credit Again  NDTV
  4. 'Zero dignity': Pak faces brickbats within and outside over Trump Nobel proposal  India Today
  5. Pakistan nominates Trump for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize over ‘India-Pak conflict role’  Hindustan Times
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Tehran is in shock – and we have fled with heavy hearts – Al Jazeera

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  1. Tehran is in shock – and we have fled with heavy hearts  Al Jazeera
  2. Iranians rattled by Israeli strikes as cash runs short and fear spikes  The Washington Post
  3. UN chief ‘gravely alarmed’ by US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites  UN News
  4. Thousands Protest Across the Middle East as Israel-Iran Conflict Deepens  The New York Times
  5. Israeli Strikes Kill Hundreds in Iran as Thousands Flee Violence  Democracy Now!
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Outcome of Israel’s war with Iran is uncertain even if US joins conflict

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American involvement is not guaranteed to secure Israel’s objectives – and may lead to unintended consequences

Israel’s assault on Iran, including its nuclear and ballistic weapons programme, is unlikely to secure its long-term strategic objectives, even if Benjamin Netanyahu manages to persuade the Trump administration into joining the conflict in the coming days and weeks, experts have said.

According to diplomats, military specialists and security analysts, Israel – and its prime minister – is likely to face mounting headwinds in the campaign, amid warnings that it risks dangerously destabilising the region.

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