Author: James Carter

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has banned Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country, days after Green Party members voted to adopt a motion declaring “Zionism is racism” at their Brighton conference, a decision Israeli officials have branded antisemitic. Green Party leader Zack Polanski has been barred from entering Israel after his party formally adopted a motion stating that “Zionism is racism.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the decision in a statement, saying Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had decided “this evening” to bar Polanski, with the move “coordinated with the relevant authorities.” The ban follows a vote at the Green Party’s…

Bank of England figures show the interest rate paid across all outstanding mortgages has doubled since 2021 to reach 4 per cent, the highest level in more than 15 years, as rising borrowing costs continue to weigh on mortgage approvals and house-moving activity. The average interest rate paid by UK homeowners on their mortgages has doubled over the past five years, reaching 4 per cent by the end of August, according to data from the Bank of England. The figure, which covers all outstanding mortgage balances rather than just newly issued loans, compares with a rate of just 2 per…

The Green Party leader has faced fresh criticism after releasing a Bengali-language campaign video for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, just days after a similar Urdu video drew mockery from London Mayor Sadiq Khan and calls from the Conservatives for foreign languages to be banned from political campaigning. Green Party leader Zack Polanski has provoked a fresh controversy after releasing a campaign video in Bengali, just days after facing criticism for a similar video in Urdu. Polanski is standing in the by-election to replace Sir Keir Starmer as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, a contest scheduled for 8…

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani opened a three-day Urban 20 summit on Saturday, welcoming mayors from around the world to discuss housing, climate and migration, though much of the day’s proceedings were closed to the press and several meeting locations went undisclosed. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani opened a three-day international summit on Saturday, hosting mayors and city leaders from across the globe as part of the Urban 20 (U20) initiative. In his opening remarks, Mamdani said the gathering would focus on “practical solutions” to challenges including “rising housing costs, the climate crisis and migration,” according to a statement…

A photograph of President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One facing a sign reading “Kennedy Center DEMOLITION” has been submitted as fresh evidence in a federal court case, hours after a Trump-appointed board voted to close the venue and a judge blocked its renaming after the president. A photograph showing President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One facing a large poster reading “Kennedy Center DEMOLITION” has added new urgency to an ongoing legal battle over the future of the Washington performing arts venue. The image emerged just days after a Trump-appointed leadership panel voted to close the Kennedy Center, citing…

The Albanese government has joined the Greens and key crossbench senators to vote down a One Nation bill that would have created a court-based mechanism to block terrorist fighters from returning to Australia, prompting a furious response from Pauline Hanson in the Senate. The Albanese government has voted against a One Nation bill that sought to prevent terrorist fighters from returning to Australia, drawing a fierce response from Pauline Hanson. Labor was joined by the Greens and key crossbench senators in voting down the Protecting Australians from Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill in the Senate on Thursday. The bill, introduced by…

Labour has chosen Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former Somali child refugee, as its candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, in a contest already shaping up as a fierce battle with the Green Party amid separate controversy over comments made by Reform UK. A Somali refugee and council leader has been selected as Labour’s candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Sagal Abdi-Wali, leader of Camden Council, is Labour’s pick to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as MP for the London constituency, in a race scheduled for 8 October 2026 that gives…

The UK has formally announced a ban on trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, alongside new sanctions and tighter arms export restrictions, prompting Israel’s foreign minister to threaten closing the UK consulate in Jerusalem and expelling British representatives from Gaza coordination efforts. The UK has formally introduced a ban on trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as part of what Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described as a “comprehensive reset” of Britain’s Middle East policy. Announcing the measures to MPs, Miliband confirmed the legislation is expected to take between six…

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is pressing ahead with trade sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a move set to be formally announced in Parliament next week that risks straining relations with Donald Trump and has already exposed deep divisions within the Labour Party. Andy Burnham has been left bracing for a row with Donald Trump after pushing ahead with plans to impose sanctions on Israel. The Prime Minister, who also risks a backlash from within his own party, is fast-tracking a trade ban targeting goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed…

Labour MP Diane Abbott has triggered a fresh political storm after describing the threat from Russia as a “NATO fiction” designed to justify higher defence spending, drawing sharp criticism from across Westminster just weeks after her readmission to the party and hours after Germany formally blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack on its territory. Diane Abbott has become embroiled in fresh controversy after describing the threat from Russia as a “NATO fiction” and arguing that a planned increase to UK defence spending “should not go ahead.” The veteran Labour MP wrote on social media that “the imminent threat from…