Author: Andrew Rogers

The liberal centrist party Democrats 66 (D66) in the Netherlands made a major breakthrough in the 2025 parliamentary election. The party nearly tripled its seat count, reflecting growing voter fatigue with far-right populist parties. Analysts say the result marks a return to moderate, problem-solving politics in a country that has seen rising political polarization in recent years. D66’s performance indicates that many voters are seeking stability and practical solutions over divisive rhetoric. The election outcome strengthens centrist influence in the Dutch parliament. With a larger presence, D66 is positioned to shape legislation on key issues, including economic policy, social programs,…

Erling Haaland once again proved unstoppable as his brace fired Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Bournemouth, lifting Pep Guardiola’s side into second place in the Premier League. The Norwegian striker struck twice in the first half, taking his league tally to 13 goals this season and a remarkable 98 in 107 Premier League appearances. Haaland punished Bournemouth’s high defensive line on both occasions, showing trademark pace and composure to beat goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. Tyler Adams briefly levelled for the visitors after Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to deal with a corner, but City restored control before the break. Youngster Nico…

Britain has one of the weakest emotional connections to nature in the world, ranking 55th out of 61 countries in a global study of 57,000 people. The research, published in Ambio, found that Nepal is the most nature-connected nation, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. At the bottom of the list were countries such as Japan, Spain, Germany, and Canada. “Nature connectedness” measures how close people feel to the natural world and is linked to wellbeing and environmental action. Lead author Prof Miles Richardson of the University of Derby said Britain’s low ranking reflects its highly urbanised, business-driven,…

Enzo Maresca urged his Chelsea side to “grow up” after they nearly threw away a 3-0 lead in a chaotic 4-3 Carabao Cup win over Wolves. Chelsea stormed ahead in the first half through Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Estêvão and Jamie Gittens, but the game descended into mayhem after substitute Liam Delap was sent off for two reckless challenges within seven minutes. “It’s embarrassing,” Maresca said. “After his first yellow I told him to calm down four or five times, but he doesn’t listen. It’s something we must avoid.” The red card was Chelsea’s sixth in nine games, and it…

A rare spider thought to be extinct in the UK has been found again on the Isle of Wight after vanishing for four decades. The Aulonia albimana, now nicknamed the “white-knuckled wolf spider” for its pale leg joints, was rediscovered by entomologists Mark Telfer and Graeme Lyons at the National Trust’s Newtown nature reserve, a site reachable only by boat. The tiny spider, just 4mm long, was last recorded in 1985. Lyons spotted two specimens in dramatic fashion — one with nine minutes left in their survey, and another just before departure. The species, part of the wolf spider family,…

Los Angeles FC star Son Heung-min is Major League Soccer’s second-highest-paid player, earning an annual salary of $10.4m and total compensation of $11.2m, according to new figures. Son joined LAFC in August after more than a decade at Tottenham and scored nine goals in 10 matches to close the regular season. Only Lionel Messi earns more — the Inter Miami captain receives $12m in salary and $20.4m in total compensation under his current deal, which runs through 2025 but is expected to be extended to 2028. Messi’s new Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul makes $1.5m annually, while other big summer…

New climate plans from over 60 countries would cut global carbon emissions by only 10% by 2035, far below the reductions needed to limit warming to 1.5C, a UN analysis warns. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said progress was “too slow” and urged countries to “accelerate action now.” Major emitters including China and the EU have yet to submit updated targets, while the US plan from Joe Biden’s term may be dropped if Donald Trump withdraws again from the Paris deal. The report comes ahead of Cop30 in Brazil next month, where leaders will face pressure to close the gap…

Juventus have dismissed head coach Igor Tudor following an eight-game winless streak in all competitions, the club announced on Monday. “Juventus FC announces that it has today relieved Igor Tudor of his duties as coach of the men’s first team, along with his staff,” the club said in a statement, a day after a 1-0 defeat to Lazio. Reserve team coach Massimo Brambilla will take temporary charge. Tudor, who replaced Thiago Motta in March, became Juventus’s first foreign manager since Didier Deschamps in 2006–07. A former Juve defender, he helped the club finish fourth in Serie A last season, securing…

President Trump has finalized key trade and mineral agreements with Southeast Asian countries, marking a significant step in strengthening economic ties. These deals aim to enhance trade relations, secure access to critical minerals, and support the growth of the U.S. economy. The agreements focus on minerals essential for technology, defense, and renewable energy sectors. By securing these resources, the United States can reduce reliance on other regions and ensure a more stable supply chain for industries that drive innovation. Analysts emphasize that access to critical minerals is increasingly vital for national security and technological competitiveness. Trade officials noted that the…

The US and China have reached a final agreement on the sale of TikTok’s US operations, treasury secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Sunday. Bessent said the deal was completed during talks in Madrid and will be formally approved when Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet later this week in South Korea. He described it as part of a broader trade framework covering agriculture, trade balances, and fentanyl control. Under the reported $14 billion deal, US and international investors will own about 65% of TikTok’s American arm, while ByteDance and Chinese shareholders will retain less than 20%. The new owners will…