The vote was prompted by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons, who stepped down to make way for Mr Burnham to contest the seat.

In a statement, Mr Burnham said: “I am proud and humbled to have been selected as Labour’s candidate for Makerfield.

“These proud working-class communities represent the very best values of our country and they deserve so much better.

“It would be my honour to work for them every day, if elected as their MP, to achieve that. Many people here feel Westminster isn’t working for them and they are right.

“I am standing to change that and get the voice of these communities heard loud and clear.

“I am glad that this by-election has finally put the places that make up the Makerfield constituency into the national spotlight.

“They have been neglected by national politics for too long.

“It is a good thing that all political parties are now on the hook to tell the voters here what they are going to do for them.

“More than anything, people need life to be more affordable again.

“As Mayor, I have brought in changes which are helping, such as the £2 fare cap, free bus travel for our 16-18 year-olds and removing the 9.30am restriction from older and disabled people’s bus passes.

“But there is only so much I can do from Greater Manchester.

Congratulations to @AndyBurnhamGM – Labour’s candidate for Makerfield. pic.twitter.com/avag1HJon3

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) May 19, 2026

“If elected, I will have a relentless focus on reducing people’s everyday costs and bills and well as securing the investment these communities need.

“I have been an elected representative in Greater Manchester for 25 years.

“Throughout that time, I have fought for the people of the North West of England on so many fronts.

“I am now ready to bring the whole weight of that experience to fighting for the communities of the Makerfield constituency and would be privileged to be given that opportunity.”

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market is giving back a bit more of its record-setting rally on Tuesday.

The S&P 500 fell 0.5% and was on track for a third dip after setting its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 397 points, or 0.8%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% lower.

That followed mixed movements for stock markets abroad, while oil prices eased in their latest yo-yo move. Falling technology stocks in Asia dragged South Korea’s Kospi down 3.3%, but Germany’s DAX returned 1% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

Tech stocks are slowing following huge runs made because of excitement around artificial-intelligence technology, runs that critics said made them too expensive. Uncertainty is hanging over all kinds of markets, from how long the Iran war will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed for oil tankers to whether bond markets worldwide have seen yields climb enough to drag on economies and all kinds of other financial markets.

The wait is on, meanwhile, for Nvidia to report its latest quarterly results. The chip company is due to report on Wednesday, and it’s routinely blown past analysts’ expectations each quarter. Not only that, it’s provided forecasts for future growth that have consistently topped Wall Street’s.

How it does could determine whether technology stocks and the larger U.S. stock market can keep up their rally. Nvidia slipped 0.7%.

“Every flow has its ebb,” Rex Feng, Venu Krishna and other strategists at Barclays Capital wrote in a report. They said investors have been pumping more money than usual into U.S. stock funds, which helped fuel “the fastest rebound in decades; now the pendulum could swing backwards.”

Akamai Technolgoies dropped 3.9% for one of Wlal Street’s sharper losses after the cybersecurity and cloud computing company said it wants to raise $2.6 billion through a convertible note offering.

Home Depot fell 2.2% after its results for the latest quarter edged past analysts’ expectations. An important measure for retailers, how much revenue grew at stores open more than a year, came in below some analysts’ expectations.

CEO Ted Decker said Home Depot saw similar demand from its customers as it did throughout last year “despite greater consumer uncertainty and housing affordability pressure.”

So far, many big U.S. companies have been reporting stronger-than-expected profits for the latest quarter as their customers keep spending even with high gasoline prices and other challenges weighing on them.

In the bond market, Treasury yields climbed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.66% from 4.61% late Monday and from less than 4% before the war with Iran began.

It rose even as oil prices eased. The price for a barrel of Brent crude fell 0.7% to $111.39.

Oil prices have swung sharply but largely remained above $100 with the unofficial U.S. driving season beginning Monday. Brent’s price was around $70 before the war with Iran began.

The average price for a gallon of gasoline rose again overnight to $4.53, according to the AAA motor club, or about 43% more than it cost last year at this time.

___

AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

As officers pull up outside a Victorian terraced home in east London, they take note of the number plate of the car parked on the driveway.

They fear it could belong to a domestic abuser who has been banned from the home because he is suspected of violently assaulting his partner. He was never prosecuted for the alleged attack because the victim was not prepared to make a statement. But if they find him here, it will be grounds for his arrest.

When three officers knock on the front door, a housemate tells them the victim is out at work, but reveals the suspected abuser has been staying there too. Officers make an urgent note to return that evening.

“It’s worrying that he’s been here. That’s the whole purpose of these visits, to potentially get that window of opportunity to help,” explains Sergeant Amar Sehmby, part of the Metropolitan Police’s safer neighbourhood team for Havering.

The unannounced house call is part of a new force-wide initiative called Operation Sallus to better enforce Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) – often under-used court orders which are supposed to help protect victims, often by banning perpetrators from contacting them.

In the past, survivors have claimed such orders were so badly monitored they were worth little more than the paper they were written on.

However, this operation, which was last month in use in every London borough following a gradual rollout, is designed to counter that perception by taking a proactive approach with regular checks on active DVPOs in each neighbourhood.

“This is quite a soft use of enforcement, but it’s very much a kind of community-based linking our community officers with victim-survivors of domestic abuse,” detective chief superintendent Andrew Wadey, the force’s lead for public protection, told The Independent, which was invited to join officers making house calls last week.

“It’s an in-person visit by local officers, and the intention there is to hopefully speak to the victim and ascertain if there’s been any further issues. Is the offender there, do they need any kind of referrals or signposting to support agencies and essentially just take a really sort of victim-led approach to providing assurance, reassurance, and another avenue towards reporting any kind of breaches or concerns.”

Often, police turn to a magistrate for a protective order when there is not enough evidence for a trial or a victim is not ready to support a prosecution. They are a civil order and a breach can result in an arrest, with a mandatory court appearance within 24 hours. However the short-term orders only last a maximum of 28 days and breaches are a civil offence only punishable by a fine or up to two months in prison.

They will eventually be replaced with tougher Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs), which are currently being trialled and carry a maximum penalty of up to five years imprisonment, or a fine, or both.

In one case on the list of 10 addresses to be checked last week, the offender has already breached the DVPO twice and been arrested both times.

Other victims Sgt Sehmby and his team of two constables visit include a mother who was a victim of non-fatal strangulation at the hands of her own son and a woman who was strangled and thrown to the ground by her partner, who had previously threatened to kill her.

At the mother’s home, no one answers the door. But, back in the van, officers manage to speak to her on the phone where she tells them she is safe and staying with her daughter.

PC Jake Tibbs told her: “If anything does happen, please call the police, obviously the order is there to protect yourself. And obviously we can deal with it as we need to.”

The other strangulation victim was not at home, but officers planned to return later that night.

At a family home in east London, officers also visited a father who was protected by an order after his ex-partner was accused of seriously injuring him in a violent attack which caused grievous bodily harm and criminal damage. The officers spent 20 minutes inside the home, ensuring the order was being fully complied with.

They are also trained to look for signs of coercive and controlling behaviour and check on any children in the house.

The Met plans to start using the same tactics to enforce Stalking Protection Orders and Sexual Risk Orders in the coming months.

According to the force, the strategy, along with other innovative approaches to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), is starting to bear fruit.

In addition to Operation Sallus, the Met has been using counter terrorism tactics to track the highest risk VAWG offenders through their V100 programme and deployed undercover patrols to crack down on predatory behaviour in nighttime hotspots as part of Project Vigilant.

New figures show that arrests and charges for rape offences have more than doubled over the last year in London, making the Met the force with highest detection and charge rate for rape.

Arrests and charges for domestic violence have also increased by 82 per cent year on year, and arrests and charges for violence against women and girls have increased by 71 per cent.

DCS Wadey said they are “really starting to see the dial turn in terms of more people being charged”.

“And whilst the work is by no means done, there’s still so much more to do, this is really giving us momentum, I think, which is key. And hopefully it is giving greater confidence, particularly to women and girls, to report,” he added.

He admitted there still “much to be done” to rebuild confidence in the force after a difficult few years which saw the organisation labelled as “institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic” in a damning report by Baroness Louise Casey in 2023. It was commissioned following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer in 2021, who used his warrant card to trick her into his car.

Yet more scandal has followed, with another officer, David Carrick unmasked as one of Britain’s worst sex offenders in 2023 and a damning undercover BBC Panorama investigation at Charing Cross police station last year, which showed officers making offensive comments and bragging about using violence.

The police chief believes Labour’s ambitious manifesto pledge to halve VAWG in just ten years is achievable, but will require a “whole system approach”.

Domestic abuse charity Refuge has welcomed the efforts to improve monitoring and enforcement of DVPOs in London, but called for an increase in their use, adding: “Only when these orders are properly implemented will survivors be able to access the full protection of the law.”

Some 3.8 million people experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In comparison, only 11,401 DVPOs were granted in year to March 2024, according to the most recent ONS figures.

Bo Bottomley, policy and public affairs manager at Refuge, said: “One in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, but Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) are used in only a very small number of cases.

“Where protective orders are in place, survivors often tell us they are ineffective and not properly monitored and enforced by the police. Perpetrators routinely breach these orders, but police often fail to act when they do, leaving survivors at an increased risk of harm.

“We welcome efforts to improve monitoring and enforcement of DVPOs in London, but to truly improve survivor safety and strengthen confidence in the police response to domestic abuse, Refuge is calling for increased use of DVPOs in relevant cases, and a corresponding increase in criminal proceedings following order breaches.”

From flowers to vegetables, there are plenty of jobs to be done in the garden in May

May offers gardeners an excellent opportunity, with blooms flourishing and a wealth of tasks to tackle. But it also signals the end of late frosts, opening up numerous opportunities to start cultivating vegetables and plants that thrive in milder conditions.

Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress, said: “There are so many options when it comes to planting in May. The garden really starts to come to life at this time of year, and we generally see the last frost, which creates many opportunities to plant flowers and other plants that love the warmer weather.

“The last frost really is crucial for a lot of plants, so make sure temperatures near you are consistently over around 10C before planting tender summer crops like tomatoes and courgettes.”

Tomatoes

The expert suggests this is an ideal moment to plant tomatoes, provided the threat of frost has disappeared.

The expert said: “Tomatoes love full sun in a sheltered spot and well-drained soil. Ideally, plant them deep into the soil so they can establish a strong root system.”

It’s advisable to maintain regular watering as the crop develops and provide support using canes, reports the Express.

Courgettes

Another vegetable well-suited for planting during May is courgette, as it typically grows swiftly once warmer temperatures arrive.

The expert said: “Courgettes need regular, generous watering at the base, and they should be harvested regularly to encourage more growth. Plant courgettes in a warm and sunny location in the garden in moisture-retentive soil.”

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Lavender

Lavender makes a stunning addition to any garden during spring, bringing a delightful fragrance and proving ideal for pollinators.

Chris noted: “The warm soil in May helps lavender establish well. Be sure to plant it in a full-sun area and avoid overwatering, as they generally prefer dry conditions.

“When planting, keep space around the roots for airflow and continue to lightly trim the plant after flowering to keep it compact.”

Dahlias

May is a favoured month for planting dahlias, as they create an impressive summer display and come in a vast array of colours.

They should be positioned 10cm deep in fertile soil, in a sunny, sheltered area, with the shoots facing upwards.

The expert added: “Slugs also love dahlias, so consider creating barriers around young plants and use things like empty egg shells and coffee grounds to deter them.”

Sunflowers

Chris continued: “Those who are new to gardening should consider planting sunflowers. They’re easy for beginners to grow, and they often germinate quickly as the temperatures increase in May.

“Sow directly outdoors around 2cm deep in a sunny location and be sure to support any taller varieties with sturdy stakes.”

Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

The historical sexual offences trial of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is “on track” to begin on May 26, a judge has said.

Judge Paul Ramsey told Newry Crown Court he is hopeful the process of swearing a jury in the case will begin on that date.

Proceedings against Donaldson and his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson have been delayed twice due to medical issues related to her.

Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

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The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a time period between 1985 and 2008, involving two alleged victims.

Eleanor Donaldson, 60, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies.

Neither of the Donaldsons attended Tuesday’s hearing in Newry courthouse.

During the brief hearing, the judge said the court had received a report relating to Eleanor Donaldson which would require some legal argument.

The judge said: “We are on track to commence the case next Tuesday.”

Prosecuting barrister Rosemary Walsh KC said the timeline worked “as far as the prosecution is concerned”.

Defence barristers also indicated they hoped to be in a position to begin the case next week. The judge said he hoped to make a start on swearing the jury in on Tuesday.

Jeffrey Donaldson, a former long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged at the end of March 2024.

He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged. Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont after a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Golfers are well-renowned for loving a gadget, especially one that promises to shave strokes off their scorecard, which the best golf watch could very well do. The best golf watches with GPS work similarly to rangefinders, providing useful real-time data and distance information which can shape your decision-making on the course and track scores, plus stats to help you analyse and identify areas to improve on once you’re back at the clubhouse.

Golf pro and founder of Urban Golf James Day explains that the core function of a golf watch is the “convenience of having the yardage effortlessly. You really don’t have to do anything but walk up to your ball, look at your watch and the yardage is there.” Even the most basic golf watches give you distance to the front, back and middle of the green.

The best golf watches range from less than £150 up to £1,700. Some can be used straight out of the box, while others require more complicated integration with a smartphone and apps. All come pre-programmed with tens of thousands of global course maps and most offer hazards and layup information with numbers. Others have detailed, colourful graphics and heat maps.

The GPS accuracy of most golf watches tends to be within five yards, but finding a model that’s quick to load the hole, boasts excellent battery life and has additional fitness metrics, such as to track heart rate and sleep, might also factor into your choice.

Which is the best golf watch in 2026? At a glance:

Which golf watch should I buy?

Whether you’re after the best golf watches for beginners or the best golf watches for tracking performance, according to James, the best golf smart watch to choose is the one that gives you the information you need quickly, accessibly and in a way that won’t cause you to get distracted and overwhelmed. Especially if you’re a relative newbie: “The danger with golf is always overthinking, so if you’ve got a beginner who needs to be focusing on striking the ball nicely, getting the ball out the middle of the club and getting it to go straight, sometimes having too much information can be a big distraction,” he says.

How I tested the best golf watches

I tested these golf watches over a period of a few weeks, taking them golfing around south London (Richmond, Duke’s Meadows, Walton Heath) and indoor golf centres to see how they felt comfort-wise. I wore them day-to-day to assess battery life, functionality beyond the golf course and additional health features.

My family of four children (aged seven to 14) and my husband are all very keen golfers, so I also shared the watches around when we were on the golf course: my husband, brother-in-law, friend and even my 11-year-old daughter – who managed to set up a couple of these watches on her own – all tried them as well. This meant that the watches were tested by golfers at varying ability levels and locations to help determine their GPS accuracy, convenience, ease of use and more.

Sometimes, I doubled up and wore two at the same time to see if the distance estimations were the same (they were usually identical or varied by one yard). I also spent a lot of time tinkering with the golf watches and their accompanying apps at home, downloading and registering myself on a multitude of golf GPS apps, watching ‘How To’ videos and studying my data off the course.

The best golf watches of 2026

1. Garmin Approach S70

£509.99, Decathlon

Best Buy golf watch, 9/10

We like: Course info displayed quickly at each hole, stunning graphics, intuitive and easy set-up, useful extra features like Virtual Caddie

We don’t like: An expensive model at £500, only pairs with the newest Garmin Approach Z70 rangefinder

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces intercepted one of the remaining Gaza flotilla boats, stopping the vessel when it was about 82 nautical miles (around 150 kilometers or 95 miles) from Gaza, according to the flotilla’s website tracker.

A livestream on the website showed Israeli forces in a dinghy pulling up to the boat, called the “Andros,” and activists with their arms in the air.

The screen then went dark with a message saying the boat had been intercepted.

A handful of ships were still within 100 nautical miles of Gaza and sailing toward it as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Israeli navy’s new action resumed a day after the Israeli navy interdicted the activist flotilla in international waters off Cyprus.

It was the latest attempt by the Global Sumud Flotilla to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and underscore the grim living conditions of Palestinians living in the territory.

Dozens of vessels departed from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, last week in what flotilla organizers described as the final leg of their planned journey to Gaza’s shores.

Some 41 boats were intercepted on Monday with another 10 continuing to sail before the Andros interception, according to Global Sumud Flotilla’s tracker.

GoPro action cameras have evolved from enthusiast tools for extreme sports, to essential pieces of kit for on-the-go content creators, vloggers, and adventurers of all stripes.

Small but mighty, the best GoPro cameras are capable of capturing smooth, cinematic video clips and vibrant, wide-angle photos. With shock-proof shells, natively waterproof housings, and a vast range of dedicated mounts and accessories, you can be confident the camera can handle any activity you’re likely to encounter.

After a decade working as a professional creator, with more than five years dedicated to testing out the latest camera technology, I’ve seen exactly what separates the best from the rest. This guide is designed to cut through the jargon with answers to common FAQs, walk you through GoPro’s latest lineup in my reviews, and help you find the perfect camera for your next adventure.

The best GoPro action cameras: At a glance

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How to choose the best GoPro action camera

GoPro’s current lineup spans the latest flagship Hero 13 Black, through to the budget-friendly GoPro Hero (2024). The previous-generation flagship, the Hero 12 Black, now sits in the middle of GoPro’s Hero lineup, while the Max 2 is the firm’s latest dual-lens, 360-degree offering. Shop around, and you can still find deals on older Hero 11 Black units, but GoPro has now retired this option from its official roster.

GoPro’s higher-end Hero Black models offer the most impressive image quality, with high bit-rate, high frame-rate video recording at up to 5K60. The Hero Black models are also where you’ll find GoPro’s most effective HyperSmooth video stabilisation tech and the greatest degree of camera control.

Be mindful, however, that higher-resolution and higher-frame rate footage can be storage-intensive and can demand a powerful computer for efficient video editing. For casual sharing on social media, standard 4K and high-quality 1080p footage generally suffices and is easier to store, edit, and upload.

All of GoPro’s current-generation action cameras offer native waterproofing, smartphone app control, and USB-C battery charging. You’ll also find the same accessory “mounting fingers” throughout GoPro’s entire range, enabling you to pair your camera with an expansive range of mounts, harnesses, and selfie sticks.

How we test GoPro action cameras