Two independent Australian MPs have banded together to launch a new centrist political party which they say is a response to an increasingly divisive landscape.

The Community Strong Australia party – launched in Canberra on Thursday – will offer “unity over division and reason over rage”, will have no leader and will allow members to vote freely, rather than along party lines.

Its two members – Sydney MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender – are from a group of independent MPs known as “teals” who share socially liberal values and want greater climate action.

The party will offer an “alternate political force” to the current two-party system in Australia, the pair said.

Australia’s political landscape had traditionally been dominated by the two major parties – the centre-left Labor and the Liberal-Nationals Coalition, which leans conservative.

Labor won a landslide victory at last year’s federal election, securing a second term in power, while the Coalition suffered its worst defeat ever, followed by months of in-fighting.

In recent months, right-wing party One Nation – led by Pauline Hanson – has seen a surge in support, including one poll that found she was the preferred prime minister.

Asked if the recent rise in support for One Nation and its anti-immigration rhetoric had spurred their decision to form a new party, Steggall and Spender said they had been guided by what their voters were telling them.

“We absolutely hear those grievances,” Spender said. “People are frustrated and tired of the status quo,” she said, adding that “if I wasn’t in politics, I wouldn’t know who to vote for”.

Spender, who won her seat in 2022, said the party wants to “hear from communities beyond our own that want a voice that genuinely reflects them”.

Steggall, a former barrister and Winter Olympian, has been a federal MP since 2019, after she unseated the former prime minister Tony Abbott in an electorate that had been held by the Liberal Party for more than a century.

“We don’t want the in-fighting, we don’t want the blame game. We want solutions that will make a difference to us,” Steggall said.

The new party “offers unity over division and reason over rage,” she said, and was an “invitation” to voters “to come and build the kind of Australia we want”.

Key issues for the party will be housing affordability and cost of living pressures as well as climate change, childcare, education and healthcare.

The pair also told local media that Climate 200, a political organisation that has helped fund independents that have won several Liberal seats in recent elections, was not involved with the new party.

New electoral funding laws allow political parties a much bigger budget for campaigning, which some independents have said will disadvantage them.

Several other independents have ruled out joining, with another two “teal” independents considering their options.

The party has lodged an application with the Australian Electoral Commission with registration expected to be finalised in October.

A smooch. A snog. Sucking face. Whichever way you phrase it, a kiss can feel pretty damn amazing.

But there’s one form of lip-locking that both men and women feel very passionate about.

A ‘white kiss’ is when you kiss your partner immediately after giving them oral sex — with no clean up, meaning there are still bodily fluids involved.

It’s so beloved, that couples online have called engaging in it a ‘green flag’.

Sexologist Becky Crepsley-Fox explains: ‘Sharing fluids, mixing tastes — it can feel like total acceptance of another person.

‘There’s something about allowing that level of closeness that feels really good and like complete connection.’

When asked about white kissing on Reddit, people were quick to respond.

‘That’s actually my favourite part of receiving oral sex,’ wrote on commenter. ‘It’s so hot to taste myself on my partner’s mouth.’

‘He even pulls my head up to kiss me, so I don’t think he minds the sloppiness or taste,’ another added.

Others enjoyed it because they wanted their partner to feel as desired as they do.

‘She’ll kiss me after I eat her out, so I will kiss her after she gives me a BJ,’ explained one guy.

‘Would you want to give someone head, if they immediately treated you like you were disgusting after you did?’ asked another another.

One person felt that ‘being squeamish about bodily fluids is a huge turn off’, while another joked a ‘chef’s got to taste his own cooking’.

But, as with all sex acts, some said it just wasn’t their thing.

‘My wife and I will not kiss after oral until we wash our mouths. We just find it gross,’ one man wrote.

Why the taboo with kissing after oral sex?

Long story short, bodily fluids are still a bit taboo.

‘There’s definitely an element of shame there,’ sex and relationship expert Annabelle Knight tells Metro. ‘You don’t have to look far to see how periods are still vilified in part for this reason.

‘I find men in particular carry some (conscious or subconscious) misgivings around interacting with their own bodily fluids, which might somewhat explain why many of them don’t like to kiss after receiving oral.’

Annabelle adds that for men, the problem can run deeper.

‘To some it might even seem akin to giving yourself (or someone of the same sex) oral,’ she explains. ‘It’s possible there is some internalised shame around sex and sexuality having an effect on this.’

For Becky Crepsley-Fox, another reason is simply that people can feel ‘grossed out by it’.

‘Some people are uncomfortable with tasting their own fluids, or worry about hygiene,’ she tells Metro. ‘Bodies are intimate, and not everyone has the same relationship with that level of closeness.’

But Annabelle caveats this with a word of wisdom. ‘If you’re willing to let your partner put their mouth on your genitals, then you should have no problem kissing afterwards,’ she says.

Why can it be a turn-on?

But for all the reasons it can turn people off, kissing after oral sex can also turn people on.

As we previously mentioned, a white kiss can indicate a certain level of closeness.

And, Anabelle adds that as kissing itself is a really passionate act, when you add a shared kiss after one partner has just given oral, you ‘up the intimacy tenfold’.

‘Oral sex can also be seen as quite transactional, so kissing immediately after brings an element of passion for both partners to share,’ she adds.  

The most important thing

Regardless of people’s thoughts about a white kiss, both experts agree that the most important thing is that you enjoy it. If not, don’t do it.

‘Consent should be a core part of any sexual activity, so it’s definitely something you should discuss before sex,’ Annabelle says.

‘Aside from the question of consent, it can be an exciting way to learn about your partner’s preferences, and share your own with them (if you love it, you can let them know).’

Of course, if you are into it, just remember there is a slim STI risk to this.

‘Kissing after oral sex doesn’t usually carry significantly more transmission risk than the oral sex itself, because most STIs would already be transmissible during that part,’ Becky explains.

‘That said, infections like gonorrhoea and chlamydia can spread to the mouth and throat this way, so if you have any concerns it’s always worth getting checked.’

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​Kevin Hollinrake, the MP for Thirsk and Malton, has called on the Government to cut welfare spending and instead “fund warfare”. The Conservative Party chairman added that 1,120 people in his constituency were claiming unemployment benefits, which he said was “not sustainable”.

​The percentage of people aged 16-64 claiming unemployment benefits in Thirsk and Malton is two per cent, and in Scarborough and Whitby it is 3.1 per cent.

​According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of UK job vacancies fell to its lowest level for five years, while unemployment fell from 5 per cent to 4.9 per cent in the three months to April. The number of people in employment has also fallen.

​The Government has come under fire for its defence investment plan, which this month led to the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey and Defence Minister Al Carns, the latter of whom has emerged as a potential challenger to Any Burnham in a Labour Party leadership election contest.

​Kevin Hollinrake MP said: “People in Thirsk and Malton and across the country are alarmed by the growing threats Britain faces, and they are also alarmed by the growing welfare bill that is absorbing public resources and stopping us from funding our defence.

​“The threats we face are getting more and more serious. That is why I voted to demand the Government cuts welfare and gives our Armed Forces the backing they need to keep us safe.”

Kevin Hollinrake MP.

​Mr Healey recently said that the draft spending proposals would take UK defence spending to 2.68 per cent of GDP by 2030, which he said fell “well short” of the 3 per cent target he said was necessary.

​The UK has vowed to increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035 alongside Nato allies.

​Mr Hollinrake said there was “a consensus that our military is not ready for war” and that reinstating the two-child benefit cap would create savings for increased defence spending.

​“People in Thirsk and Malton are proud of our armed forces and they know that we need to put more money in defence and bring defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP this Parliament, rather than Labour’s target of the next Parliament – potentially as late as 2034,” he said.

​The MP added: “Conservatives have set out key steps towards 3 per cent, including by reinstating the two-child benefit cap and using billions from Net Zero to create a Sovereign Defence Fund. We have explained where the money comes from, how Labour could do this, and are now restating our offer to work together in the national interest to achieve it.”

​According to the House of Commons Library, there were 1.71 million claimants for unemployment benefits in May 2026, which was 31,200 more than the month before and 12,500 more than in May 2025.

​The claimant count is the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance plus people claiming Universal Credit who are required to seek work.

In Group D, Australia and Paraguay are second and third respectively and meet in their final game. The losers would end the group with three points, while a draw would leave both sides on four.

On we go to Group E. Ecuador and Curacao have one point apiece and play Germany and Ivory Coast respectively. Failure to win would mean whoever finishes third cannot better Scotland’s tally of three points.

In Group F, Scotland will be hoping second-placed Japan beat third-placed Sweden convincingly. A point for Sweden, though, would leave the third-placed finishers on at least four points.

The key fixture in Group G as far as Scotland are concerned is Egypt v Iran. A win for Egypt will ensure the team finishing third will have fewer than three points.

It is the same situation in Group H where Scotland fans will be rooting for Spain to beat Uruguay so the third-placed team can only finish on two points, while in Group I, a draw between Senegal and Iraq would mean the team in third will have just one point.

In Group J, Austria and Algeria – second and third respectively on three points – meet in their final group game, so Scotland would not want that to end in a draw.

DR Congo and Uzbekistan are vying for third place in Group K.

A win for Uzbekistan would give them three points but, with a goal difference of -7, they would need a big win against DR Congo to move above Scotland in the standings.

In Group L, a point or more for Croatia against Ghana could be bad news for Scotland as it would again leave the third-place finishers with four points.

A big win for Ghana, and Panama not beating England, would be Scotland’s ideal scenario from a mathematical point of view.

Parts of the A59, close to York, are set to be closed between 7am and 5pm on Sunday (June 28) as part of City of York Council’s ongoing highway maintenance programme.

The affected stretch runs from the A1237 (York’s Ring Road) roundabout to the Moor Monkton turn-off at the council boundary.

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Work will also be carried out the same day as road surfacing works in Carr Lane, Acomb, with both routes undergoing pothole repairs and surface dressing.

Councillor Kate Ravilious, executive member for transport at City of York Council, said: “Across the whole of York we look after over 500 miles of roads, from tiny lanes to major routes like the A59.

“Maintaining all of these plays a crucial part in keeping everyone moving in the city, and as part of our planned highway maintenance programme, we’ll be carrying out important work on the A59 and on Carr Lane on Sunday 28 June.

“We are doing all that we can to minimise disruption, offering diversions, sharing this information and sending letters to local residents to help you plan ahead.

“Our work to improve York’s roads means smoother journeys and we’re grateful for everyone’s patience while we get this work done.”

Signposted diversions will be in place for motorists and cyclists and drivers will be rerouted via the A168 and A19 through Dishforth and Thirsk.

The council added whilst that alternative routes are possible, the official diversion is designed to accommodate the size and weight of large vehicles commonly using the A59.

Cyclists will be diverted along Marston Lane to the B1224 near Rufforth before joining Beckfield Lane.

Poppleton Park and Ride will remain open, but vehicles must enter from the A1237, not the A59, and all other park and rides will operate as normal.

On Carr Lane, drivers will be redirected via York Road, Acomb Road, and Poppleton Road, while cyclists will need to use Lindsey Drive and Manor Drive South.

On-street parking will be suspended in and around the work areas, though access can be discussed with traffic management staff on site.

Emergency services will also be allowed through at all times.

To find out more about upcoming roadworks, sign up for email alerts for roadworks and disruption via www.york.gov.uk/roadworks

Sue Perkins, who owns pubs in Hull and Beverley has taken on the Blue Bell In at Weaverthorpe, announcing a July 16 re-opening date.

The ten-bed pub and restaurant was marketed for auction last November by Allsop with a guide price of £280,000+, but it was taken off the market before the hammer fell.

In 2017, Christie and Co were marketing the property, which dates back to 1257 and has been a pub since the 16th Century for £985,000 freehold.

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New owner Sue Perkins says she was born into hospitality, with her mum becoming the very first landlady in Hull. Sue worked alongside her mum and took on a chef training course in Leeds, before working with the family until buying the Railway Inn at New Ellerby as a single mum 27 years ago.

The 61-year-old told the Press: “As my daughters grew,  I decided to take on new challenges within hospitality by buying various other pub’s like Wassand (Arms in Hull), Whittington & Cat (Hull) and the White Hart (in Hull).”

“Upon selling Wassand and the Whittington & Cat, I purchased The Rose & Crown in Beverley which has been very rewarding personally and business alike. Never to tire from further ambition, I fell in love with Bluebell in Weaverthorpe, purchased it and rolled my sleeves up for another challenge.”

For the last few months, the Blue Bell has been undergoing a full-refurbishment.

The classy interior of The Blue Bell Inn at Weaverthorpe (Image: Pic supplied)

Sue continued: “What started as a few upgrades and improvements has turned into a full blown renovation project, breathing life back into a tired country pub. We plan to o open its doors on July 16 and welcome guests for drinks, culinary delights as well as great home cooked foods and a chance to stay overnight and sample a beautiful part of Yorkshire.”

Sue’s other pubs feature the Railway, noted for cooked meals, and is managed by her daughter Lydia and husband Luke.

The award-winning Rose & Crown on York Road, Beverley, his home to racegoers, is popular for events and weddings, and is noted for great food and one of the best beer gardens in Beverley.

The exterior of The Blue Bell Inn at Weaverthorpe (Image: Allsop)

The White Hart is currently leased to “a great Tenant who strives for serving Cask Ales,” she said.

This week, Sue announced the Blue Bell had ‘teamed up’ with couple Lauren Tranmer and Mark Langton, who previously ran the Mill and Vine in Driffield until it closed in May after ten months.

The couple confirmed: “We couldn’t be more excited about this new chapter!

“We’re looking forward to bringing our passion for great food, excellent service, and warm hospitality to this fantastic local pub.”

This followed an earlier announcement from Sue, revealing her purchase, which said: “I’m really looking forward to bringing this lovely pub back to life and becoming part of the village community.”

How do you feel about the re-opening of this beautiful pub. Have you been before? What did you think of it? Please share us your thoughts in the comments below.

University Collegiate School on Deane Road will not open tomorrow or Friday due to the weather, according to Bolton Council‘s website.

The closure was announced just after 2pm today as Bolton is currently under an amber weather warning for extreme heat.

No other school closures have been published on the website.

(Image: Newsquest)

Tomorrow is set to be hotter than today, with temperatures set to reach a sweltering 33C, with lows of just 21C.

On Friday, temperatures are forecast at 32C

The school closure is the latest disruption caused by the weather in Bolton, with train timetables being reduced all week.

The heatwave, which has led to health warnings, school closures and transport disruption, is driven by a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe that has brought extreme conditions across the continent.

Screenshot (Image: Bolton Council)

Bolton Council states: “Due to the extreme heat, the school will be closed to pupils on Thursday 25th June and Friday 26th June 2026. The school will reopen to all students on Monday 29th June 2026.”

Schools across Bolton are geared up for teaching children remotely after Covid, meaning children are less likely to miss out on two days of education.

Schools in Bolton this week have relaxed the rules around school uniforms to help young people stay cool.

Many pupils have been allowed to wear their PE kits instead of their uniform, ice-pops are being given out, and cooler rooms are being used to teach children as temperatures rise.

Across the country, at least 1,000 schools and nurseries will either be closed or partially closed in England and Wales over the next two days.

Some have brought in early finishing times or relaxed uniform rules, while transport services have been disrupted and people are being urged to stay inside, close windows and curtains and stay hydrated to beat the heat.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said parents should send children to school if they remain open, saying schools were taking steps to help pupils cope with the heat, and absences had a cost.

“I know hot weather can be a struggle. But my message to families is simple: if your child’s school is open, you should keep sending them into school,” she said.

Let us know what measures your school is taking to keep children stay cool.

NEW YORK (AP) — When Varun Venkatesh cast his ballot in New York’s primary this week, he thought about “a good litmus test for me as a voter.” He wanted to know what the candidates are doing for the Palestinian cause.

The 27-year-old Brooklyn resident decided to support Claire Valdez, who was backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, over Antonio Reynoso, another progressive who was the choice of the Democratic establishment, because she had “a clear and more consistent stance.”

Valdez triumphed in her congressional primary, as did two other insurgent candidates endorsed by Mamdani, and Israel was a key issue in each of the races. Now the question for Democrats is how many more voters like Venkatesh are out there as the party charts its path toward the November midterms and the next presidential election.

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The war in Gaza began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which responded with a yearslong counterattack that left more than 73,000 dead. About 1,000 have died since a ceasefire was reached in October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry that does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.

Human rights groups and a United Nations commission have described Israel’s actions as a genocide, a charge that’s been rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Democrats on the left — and even some conservatives — have ratcheted up pressure to suspend U.S. aid to Israel, a shift that’s been shadowed by a rise in antisemitism across the political spectrum.

“The Israel question has become defining,” said Matt Bennett, who leads the centrist Democratic group Third Way and frequently criticizes progressives as jeopardizing outreach to independent voters. He argued that some in Mamdani’s camp have embraced “a new level of extremism,” warning that “Republicans are very good at weaponizing crazy ideas on the fringe against mainstream candidates.”

The schism over Israel, which widened during Joe Biden’s presidency and undermined Kamala Harris’ bid to replace him, remains an open wound. How Democrats attempt to stitch it closed will help define their future. A step in any direction risks alienating pieces of the party’s unwieldy coalition when it’s trying to unify around the mission of retaking control of Congress and set the stage for winning the White House again.

Mamdani is unapologetic in his effort to reshape the Democratic Party from the mayor’s office of the country’s largest city. He sharply criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for defending what he calls “a status quo of immorality” in Gaza, and voters who celebrated his slate’s victories on Tuesday night chanted “Free Palestine.”

The mayor, meanwhile, argues that New York should shape Democrats’ search for their national identity in the coming years.

“When does the race for 2028 begin?” Mamdani asked last week on a stage with his slate of candidates. “It starts now.”

Israel-Palestinian conflict animates Democrats’ left flank

Even for a party accustomed to conflicts between progressives and moderates, the divide over Israel has been especially intense. Although the U.S. alliance with Israel once had bipartisan support, the ascendancy of Israel’s right wing, led by Netanyahu, strained those ties over the years. Then the war in Gaza shredded them.

Biden was denounced as “Genocide Joe” by pro-Palestinian supporters, who shifted their attention to Harris once she replaced him as the Democratic nominee for president two years ago.

“She was trying to do the right thing,” said Jamie Harrison, who led the Democratic National Committee at the time. “It was a hard and awkward place to be in.”

Harrison said the war in Gaza helped cost Harris the state of Michigan, which has a sizable Arab American population. However, he doubts that it was a defining national issue then or now.

“It’s one thing to be in New York. But I can tell you that most places, including where I am in South Carolina, it’s not what people are talking about,” he said. “They are concerned about affording gas and groceries and housing.”

Harrison expects Democrats to look for middle ground in the future, which includes “still supporting Israel’s sovereignty” while calling for “reducing U.S. aid to Israel and changing the nature of the relationship.”

The issue puts a notable spotlight on Jewish Democrats who could become presidential contenders at the same time Mamdani wields his influence as the most prominent elected Muslim in U.S. politics.

When Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s name landed on Harris’ list of potential running mates, activists on the left cried foul over his support for Israel — potentially previewing pressures he would experience in a White House campaign.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was once a billionaire donor to AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, and a national board member. He cut ties with the group after it aligned with Donald Trump, but the governor has continued to face questions about his past support.

Both Shapiro and Pritzker are seeking reelection this November before deciding on White House bids.

One primary victor blasted the ‘hug Bibi’ strategy

Finding middle ground has been difficult so far, as demonstrated by the primary in New York’s 10th congressional district.

Brad Lander, the former city comptroller backed by Mamdani, successfully challenged U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman in the race.

Both candidates are Jewish, and both have criticized the Israeli government. But Lander says the war in Gaza is a genocide, and Goldman does not.

“Our party needs to admit that Joe Biden’s ‘hug Bibi’ strategy was a catastrophic mistake,” Lander said in his primary victory speech. He added, “We cannot keep paying for Netanyahu’s wars with our tax dollars. Democratic voters are saying this, loud and clear.”

Ari Rassouli, a voter in the district, said the incumbent’s views on Israel were “one of the many reasons that I didn’t like Dan Goldman.”

Describing the war as a genocide, she said “a candidate that is in support of that has no place in our democracy at all.”

While talking to reporters on Tuesday, Lander acknowledged that Israel was among the top issues along with affordability and immigration.

“I like talking to Jewish voters who feel anxiety about the times we live in and say, ‘I have these values, I want to treat everyone like they’re equal and with dignity and created in God’s image. How do we navigate the times we’re in?’” he said.

He added with a smile, “Those are probably the longest conversations at the polls.” ___

Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre and Larry Neumeister contributed to this report.