NewsBeat
YouTuber investigates ‘where the corner is’ at Scotch Corner
You wouldn’t be alone in thinking the roundabout is lacking a distinct corner that gives it its name.
Jon Jefferson, who runs the popular YouTube channel Auto Shenanigans, sought to find the corner where the A1(M) and A66 meet in his latest video.
The Scotch Corner Hotel in 1949, with the A1 and the A66 meeting in a roundabout outside its front door (Image: ARCHIVE)
Mr Jefferson declared: “It’s a roundabout, and it doesn’t look like much of a corner if you ask me.
“So, where exactly is the corner at Scotch Corner? And what even is a Scotch Corner anyway?.”
The name came from it being the point where travellers heading north from London would decide whether to head towards western Scotland, via what is now the A66, or continue north-east towards Edinburgh.
The junction has changed significantly over the years as traffic levels have grown, and is now a major roundabout.
But in finding the corner Mr Jefferson says you have to look back to the Roman times, before it was a roundabout or even a crossroads in the 1920s.
According to the video, the original road arrangement was not a modern roundabout or even a later crossroads, but a T-junction.
Mr Jefferson identifies the Roman T-junction as the “actual” corner at Scotch Corner.
He says the western route was later replaced by the A66 and has largely disappeared, while a small section of the original Roman north-south road remains in place today.
The point Mr Jefferson believes to be the Scotch Corner
Scotch Corner has long been one of the North’s most important junctions, directing traffic north towards County Durham, Newcastle and Scotland, west towards Cumbria and the M6, and south towards Leeds and London.
But the junction’s importance stretches back almost 2,000 years.
Archaeological work linked to road upgrades has revealed evidence of a major first-century Roman presence in the area, including a large military camp and high-quality artefacts.
The site is believed to have played a significant role in Roman campaigns in northern England, including the struggle for control of territory held by the Brigantes.
For centuries afterwards, Scotch Corner remained a key stopping point for merchants, messengers and travellers moving between England and Scotland.
Historic inns, including the Black Bull Inn, the Blue Anchor, the Crown and Anchor and the Three Tuns, served those using the route.
The Three Tuns was demolished in 1939 to allow road widening and was replaced by the Scotch Corner Hotel.
Aerial photographs from the late 1940s show the A1 and A66 meeting at a roundabout near the hotel entrance.
Further major upgrades followed in the 1970s and again in the 21st century, with the Leeming to Barton A1(M) scheme creating a modern motorway-standard route through the area.
Today, thousands of drivers pass Scotch Corner every day with little idea of the Roman roads, coaching inns and long-distance trading routes beneath the tarmac.
Scotch Corner is set for another new chapter in the coming years, with the planned Scotch Corner Designer Village expected to open in 2027.
NewsBeat
Independent Australian MPs form new centrist political party
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.
NewsBeat
The white kiss is the ‘sloppy’ sex act men and women agree is a green flag
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.
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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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NewsBeat
‘Fund warfare not welfare’, says North Yorkshire MP
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.
NewsBeat
Scotland at the World Cup: What do Scotland need to qualify for knockouts?
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.
NewsBeat
Iran-US war latest: Trump says peace talks will end immediately if Tehran imposes tolls in Strait of Hormuz
Trump claims he has brought ‘peace to Middle East’
Trump touted his achievements against Iran during a partisan rally to kick off the Great American State Fair event in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.
“Last week we signed a historic agreement to end the conflict with Iran, fully open the Strait of Hormuz, and accomplish what no president has ever been able to accomplish before, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, that’s done,” he told the crowd.
“And thanks to the power and skill of the United States Armed Forces, today Iran has no navy, no air force, no anti-aircraft capacity, no missile launches, no manufacturing, and their leadership has been obliterated, and for the first time in 3000 years, we are finally going to have peace in the Middle East.”
Graeme Massie25 June 2026 04:01
Lebanese on the edge of Israel’s occupation live with fear and rising tensions
Looking out from a friend’s balcony, Milia el-Cheikh struggled to find her own home in the ruins of her now-deserted village, its entrances strung with barbed wire.
Her village of Dibbine is one of several Shiite-majority communities across southern Lebanon destroyed by Israeli forces battling the Iran-backed Shiite Hezbollah. Israel has occupied vast areas and fighting has raged through declared ceasefires. The latest truce — part of the interim peace deal between the United States and Iran — appears to be holding.
El-Cheikh, one of the few Christians from Dibbine, found shelter in another village but regularly visits Jdeidat Marjayoun, a mostly Christian village next to her hometown, to have coffee with a friend from church. Before the war, it was a comforting ritual. Now it takes place against a backdrop of loss and fear.
James Reynolds25 June 2026 03:00
Recap: Iran and the United States still at odds over nuclear inspections
Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to indefinite nuclear inspections on its facilities accusing “fake news” media of distributing false rebuttals.
“Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!),” he wrote in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.
“This will insure ‘Nuclear Honesty’. If they did not agree to this, there would be no further negotiations!”
Iran has denied that it will allow inspectors into its nuclear sites despite US vice president JD Vance also insisting that Tehran had agreed to the visits.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday that Tehran had agreed “no new commitments” on inspections, adding that Iran would continue its current obligations as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and under its safeguards agreement with the IAEA.
James Reynolds25 June 2026 02:00
Recap: Tucker Carlson says Iran war is the end of Trump and MAGA has ‘no future’
James Reynolds25 June 2026 01:00
Downed US pilot saw Iran drones flying in ‘jellyfish’ formation: ‘Real alien s**t’
Iranian forces opened fire on the $31m F-15E Strike Eagle on 3 April, triggering a major search for the missing weapons-system officer, who held out in the mountains for hours before his dramatic rescue.
During a debriefing with intelligence officials, the pilot described seeing a unified and overwhelming drone formation resembling a jellyfish, sources familiar with the matter told CNN in a report published on Tuesday.
James Reynolds25 June 2026 00:00
Israel committed genocide in Gaza by deliberately killing Palestinian children, UN inquiry says
It says that Israeli forces “deliberately carried out acts inflicting death and severe bodily and mental harm on hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children”, as part of a “deliberate strategy to destroy the future of the Palestinians in Gaza”. Around 30% of those killed in the Gaza war were children, the report found, with a total death toll of at least 20,179 by October 2025.
Maira Butt24 June 2026 23:00
Recap: Trump’s peace deal was ‘a declaration of America’s defeat’ says Tehran’s top negotiator
The deal between Iran and the US to end the war is “America’s declaration of defeat”, Iran’s top negotiator said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a conference in Azerbaijan, the outspoken parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the initial agreement to stop the fighting and begin talks “was not the result of pressure and coercion, but rather the result of the resistance and authority of the brave Iranian nation”.
“That is why, the Islamabad memorandum of understanding became a declaration of America’s defeat,” he said, adding that Middle Eastern countries should be responsible for security in the region.
The two sides signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding last week setting out broad agreements in principle to end the war. The interim accord paved the way for 60 days of talks aimed at hammering out thornier details, including issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran and the US have also offered conflicting accounts on financial incentives for Iran, control of the Strait of Hormuz and the war in Lebanon since ending a first round of talks in Switzerland on Monday.
James Reynolds24 June 2026 22:00
Mossad chief plotting new ways to topple Iranian regime, says report
Israeli outlet Maariv reported on Monday that Gofman views his predecessor’s approach to the war as having failed.
And he now plans on transforming parts of the agency to take on new strategies to accomplish the mission, according to the Jerusalem Post.
James Reynolds24 June 2026 21:00
Watch: Trump claims Americans are ‘demanding’ $80bn more for his war with Iran
James Reynolds24 June 2026 20:00
Families of Indian sailors killed in US attack demand $5m compensation
The families of three Indian seafarers who were killed during an attack on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman have demanded the US “take responsibility” and pay $5m compensation for the deaths of their loved ones.
Shivanand Chaurasiya, Patnala Suresh and Aditya Sharma were part of the crew of the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, and died when the US opened fire on the ship’s engine room to disable it.
The US military claimed that the vessel ignored some 60 warnings before it was struck. But a major Indian seafarers’ union has rejected the claim, arguing the crew had no reason to deliberately ignore or challenge American forces.
James Reynolds24 June 2026 19:30
NewsBeat
A59 near York to close for urgent repair works in June
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
NewsBeat
Sue Perkins to re-open The Blue Bell Inn at Weaverthorpe
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.
NewsBeat
University Collegiate School Bolton to shut due to extreme heat
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.
NewsBeat
New York sweep by Israel critics highlights tough issue for Democrats
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.
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.
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.
NewsBeat
Daily horoscope June 25, 2026: Predictions for your star sign
Neptune clashes with the Sun in Cancer, which could bring about subtle doubts and psychological struggles. Keep your head above the water today.
Leo, Cancer and Virgo, while your social circle may feel sparkly, you could feel tempted to over-analyse. Surround yourself with easygoing people.
Know that challenges alignments pass, and you’ll be stronger after facing the difficulty. Actively tune into your body rather than your mind.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Thursday June 25, 2026.
Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.
To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.
Aries
March 21 to April 20
Your great gift is having the courage to explore your ideas, with passion. Today the Sun continuing his journey through the water Cancer, may make it harder to show your usual drive Neptune in your sign, squaring to him, could see you feeling uncertain, or lacking in energy. You may prefer your own company or escaping into a creative hobby or interest.
Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries
Taurus
April 21 to May 21
If you have vivid dreams of late, you may find yourself mulling over their meaning. You can also find yourself wondering about someone close. Are they holding something back? Even if you ask them, they may reply that they aren’t but you could still have the vague belief that they are. Communications can be hazy at best today, so try not to over analyse them.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus
Gemini
May 22 to June 21
Your idealism is to the fore, now that Uranus has entered your sign. He can push you to redefine your identity and that can be exciting and liberating. However, there may be times when it feels unsettling. Today can be a point in case, as the Sun and Neptune clash, you can feel more uncertain of who you can align to, and whether their energy or values fit what you seek.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini
Cancer
June 22 to July 23
With the chatty Mercury closing in on the bubbly Jupiter in your sign, one of astrology’s most enterprising connections is in sight. So, if you are not currently enjoying your “day job” and feel’s humdrum, you can fantasise about something that would really engage and excite you. If you are building up to start something fresh, exciting. If not, a change may appeal.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer
Leo
July 24 to August 23
It can be one of those days when everything can seem magnified. That can be for good or bad. If you can spin off for an hour and do your own thing your creativity can be high. Yet if a problem does crop up, don’t give it too much oxygen Leo. Sometimes it is better to ignore irritations rather than try to solve each and every one, and this can be your best tact now.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo
Virgo
August 24 to September 23
The next month is going to see sociable and fun moments. Yet since Saturn and Neptune returned to a more psychological area earlier this year, you may have found yourself a pickier about who you spend time with. Anyone who’s overbearing, or keeps changing plans, or finds angles on situations, are likely losing their appeal. An easy-going friend is what you need.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo
Libra
September 24 to October 23
You are a Cardinal sign, one of the zodiac’s leaders, and you do so in style. This has been a month when your profile has risen, recognition too. There is more to come but if you need to interact with someone about work today, do keep your message ultra clear. You can be more easily misunderstood, perhaps because you’re often more subtle. Keep it simple.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra
Scorpio
October 24 to November 22
Your motivation may not be as high. Anything that sees you break free, such as planning a holiday, booking a course, or looking to the weekend, will. Anything humdrum can seem that much duller. Yet you probably have some tasks that do need tackling. If you can just find a spark to clear these out the way, it can create the energetic space to focus on what excites.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio
Sagittarius
November 23 to December 21
If you are interested in healing or the arts these can call out. In fact, there could be a link. Doing something creative can be deeply therapeutic. In love, your freedom loving credentials are being firmed up by Uranus in your sector of relationships. However, that can be a hot and cold influence, one day you need space, another connection. Today connection can appeal.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius
Capricorn
December 22 to January 21
Relating closely with others has bought real possibilities this month. If you are getting to know someone you really like, just know today can serve up some mixed messages, as dreamy Neptune triggers subtle doubts. Try not to buy into these too much. By the weekend, things can be right back on track, whether it’s with a friend, a colleague, or more romantically.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn
Aquarius
January 22 to February 19
Concentration can be at premium today. Integrating that more individual side of yourself with the expectations of others and everyday tasks can drain you and make focusing hard. That said, you often like to do your bit. Look to prioritise what you know needs to be done and look to clear these tasks away as quickly as possible. Then embrace on what interests you.
Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius
Pisces
February 20 to March 20
Neptune, your modern ruler, clashes with the Sun in Cancer today. If you have an indulgent or extravagant side to your nature, it likely will be triggered. Whether this is a calorific goody that proves irresistible or a more expensive purchase, reining this in may be a challenge. If you have been following a diet this could be tested but you can also be very generous.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
Head here for this week’s tarot horoscope reading, and see what the cards have in store for you!
Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of June here.
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