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The latest published reporting from this region.

Politics

No amount of sliding in the polls can shake Kemi Badenoch’s self-belief – or alter her party’s direction | Andy Beckett

Two years in to her leadership, Badenoch continues to take the Tories ever-rightwards, into comfort-zone Conservatism What happens to a political leader who is too sure of themself? Sometimes, huge confidence is a very useful, self-fulfilling quality: persuading party colleagues, activists, donors and voters that more can be achieved than is usually thought possible. Such utter conviction can keep everyone believing while the actual practicalities of a political project are worked out. Yet when an air of absolute certainty turns out to be overconfidence, the bubble bursts. The politician may b

The Guardian
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Sports

Sports owners bet big on Republicans. What does their defeat mean for US sports?

A Democratic sweep has changed Washington’s balance of power. But from gambling legislation to stadium subsidies, both parties have helped build the system that enriches American sports’ billionaire owners Before a single vote was cast this election cycle, the technocrats and oligarchs who own American sports had already voted. Pro sports owners put more than $100m into this cycle, according to Front Office Sports. But Tuesday night was a referendum not just on Donald Trump and Maga policies, but on the puppeteers who pull America’s strings. The people voted, and the owners lost. Before anyone

The Guardian
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Finance

South West Water’s failure to fix leaks ‘putting customer supplies at risk’

With parts of region served by company in severe drought still, regulators give it six weeks to come up with action plan Repeated failures by South West Water to tackle leaks are putting customers at higher risks of losing water supplies as parts of the region remain in severe drought, regulators have said. In a warning to the privatised company that serves 1.8 million people across the south-west of England, the regulators said it had been failing to meet targets to reduce leaks and repair burst pipes for seven years. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Entertainment

‘It’s so glossy and sexy!’: 10 movies (and one TV show) that inspired Grand Theft Auto

As GTA 6 looms, we look at the films that have influenced Rockstar’s creatives, from Heat to Bonnie and Clyde, via Boyz n the Hood and Speed Grand Theft Auto is arguably the most cinematic video game series ever made. Over the past three decades, the games have studied and stolen the themes, conventions and visual dynamism of great gangster and action movies, applying them to open worlds filled with low-life characters and grand set-piece possibilities. Here then are the movies (and TV show) that have shaped the GTA experience, from the 1996 original to this year’s inescapable instalment. Cont

The Guardian
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