Pick

Caroline Simpson worked closely with Burnham when he was Greater Manchester mayorUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has asked the current chief executive of the Greater Manchester combined authority to be his deputy chief of staff, leading the new No 10 North, if as expected he becomes prime minister in three weeks’ time.Caroline Simpson, who worked closely with Burnham when he was mayor, will be based in Manchester to oversee the devolution of power and resources across the UK that he promised would transform the country. Continue reading...

• Global companies are investing billions of dollars into India's AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and data centers, reflecting strong confidence in the nation's digital expansion. • Despite this trend, HSBC Private Bank's latest Asia investment roadmap prioritizes high-conviction bets on China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore over India. • This divergence highlights a gap between long-term infrastructure growth in India and the immediate strategic investment preferences of major global financial institutions.

• ESPN draft insiders analyzed the outcomes of the 2026 NBA draft's first round following the events of Tuesday's selection process. • The analysis focuses on the top 30 picks, identifying which teams successfully navigated the draft and highlighting the most impactful player selections. • The breakdown examines the "twists, turns and trades" that occurred, providing a critical look at the biggest questions remaining for the teams involved.

Some worry choosing James Purnell, former Demon Eyes teammate, would show Labour struggling for new talentThe most powerful football team in the country is getting back together.Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint James Purnell as his chief of staff should he become prime minister will reunite not only two old friends and former Labour ministers but two of the linchpins of the famous Demon Eyes team set up in the late 1990s. Continue reading...

Appointment of James Purnell, former chief executive of Flint Global, described by one Labour MP as ‘very bad sign’The advisory firm led by Andy Burnham’s incoming chief of staff counted BP, Amazon, Jaguar Land Rover and Uber among its clients, transparency records reveal.Burnham is facing unease within Labour over the lobbying links of James Purnell, a longstanding friend and former cabinet minister who was most recently chief executive of Flint Global. Continue reading...

Decision is one of Makerfield MP’s most significant since his Westminster return as he builds his team for governmentAndy Burnham has chosen his Blairite former colleague James Purnell as his chief of staff, the Guardian understands, as he begins to finalise his team for government.The Makerfield MP has picked his former cabinet colleague to be his right-hand man in Downing Street, in one of the most significant decisions he has made since returning to Westminster. Continue reading...

• Market analysts Ansh Jogendra Bhilwar and Pooja Tripathi have released a watchlist of recommended stocks, including Wipro, L&T, and HAL, focusing on cash and derivatives. • The suggestions cover a variety of investment horizons, ranging from short-term trades to long-term themes across multiple sectors. • Specifically, Tripathi recommends buying Asian Paints futures with a target price of Rs 2,810 and a stop loss set at Rs 2,710.