-
Opposition deepfake video sparks outrage in Spain ahead of election
Spain’s main opposition People’s party (PP) has drawn criticism after publishing an AI-generated campaign video that makes people linked to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist party appear to confess to wrongdoing. The video has intensified debate over political disinformation and the ethical use of deepfakes as Spain prepares for a general election next month. The…
-
Cook shifts 19 House race ratings towards Democrats ahead of midterms
The Cook Political Report has shifted 19 House race ratings towards Democrats, adding to signs that Republicans may struggle to retain control of the chamber in the midterm elections. Democrats are now favoured in 220 seats, above the 218 needed for a majority, while Republicans are favoured in 198 and 17 races remain toss-ups. Six…
-
Meta is charging government and nonprofit pages to post links on Facebook
Meta’s Facebook test limiting link posts is affecting some government and nonprofit pages, despite the company saying those groups should be excluded. The restrictions could make it harder for them to direct residents and supporters to essential information, events and fundraising pages. Greenville, Texas, says its library page was limited to two links a month,…
-
The Doomsday preppers stockpiling food and essentials as they warn government’s ‘Be Ready’ survival checklist will leave Britons unprepared in an emergency
Some Britons are building household emergency supplies, arguing that the Government’s “Be Ready” guidance does not go far enough. Ana, a 42-year-old Welsh mother who founded the UK Preppers Club, says people should prepare for disruptions to food, water, shelter and infrastructure, while the Government should be more transparent about risks. The Facebook group has…
-
Burnham weighs exemptions from tougher settlement rules amid Labour divisions
Andy Burnham is considering changes to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s proposed immigration reforms, as Labour faces a Cabinet split and possible rebellion by MPs. The proposals would make migrants wait longer for permanent UK residence, and opponents say the changes could alienate progressive voters. The current plan would increase the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave…
-
Michigan school board votes to ban biological males from girls’ sports in major policy shift
The Monroe Public Schools board in southern Michigan voted 4–2 to restrict girls’ sports and locker-room access to students documented as biologically female on their birth certificates. The district says the policy applies only to Monroe Public Schools, not visiting schools, and comes amid wider disputes over transgender students’ participation in girls’ athletics and use…
-
Five-job civil servant admits being contracted to work 183 hours a week was ‘impossible’ – given there are only 168 in seven days
Kashim Chowdhury, a 55-year-old civil servant accused of holding overlapping jobs across government departments, told Southwark Crown Court that working his contracted 183 hours a week was impossible. He said managers had agreed to arrangements focused on completing tasks rather than recording set hours; the case centres on whether he concealed his other jobs to…
-
British Filmmaker Joanna Hogg on the Struggle to Turn Personal Stories Into Fiction: ‘Each Time I’m Learning From Scratch’
British filmmaker Joanna Hogg says making fiction from personal experience remains a fresh challenge with each film. While serving as jury president at Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, she discussed her current writing and how her own experiences shape films including “The Souvenir” and “The Eternal Daughter”. Hogg said she approaches each new story as…
-
French authorities investigate deadly Trappes shootings as terrorism attack
One person was killed and five others wounded, three seriously, in a series of drive-by shootings in Trappes and nearby towns south-west of Paris. French authorities are investigating the attack as terrorism, though the suspect’s motive has not been established. The shootings lasted almost 15 minutes on Friday and struck places including a petrol station,…