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Holyrood leaders clash over domestic priorities and government record
Scottish First Minister’s Questions saw opposition leaders challenge the government’s policy priorities and record on key issues. Reform leader Malcolm Offord questioned why parliament prioritises independence and international debates over pressing domestic issues, whilst also asking for evidence that the government’s drugs strategy works. Conservative leader Russell Findlay raised concerns about pension and state benefit…
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RUSI warns EU procurement gaps leave members exposed to Chinese technology risks
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has published a report warning that the European Union’s fragmented approach to technology procurement exposes member states to security risks posed by Chinese vendors such as Huawei and ZTE. The think tank argues that whilst individual countries assess these risks differently, the EU needs a unified framework to maintain…
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Iran denies RAF Fairford terrorism link; Labour ditches pension triple lock
Labour confirms pension reforms from 2030 as Iran denies involvement in an RAF Fairford terror incident. Courts deliver verdicts across the globe, women’s underrepresentation in UK cybersecurity reaches a six-year low, and Netflix’s East of Eden earns acclaim.
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Flydubai plane diverts to Saudi Arabia after co-pilot attacks captain
Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he was fighting for his life when his co-pilot attacked him during a flight. Despite being wounded, he opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and help subdue the co-pilot as the aircraft plunged. The plane dropped more than 14,000 feet in 30…
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Suspected Chinese spies spoofed an Anthropic exec, ex-White House official in AI phishing
A suspected Chinese espionage group has impersonated senior AI policy figures in phishing campaigns targeting American experts at universities, think tanks, and law firms, according to security researchers at Proofpoint. The group, tracked as TA419, aimed to harvest login credentials from AI policy specialists working on issues of strategic importance to Beijing. This campaign represents…
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School blockades across France turn violent as protest numbers rise
Students across France have blockaded schools and universities to protest shortages of teachers and staff, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating buildings. Fires and other incidents have accompanied the demonstrations, prompting a crisis meeting and intensifying political disputes over the protests and the government’s response. Fires damaged school entrances in Nantes and Rouen, while staff in Marseille…
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Irish gas customers could pay €85m for LNG terminal preparations, even if abandoned
Confidential government documents indicate that Gas Networks Ireland can recover up to €85 million in preparatory costs for a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal through customer tariffs, even if it is never built. The revelation has intensified criticism of the project, which the Government describes as an emergency gas reserve, as households and businesses face…
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Nigel Farage thanks Andy Burnham for gifting Reform UK leader ‘biggest boost in my career’ by reopening Pandora’s box of Brexit, telling the PM: ‘Bring it on’
Nigel Farage says Andy Burnham’s call to reconsider Britain’s relationship with the EU has brought him back into the Brexit debate and given Reform UK a major political opportunity. Farage says his party will campaign for Britain to remain independent, framing the issue as a potential dividing line with Labour. Burnham said Brexit had done…
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Burnham’s City remarks reignite Premier League concerns over political interference
Andy Burnham’s comments about Manchester City have renewed tensions between the Premier League and the government, as some clubs fear political intervention in the case. Burnham said he would be “really concerned” if City’s owners were forced to sell, and warned against rushing to conclusions while praising their investment in Manchester. Downing Street said the…
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Trump signals pardons for allies if Republicans lose Congress
Trump hinted at a potential Republican midterm defeat and suggested he would pardon administration members and allies to shield them from Democratic investigations if the party loses control of Congress. In an interview with TIME, when asked whether he was considering pre-emptive pardons, Trump compared his position to his predecessor Joe Biden, who issued pardons…