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Scottish Conservatives propose tougher penalties for benefit fraud
The Scottish Conservative Party has proposed new legislation to reform Scotland’s devolved benefits system, citing concerns about rising costs and insufficient fraud enforcement. Party leader Russell Findlay unveiled the proposals at the Conservative conference, criticising the SNP’s approach and highlighting that only three benefit fraud convictions have been recorded in Scotland since 2022. He argued…
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Fans mistook Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr for an usher at his gig
Jim Kerr, frontman of Scottish rock band Simple Minds, was mistaken for an usher at one of his own gigs during an acoustic tour. Rather than being embarrassed, the charismatic 67-year-old found the incident amusing, joking he should have carried a torch to complete the part. The mix-up happened because Kerr had deliberately positioned himself…
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Sharp fall in England’s school nurses threatens early support for children
A King’s Fund report warns that the sharp fall in school nurses and health visitors is reducing children’s access to early health support in England. Without prevention and timely help, problems such as mental distress, obesity and long-term conditions may worsen, increasing pressure on families, schools and the NHS. School nurse numbers fell 38 per…
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Tech powerhouse’s regulatory push bears similarities to a notorious Washington strategy
Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind the Claude chatbot, has pushed Washington for stricter regulation of AI whilst spending millions on lobbying and advocacy campaigns—a strategy that critics say mirrors tactics employed by convicted fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried during his cryptocurrency career. Both companies spent heavily on influence efforts whilst publicly emphasising that regulation was essential…
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Karen Bass faces renewed criticism over Ghana trip during Palisades fire
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has faced renewed criticism after defending her decision to be in Ghana during the catastrophic Palisades wildfire in January 2025. Speaking at a town hall on Saturday ahead of her re-election campaign, Bass argued that even had she been present in the city, the outcome would have been the same,…
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Iran trains women in firearms and guerrilla tactics amid regional tensions
Iran held its first military training course specifically for women at Imam Hussein Square in Tehran on Sunday, where scores of participants learnt to handle assault rifles, carry out first aid and execute guerrilla tactics. The course was part of the regime’s “Jan Fada” or “sacrificing life” campaign, occurring amid escalating Middle East tensions and…
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Police logged 8,500 sexual offences against under-13s over five years
Police recorded at least 8,500 sexual offences against children aged 13 or under in England and Wales between 2021 and 2025, including about 2,000 rape and attempted rape allegations. The figures suggest around one rape allegation involving a school was reported each day, highlighting the scale of child-on-child sexual abuse and concerns about how it…
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Museum extends hours after crowds overwhelm Bayeux Tapestry exhibition
The British Museum is extending opening hours at its Bayeux Tapestry exhibition after heavy demand led to queues of up to two hours and some visitors being turned away. It has apologised to ticket-holders refused entry when the museum closed for a private event, offering refunds and priority booking for another date. Additional signs and…
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Mahmood says ministers seek work visa approvals every week or two
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says Labour ministers regularly ask her to approve work visas, sometimes for urgent vacancies that departments say they cannot fill in time. She argues that overseas recruitment should be used only when there is a genuine labour shortage, and says relying on it too readily can leave local skills undeveloped and…
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Tuchel says Alex Scott’s emergence gives England – and Rice – ‘high level’ competition
Thomas Tuchel has praised Alex Scott’s emergence in England’s midfield after the 23-year-old delivered an outstanding display in the 7-0 Nations League victory over Croatia. The manager signalled that Declan Rice, absent due to load management, now faces genuine competition for his place, with Tuchel emphasising that England cannot rely solely on two central midfielders…