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HMP Maidstone, a historic prison in Kent, has been denied the installation of CCTV cameras due to its Grade II listed status, despite ongoing concerns about drug smuggling. Investigators have reported that the prison is overwhelmed with illegal substances, yet cameras cannot be placed on its perimeter wall, which has been protected under Historic England's National Heritage List since 1973. The 600-capacity facility, which has housed notorious figures such as Reggie Kray and Soviet spy John Vassall, faces significant security challenges as a result. An insider from the justice system revealed that prison officials were exploring alternative locations for CCTV away from the listed walls. However, the Independent Monitoring Board previously expressed concerns that the absence of full CCTV coverage was "regrettable" due to the historic nature of the prison. The watchdog emphasized that the primary method of smuggling contraband into the prison is through "throw-overs," where individuals outside simply hurl illicit packages over the walls. It also noted that local police do not allocate resources to prevent these incidents. The board further highlighted that the smell of cannabis within the prison had "increased markedly" and seemed to have become "accepted" and "normalised." The main drug-related issues within the prison include widespread cannabis use, along with occasional cases involving spice and cocaine. A spokesperson for the Prison Service responded to the concerns by stating, "As part of our commitment to bear down on drugs in prison, HMP Maidstone is due to have a new CCTV system installed which will cover all internal and external areas. This is on top of the prison’s existing security measures—such as X-ray scanners, which also detect illicit items." The drug problem at the prison has also been linked to the use of drones for smuggling. In April, a couple was sentenced to a combined seven years in prison after being caught flying a drone over HMP Maidstone as part of a large-scale smuggling operation. Sajad Hashimi and his wife, Zerka Marana, were found to have carried out more than 100 drone drops into 11 prisons and young offenders' institutions over the course of a year. Throw-overs remain a persistent issue at the Category C prison. In one incident in 2019, authorities discovered 15 parcels containing smuggled items, including drugs, that had been thrown over the wall in a single night. The security concerns at HMP Maidstone extend beyond drugs. In September, Sasan Rabat was convicted of murder after launching an attack on a fellow inmate with such brutality that police described it as "almost indescribable." Despite the limitations imposed by its listed status, authorities are under pressure to address the ongoing security challenges at HMP Maidstone. While the planned CCTV system aims to enhance surveillance within the prison, the issue of external smuggling remains a difficult obstacle to overcome. Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-03-11

Around 100 private schools could be forced to shut their doors due to Labour’s controversial decision to impose a 20 per cent VAT levy on independent school fees, a government minister has admitted. This marks the first time a minister has publicly acknowledged that the tax increase will lead to school closures, contradicting earlier claims that the impact would be minimal. Previously, government officials had insisted they were not expecting the collapse of private schools as a result of the policy and had been accused of downplaying the number of pupils who would be affected. However, Treasury Minister Torsten Bell has now put a figure on the potential closures, revealing that around 100 schools are expected to shut within the next three years. Since January, a dozen schools have already either closed or announced plans to shut, citing the VAT hike as a key factor. The Independent Schools Council (ISC) welcomed Mr Bell’s admission but argued that the government was still underestimating the impact of the policy. The Independent Schools Bursars Association has projected that as many as 286 private schools—approximately 11 per cent of Britain’s 2,600 independent institutions—could be at risk of closure. The introduction of VAT on private school fees at the beginning of the year has already placed financial strain on schools, and from next month, the removal of the business rates exemption for independent schools will add further pressure. Speaking during a debate on independent schools in Westminster Hall, Mr Bell suggested that the government anticipates a 60 per cent increase in the annual closure rate of private schools. If 100 schools were to shut, ISC analysis suggests that approximately 40,000 pupils would be displaced, and 11,000 jobs would be lost. Julie Robinson, CEO of the ISC, criticised the government’s handling of the situation, saying, “It is frustrating to discover the Government has been planning in private for what it rejected in public. The loss of any independent school has a huge impact: for local employment, businesses and, most importantly, families. This tax on education will not raise money, not benefit state schools and not improve outcomes for children.” Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-03-11 Related Topics: Father Fights Back as Son Forced Out of Private School Due to Labour’s Tax Hike Private Schools Struggle as Labour’s VAT Policy Triggers Closures State Schools Face Capacity Crisis Amid Labour’s Private School Tax Hike Legal Challenge Against Private School VAT Policy Deems It Discriminatory Looming Crisis: Private Schools Face Closures Amid VAT Hike

Pro-Palestinian activists vandalized Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland, defacing the clubhouse, spray painting messages, and damaging the greens in protest against the former U.S. president’s vision for Gaza. The direct action was carried out by the Palestine Action group, which claimed responsibility for the incident at the prestigious resort, previously a host of the British Open Championship. The group stated that their protest was a response to Trump’s recently publicized plan to transform Gaza into a luxury beach resort. Footage and images shared by the activists showed the words “Gaza is not 4 sale” painted across the grass in large letters. A statement released on their website explained: “After entering the 800-acre resort, activists painted in 3 metre-high letters, ‘GAZA IS NOT FOR SALE’ across the lawn of the South Ayrshire course. Making the popular opposition to Trump’s intentions clear, activists spray painted the clubhouse and dug up the greens including the course’s most prestigious holes — used in numerous Open championships.” The protest was linked to an AI-generated video posted on Trump’s social media accounts last week, which appeared to depict his vision for “Trump Gaza.” The 35-second clip showed a rebuilt beachfront lined with hotels, while Trump himself was portrayed lounging by a pool in swimming trunks alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The video also featured billionaire Elon Musk eating hummus and tossing cash into the air. A spokesman for Palestine Action condemned Trump’s portrayal of Gaza as his own real estate venture, saying, “Palestine Action rejects Donald Trump’s treatment of Gaza as though it were his property to dispose of as he likes. To make that clear, we have shown him that his own property is not safe from acts of resistance. We will continue to take action against US-Israeli colonialism in the Palestinian homeland.” Trump purchased the Turnberry golf resort in 2014, and it has since become one of the most well-known golf courses in the world, rebranded as “Trump Turnberry.” This is not the first instance of direct action by Palestine Action. Earlier this week, the group claimed responsibility for spraying red paint on the University of Cambridge’s Old Schools building, a historic Grade I-listed structure housing the university’s main offices. Activists have demanded that the institution cut its financial ties with companies involved in arms manufacturing. Based on a report by The Times 2025-03-11

The Royal Air Force is scrambling to find combat-ready pilots after a controversial recruitment policy prioritizing women and ethnic minorities was deemed unlawful. Candidates who were previously overlooked are now being encouraged to reapply as the RAF attempts to fill the critical shortage of pilots needed for frontline operations. An internal document reveals that the Air Force is in urgent need of more pilots for training, prompting officials to reach out to personnel from other RAF branches who may have been previously rejected due to suitability assessment scores. Older candidates with flight experience are also being considered to help bridge the gap. It has been reported that the RAF is facing a 30 percent shortfall in pilots at the ranks of Flight Lieutenant and Squadron Leader. While some officials have challenged these figures, no alternative statistics have been provided. The crisis comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to put "jets in the sky" to support Ukraine as part of a post-conflict stabilisation force set to be confirmed this week. The Labour leader has already committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP, with European allies also boosting their military investments following Donald Trump's warning that they can no longer rely on the United States for protection. Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois highlighted multiple factors contributing to the RAF’s pilot shortage. “The RAF’s availability of combat pilots has been hit by a perfect storm: including woke manipulation of recruiting practices, the revival of civilian airlines post-Covid, and technical issues with training aircraft, particularly engine reliability on the Hawk T2. All this really matters. If we are now going to see ‘jets in the sky’ defending any Ukrainian peace deal, then we need enough trained pilots to fly them. As we approach VE Day celebrations, it is worth remembering that the RAF never ran out of Spitfires or Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain, but we very nearly ran out of fighter pilots.” The RAF's recruitment issues intensified after an official 2023 inquiry found that the Air Force had unlawfully discriminated against white male pilot applicants. A group of 31 white male trainees were held back, leading to compensation payouts. The investigation also revealed that the RAF’s targets to have 40 percent female personnel and 20 percent from ethnic minority backgrounds by 2030 were deemed "unrealistic." Group Captain Lizzie Nicholl, then head of RAF recruitment, refused to implement the policy, citing violations of the Equality Act. The inquiry found that she faced "significant and at times unreasonable" pressure to push forward the unlawful initiative. Meanwhile, former RAF chief Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston faced calls to resign over the recruitment scandal. A report by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee that same year accused RAF leadership of "complacency" in addressing delays in producing combat-ready pilots, warning that these setbacks had "serious implications for the effectiveness of our armed forces." Training issues, including frequent breakdowns of aircraft used to train pilots and obligations to train Saudi Arabian pilots under a Typhoon jet contract, further exacerbated the problem. At its worst, the RAF’s training process took up to seven years, though sources now claim it has been reduced to three and a half years. Despite the ongoing pilot shortage, the RAF insists that it has enough aircrew to carry out current missions. A spokesperson stated, "We have sufficient pilots and aircrew to conduct all current operations and service the front line. Additionally, active management of the flying training system has reduced training times and the backlog of student aircrew in the training pipeline. This good progress has enabled us to reopen aircrew applications for serving personnel." With mounting pressure to meet defence commitments and the demand for trained pilots growing, the RAF’s leadership faces a crucial test in ensuring that the force is prepared for future conflicts. Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-03-11

Foreign nationals who have avoided deportation by citing human rights laws will now be subject to strict monitoring, including electronic tagging, night-time curfews, and exclusion zones, as part of new measures announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. The move, set to be introduced in the upcoming Border Security Bill, aims to protect the public by imposing controls on individuals deemed "high-harm" threats who cannot be removed from the UK. The new powers are modeled after terrorism prevention and investigation measures (TPIMs), which allow restrictions to be placed on suspected terrorists. These measures include GPS tagging, curfews, restrictions on phone and internet use, and prohibitions on associating with certain individuals. The system was first introduced in 2011 by the Conservative government to replace Labour’s control orders. These new regulations could apply to individuals like Abu Wadei, a Palestinian militant recently exposed for advocating violence against Jewish people and posing with an AK-47 in Gaza. The announcement follows reports revealing how foreign-born criminals, including murderers, sex offenders, and violent offenders, have successfully blocked deportation using the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The move also coincides with an effort by the Conservative Party to amend the Border Security Bill to prevent migrants from invoking human rights laws to challenge deportation in British courts. If implemented, this change would disapply the Human Rights Act for immigration cases, preventing legal arguments such as those used by criminals to remain in the UK. A government spokesperson stated, "Any foreign nationals who commit heinous crimes should be in no doubt we will do everything to make sure they are not free on Britain’s streets, including removal from the UK at the earliest possible opportunity. For the foreign criminals whose removal we are pursuing, but that we are presently unable to deport, we are introducing tougher restrictions, including the use of electronic tags, night-time curfews, and exclusion zones. Breaching these conditions would be grounds for arrest, and the individual could face imprisonment." The new measures have the backing of Attorney General Lord Hermer, who has been working alongside Yvette Cooper to draft the proposal. Ministers believe the restrictions comply with human rights laws, and any breach would carry a maximum penalty of six months in prison. A government source explained, "This is about bringing in TPIM-style restrictions for migrants who pose a risk to public safety." As of September 2023, 11,800 foreign offenders were eligible for deportation but had been released into the community after serving their sentences. Since July 2024, the Home Office has successfully deported 2,580 foreign criminals—a 23 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year. The new measures would enable the government to impose restrictions on members of the Rochdale grooming gang, including ringleaders Adil Khan, 53, and Qari Abdul Rauf, 55. Both men were convicted of child sex offences and sentenced to eight and six years in prison, respectively, but have so far evaded deportation to Pakistan. The rules could also apply to Mada Pasa, who issued a death threat against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on TikTok despite having no UK convictions. Other high-profile cases highlighted by The Telegraph would also fall under the new restrictions. One such case involves an Algerian chemist jailed for nine years for contaminating food, as well as knife and battery offences. Despite multiple deportation attempts by the Home Office over more than a decade, he has remained in the UK by arguing that returning to Algeria would result in persecution due to suspicions of Islamist extremism. His appeal was recently upheld by the courts, and he has been granted restricted leave to remain. The proposed powers could also help prevent further crimes committed by released offenders who should have been deported. In one shocking case, Jamaican national Ernesto Elliott, a prolific offender, avoided deportation in 2020 only to go on to murder a 35-year-old man six months later. The amendment will be introduced this week as part of Labour’s Border Security, Immigration, and Asylum Bill. Sources indicate that the Home Secretary will have the authority to impose tagging and other restrictions as a condition for granting limited leave to remain. The Home Office will be responsible for determining who falls under these measures, though the criteria will broadly include anyone deemed a threat to public safety or national security. Under existing law, any foreign national convicted of a crime and sentenced to at least 12 months in prison is considered for deportation under the UK Borders Act 2007. The Home Office has the power to deport individuals under the Immigration Act 1971 if their removal is deemed conducive to the public good, particularly in cases involving serious harm, persistent offending, or threats to national security. The introduction of these new security measures signals a tougher approach to managing foreign criminals who exploit legal loopholes to remain in the UK. While deportation remains the government’s priority, the new restrictions aim to ensure that those who cannot be immediately removed will be closely monitored to protect the public. Based on a report by The TYelegraph 2025-03-11

Palestine Action has inflicted millions of pounds in damage on factories producing equipment for the British Army and Royal Navy, showing no signs of slowing down. On the night of December 8, 2022, four individuals gathered at a guest house in Presteigne, a small town in Powys, Wales, near the English border. The group consisted of Ruth Hogg, 40, an art gallery employee with a master’s degree in fine art; Susan Bagshaw, 55, an artist and former social worker; Morwenna Grey, 41, a carer from Machynlleth; and Tristan Dixon, 34, a musician from Huddersfield. After discussing their plans, they reconvened early the next morning, dressed in black balaclavas and bright red boiler suits emblazoned with “Palestine Action.” The activist group, formed with the sole purpose of disrupting companies believed to be supplying the Israeli military, was about to strike again. Armed with backpacks, a drill, a crowbar, a sledgehammer, an angle grinder, and smoke grenades, they headed to the industrial estate in Presteigne. Their target was Teledyne Labtech, a technology firm employing 64 people. Bagshaw and Grey forced their way inside, destroying computers, monitors, and furniture while stunned employees looked on. Smoke bombs were set off, and red paint was sprayed throughout the building. Meanwhile, Hogg and Dixon climbed onto the roof, smashing windows and drilling holes into the structure. The damage totaled £1.2 million. All four were arrested and later jailed, expressing remorse for their actions in court. However, this attack was just one in a long series of assaults orchestrated by Palestine Action. A Sunday Times investigation has uncovered that the activist group has caused extensive damage to numerous British defence and engineering firms, as well as banks, insurance companies, universities, and government buildings linked to the Israeli military. Since its inception in July 2020, Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for 356 direct actions across the UK. The group has drawn recruits from organizations like Extinction Rebellion and employs tactics reminiscent of early 2000s animal rights activists who targeted Huntingdon Life Sciences. Palestine Action has vowed to intensify its campaign in the coming year, even as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced increased funding for the British defence industry. Their activities extend beyond protests. They have used vehicles to ram-raid factories, severed internet cables, and smashed offices and workshops with various tools. They have vandalized historic buildings in Oxford and Cambridge with red paint, defaced a bust of Israel’s first president at Manchester University, harassed employees of targeted firms, and engaged in burglaries. A spokesperson for Palestine Action told The Sunday Times, “The primary goal of our direct action campaign is to rid Britain of Israeli weapons factories.” Data reveals that Palestine Action’s attacks have escalated from 17 incidents in 2020 to 170 in 2024, even continuing despite the ceasefire in Gaza. A total of 76 companies have been affected. Lord Walney, formerly the government’s adviser on political violence, stated, “The number of attacks shows the industrial scale of Palestine Action’s attempts to sabotage the British defence industry, terrorising working people and leaving our country weaker.” Palestine Action was founded in 2020 by Richard Barnard and Huda Ammori. Ammori, 30, has Palestinian and Iraqi heritage, and her great-grandfather was killed by British soldiers in the 1936 Arab Revolt. Barnard, 51, has a history of protest involvement with Extinction Rebellion. Another key member is Sarah Wilkinson, a former graphic designer affiliated with Extinction Rebellion North. The group has also received support from the rapper Lowkey, who has faced criticism for lyrics accused of promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories. As the conflict in Gaza persisted in 2024, Palestine Action ramped up its operations, launching a recruitment drive and distributing an Underground Manual instructing members to form covert cells. Training sessions in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Glasgow have guided activists in direct action techniques, including the use of sledgehammers. A significant attack on an Elbit Systems site in Bristol on August 6 resulted in £1 million in damage and 16 arrests. A repurposed prison van was driven through fencing before activists used sledgehammers to further damage the site. Two police officers and a security guard were injured. Just last month, masked activists stormed the headquarters of Martin-Baker, a British firm specializing in ejection seats for RAF Typhoons and other aircraft. To date, 118 Palestine Action activists have been convicted in court, with 33 found not guilty and 24 more cases pending. Charges have ranged from criminal damage and violent disorder to grievous bodily harm and aggravated burglary. While some arrests have been made under section 45 of the Serious Crime Act 2015—targeting organized crime—no activists have been formally charged under this legislation. In certain instances, authorities have invoked anti-terrorism laws, allowing police to detain suspects for a week without charge and restrict prisoner visits. A UN-appointed human rights expert recently expressed concerns to the Home Office over the use of anti-terrorism measures against activists. Palestine Action remains undeterred, escalating its campaign against British firms linked to Israeli military suppliers. With new strategies, increased recruitment, and a growing number of attacks, the group shows no indication of retreating from its mission. Based on a report by The Times 2025-03-11

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been accused of deepening the pain of Sir David Amess’s family after refusing their request for a public inquiry into his tragic killing. Sir David’s daughter, Katie Amess, expressed her heartbreak, saying that Cooper’s decision was “adding salt onto an open wound” and that her family had been misled for months with false hope. 'The Amess family are linking the murder to the murder of those beautiful children in Southport' Radd Seiger is speaking on behalf of the family of Sir David Amess after Yvette Coope rejected a public inquiry into his killing. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster, an emotional Katie Amess described her father as more than just a public servant, calling him her “protector, guide, greatest champion, and above all, my friend.” She said the impact of his murder had left an “unimaginable void” in her family’s life and that they had not been given the space to grieve properly. “There are no words to describe the unbelievable pain of losing a father in such a brutal and senseless way,” she said. “From the moment that I woke up on 15 October 2021, my whole world was shattered beyond repair.” She also criticized the government’s approach to inquiries, questioning why tragedies in Southport and Nottingham warranted investigations while her father’s case did not. “How can the government justify holding inquiries for other tragic events and yet refuse to investigate the very system that failed my father? Is his life worth less than others?” she asked. Expressing her anger at Cooper’s response, Amess added: “She has strung us along for months suggesting that she was working on ways to help us. However, all she has done is remove the possibility of us being included in the Southport inquiry; instead offering another useless paper review, conducted by a person of their choice.” She made it clear that her family is not just seeking answers but accountability. “The authorities and the government let my father down so badly. His death was entirely preventable – and where do you go from that?” Security Minister Dan Jarvis attempted to reassure the family, saying that the government will continue to review the case and scrutinize past inquiries to ensure justice is served. “In the years since this cowardly attack, there have been several reviews asking how this could have been avoided, and we have seen significant improvements to the Prevent programme as well as stronger protections for MPs,” he said. However, for the Amess family, this reassurance is not enough. Their fight for a full inquiry continues as they demand the truth about why Sir David’s death was not prevented and what measures must be taken to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. Based on a report by The Independent 2025-03-11

Donald Trump has lashed Malcolm Turnbull as a "weak and ineffective leader" in an extraordinary personal attack on the last Australian prime minister to obtain a tariff exemption from the United States in 2018. The outburst from Mr Trump appeared to be in response to an interview Mr Turnbull gave to Bloomberg Australia in which he described the US president as "chaotic, rude, abusive and erratic" and warned his poor treatment of allies would ultimately benefit China, at a time when the two major powers are vying for influence. "Malcolm Turnbull, the former prime minister of Australia who was always leading that wonderful country from 'behind', never understood what was going on in China, nor did he have the capacity to do so," Mr Trump wrote in a late-night post on social media platform Truth Social. "I always thought he was a weak and ineffective leader and, obviously, Australians agreed with me!" Mr Turnbull later doubled down on his critique of Mr Trump, telling the ABC's 7.30 it was up to the leaders of friendly countries, like Australia, to stand up to the US president and to be frank with voters about the fact that the world had changed. He also said the idea of allies having to "suck up" to Mr Trump or join "the conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House" to avoid punishing tariffs was ludicrous. "The impact that Trump is having on the world, on the Western alliance, on markets, on our economies — I mean, these are matters that we have to talk about," he told 7.30. "We cannot continue this bipartisan gas-lighting that is going on at the moment." Mr Trump and Mr Turnbull famously clashed in 2017 over a refugee resettlement deal Australia had signed with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. But this latest skirmish comes at a highly sensitive time for the Albanese government as it seeks to secure a carve-out from a mooted 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminium tariffs, due to take effect on March 12. In a phone call with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month, Mr Trump promised to give "great consideration" to Australia's request for an exemption and at the time, cited the fact that the US has a trade surplus with Australia. Trade Minister Don Farrell has indicated the government is emphasising the point "extremely forcefully": that Australia buys $70 billion worth of goods from the US, while the US buys $30 billion in good from Australia. However, as the tariff deadline looms, the government is growing increasingly pessimistic about its chances. Based on a report by ABC News 2025-03-11

Ukraine must give up land to Russia as part of any agreement to end the war, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has suggested. “I think both sides need to come to an understanding that there’s no military solution to this situation,” Mr Rubio told reporters as he flew to Saudi Arabia for crunch talks with Ukrainian officials on Tuesday. “The Russians can’t conquer all of Ukraine, and obviously it’ll be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014.” Mr Rubio earlier said the American ban on sending weapons and intelligence to Ukraine could be lifted tomorrow if the Saudi meeting goes well. Washington’s top diplomat said the White House first needed to understand what concessions Kyiv would be willing to make before restarting military aid, adding that Ukraine must be “prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians will.” “I think the notion of the pause in aid, broadly, is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously what happens tomorrow will be key to that,” he told reporters. Ukraine will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as prisoner releases, in talks with US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia, two senior Ukrainian officials said. The officials said Ukraine’s delegation is ready to sign an agreement giving the United States access to Ukraine’s rare minerals during Tuesday’s meeting in Jeddah, a deal president Donald Trump has sought. The measures come as Kyiv works to repair relations following the Feb. 28 Oval Office row between Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr Trump. US military aid and intelligence support remain paused as Washington pushes for peace. The US secretary of state said he and national security adviser Mike Waltz would assess Ukraine’s position. He said: “What we want to know is, are they interested entering some sort of peace conversation and general outlines of the kinds of things they could consider.” Zelensky apologised to Trump for Oval Office row, Witkoff says Volodymyr Zelensky has apologised to Donald Trump in a letter for their White House row. Mr Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said: “Zelensky sent a letter to the president. He apologised for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office.” He called the letter “an important step” amid ongoing discussions between American, Ukrainian and European officials. Mr Witkoff said: “I think that it was an important step and there’s been a lot of discussion between our teams and the Ukrainians and the Europeans who are relevant to this discussion as well.” Last month’s confrontation flared over differing visions of how to end Russia’s three-year-old invasion, with Zelensky seeking strong security guarantees from a Trump administration that has embraced diplomacy with Vladimir Putin. Based on a report by The Telegraph 2025-03-11

Donald Trump’s border czar declared Monday that immigrants living legally in the U.S. can “absolutely” be kicked out of the country—even if they have green cards. Tom Homan was asked whether Mahmoud Khalil, who lead pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and was arrested by ICE on Saturday night, can be deported even though he holds a green card and resides in the country legally. “Absolutely we can,” Homan told Fox Business Network’s Stuart Varney. “Did he violate the terms of his visa? Did he violate the terms of his residency here, you know, committing crimes, attacking Israeli students, locking down buildings, destroying property? Absolutely, any resident alien who commits a crime is eligible for deportation,” he said, referring to pro-Palestine students’ occupation of a Columbia administrative building during protests last year. The comment comes hours after Marco Rubio announced that legal residents could get their green cards and visas revoked. “We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported,” he wrote in an X post that linked Khalil’s arrest. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, told the Associated Press that the arrest was made “in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.” A petition calling for Khalil’s release has been signed more than 1 million times. Green cards and visas can be revoked if the holder is convicted of a crime or considered a threat to national security, but that decision is made by immigration judges. Based on a report by The Daily Beast 2025-03-11 Related Topics: Trump Threatens to Cut Federal Funding Over Campus Protests U.S. State Dept to Use AI to Revoke Visas of Foreign Students with Alleged Ties to Hamas

A personal attack troll post has been removed @RuamRudy

US president Donald Trump has admitted he believes that nuclear weapons are the greatest threat to humanity, starkly warning that the use of 'monster' warheads may 'end the world'. Trump, who is in charge of the second-largest nuclear stockpile in the world, made the shock statement in an interview with Fox News' Sunday Morning Features, telling the broadcaster: 'The level of destruction is beyond anything you can imagine.' 'It's just bad that you have to spend all this money on something that if it's used, it's probably the end of the world.' The Republican added that the threat of climate change was nothing compared to the risks posed by nuclear weapons, claiming that a nuclear war 'could happen tomorrow.' Trump explained: 'I watched Biden for years say the existential threat is from the climate. I said "no". 'The greatest is sitting on shelves in various countries called "nuclear weapons" that are big monsters that can blow your heads off for miles and miles and miles.' While it is not known if this his administration's official position, Trump has signalled that he is keen to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world. Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-03-10

As his small boat was intercepted in the English Channel, Palestinian migrant Abu Wadee raised a victory sign and proclaimed, “Thank God, we arrived in Britain.” However, Wadee is no ordinary asylum seeker fleeing the horrors of Gaza. Instead, he has a history of extremism, openly calling for the slaughter of all Jews and proudly posing with military-grade weapons. Wadee, a former key member of a militant group that has terrorized Israel, has posted numerous images of himself engaged in clashes with the Israeli Defense Forces. In a video uploaded to his Facebook page last September, he was filmed making chilling calls for violence. “Allah, it is upon you to [deal with] the Jews and those loyal to them,” he declared, according to a translation by research group Camera. “Allah, kill them one by one, and don’t leave a single one. Allah, destroy them completely, disperse them completely and make the earth fall from under their feet.” Despite these alarming statements, the UK Home Office has refused to confirm whether they were aware of Wadee’s militant past or whether he remains free in the country. Kent Police also stated they had no information on any arrests related to his case. The revelation of Wadee’s arrival has sparked outrage among senior politicians and security experts, who are now calling for his immediate detention. Conservative justice spokesman Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister, stated, “Abu Wadee is clearly a threat to the British people. The police and security services are stretched as it is without dangerous men like this who appear to hold extremist sympathies to deal with. He needs to be deported immediately.” Colonel Philip Ingram, a former Army intelligence officer, echoed these concerns. “He is a significant terror threat to the UK and is someone who should be arrested immediately. I would hope that security services are all over him. If he is here, there are likely to be more. This is one of the most worrying reports I have seen in a long time.” Wadee, believed to be in his mid-thirties and from Khan Yunis in Gaza, has boasted about his involvement in attacks against Israel. In an April 2018 interview with Hamas-affiliated newspaper *Felesteen*, he proudly discussed his role in launching incendiary kites across the Israeli border. “[It] only costs us three shekels, [65p] but it costs the occupation (Israel) more because of the fires it causes,” he said. “We try to come up with new surprises. It is known that we started with [throwing] stones, moved to burning tyres and setting the Israeli flag on fire, and then used kites.” Social media posts further expose Wadee’s extremist ties. In one image from March 2021, he is seen staring into the camera while smoking a cigarette and holding an assault rifle with a telescopic sight. Another image shows him crouching with two Kalashnikov AK-47s, while a third captures him sitting in a car with a firearm in his hand. He has also posed alongside seven masked men and a high-explosive artillery shell adorned with images of gunmen allegedly killed in clashes with Israel. Acume Forensic, a leading digital analysis firm, has verified that Wadee is the same individual in these disturbing images. “Based on the imagery, we would be confident that the individual on the boat is the same individual shown in the image with the firearm,” a spokesman confirmed. The Campaign Against Antisemitism has called for immediate action. “We consider that this man poses a threat to public security and are asking the Home Office for urgent assurances that he is in secure custody pending further investigations,” a spokesman said. “[Someone] whose stated ambition is ‘to die for the sake of Allah’ and prayed for the slaughter of all Jews must not be permitted to be at large in this country.” The campaign group also claims to have uncovered photographs of Wadee allegedly taken at a conference featuring Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a key figure behind the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks. Wadee has amassed a large following on social media, with his TikTok videos attracting up to 2.5 million views. His posts document his journey from Gaza to the UK, including footage of his boat being approached by the Border Force. With over 1,600 migrants arriving in small boats last week alone, Wadee’s case has intensified pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government to address the migrant crisis and security threats posed by individuals with extremist backgrounds. Based on a report by The Daily Mail 2025-03-10

The scale of Russia’s intelligence operations in Britain has been exposed with the sentencing of a group of spies connected to the Kremlin. The conviction of three Bulgarian nationals linked to Wirecard fraud mastermind Jan Marsalek marks a significant counter-intelligence victory, but it is only a small success in a much broader conflict. These spies were involved in a surveillance campaign targeting Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian-born journalist for Bellingcat, who had uncovered shocking details about Russia’s poisoning of opposition leader Alexey Navalny in 2020. Despite the crackdown on Russian-linked individuals in London and the strengthening of Britain’s National Security Act in 2023, the threat from Russian intelligence services remains a serious concern. In October 2024, MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned that Russia was actively working to create “sustained mayhem on British and European streets.” He pointed to the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, as the driving force behind arson attacks and acts of sabotage in the UK, aimed at punishing Britain for its support of Ukraine. Russia employs a wide array of traditional and unconventional espionage tactics to operate on British soil. One of the most evident methods is through its diplomatic missions. While the Russian Embassy in London has been reduced in size, it remains an important hub for intelligence gathering. In May 2024, Britain expelled the Russian Embassy’s defence attaché, revealing him to be an undeclared military intelligence officer. Historically, Russian diplomatic properties, such as Seacox Heath in Sussex and the Trade Defence Section in Highgate, have served as operational bases for espionage activities. Another avenue for Russian intelligence is the recruitment of disaffected British government employees. In February 2023, former Royal Air Force (RAF) member David Smith was sentenced to 13 years in prison for handing over sensitive information—including names, phone numbers, and addresses of his colleagues at the British Embassy in Berlin—to a Russian general. Although MI5 managed to thwart Smith’s scheme, the risk of insider recruitment remains ever-present. Beyond these conventional methods, Russia has embraced modern espionage techniques, particularly in the realm of cyber operations. Russian intelligence services have used spear-phishing campaigns to extract data from British individuals and institutions. The FSB-affiliated hacking group known as Star Blizzard has been active since 2019, targeting politicians, NGOs, and academics in the UK. This group employs carefully tailored email scams to trick victims into installing malware, which then facilitates data collection. FSB Centre 18, the organization behind Star Blizzard, has intensified its political interference efforts in Britain, even leaking confidential political documents. Russia has also taken advantage of the expanding private intelligence and security consultancy industry in Britain. In January, the Home Office issued a warning to private security professionals, urging them to be cautious when dealing with clients from Russia, China, and Iran. Many former British intelligence officers now work for private firms, making them valuable targets for Russian operatives seeking classified information. Another key element of Russia’s espionage strategy is the recruitment of sympathetic foreign nationals. Jan Marsalek leveraged the skills and interests of Bulgarian national Orlin Roussev, who had a background in signals intelligence, to enlist him for Russia’s intelligence operations. Roussev, in turn, recruited a beautician, a painter and decorator, and a mixed martial arts fighter from the Bulgarian community in Britain to assist in conducting surveillance on behalf of the Kremlin. Marsalek and Roussev were also involved in efforts to sell American drones to Russia and China and sought to track Ukrainian forces training in Stuttgart, Germany. Though the individuals recruited by Roussev lacked significant espionage experience, Russia also has access to far more capable intelligence assets. One particularly concerning development is Russia’s attempt to recruit former Afghan commandos who were trained by British forces. Exploiting their grievances over the West’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia has sought to enlist these highly skilled soldiers to join its war in Ukraine while also extracting intelligence from them about British military tactics and technology. The sentencing of Marsalek’s spy network in Britain marks a crucial win for counter-intelligence efforts. However, this is only a minor step in addressing the broader and more sophisticated espionage threat posed by Russia. Russian intelligence operations continue to threaten Britain’s democracy, security, and key institutions, making vigilance against these tactics more essential than ever. Based on a report by The Telegraph 2025-03-10

A cutting-edge unmanned warship, potentially tied to the U.S. Navy’s plans for autonomous warfare, has been seen navigating waters off the coast of Washington state. The vessel, identified as the USX-1 Defiant, was reportedly being escorted by a tugboat through the Saratoga Passage in Puget Sound, just a short distance from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, according to The War Zone. The 180-foot, 240-ton unmanned surface vessel (USV) was completed last month after a five-year development process. It was constructed as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) “No Manning Required Ship” (NOMARS) program in collaboration with private maritime operations company Serco, which served as the primary contractor for the project. First launched at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard near Freeland, Washington, last month, the Defiant is now preparing for a series of trials aimed at delivering a cost-effective unmanned platform to the Navy. USVs like the Defiant are primarily used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering. The vessel’s development aligns with growing demands from U.S. policymakers and military leaders for unmanned systems to bolster Taiwan’s defense against a potential Chinese invasion. Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, previously outlined the concept of a naval “hellscape,” in which autonomous drones would be deployed in large numbers to the Taiwan Strait as a deterrent against China’s People’s Liberation Army. “Removing the human element from all ship design considerations” has allowed for a sleeker structure, enhancing stealth capabilities, hydrodynamic efficiency, and performance in rough seas, according to DARPA. However, it remains unclear whether the Defiant will be remotely controlled or fully autonomous. The vessel has been spotted partially covered by a tarp in images released by the agency, indicating that many details about its design and capabilities remain undisclosed. DARPA, which serves as the U.S. Department of Defense’s research and development arm, confirmed that the Defiant is set to “undergo extensive in-water testing, both dockside and at sea” before embarking on a multi-month demonstration scheduled for the spring of 2025. Ryan Maatta, a Marine Engineer Manager with Serco overseeing the NOMARS project, expressed optimism about the vessel’s cost-effectiveness, stating in an interview with Naval News that the goal is for the ship to be “much less expensive to do the same mission as a manned platform.” He further noted that the Defiant would first undergo two months of sea trials before moving on to “a very large and extensive demonstration of the vessel and its capabilities.” With its advanced design and potential role in future naval operations, the Defiant remains a focal point of intrigue as it prepares to enter the next phase of testing. Based on a report by The Independent 2025-03-10

A senior Reform MP has warned that Nigel Farage’s “messiah act” could lead to failure, accusing him of refusing to delegate and warning that the party risks letting down its voters. Rupert Lowe, a multi-millionaire businessman and MP for Great Yarmouth, suggested that unless Farage puts proper structures in place, he may not remain with Reform by the next election. Farage dismissed Lowe’s concerns, insisting that without his personal brand, Reform would not have won any of its five parliamentary seats in July. “If I have got a following, it’s a good thing. If I hadn’t, we wouldn’t have won any seats on July 4,” he told *TalkTV*. Addressing Lowe’s uncertainty about staying in the party, he responded: “Well I hope so but he seems to be taking a tone that says he might not accept us. There is no point telling him what to do and what not to do.” Speculation has grown over Lowe’s own ambitions, particularly after Elon Musk, who previously criticised Farage’s political abilities, praised Lowe, stating that his views “make a lot of sense.” Farage appeared to acknowledge the speculation, saying: “Perhaps he wants to be prime minister. Most people in politics do.” The internal tension within Reform has not gone unnoticed by political opponents. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, claimed that “internecine warfare” is taking place within the party, suggesting that Reform’s MPs are more focused on their own ambitions than serving the public. “With one of Farage’s most senior MPs doubting his leadership abilities and admitting that Reform is a protest party with no plan, it is clear that Reform are not serious, and will always put self-interest above our national interest,” Philp said. Despite Reform’s high profile, financial records suggest challenges ahead. According to the Electoral Commission, the party raised only £281,000 in the last quarter of the year, significantly less than the Conservatives’ £1.9 million and Labour’s £1 million. As the party navigates its internal disputes, questions remain over whether Reform can transition from a protest movement to a structured political force capable of challenging the established parties. With growing pressure for Farage to shift his leadership style, the coming months could determine whether Reform solidifies its position or fractures under internal divisions. Based on a report by The Times 2025-03-10 Related Topics: Reform UK Reports MP Rupert Lowe to Police Over Bullying Allegations

Police have been accused of “marking their own homework” after a review conducted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) cleared Essex Police of any wrongdoing in their handling of the Allison Pearson hate crime case. Officers visited Pearson, a columnist for *The Telegraph*, at her home on Remembrance Sunday, informing her she was under investigation for allegedly stirring up racial hatred over a social media post she had deleted a year prior. Pearson described the visit as feeling “bullied and harassed,” particularly as it occurred while she was preparing to attend a Poppy Day service. Just four days after the visit, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dismissed the case, determining there was no realistic prospect of conviction. Pearson has since initiated legal action against Essex Police, denouncing the investigation as “shocking and utterly wrong” and revealing that the ordeal led to suicidal thoughts. Despite her claims, the NPCC review has now declared that Essex Police acted appropriately throughout the case. Responding to the findings, Pearson expressed her frustration, stating: “I am upset although sadly not surprised by this report. Getting the NPCC to review my case is allowing the police to mark their own homework. It doesn’t matter how nice or courteous the attending officers were. That is a deflection from serious questions like why the case law regarding freedom of expression had not halted the investigation in its tracks and why basic common sense and the proportionality principle were ignored?” She further questioned how the NPCC could suggest that a police visit was not intimidating. “At a time when police won’t attend burglaries and other serious crimes, this was an astonishing waste of time. I am now taking legal action against Essex Police for the harm they caused me with shocking over-reach that, frankly, beggars belief.” The NPCC report commended the officer who visited Pearson, describing his manner as “polite” and “exemplary.” It also justified the force’s decision to pursue the investigation, despite the CPS’ rapid dismissal of the case. The review stated: “Our collective view is that, given the course of action, it was correct to record the crime but the fact the prosecutor does not believe there to be a realistic prospect of conviction does not negate the legitimacy of the complaint.” A meeting on November 20 concluded that no crime had been committed, based on the CPS decision. However, the NPCC report took a different stance, stating: “This is a more definitive stance than our interpretation of the CPS decision. We do not take the view that a crime did not take place, rather that there was no realistic prospect of conviction based on the evidence available.” The case has reignited debates over the recording of non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) by police. These incidents, which do not meet the threshold for criminality but are perceived as being motivated by prejudice, have drawn criticism for their potential to suppress free speech. Last year, over 13,000 NCHIs were recorded in England and Wales, with critics arguing they distract from more pressing police work. After dropping the criminal investigation into Pearson, Essex Police chose not to record the matter as an NCHI, classifying it as “trivial, irrational or malicious.” However, the NPCC review challenged this decision, stating: “We did not feel the circumstances of this complaint met the criteria for exclusion ... Our view was that if the circumstances are applied (without consideration of the crime) to the authorised professional practice and Home Office code of practice on non-crime hate incidents, we feel that the report would not be deemed to be trivial, irrational or malicious. We think the circumstances meet the requirements of the national standard for incident recording for a non-crime incident.” Former police officer Harry Miller, who successfully challenged an NCHI issued against him by Humberside Police, criticized the system, stating: “What is the point of recording them? How is it going to help the police prevent an escalation towards criminality which is supposed to be the stated purpose of non-crime hate incidents? This whole report makes no sense. It is time to scrap NCHIs once and for all.” Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union, also voiced concerns over the NPCC’s stance. “It’s disappointing that the NPCC thinks Allison’s year-old tweet, which she deleted almost immediately, should have been recorded as a non-crime hate incident. The reason Allison’s case caused such an outcry is because the public doesn’t want the police to be wasting their time investigating and recording ‘non crimes’ when there are so many actual crimes going unpunished. According to the most recent data, Essex Police only solved 13.5 per cent of crimes in 2023. Why are they spending time investigating Allison’s tweets when they should be policing our streets?” Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for reform. “I am extremely surprised by this report. Free speech is at the heart of our society and police should not be harassing journalists. It appears that no crime was committed – the CPS made clear that there was no realistic prospect of any conviction, which there obviously would be if the tweet was criminal,” he said. “Incidents such as this where there is no realistic prospect of imminent criminality should not be investigated or recorded as NCHIs either. That infringes free speech and wastes police time. Police should be investigating real criminals, not policing tweets or Facebook posts online. Further change to the NCHI regime is clearly needed to stop this happening.” Based on a report by The Independent 2025-03-10 Related Topics Female Journalists Rally Around Allison Pearson Amid Fears for Press Freedom A Police Visit on Remembrance Sunday Reveals the Reality of Our Two-Tier Justice System UK Police Persist in Patrolling Speech: Have They Learned Nothing? Allison Pearson My week from hell

Syria has been plunged into some of the most brutal violence in its recent history, with more than 1,000 people killed over the course of just two days. Bloody clashes between the nation’s new rulers and loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad have led to horrifying massacres, with reports emerging of women being forced to walk naked before being executed. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that among the dead were 745 civilians, many of whom were victims of mass killings. Additionally, 125 government security forces and 148 militants linked to Assad’s regime lost their lives in the fierce fighting. Large areas surrounding the city of Latakia have been left without electricity and drinking water as the conflict continues to rage. Jihadists in Syria are attacking the minority communities of Christians, Druze, and Alawites. The revenge killings were carried out primarily by Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the new government, who targeted members of the Alawite minority, a sect that formed the backbone of Assad’s support for decades. The killings represent a severe blow to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction that led the overthrow of Assad’s government. In Baniyas, one of the worst-hit towns, residents described seeing bodies strewn across the streets, left unburied in homes and on rooftops. A resident recounted how gunmen prevented people from retrieving the bodies of five neighbors who were executed at close range. “They forcibly brought people down to the streets, then they lined them up and started shooting them,” a Baniyas resident told Sky News. “They left nobody. The scene that I saw was pure horror; it’s just indescribable.” Another witness, Ali Sheha, a 57-year-old Baniyas resident, said he fled with his family and neighbors as the violence intensified. He described how at least 20 of his neighbors and colleagues were killed, some in their homes, others in their shops. “These are revenge killings against the Alawites for the crimes committed by Assad’s government,” Sheha said. He also noted that foreign fighters and militants from nearby villages participated in the attacks. As he fled, he saw bodies lying in the streets and gunmen roaming the city, randomly firing at homes and residents. In at least one instance, armed men reportedly demanded to see residents' identification cards to confirm their religion before executing them. The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman, confirmed that the revenge killings had largely ceased by early Saturday. “This was one of the biggest massacres during the Syrian conflict,” he stated. While previous estimates placed the death toll at over 200, the numbers have continued to rise, though official figures have not been released. Footage circulating online captures the brutal street battles, with fighters exchanging heavy gunfire. The situation has drawn condemnation from religious leaders, including Syria’s three main Christian churches. In a joint statement, the leaders of the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic Churches condemned the violence and the targeting of innocent civilians. “In recent days, Syria has witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence, brutality, and killings, resulting in attacks on innocent civilians, including women and children,” the statement read. The churches called for an end to the massacres, urging national reconciliation and a move toward a society based on equal citizenship and mutual respect. The Observatory reported that 532 Alawite civilians were killed in Syria’s coastal regions and in the Latakia mountains by security forces and allied groups. The killings on the Mediterranean coast, a stronghold of the Alawite minority, have intensified the conflict between the country’s new security forces and Assad loyalists. Although many of Syria’s Christians fled during the civil war that began in 2011, a small Christian community remains in Latakia, one of the areas hit hardest by the violence. “The Christian churches, while strongly condemning any act that threatens civil peace, denounce and condemn the massacres targeting innocent civilians, and call for an immediate end to these horrific acts, which stand in stark opposition to all human and moral values,” the joint statement read. The leaders also called for conditions that would allow for true reconciliation among Syrians, free from vengeance and exclusion. Additionally, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, the spiritual leader of Syria’s Druze minority, has called for an immediate end to the bloodshed. As Syria grapples with yet another wave of horror and destruction, the world watches anxiously, hoping for an end to the seemingly endless cycle of violence. Based on a report by The Daily Mail 2025-03-10

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, refused to hand over hundreds of user account details to British authorities during and after last summer’s riots. This decision comes as the billionaire has been vocal in criticizing the UK Government for imprisoning individuals over social media posts. According to newly published transparency figures from X, the company rejected more than half of the information requests submitted by UK authorities in the second half of 2024. Out of 806 requests, X provided data in just 379 cases, representing a compliance rate of 47 percent. This rate is significantly lower than the disclosure levels reported by other major technology companies, including Google, Meta, TikTok, and LinkedIn. The requests from UK law enforcement agencies sought access to various types of data, including email addresses, IP addresses, and private messages associated with certain accounts. The period covered by the data coincides with the riots that took place in July and August, which led to dozens of arrests for social media activity. Some individuals faced prison sentences as a result of their online statements. During this time, Musk was outspoken in his criticism of the UK’s response. He compared Britain to the Soviet Union and accused the recently elected Labour Government of suppressing free speech. In January, he went even further, writing, “At this rate, the UK Government will pretty soon be executing people for liking a meme!” Law enforcement agencies regularly request social media companies to provide user data in aid of criminal investigations, often to identify anonymous accounts or determine communication patterns. These requests are assessed by legal teams within the companies, which have the authority to deny them if they are deemed too broad or legally questionable. Some requests, classified as emergencies, are made when authorities perceive an immediate threat. X’s legal policy states that the company “may seek to narrow requests that are overly broad, request additional context if the nature of the investigation is not clear, or push back on the request for other reasons.” The platform saw an increase in the number of government data requests during the second half of 2024, rising to 806 from 635 in the first half of the year. The company’s 47 percent compliance rate with UK authorities is in line with its rate across the European Union but falls far below its disclosure rate in the United States, where it provided information in 78.5 percent of cases. By contrast, other major tech companies were significantly more cooperative with UK law enforcement. In the first half of 2024, Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, provided data in 84 percent of cases. Google complied with 88 percent of requests, TikTok with 62 percent, and LinkedIn with 61 percent. These statistics do not yet include the second half of 2024, a period that saw widespread riots across the UK following the killing of three girls in Southport by 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana. The violence led to a surge in online communications offenses, with The Telegraph recently revealing that 292 individuals have been charged under the Online Safety Act since October 2023. Among them, 67 people have been convicted. Some of those sentenced for social media posts made during the riots include Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for writing on X: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f---ing hotels full of the b------s for all I care, while you’re at it take the treacherous government politicians with them.” Another individual, 53-year-old Julie Sweeney, was sentenced to 15 months after advocating for the bombing of a mosque. The latest disclosure figures also emerge as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper faces legal resistance from Apple regarding the government’s push for access to encrypted communications. Apple has launched a legal challenge against a Home Office directive that would require the company to install a backdoor in its iCloud encryption system. Musk has publicly backed Apple’s stance, responding to the news with a simple “good.” Based on a report by The Independent 2025-03-10

Reform UK has referred its own MP, Rupert Lowe, to the police over allegations of workplace bullying, targeting female staff, and making threats of physical violence against the party’s chairman. The accusations against the MP for Great Yarmouth, which the party described as a “disturbing pattern of behaviour,” have sparked internal tensions within Nigel Farage’s party. According to a statement released by Reform UK’s chief whip, Lee Anderson, and chairman, Zia Yusuf, the party received two complaints from female employees. "Evidence was provided to us of workplace bullying, the targeting of female staff who raised concerns, and evidence of derogatory and discriminatory remarks made about women, including reference to a perceived disability,” they said. The statement further alleged that Lowe had “on at least two occasions made threats of physical violence against our party chairman.” Anderson and Yusuf confirmed that the matter had been handed over to the police. The accusations against Lowe surfaced after he made critical remarks about Nigel Farage’s leadership, arguing that Reform UK needed a more structured governance. He accused Farage of acting like a “messiah” and warned that he would not remain in the party unless significant changes were made. "We have to change from being a protest party led by the messiah into being a properly structured party with a front bench, which we don’t have. We have to start behaving as if we are leading and not merely protesting," he told *The Daily Mail*. Farage swiftly dismissed Lowe’s claims, stating: “We are not a protest party in any way at all. That is utterly, completely wrong. We are an entirely positive party. Come to any Reform event and the positivity, the energy—perhaps he should come to one or two.” Speaking to *The Sun*, he added, “Reform wouldn’t have won any seats in parliament at all on the 4th of July last year if I wasn’t there.” Lowe strongly denied the allegations, calling them “untrue and false.” In an extensive statement, he said: "Let me be abundantly clear—this investigation is based on zero credible evidence against me, as has been repeatedly stated by the neutral investigator. None has been provided." He further insisted that he had fully cooperated with the investigation, which he described as a “minor staff matter.” According to Lowe, the KC hired by Reform was “dismayed that this statement has been made” and had confirmed that “no evidence against me has been sent to her.” Dismissing the allegations as a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation, Lowe declared: "Allegations of physical threats are outrageous and entirely untrue. I have never made any derogatory comments about women, or those with disabilities. This is a lie. These allegations are not even referring to me. I will be seeking legal advice immediately." Farage doubled down on his position, questioning Lowe’s statements and suggesting they were motivated by political ambition. “Perhaps he wants to be prime minister—most people in politics do … his comments are wrong, we are making gigantic strides,” he said. The controversy has led to criticism from the Conservative Party, which questioned Reform UK’s handling of the situation. A spokesperson for the party said: "If these allegations are true and as serious as they claim, then Reform would remove the whip from Rupert Lowe. If they are not removing the whip, then it can only be seen as a stitch-up to ruin Lowe’s reputation and punish him for criticising their messiah." As the police investigation progresses, the allegations against Lowe are adding to the internal fractures within Reform UK, raising questions about both the party’s leadership and its ability to manage internal disputes. Based on a report by The Times 2025-03-10

A devoted father has launched a protest after being forced to withdraw his eight-year-old son from private school due to Labour's introduction of VAT on tuition fees. Matt Harris, 46, a father of three from Sidmouth, Devon, is preparing to take a stand outside the High Court next month, arguing that the new tax policy is unfairly disrupting children's education. His son, Tiger, is among those affected, having to leave behind the friendships and routine he has known for years. "He is being forced to leave the many friendships he has built over the years at his school, his place of familiarity and his routine through no fault of his own," Mr. Harris told MailOnline. The Independent Schools Council (ISC) has mounted a legal challenge against the government's decision to impose VAT on private school fees, arguing that it infringes on human rights and places an undue financial burden on families. The case is set to be heard in April. Mr. Harris, a solicitor’s casework officer, and his wife Nat, have already cut expenses as much as possible, having put their two daughters—18-year-old Isabella and 14-year-old Milly—through independent schools. “There’s nothing left to cut – I drive a 25-year-old Volvo estate and we don’t take long foreign holidays or anything," he explained. He wants people to understand that private education is not just for the ultra-wealthy. "This isn't all about people with millions sending their children to Eton and Harrow," he said. "It’s ordinary people who have made this choice and decided to save on other things which people take for granted." With Milly approaching her GCSEs and receiving a bursary at an all-girls school, withdrawing her now isn’t an option. However, Tiger’s annual fees of £13,000 plus VAT have become unaffordable for the family. Adding to the difficulty is the structure of the state education system. Tiger was an August-born child and had been kept back a year in the private sector, something not typically permitted in state schools. If he transitions now, he would be expected to skip from Year 4 to Year 6. "We don’t think that’s fair on him," Mr. Harris said. The father remains convinced that the ISC will win its case, but he anticipates a prolonged legal battle. "I strongly believe the government will lose this, as it is a breach of the children’s human rights. I think Keir Starmer knows this, but it will be seen by his followers as having immediately fulfilled an election pledge," he said. Mr. Harris also criticized the state school system and suggested that it could learn from the private sector. "The Department for Education should learn from the private sector where teachers are in it to teach and not just for the pension," he said. He also highlighted the ways private schools could support the state sector, such as taking in children with special educational needs at cost or helping disadvantaged students turn their academic prospects around. Parents of independent school pupils, he argued, are already contributing heavily to education funding. "We pay our income tax, which includes a provision for education, even though we're not using it. Then we pay for school fees, and now we're being asked to pay VAT on top of that—it’s just not fair," he said. To fight back, Mr. Harris has planned a protest outside the High Court for the duration of the three-day hearing. He has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise £10,000 to help cover expenses for those traveling to London to join the protest. "We’re not expecting to hit the £10k, but we want to fund banners and help pay for transport and lodgings for anyone who can come along and support us. I expect it's going to be a long road," he said. Meanwhile, concerns are growing about the strain the VAT policy will place on the state education system. A recent study found that state schools across 27 local authorities in England are already oversubscribed in some year groups, particularly Years 7 and 8. Councils in areas such as Bristol, Hull, Coventry, Rutland, and South Gloucestershire reportedly have no available places in certain age groups. The government estimates that approximately 37,000 fewer pupils will attend private schools due to the tax changes, many of whom will transition to the already stretched state sector. While there are over half a million spare places in primary and secondary schools nationwide, some councils have little to no capacity in specific year groups. The VAT exemption on private school fees, which had been in place for decades, was officially lifted at the beginning of this year, causing tuition costs to rise by 20%. For families like the Harrises, the impact has been immediate and deeply personal. As Mr. Harris prepares to take his protest to London, he remains determined to challenge what he sees as an unjust policy that disrupts children’s education and forces families into difficult choices. Based on a report by The Daily Mail 2025-03-10 Related Topics: Private Schools Struggle as Labour’s VAT Policy Triggers Closures Looming Crisis: Private Schools Face Closures Amid VAT Hike Top Oxfordshire Prep School to Close Amid Controversial VAT Policy on Private Education England’s Special Educational Needs Crisis: A System in Desperate Need of Reform Legal Challenge Against Private School VAT Policy Deems It Discriminatory

The United Nations' special rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has urged the UK to extend greater support to Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban’s oppressive rule. Bennett emphasized that these individuals are not seeking a better life out of choice but are escaping severe persecution, making them clear examples of true refugees. “Afghans are not coming to the UK because the streets are paved with gold,” Bennett told *The Independent*. “They are coming because they are persecuted, and life is very hard for them. Nobody wants to be a refugee.” His appeal comes nearly four years after the Taliban regained control of Kabul following the withdrawal of Western forces in 2021. Since then, the regime has imposed strict restrictions on women, effectively erasing them from many aspects of public life. Despite the UK’s commitment to accepting 20,000 Afghan refugees over five years, by December 2024, more than 34,940 had arrived, with nearly 26,000 provided accommodation. However, many continue to suffer from the trauma of displacement, often separated from their families. Bennett, who was barred by the Taliban from entering Afghanistan last year, stressed that there is no need for exhaustive individual screenings of those fleeing the country, as the persecution is widespread. “The situation is so repressive that it meets the definition of persecution for every class of that gender,” he explained. Urging compassion, he referenced his own country's values, stating, “I come from New Zealand, and we had a prime minister who asked people to be kind. So that’s what I would do too – to be kind to Afghan refugees, please.” At the recent Herat Security Dialogue in Spain, Bennett described the conditions faced by Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule as “hell.” His latest report underscored the Taliban’s unwillingness to fulfill international obligations, highlighting their failure to gain formal recognition from any nation nearly four years after seizing power. The militant group’s refusal to allow him access to Afghanistan, he noted, further signals their disregard for global accountability. Many countries have made it clear that the Taliban’s position on women’s rights remains a major obstacle to diplomatic recognition. Afghan women have been barred from secondary education, forbidden from visiting parks, and restricted from traveling without a male guardian. Bennett also raised concerns over the plight of Afghanistan’s LGBTI+ community. Reports have surfaced alleging that the Taliban sentenced a man in a same-sex relationship to death by burying him under a wall. “We have been looking into it. It was a couple of years ago, but we have not verified it yet,” he said, confirming ongoing investigations into abuses faced by LGBTI+ individuals. He recalled video calls from members of the community hiding in safe houses, showing injuries from beatings inflicted by police. Even before the Taliban’s return, he noted, Afghanistan remained an unsafe place for individuals who did not conform to rigid gender norms. “They are expected to meet gender norms and can be targeted for how they dress,” he explained. “If you are a man, [you’re expected to] have a beard – which may not be what they want to do – and dress in a certain way or walk in a certain way, and they’ll draw attention to themselves by being themselves.” One transgender woman recounted to him how her family was detained and beaten by Taliban affiliates after she fled the country. “They do not see us as human,” she told him. Bennett warned against normalizing diplomatic relations with the Taliban without “significant, verified, and measurable improvements” in Afghanistan’s human rights situation. He urged nations like the US and the UK to hold the regime accountable and to ensure that engagement does not come at the cost of Afghan lives and freedoms. Based on a report by The Independent 2025-03-10

Elon Musk found himself at the center of a heated confrontation with members of Donald Trump’s cabinet during a high-stakes White House meeting, where he was directly accused of dishonesty. The dispute, which unfolded in the presence of the president, centered around layoffs at Doge, particularly cuts affecting air traffic controllers and Veterans Affairs hospitals. Sean Duffy, the secretary of the Department of Transport, led the charge against Musk, expressing outrage over the dismissal of air traffic controllers despite an ongoing national shortage. When Musk denied the allegations, Duffy presented a spreadsheet as evidence, sliding it across the desk in front of the president to contradict Musk’s claims. Reports suggest the transport secretary accused Musk of firing personnel who should have remained, which Musk rejected outright. The confrontation escalated further when Doug Collins, the secretary of Veterans Affairs, criticized Musk for disrupting operations at VA hospitals due to Doge’s cost-cutting measures. When Musk insisted that such disruptions were not a direct result of his company’s actions, Collins urged him to take a more strategic approach to reductions instead of making indiscriminate cuts. Trump reportedly sided with his cabinet members, allowing them to manage staffing decisions within their respective departments rather than relying on Musk’s direction. “Trump called the meeting and then he backed his cabinet guys. Collins and Duffy called him (Musk) a liar to his face, in front of the president,” a source revealed. Adding to the tension, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had been privately frustrated with Musk for weeks, also weighed in. Musk, seated diagonally from Rubio, accused him of failing to implement staff reductions, sarcastically claiming, “You have fired nobody.” He then insinuated that the only termination Rubio had overseen was a single Doge employee. In response, Rubio highlighted the more than 1,500 State Department officials who had taken early retirement buyouts. Despite the heated exchange, Musk attempted to defuse the situation with an offhand remark, telling Rubio he was “good on TV.” As tempers flared, Trump eventually stepped in, defending Rubio’s performance as secretary of state and praising his efforts. He later took to social media to reflect on the meeting, framing it as constructive despite the confrontations. “We just had a meeting with most of the secretaries, Elon, and others, and it was a very positive one. It’s very important that we cut levels down to where they should be, but it’s also important to keep the best and most productive people,” Trump wrote. He emphasized the importance of precision in staffing decisions, stating, “We say the ‘scalpel’ rather than the ‘hatchet.’” Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokesperson, echoed this sentiment, describing the meeting as an “open and productive discussion” focused on achieving the shared goal of making America great again. A Veterans Affairs spokesperson reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to increasing efficiency while ensuring that key personnel remain in place. Following the meeting, Duffy took to X to defend Doge’s role in helping agencies identify inefficiencies and modernize systems. “Doge is doing incredible work helping agencies identify inefficiencies as well as advising us as we work on the critical upgrades to our air traffic control system. The president’s approach of a scalpel versus a hatchet and better coordination between secretaries and Doge is the right approach to revolutionizing the way our government is run,” he wrote. The Department of Transport and Elon Musk have yet to comment publicly on the confrontation, but the meeting highlighted growing tensions between Musk and key members of Trump’s administration over the future of government efficiency and workforce reductions. Based on a report by The Telegraph 2025-03-10

Two of the UK’s biggest police forces, the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police, have admitted they lack the ability to track crimes linked to extremism, leaving them vulnerable to potential terrorist threats. Through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, it was revealed that neither force has a system in place to log whether crimes are motivated by Islamist extremism, far-right or far-left ideologies, incel-related violence, or environmental extremism. Critics argue this failure prevents authorities from recognizing patterns that could expose terrorist intent or lead to attacks. The Metropolitan Police, when asked for data on extremist-related crimes from 2020 to the most recent date available, responded that such information “does not hold centrally in a format that can be extracted.” The force further explained, “There is no flag, no code, or other mechanism that would highlight Islamic extremism, right-wing, incel, environmental, or far-left extremism.” Greater Manchester Police echoed this, stating they “do not have any flags or searchable fields” to identify extremist crimes in their records. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has called for all police forces to be required to track and publish data on extremist crimes to better address terrorism threats. “These forces should be mandated to record and publish the data. This is yet another example of the authorities failing to break down crime statistics, and it only breeds distrust and suspicion among the public,” Jenrick stated. He also pointed to existing statistics, highlighting that Islamists account for 80% of referrals to Prevent, the government’s counterterrorism program. “What is the proportion of offences logged by the police? Policymakers and the public need to know,” he added. The Met clarified that while extremist offences falling under hate crimes or terrorism are recorded, there is no specific criminal offence for extremism itself. This revelation comes two years after Sir William Shawcross’s review of Prevent, which found that the program had not adequately focused on the scale of the Islamist threat. Shawcross’s report indicated that 75% of MI5’s counterterrorism caseload, 68% of terrorist attacks since 2018, and 60% of imprisoned terrorists were linked to Islamic extremism. Shawcross also warned that a reluctance to refer Islamic extremists to Prevent, due to fears of accusations of racism, had distorted the program’s effectiveness. Concerns over Prevent resurfaced last month after it was revealed that counterterrorism police repeatedly missed opportunities to stop Axel Rudakubana, the Southport attacker. Despite being flagged three times between 2019 and 2021 for carrying a knife and researching terrorist incidents such as the 2005 London bombings and the Manchester Arena attack, authorities dismissed the threat he posed. Further failures occurred due to his name being misspelled by Prevent officials. A spokesperson for the Met stated, “The Met records all hate crimes and terrorism-related crimes in accordance with Home Office counting rules, but given there is no criminal offence of ‘extremism,’ we therefore do not record offences under this category. However, there are robust mechanisms in place to ensure that officers can flag any crimes or individuals where there are concerns over extremism or radicalisation into the counterterrorism command.” The spokesperson added that when such concerns arise, specialist officers assess the situation and take further action, often leading to referrals to Prevent, which aims to steer individuals away from radicalisation. However, critics argue that without a proper tracking system in place, the authorities may remain blind to key warning signs, increasing the risk of future attacks. Based on a report by The Times 2025-03-10

A Columbia University professor has stirred controversy by claiming that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is racist because it is making budget cuts to a government that was once led by Barack Obama. Basil Smikle, a lecturer at the Ivy League institution and a Democratic strategist, made the statement during an appearance on MSNBC, where he criticized DOGE’s cost-cutting measures. "There are people who are charged with trying to find savings," Smikle said. "So yes, it’s an attack on government, but it’s also an attack on this government. What I mean by that is it’s an attack on this government that used to be headed by a black man. It’s an attack on this government that almost elected a black woman to the highest office in the land." His remarks raised eyebrows, particularly given that three different administrations have come and gone since Obama left office. DailyMail.com has reached out to Smikle for clarification on his comments. Smikle, who previously served as Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party under former Governor Andrew Cuomo and as a senior aide to Hillary Clinton during her tenure in the Senate, is no stranger to political discourse. However, his assertion about DOGE was met with widespread skepticism and ridicule, particularly among conservative commentators and Trump supporters. Social media users wasted no time in mocking the professor’s logic. "That is the worst logic I have ever heard. Zero foundation. How is this man a professor of anything?" one user on X remarked. Another commented, "That’s quite the circular logic." As debate over government spending continues, Smikle’s comments have only added fuel to the partisan fire, raising questions about how racial politics intersect with fiscal policy decisions. Based on a report by The Daily Mail 2025-03-10