The BBC has cancelled its Saturday football show, ending a long‑running programme. Staff will be redeployed where possible, and a replacement format is expected as the broadcaster reshapes its weekend sports schedule.
Ministers face calls to halt data sharing with China after the UK Biobank’s full dataset of 500,000 volunteers was reportedly offered for sale online. Critics urge emergency powers for security agencies and the ICO to tighten controls and protect health data.
Nigel Farage outlined a pledge to overhaul welfare, aiming to cut benefits spending if his party wins power. He called for a tougher stance on entitlements and said he would stand firm amid any protests or industrial action.
Sara Cox will take over Radio 2’s flagship breakfast show, replacing Scott Mills. She called it her dream job, saying she feels ecstatic, chuffed and honoured. The move signals a major shake‑up of the station’s morning schedule.
The FCDO has closed its international humanitarian law unit that monitored potential breaches by Israel, citing departmental cuts and restructuring. The move ends the UK’s only state-backed programme verifying incidents in the region and limits officials’ access to a major evidence database.
Government files show Lord Hermer KC billed £450 an hour for Iraq‑era cases involving allegations against British troops, a rate the MoD contested as excessive. The peer, expected to become AG in a Labour government, worked on litigation that drove lengthy investigations criticised for cost and scale.
Donald Trump has authorised the US Navy to use lethal force against Iranian boats that threaten vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, after talks faltered. The move escalates tensions in the Gulf, increasing risks to shipping and miscalculation as both sides entrench.
The US alleges China is stealing AI research on an industrial scale, citing coordinated “distillation” campaigns to copy models and know-how. Beijing rejects the claim. Washington is weighing tougher export curbs on AI chips, while Trump plans to meet Xi in the coming weeks.
Cabinet Office head Cat Little told MPs officials sought details of Peter Mandelson’s security vetting days after reports he had failed checks for a proposed US ambassador post. The PM says he learnt of it only last week, raising questions over what No 10 knew and when.
Shabana Mahmood faced criticism after swearing at a heckler during a live Political Party podcast at the Duchess Theatre. The man, challenging Labour’s immigration stance, said she misidentified him as white. The clash sparked debate about politicians’ tone when dealing with disruptions.