'World-first' deepfake detection plan to be developed by UK The Home Office said the framework would explore how technology can recognise and assess deepfakes Evening Standard · Feb 5
Newsletter: Macron edges Europe towards re-engaging Russia Also in this newsletter: Latvian PM and Estonian President back EU envoy for Ukraine-Russia talks, and Brussels cautions member states over social media crackdowns. Euronews · Feb 5
Bank of England holds interest rates and ‘shocked’ over Mandelson; Rio-Glencore merger talks collapse – as it happened Bank splits 5-4 on interest rate decision, and hints that cuts are coming, as governor pays tribute to Alistair Darling over Mandelson revelations The Guardian - UK · Feb 5
Who’s in the cast for Saturday Night Live UK? The Sky Original series is the first ever official British incarnation of the US late-night comedy show and will be broadcast live each week. The Independent UK · Feb 5
UK aviation regulator asks Air India why Boeing with fuel switch issue was cleared to fly Civil Aviation Authority warns of regulatory action if airline doesn’t submit complete response within a week The Independent UK · Feb 5
UK airports hiked drop-off fees by a third since last summer, while continental Europe stays free Earlier in the year, London Gatwick raised its 'kiss and fly' fee to become the most expensive in the UK and now Stansted has increased its drop-off charge. Euronews · Feb 5
Elon Musk and Grok face ‘deeply troubling questions’from UK regulators over data use and consent The UK government has launched a major investigation into Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot after it produced indecent deepfake images TechRadar · Feb 5
Minister defends long delays to UK military spending plan Luke Pollard says plan expected last autumn is ‘a bigger task than many people outside defence realise’ The Guardian - UK · Feb 5
BBC radio breakfast shows enjoy increase in listeners Radio 2 remains the UK’s most popular station, with an average weekly audience of 12.7 million. Evening Standard · Feb 5
BBC radio breakfast shows see listeners increase bar one station Radio 2 remains the UK’s most popular station with Scott Mills at the helm The Independent UK · Feb 5
New implant for heart failure patients to be rolled out across the NHS The British Heart Foundation estimates that more than a million people in the UK are living with heart failure The Independent UK · Feb 5
Three more men charged after attack on Pakistani dissidents in UK Asaf Afsar, 40, Mark Regan, 53, and Liam McGarry, 25, were charged on Wednesday The Independent UK · Feb 4
Chilean olive oil, a Scottish necktie and more: nine Valentine’s gifts Americans haven’t caught on to yet A Wuthering Heights-inspired cushion beloved in the UK and a Moroccan cooking tagine for two: these gifts show love in every language The Guardian - US · Feb 4
Mandelson’s links with US tech firm Palantir must be fully exposed, campaigners warn Government faces call for transparency on former peer’s involvement amid fears he may have leaked more sensitive information The Guardian - UK · Feb 4
The Guardian - UK · Feb 4 EU deal on Ukraine loan could boost UK if it agrees to help pay costs British firms could get more opportunities to supply defence equipment to Kyiv if agreement can be reached
The Guardian - UK · Feb 4 Nigel Farage’s two-day trip to Davos cost more than £50,000, documents reveal Reform UK leader who received two guest passes from Iranian-born billionaire declares attendance at event on register of MPs’ interests
The Times of India · Feb 4 Faith groups in UK say proposed Islamophobia definition will stifle free speech A letter from the Hindu Council UK, Network of Sikh Organisations, Christian Concern, and Muslims Against Antisemitism and Faith Matters, says that the language used in the definition, which has been leaked, is “so vague that it is open to misuse by those who seek to limit freedom of speech”.
The Conversation · Feb 4 The unanswered questions in the NHS’s new cancer plan NHS England’s new national cancer plan focuses on catching cancer earlier and treating it faster. The government has also promised to meet all cancer waiting-time targets by 2029. This includes a long-missed target, namely that most patients should start treatment within 62 days of being referred by their GP.
The Conversation · Feb 4 The sale of Russell & Bromley is a symbol of the challenges facing independent heritage brands The UK heritage shoemaker Russell Bromley has been bought by high-street clothing giant Next. Despite the brand’s rescue from administration, dozens of jobs will be lost in initial redundancies, and there are rumours that more than 30 shops could close. As one of the few independently owned footwear brands left…
The Guardian - UK · Feb 4 Why the Chagos Islands’ ecology will not be wrecked by return to Mauritius Letters: Readers respond to a letter which warned that Mauritius could destroy the islands’ ‘pristine’ tropical ecosystem
Evening Standard · Feb 4 FTSE 100 tops 10,400 as Beazley and Entain soar The FTSE 100 index closed up 87.75 points, 0.9%, at 10,402.34, a new record close.
Evening Standard · Feb 4 Melania documentary debut box office takings in UK and Ireland revealed The documentary of the president’s wife, titled Melania, focuses on the 20 days leading up to her husband’s return to the White House in January 2025.
The Independent UK · Feb 4 Saturday Night Live UK: Meet the cast taking centre stage on the British SNL The cast is made up of TV newcomers and stars you’ll recognise from the likes of ‘Big Boys’ and ‘Taskmaster’
Evening Standard · Feb 4 Saturday Night Live UK: Cast revealed for March launch The Sky Original series is the first British incarnation of the US late-night comedy show and will be broadcast live each week
The Independent UK · Feb 4 I’m a home energy expert. Here are the pros and cons of Hive solar panels Find out how Hive’s solar offering works and the key factors to consider