Blockers, checkers, bats and chainsaws: don’t talk like Musk, Starmer is warned | Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer has been warned against adopting the language of Elon Musk after railing against “blockers and checkers” and the “flabby” civil service this week. Gus O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary, was one of those urging the prime minister to “get a grip” on his messaging, telling the Institute for Government podcast: “My God, he … Read more

Greek PM seeks ‘reset’ with former far-right activist as migration minister | Greece

The Greek prime minister has appointed a former far-right student activist to the helm of the migration ministry as part of a broad reshuffle aimed at “resetting” his government amid public outrage over its handling of a deadly 2023 train crash. In an attempt to stem declining approval ratings, Kyriakos Mitsotakis placed the self-described nationalist, … Read more

Pakistan accuses India of sponsoring militant terror group after train hijacking | Pakistan

Pakistan’s military has accused neighbouring India of sponsoring militant groups in the south-west of the country as survivors recounted their ordeal from an unprecedented attack that killed 26 passengers on a hijacked train. The scope of the attack in Balochistan province underscores the struggles that Pakistan faces to rein in militant groups. In the attack … Read more

Homeland security agents search two Columbia University students’ rooms | US universities

Agents from the Department of Homeland Security conducted searches in two Columbia University students’ rooms on Thursday night, marking the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s crackdown on some American universities. The university’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, addressed the school community in a statement, saying she was “heartbroken” to inform them that “there were federal … Read more

BBC reaches settlement with female news presenters over discrimination claims | BBC

Four female news presenters have reached a settlement with the BBC over claims they were the victims of a “rigged” recruitment process. Martine Croxall, Annita McVeigh, Karin Giannone and Kasia Madera claimed they lost their positions on the BBC News channel as a result of the recruitment exercise, with their claims involving sex and age … Read more