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Bell hotel in Epping was scene of violent protests after asylum seeker living there sexually assaulted girl and womanAsylum seekers have been removed from the Epping hotel that became a flashpoint for anti-immigration protests across England last summer as the Home Office terminates its contract with the establishment.The hotel on the outskirts of the Essex town was the scene of increasingly large protests after an asylum seeker who was living there sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman. Continue reading...

Whistleblowers from Mitie allege some employees have made offensive remarks or liked abusive social media postsOne of the government’s key contractors has launched an investigation into allegations of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate speech among staff working in immigration removal centres, the Guardian has learned.Whistleblowers from the company, Mitie, have alleged that some staff members working in immigration removal centres and deporting migrants have made offensive comments at work and in social media posts. Continue reading...

US spy-tech company to challenge London mayor’s intervention after he raised concerns over breach of procurement rulesPalantir intends to sue the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, after he blocked a contract between the US spy-tech firm and the Metropolitan police.The Met had planned to use Palantir’s software to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations, until Khan intervened in late May, sparking a row between the UK’s largest police force and the mayor’s office. Continue reading...

• European governments are reevaluating their partnerships with US defense contractor Palantir due to security concerns and the company's ties to controversial military and immigration enforcement activities. • A UK parliamentary report warned that Palantir's programs create an "unacceptable point of weakness" for the national government, while Switzerland has rejected the firm's bids at least nine times. • Denmark is actively seeking local software alternatives to reduce its reliance on the US-based technology provider.

• The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) admitted during Senate estimates that it holds eight active contracts with KPMG, including two initiated after an investigation into the firm began. • This revelation comes amid an ongoing audit scandal involving KPMG, raising questions about the regulator's decision to maintain professional ties with a company under scrutiny. • The news coincided with a downturn in the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), as markets lost ground throughout the trading day.

• The European Commission has proposed the Cloud and AI Development Act, which introduces sovereignty tiers for cloud providers to reduce reliance on U.S. tech dominance. • Major U.S. firms, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, face potential hurdles in securing sensitive government data contracts due to conflicts with the U.S. Cloud Act. • The legislation aims to triple the EU's data center capacity and prioritize the use of EU-developed hardware and software within strategic sectors.

• Arsenal and Manchester City are both reportedly interested in signing 23-year-old Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento. • Despite their interest, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have expressed reservations regarding Livramento's previous injury record. • The Gunners are also considering Sporting CP full-back Ivan Fresneda as a potential addition to their defensive line.