Senior

• India B has surged to the top of the Seniors table at the Asia Cup Bridge tournament held in Panaji, with Bangladesh B currently holding fourth place at 146.47 VPs. • In the Mixed division, China A (152.68 VPs), China B (152.05 VPs), and Hong Kong China A (140.37 VPs) have officially qualified for the semifinals. • The competition remains volatile for the final Mixed division spot, with Singapore (115.14 VPs), Thailand (111.21 VPs), India A (110.85 VPs), and Australia B (104.97 VPs) all in contention.

Sarah B Rogers speech at conference in London included far-right memes and conspiracy theories about ‘Da Yookay’ Claims by a senior official in the Trump administration that British police were making thousands of “freedom of speech” arrests have been rejected by the UK government.Sarah B Rogers, who has become the public face of the US state department’s hostility to European liberal democracies, was accused by MPs of echoing far-right memes and conspiracy theories during a speech at an international rightwing conference in London. She also referenced the death of Henry Nowak and a recent incident in which a child was thrown into a zoo’s crocodile pit. Continue reading...

• General Christopher Donahue, a highly respected four-star Army general commanding U.S. soldiers in Europe, is set to retire from his post. • The retirement follows a lack of new nominations for a position consistent with his rank from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. • This leadership change occurs as Secretary Hegseth conducts a broader review of U.S. military support and commitments to NATO allies.

Downing Street figures plan to convince Burnham to revive ‘war bonds’ when he becomes prime ministerDowning Street aides are planning to lobby Andy Burnham during access talks to revive the idea of “war bonds” to pay for higher defence spending when he becomes prime minister, the Guardian understands.Senior No 10 figures want the Treasury to be allowed to borrow more for military spending and will try to convince Burnham to invest beyond the £13.5bn earmarked for the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (Dip). Continue reading...

• Former President Donald Trump's proposed Social Security tax cuts are facing scrutiny due to their potential impact on program funding. • New estimates suggest the policy could reduce Social Security revenue by approximately $168 billion through the year 2034. • This reduction matters as it could accelerate the depletion of funds, potentially threatening the long-term stability of benefits for millions of retirees.

PM hit by three-pronged attack from ex-defence secretary, former defence minister and chief of defence staffUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer is leaving British troops underfunded and unable to carry out the operations he expects from them, according to scathing remarks delivered in parliament on Tuesday by three senior defence figures.The prime minister came under fire in separate interventions from his former defence secretary John Healey, the former defence minister Al Carns and the country’s current senior military officer, Rich Knighton. Continue reading...

Sean McGovern pleaded guilty to two charges relating to a deadly feud after being extradited from the UAEA leader of the notorious Kinahan criminal cartel has been sentenced to 24 years in prison at a Dublin court.Sean McGovern, 40, who has been described as senior lieutenant in the group, pleaded guilty to two charges of directing the activities of a criminal organisation relating to a deadly feud between the Kinahan and Hutch criminal gangs. Continue reading...