Taken

• Activist Sonam Wangchuk was removed from his protest site at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and transported to a hospital after fasting for over 20 days. • Wangchuk had been conducting an indefinite hunger strike to draw attention to his cause, which recently attracted visits from several Opposition politicians. • The removal follows a period of growing political solidarity, with leaders urging the activist to end his fast for health reasons.

Scunthorpe factory is expropriated from China’s Jingye and ministers will ask a valuer to assess compensationBritish Steel has formally been taken into public ownership 15 months after the government stepped in to prevent the closure of its steelworks in Scunthorpe and the loss of 4,000 jobs.Keir Starmer on Thursday said that it was in the national interest for the government to take over the factory from its Chinese owner, Jingye, in one of the last significant actions overseen by him as prime minister after the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Act received Royal Assent on Wednesday. Continue reading...

• In January 2025, Chinese company DeepSeek released R1, an open-source large language model (LLM) that rivals the capabilities of top-tier US AI systems. • The model gained global attention because it provides high-level performance while remaining completely free for public download. • This development highlights a shift in the US-China AI arms race, moving from initial panic over Chinese advancements to a more tempered industry reaction.

Alleged thieves in October 2025 robbery damaged a gem-encrusted crown worn in the 19th century by Empress EugénieTwo men suspected of making off with €88m (£75m) worth of crown jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris last October have reportedly told investigators that the alleged mastermind behind the heist was disappointed by the haul and thought “they could have taken more”.The French newspaper Le Monde cited transcripts of the alleged thieves’ questioning last month by two investigating judges in charge of the inquiry, offering detailed insights into the burglary that made global headlines and led the museum’s director to resign. Continue reading...

• An SIT probe into donation theft at the Ram Temple revealed systemic failures, including CCTV blind spots, relaxed frisking protocols, and a flawed cash-counting system. • Journalists Bhupendra Pandey, Manish Sahu, and Deeptiman Tiwary analyze the report and the unique operational structure of the Trust managing the temple. • C Raja Mohan examines the "G Minus Two" Indo-Pacific order, arguing that middle powers like India and Indonesia will be critical as US-China rivalry intensifies.

• Kemi Badenoch has launched a sharp political attack on Andy Burnham, criticizing what she describes as his "mistaken beliefs." • The confrontation centers on Badenoch challenging Burnham's political ideology and vision before he could potentially seek the premiership. • This clash highlights the deepening ideological divide between the Conservative and Labour leadership styles within UK politics.

While PM’s desire to fight was strong, time with his inner circle at Chequers sharpened his sense of the inevitableOn Friday, as the dust settled on Andy Burnham’s thumping victory in the Makerfield byelection, Keir Starmer was in defiant mood. “I have said repeatedly, I am not going to walk away,” the prime minister said, adding: “Let’s pull together as a party and a movement.”Just 48 hours later, one of his most loyal ministers was on the BBC sending a very different message. “I don’t want to come on here and be delusional that there is no process, there are no forces at work which are challenging the prime minister as leader – that is clearly the case,” said the business secretary, Peter Kyle. Continue reading...