Category: UK

Economy, Profitability, Social Theory, UKLeave a comment

Revealed: Scottish state pays staff £27m for jobs that don’t exist

Colin Henderson

An SNP ban on compulsory redundancy means 800 public-sector ‘ghost workers’ are on full pay even though their roles are gone Saturday October 24 2026, 5.00pm BST, Hundreds of public sector workers in Scotland are costing the taxpayer at least £27m a year because their jobs no longer exist and the SNP refuses to make them redundant. A Sunday Times investigation has uncovered about 800 cases of NHS, central government, council and quango workers who no longer have a fixed role and who might ordinarily have been made redundant but remain on the public payroll.  The cost to the taxpayer is … Continue reading Revealed: Scottish state pays staff £27m for jobs that don’t exist

intel, UKLeave a comment

Today Insight reveals the secret operation that has plunged the SAS into crisis.

Colin Henderson

Gabriel Pogrund, Insight Editor, Venetia Menzies, Insight Investigations Correspondent, and Emanuele Midolo, Insight Investigations Correspondent Saturday October 17 2026, 6.20pm BST, The Sunday Times Listen • 2:45 minShareSave Today Insight reveals the secret operation that has plunged the SAS into crisis. Here is what you need to know:  Five elite members of the Special Air Service (SAS) faced a three-year murder investigation after shooting two individuals, who turned out to be teenagers working for Isis, during a midnight raid in Syria in July 2022. The soldiers maintained they acted in self-defence as they had heard incoming fire and told the enemy to surrender to no avail, … Continue reading Today Insight reveals the secret operation that has plunged the SAS into crisis.

Canada, Europe, Geopolitics, Military, NATO, UKLeave a comment

Kate Forbes: SNP can no longer afford to duck the defence debate

Colin Henderson

 Summarize Kate ForbesSaturday October 10 2026, 8.24pm BST, The Sunday Times ​ With warnings over Russia growing louder, Scotland must use its industrial strengths and confront hard questions on military readiness and nuclear deterrence Saturday October 10 2026, 8.24pm BST, “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.” Those words are inscribed on the Kohima war memorial — the scene of one of the bloodiest engagements of the Second World War where the Allied forces halted the Japanese invasion of India. The memorial is dedicated to the soldiers of the 2nd British Division, including the Cameron Highlanders. The … Continue reading Kate Forbes: SNP can no longer afford to duck the defence debate

Disinformation, Europe, UKLeave a comment

“James Marriott

Colin Henderson

“James Marriott Monday October 5 2026, 7.54pm, The TimesTucker Carlson’s viral YouTube debate with Jacob Rees-Mogg — recommended to anyone looking for an entirely unedifying way to spend an hour online — pitted two styles of eccentric conservatism against each other. Rees-Mogg’s pantomime of establishment hauteur (enhanced by the interview’s “at home” setting, with its pink damask wallpaper, porcelain objets and gilt picture frames) versus the smarmy country club conspiracism that has made #Carlson one of the most popular broadcasters in America. The encounter will remind viewers how much stranger right-wing politics has grown over the past decade. Rees-Mogg was … Continue reading “James Marriott

intel, iran, Military, Terrorism, UK, USLeave a comment

“UNITED KINGDOM Men arrested in major incident at UK air base used by US

Colin Henderson

Men arrested in major incident at UK air base used by US Summary Security ramped up at UK base used by US air forces RAF Fairford used to strike Iranian missile sites Men detained on suspected explosives offences Police say they believe situation is contained British police arrested several men on suspicion of explosives offences near an airbase used by the US ‌to strike Iranian targets, while Army bomb disposal experts searched vehicles and homes were evacuated in the “major incident” on Sunday. The British government, which gave authorisation to the US to use RAF Fairford to strike Iranian missile … Continue reading “UNITED KINGDOM Men arrested in major incident at UK air base used by US

AI, AI_research, Economy, Geopolitics, Innovation, sociology, UK

Leading in the Age of AI: How to Build an AI-Enabled State

Colin Henderson

 Summarize Tony Blair https://institute.global/insights/politics-and-governance/leading-in-the-age-of-ai-how-to-build-an-ai-enabled-state?utm_medium=email&utm_source=salesforce&sftoken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpYXQiOjE3OTAyODY1MTIsImV4cCI6MTc5MDI4NjU3MiwiaW5kaXZpZHVhbElkIjoiMDBRU3EwMDAwMGZmc2xKTUFRIiwidGVuYW50SWQiOiJhMzYwL3Byb2QxMy80YTJiMjQ0ODA1YzA0MDUzODA5NTRkYjRjOGFmMDU4ZSIsImNvcmVUZW5hbnRJZCI6ImNvcmUvcHJvZC8wMERkMzAwMDAwMlp4akpFQVMifQ.DSEi6U6fhKW8KflQAEEOS0axalMt3OoxG_MImqN8Xrs Foreword The question leaders should be asking themselves is not whether AI is a good thing or a bad thing. Rather, it is simply the thing: the defining technological reality of our age. Their task is to understand it, shape it and ensure that their countries have the mechanisms to both harness and control it.  AI is often compared with the Industrial Revolution, but even that comparison risks understating the scale and speed of what lies ahead. The previous revolution transformed our world over generations; AI will do so within a decade. The speed is without … Continue reading Leading in the Age of AI: How to Build an AI-Enabled State

Israel, Palestine, UK

Palestinian people face ‘most dangerous times’ 

Colin Henderson

Alexandra Snow 1:09pm Palestinian people face ‘most dangerous times’  The president of the Palestinian Authority condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank as “genocidal” in an address to the United Nations General Assembly today.  Mahmoud Abbas urged the UN to hold Israel accountable and to ensure the viability of the two-state solution.  “The danger is no longer limited to undermining the two-state solution and preventing the realisation of the Palestinian state,” Mr Abbas said. “It has now come to threaten the very life and existence of the Palestinian people on their homeland.” Mr Abbas said: “I speak to … Continue reading Palestinian people face ‘most dangerous times’ 

briefing, intel, UK, US

Top US Lobby Firm Had Hidden Ties to Iran, Russia Oil Tycoons

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ Qorvis worked for companies that authorities say are overseen by sanctioned kingpins. The firm says it doesn’t take sanctioned money. Ben BartensteinSeptember 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM EDT In early March, as the war in Iran sent oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel, executives at a Washington-based lobbying firm called Qorvis made an unusual suggestion to senior US officials, according to people familiar with the matter: The Trump administration should relax some sanctions on Iran and Russia to help stabilize the market. Within days, the Treasury Department issued short-term waivers allowing the sale and offloading of Iranian … Continue reading Top US Lobby Firm Had Hidden Ties to Iran, Russia Oil Tycoons

UK

Archive photos are your ticket to ride on a bus trip through 1960s Dundee

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ Graeme StrachanAugust 25, 2026, 6:00am Take a trip back to 1960s Dundee with this gallery of bus photographs. While the buses are the stars of the show, there’s plenty to see in the background too, including the Royal Arch and other landmarks that have long since vanished. From conductors and paper tickets to packed upper decks, these photographs offer a glimpse of a very different Dundee. Whether you remember those days or not, this journey is well worth the fare. Snowbound city Heavy snowfall brought Dundee to a standstill in January 1960. This school bus got stuck at Balgay before … Continue reading Archive photos are your ticket to ride on a bus trip through 1960s Dundee

Europe, NATO, UK, Ukraine

SAG-U handover confirmed

Colin Henderson

NATO] — SAG-U handover confirmed• Politico (Aug 1): US relinquishing leadership of Security Assistance Group–Ukraine (Wiesbaden), transition up to a year, American deputy remains. Completes the pattern: Norfolk→UK, Naples→Italy, Brunssum→Germany/Poland, now SAG-U→TBD European/Canadian officer.• Paired signal: Trump walked back the Ankara pledge to license Ukrainian Patriot production, hours before the Aug 1 Kyiv barrage (1 of 27 ballistic missiles intercepted). Kyiv notes irreplaceable US satellite ISR, targeting, heavy airlift.• Assessment: the downstream-consequence frame strengthens on both axes simultaneously — command architecture transferring to Europe while US materiel reliability degrades. Watch which nation takes SAG-U command; a UK or German flag … Continue reading SAG-U handover confirmed