South African leader urges men to speak up on gender-based violence after series of killings 30. September 2026 (16:16) President announces measures amid anger at authorities over recent murders of womenSouth Africa’s president has called on men to take more responsibility for violence against women as he announced measures to tackle the problem, amid anger at authorities over a recent wave of murders.Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that not enough had been done to protect women. He said police would be reviewing unsolved murders, attempted murders and serious sexual offences against women and children, as well as producing a funded plan to reduce the forensic backlog for such cases, both within 60 days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MI5 China alert will send chill through UK’s cash-strapped universities 30. September 2026 (15:36) Institutions have for years turned to China for funding opportunities but national security concerns are mountingMI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese front company stealing researchThe security alert issued by MI5 regarding a Chinese state-owned conglomerate accused of conducting espionage in the UK reveals the extent to which British intelligence remains concerned about Beijing’s influence, and risks casting a shadow over UK-China cooperation at a time when the bilateral relationship is enjoying a revival.The UK’s domestic security service on Wednesday warned researchers and academics to cease work with the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT), an organisation MI5 described as a “significant threat”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese front company stealing research 30. September 2026 (15:00) Security service says academics should stop taking grants from and working with firm backed by China’s intelligence serviceMI5 China alert will send chill through UK’s cash-strapped universitiesChina’s intelligence service used a front company to pay grants to British universities and steal crucial research about technology projects, MI5 said on Wednesday in a rare public espionage warning.Britain’s domestic security service said researchers and academics should cease work with the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), sometimes also known as the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT). MI5 believes it poses a “significant threat”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK-France ‘one in one out’ deal to expire on Thursday, say sources 30. September 2026 (14:52) Deal aimed at deterring small boat arrivals set to end as talks stall over French demand for EU-wide schemeUK politics live – latest updatesThe UK government’s “one in one out” deal with France, which was supposed to help deter small boat arrivals, is expected to expire on Thursday, government sources have said.Negotiations to extend the deal have stalled over French demands for a Europe-wide deal instead, and a reluctance to scale up the numbers of people exchanged between the two countries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Europe ‘faces window of vulnerability until 2030,’ Dutch chief of defence warns - Europe live 30. September 2026 (14:50) Chief of defence of the Dutch armed forces, Gen Onno Eichelsheim, says Europe urgently needs to learn lessons from UkraineMeanwhile, Ukraine’s total war costs will reach $155bn this year and the government is struggling to close a $27bn funding gap to ensure it can still conduct combat operations at the start of 2027, prime minister Sergii Koretskyi said.Koretskyi said the government planned to cover $7bn of the gap by postponing expenditure, reallocating money from other parts of the budget and cutting some costs, and was in talks with partners on how to cover the remaining $20bn, Reuters reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
