News Round-Up

• “Israeli bombs strike Iran energy plants ahead of Trump deadline” – Israeli jets have struck Iran’s energy infrastructure and triggered evacuations at key sites as tensions escalate ahead of a US deadline, says the Telegraph.
• “Iran warns Trump ‘entire region will become hell for you’ if US escalation continues after president’s furious threat over Strait of Hormuz deadline” – Iran warned Donald Trump the “entire region will become hell” if the US escalates the conflict, hitting back after he threatened to destroy the country’s vital infrastructure if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the Mail reports.
• “Iran is the weathervane showing how Leftist activists have lost their morality” – Supporting a regime that jails and kills its own people isn’t progressive – it’s moral failure dressed up as virtue, says George Chesterton in the Telegraph.
• “OpenAI’s flagship UK data project delayed in setback for Starmer” – OpenAI has delayed a major UK data centre project amid ongoing commercial negotiations in a setback for Government tech ambitions, according to the Telegraph.
• “German men must ask the army for permission to leave country” – Germany has required young men to undergo medical exams and seek approval for travel under a revived conscription-style system, says the Mail.
• “Britain’s welfare bill exceeds income tax revenue. Labour’s answer? More cash” – Britain’s welfare spending has exceeded income tax receipts, raising questions about fiscal sustainability and Labour’s policy response, says Annabel Denham in the Telegraph.
• “Labour scrambles for candidates to avoid local elections bloodbath” – Labour has urged members with “no experience” to stand as candidates amid fears of heavy local election losses, reveals the Telegraph.
• “Labour on track to lose almost 2,000 councillors in local elections” – Labour has been projected to lose nearly 2,000 councillors in upcoming elections, putting its leadership under pressure, reports the Telegraph.
• “Badenoch vows to ‘fight on’ – no matter what happens in May vote” – Kemi Badenoch has insisted she will continue as Conservative leader regardless of expected local election losses, says the Telegraph.
• “Kemi Badenoch: Britain is not broken – stop the negativity” – Kemi Badenoch has argued that Britain remains resilient despite political pessimism and institutional pressures, according to the Times.
• “Ofcom under fire for handing £50,000 to the Guardian‘s charity” – Ofcom has faced criticism over a £50,000 grant to a Guardian charity amid claims of media establishment bias, reports the Telegraph.
• “Sadiq Khan’s bodyguards left bag of guns outside home” – Police officers protecting the London Mayor have been removed from duty after leaving firearms unattended outside a property, says the Telegraph.
• “Revealed: Shocking scale of anti-Semitism in Britain’s schools” – Schools have seen rising reports of antisemitic abuse including young pupils being targeted with extreme language, reports the Telegraph.
• “Christian pastor fears arrest for giving Easter sermon in Bristol” – A pastor has prepared to preach publicly at Easter despite fears of arrest following previous police action, says the Telegraph.
• “‘Tax the rich’ activists to stage biggest shoplifting spree yet” – Activists have planned coordinated shoplifting raids on high-end stores as part of a protest campaign against wealth inequality, according to the Telegraph.
• “Generals criticise ‘spineless’ Labour over veterans ‘witch hunt’” – Retired generals have warned that Labour’s policies risk renewed legal action against Northern Ireland veterans, reports the Telegraph.
• “Green Party plans to reduce the speed limit on Britain’s motorways to 55mph under Zack Polanski’s ‘war on motorists’” – The Green Party has proposed cutting motorway speed limits to 55mph alongside higher driving taxes and fewer parking spaces in a bid to push people off the roads, reports the Mail.
• “The lost gas fields that could power Britain for decades” – Untapped UK gas reserves have remained inaccessible due to exploration bans despite their potential to supply energy for decades, according to the Telegraph.
• “Dale Vince urges Miliband to block North Sea oil exports” – A major Labour donor has called for restrictions on North Sea oil exports to address shortages linked to geopolitical tensions, reveals the Telegraph.
• “Miliband facing Labour revolt on North Sea drilling” – Ed Miliband has faced growing opposition within Labour over his stance against expanding North Sea drilling, reports the Telegraph.
• “The rising minimum wage is crushing Middle England” – Incentives and opportunities for social mobility are diminished by the rising minimum wage, creating a stifled generation blocked from achieving its potential, argues Sam Ashworth-Hayes in the Telegraph.
• “Schools are pocketing up to £700,000 each to teach pupils who don’t speak English as their first language as bill hits all-time high of £572 million” – Schools have received up to £700,000 each for teaching non-native English speakers as total costs have surged to record levels, says the Mail.
• “Barclays set to open new branches as it plots street banking revival” – Barclays has planned a return to high street banking with new branches to improve customer access and reduce reliance on digital services, reports the Mail.
• “The city of luxury beliefs” – San Francisco is a hub of elite luxury beliefs that shape cultural and political discourse, says Ed West on Substack.
• “Does the UK need a US-style First Amendment?” – Writing for the Academy of Ideas, Claire Fox looks at a new proposal for a UK free speech law from the Adam Smith Institute.
• “Britain’s free speech crisis and the Bill that would fix it” – In Reclaim The Net, Al Loxley argues that the new proposed Free Speech Bill could finally enshrine free speech protections in UK law after centuries of restrictions.
• “Prince Harry v the Mail: will ‘Mr Mischief’ regret this £38 million gamble?” – Prince Harry has pursued a high-stakes legal battle with tabloid publishers as part of a long-running dispute with the press, says the Times.
• “Peter Mandelson pocketed £250,000 weeks before lobby firm collapsed” – Peter Mandelson sold shares shortly before his lobbying firm’s collapse, raising questions about timing and transparency, reports the Times.
• “Self-service benefits plan will lead to sharp rise in claims, Government admits” – Labour’s plans for an online self-service benefits system will lead to a sharp rise in claims, a Government report has admitted, according to the Telegraph.
• “The Norway study by Larsen shows troubling data, but don’t worry because there won’t be any investigations!” – A Norwegian study has raised concerns about vaccine safety data while authorities have shown little appetite for further investigation, says Steve Kirsch on Substack.
• “Sacked Pride in London boss claims he was ousted by ‘white directors’” – The former Pride in London CEO has alleged he was removed from his role following internal disputes and claims of discrimination, says the Mail.

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