Connect with us

NewsBeat

Restore Britain pledges to scrap triple lock on pensions

Published

on

Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe on Tuesday set out his party's economic policies, including the pledge to scrap the triple lock

Advertisement

Restore Britain has pledged to scrap the triple lock on pensions in a move that could torpedo efforts to secure a political pact with Reform UK.

Nigel Farage‘s Reform party announced ahead of May’s local elections it would keep the policy – which ensures state pensions increase each year – after months of internal wrangling over the issue.

But Restore leader Rupert Lowe on Tuesday set out his party’s economic policies, including the pledge to scrap the triple lock. It threatens to disrupt negotiations between the two parties before they have even got off the ground, after Mr Lowe first raised the prospect on Sunday.

He made a list of demands of Mr Farage in return for a deal, including mass deportations of migrants and barring ex-Tories who defected to Reform – such as Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman – from any future government positions.

Advertisement

The triple lock – which sees the state pension rise by whichever is highest of inflation, average earnings or 2.5 per cent – appears to be another snag towards a pact between the Right-wing parties.

With the exception of the Greens, all mainstream parties have committed to maintaining the triple-lock policy in fear of losing older voters. And Reform’s Treasury spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that scrapping the triple lock was not up for debate.

Mr Jenrick said: ‘Reform will always look after people who have worked hard and paid in their entire lives. We will be able to pay for the triple lock by cutting the billions of pounds of waste on illegal migrants, welfare for those not working and Net Zero subsidies.’

After previously saying the future of the triple lock was ‘open for debate’, Mr Farage in April committed Reform to maintaining it, as he said people who work should ‘reap rewards later in life’.

Advertisement

Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe on Tuesday set out his party’s economic policies, including the pledge to scrap the triple lock

But in Restore’s 62-page policy document, it vowed to ‘end the triple lock and instead link the state pension to CPI’ – the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation. The party claimed this would save about £2billion to £3.5billion a year. 

Mr Lowe acknowledged that scrapping the rule would be a ‘difficult decision’ and ‘probably not’ result in his party winning more votes at an election. But he added: ‘These actions are the only way we can leave a better country to our grandchildren than the one handed to us.’

Advertisement

Economists have raised concerns about the financial sustainability of the policy long-term due to the UK’s ageing population.

Restore’s pledge comes after Mr Farage revealed he had offered exploratory talks to Mr Lowe, who was expelled from Reform in March last year following accusations of bullying, which he denies.

Negotiations between the two parties are expected to take place, but it is understood that Mr Farage and Mr Lowe had not yet spoken as of Tuesday.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

NewsBeat

Wild Nutrition is the trusted pregnancy multivitamin for mums

Published

on

Wild Nutrition is the trusted pregnancy multivitamin for mums

Wild Nutrition’s Food-Grown Pregnancy + New Mother Multi blends 29 whole food nutrients, including folate, iodine and vitamin D, to support both mother and baby through every stage of pregnancy and the fourth trimester. Backed by experts, the B Corp brand’s science-led, stomach-kind approach is the reason why this supplement has over 100 five-star reviews.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Princess Eugenie gives birth to third child with husband Jack Brooksbank

Published

on

Daily Record

The couple’s third child, a daughter, was born on Monday at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, weighing 6lb 9oz, and mother and baby are said to be doing well

Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have welcomed their third child – a baby girl.

The couple’s newest family member arrived on Monday at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, weighing 6lb 9oz, with both mother and daughter reported to be in good health.

The birth marks an uncommon instance of a royal family member being born abroad, as Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank maintain a residence and various ties in Portugal.

Advertisement

Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming: “Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, born on Monday, 3rd August 2026, at 6.20pm, at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal.

“The baby was born weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces.

“Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of the royal family were delighted to be informed of the news.”

The newborn becomes the fifth grandchild for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, the former Duke and Duchess of York, following the arrival of Princess Beatrice’s daughter Athena Mapelli Mozzi in January last year.

Advertisement

Earlier this year, the former duke vacated his Windsor residence amid public criticism over his “peppercorn rent” arrangement, relocating to the Sandringham estate, and faced arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office before subsequently being released. Eugenie and Beatrice, granddaughters of the late Queen Elizabeth II, have themselves come under the spotlight following their inclusion in the Epstein files, a collection of documents released by the US Department of Justice concerning the late convicted sex offender.

One email exchange suggested their mother Sarah took her daughters to see Epstein in the US days after he was released from prison for child sex crimes.

At the time, Eugenie and Beatrice were aged 19 and 20 respectively.

Advertisement

The pair absented themselves from the customary royal Easter Sunday service, with Charles’s blessing, as controversy surrounding their father intensified.

The hospital where the birth took place has not been disclosed, though the couple have expressed profound appreciation to medical personnel for their support.

Eugenie and Jack are taking their time selecting a name for their newborn daughter while cherishing precious moments together as a family.

The infant will not hold an HRH title and occupies 15th position in the line of succession, bumping her great uncle the Duke of Edinburgh down to 16th.

Advertisement

She becomes the 15th great-grandchild of the late Queen, and only the third born following Her Majesty’s passing in 2022.

The pregnancy announcement came in May, when Eugenie posted on Instagram a photograph showing her young son Ernest in a Chelsea football strip, alongside her other child August in a long-sleeved grey T-shirt, holding a picture of a baby scan.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Samantha Armytage mocks Muay Thai hero Ryan McDonald’s appearance on Today: ‘You’re quite something to look at’

Published

on

Samantha Armytage (right) couldn't seem to keep her composure on Wednesday morning when she interviewed the distinctive-looking Muay Thai fighter Ryan McDonald. (Pictured alongside Tom Steinfort)

Samantha Armytage cracked up live on air on Wednesday morning when she interviewed the distinctive-looking Muay Thai fighter Ryan McDonald. 

McDonald, 19, has been hailed a hero after he stepped in to protect two young women during a road rage confrontation on Queensland‘s Sunshine Coast recently.

But when he appeared on Today to chat about the incident, fill-in host Armytage, 49, appeared to be taken aback by his very tanned complexion and bleached blond hair. 

When McDonald first appeared on the screen, Armytage appeared shocked by his ‘unique’ look, laughing as she said: ‘Wow.’ 

Advertisement

Though she quickly recovered and continued with the interview, saying he was a ‘legend’ for de-escalating a violent situation on the Bruce Highway. 

However, the subject of McDonald’s appearance came up again later in the segment when he joked he was ‘pretty hard to miss’. 

Samantha Armytage (right) couldn’t seem to keep her composure on Wednesday morning when she interviewed the distinctive-looking Muay Thai fighter Ryan McDonald. (Pictured alongside Tom Steinfort)

Advertisement

Armytage and her fill-in co-host Tom Steinfort then started to laugh as she said: ‘You said it, Ryan. You’re quite something to look at.’

‘Unique,’ Steinfort, 42, said. 

‘Is that part of the whole thing, you know? The Muay Thai,’ Armytage added. 

‘Yeah, I guess it’s kind of my brand now. I’ve looked like this my whole life, but since I started fighting, that’s just how people know me. The blond tan guy,’ McDonald said.

Advertisement

McDonald went on to joke he looked like Dolph Lundgren, the Swedish-American actor and martial artist who rocks a similar distinctive look. 

‘You’re much more handsome than Dolph Lundgren,’ Armytage said. 

McDonald went viral on Tuesday when he jumped out of his car on the Bruce Highway to protect two young women caught up in a road rage incident.

Dashcam footage of the moment showed a van trying to merge into another lane of traffic on the Sunshine Coast motorway.

Advertisement

Join the discussion

Should more people step in during dangerous situations, even if it means putting themselves at risk?

When McDonald first appeared on the screen, Armytage appeared shocked by his 'unique' look, laughing as she said: 'Wow.'

When McDonald first appeared on the screen, Armytage appeared shocked by his ‘unique’ look, laughing as she said: ‘Wow.’

The van driver then stopped, left his vehicle and approached a car carrying two young women.

Advertisement

He allegedly tried to open the driver’s door – before Muay Thai champion McDonald intervened, confronting the man as other motorists gathered nearby.

‘It was just two girls on their own in the car,’ he told Channel Seven on Monday.

‘And I was thinking this would be a good opportunity to help and use what I know to protect these two girls, or de-escalate the situation.’

McDonald and the van driver exchanged words before both men removed their shirts in the middle of the road.

Advertisement

However, the confrontation ended without a punch being thrown when the motorist learned that McDonald was, in fact, a professional fighter.

McDonald has recorded eight victories during his fighting career, including four by knockout.

‘He came back up to me and was like ‘Are you sure you want this?’ I was like, ‘Yeah’,’ McDonald said.

A motorist reportedly backed down after realising McDonald was an experienced professional Muay Thai fighter and competitor

A motorist reportedly backed down after realising McDonald was an experienced professional Muay Thai fighter and competitor 

Advertisement

The van driver returned to his vehicle and drove away.

McDonald said that preventing the confrontation from becoming violent was the ideal result.

‘It was the best possible outcome, to de-escalate the [situation]… everybody got home safe that day,’ he said.

Footage of the incident has since attracted more than three million views across social media, where McDonald was widely praised for helping the women.

Advertisement

‘What a legend to put himself in that position and defend those girls he didn’t even know,’ one social media user said.

Another person said: ‘Glad he stepped in. I’ve got daughters and granddaughters and that man trying to open the car door isn’t on.’

A third added: ‘I cannot quite believe this man stepped in to help two vulnerable women, and most of you only want to make comments on his appearance!

‘Good on you mate, I’d be glad to have you there if this happened to me or my daughter.’

Advertisement

Some social media users said the incident would have been a ‘scary experience’ for the women.

‘Only a complete loser of a man would try to intimidate or threaten young women. Thankfully there are still decent men around prepared to step in,’ a commenter said.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Vital drugs crisis centre confirms looming closure after huge rent rise

Published

on

Daily Record

Turning Point claims “aggressive” rent rises have driven them out, despite Scotland’s drug deaths emergency

Council bosses have been blamed for the termination of a drugs crisis facility in the midst of Scotland’s drug deaths emergency.

Advertisement

The closure of Turning Point’s crisis centre in Glasgow now looks certain after a row over big rent increases.

The charity says the 16 bed residential stabilisation service in Commerce Street will shut down and a nearby drug crisis centre, on West Street, will move to the site instead.

Turning Point had also been running this service but management now passes to the city’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

Neil Richardson, chief executive of Turning Point Scotland, said: “Replacing the residential stabilisation service with a community-based model will remove 16 beds from Glasgow’s alcohol and drug support system.

Advertisement

“That raises important questions about how people who need intensive residential support will continue to access it.”

The crisis service is expected to switch in early October, while the stabilisation service contract is due to end on 24 October.

Richardson added: “Changes of this scale would ordinarily require significantly longer to plan and implement safely.

“Only days before this decision, we were told bringing the services in-house wasn’t considered a viable option because of the cost, disruption and lack of specialist expertise.

Advertisement

“We have yet to receive a clear explanation of what changed.”

Turning Point Scotland slammed “commercially aggressive” tactics and last week and said its rent had doubled from £65,000 to £131,000 a year.

The crisis was exacerbated by an £806,000 bill after Turning Point Scotland left another site after the closure of its service for women in the justice system.

Advertisement

The closure comes after a 14-month dispute over rent increases and repair bills with City Property – an arms-length firm that manages the Glasgow City Council’s commercial properties.

Both Turning Point Scotland and Glasgow City HSCP have blamed each other for the decision to close the service.

Staff were informed last Friday, with 87 people affected.

The 16-bed residential facility, offered six-week stays to stabilise drug use and detox from non-prescribed substances.

Advertisement

The crisis centre, in West Street, offers urgent care for up to 20 people at risk of serious harm or death.

Glasgow HSCP said Turning Point Scotland had “indicated that they are not able to continue with contract on the basis of financial risk”.

A spokesperson said the crisis centre “remains a priority” and would “transition with no intended gap in service”.

The spokesperson added: “This decision is based on the intentions of Turning Point Scotland and the commitment the HSCP has to its most vulnerable service users.

Advertisement

“The HSCP cannot comment on the relationship between Turning Point Scotland and City Property.”

City Property – which has Glasgow City Council as one of its directors – said the primary factors in the dispute were the terms of lease.

It declined to discuss details due to commercial sensitivity, and said it had been in regular communication with Turning Point to find “viable solutions”.

Advertisement

Scotland’s Alcohol and Drugs Minister Maree Todd said she was “very concerned” but the Scottish government could not intervene in a contractual dispute.

She added: “We have been clear that we value the work done by these services and that every reasonable opportunity to explore resolution should have been taken.”

It is the latest rent and repairs row between City Property and charity tenants in the past year.

Other tenants in dispute have included an elderly group, a family charity and a number of arts groups.

Advertisement

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Gianni Infantino calls FIFA staff to crisis talks in Morocco amid resignation pressure

Published

on

Wales Online

Gianni Infantino has called an emergency meeting with senior FIFA officials in Morocco as the president faces mounting pressure over the scrapped £3.1billion World Cup stakes sale

Gianni Infantino has summoned senior FIFA officials to emergency talks in Morocco as his position as president appears increasingly precarious.

Following proposals to sell £3.1billion in World Cup stakes, Infantino has faced fierce criticism, with Jordan FA president Ali bin Hussein accusing him of blackmail in the latest rebuke.

Advertisement

It is understood that these allegations have prompted the emergency meeting.

The FIFA chief has since abandoned the proposals to sell stakes after numerous football associations threatened to boycott the World Cup should the plan proceed.

UEFA and CONCACAF – the governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean – have both called for Infantino to resign.

Advertisement

Jordan are the first Asian nation to follow suit, bringing the total number of countries demanding Infantino’s resignation to 91.

For the president to be removed, 106 nations must support the motion.

Jordan’s Hussein maintained that FIFA has “no shortage of issues”.

He said: “There is no shortage of issues regarding FIFA. Let me start by clarifying what some of these are from an FA perspective, in particular that of Jordan going into a World Cup for the first time.

Advertisement

“We are a small country with a minimal budget for our FA and had to deal with enormous hurdles.

“First, getting our fans into the USA: not all were granted visas, even though they had tickets – which we also know were sold at exorbitant prices.

“Secondly, we are being taxed by the US government through FIFA for our participation. Money that should go to players and staff.

Advertisement

“This was not the case for those who played and set up camp in Canada and Mexico. But we happened to be in the USA so now we face these huge costs in taxes for having participated.

“Thirdly we have been waiting for reward money for our players since December for the Arab Cup in Qatar, which is a FIFA event.

“The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet, while at the same time FIFA brags about how many billions they have in reserve.

“It is clear the problem really is with leadership. For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters – until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out.

Advertisement

“We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now.

“But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that.”

The outburst from the Jordan FA president represents the latest in a lengthy series of condemnations Infantino has faced since the proposals were leaked last week.

The meeting is anticipated to take place on Wednesday, as the organisation appears to be facing considerable internal turmoil.

Advertisement

Last week, Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro stepped down, describing the FFE plan as a “bad deal for football”.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, broke his silence on the matter on Tuesday and said its withdrawal was “absolutely necessary and beyond question”.

Wenger added: “I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.”

Advertisement

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, the second most senior figure in the organisation behind Infantino, also addressed the scheme in an email to FIFA staff, labelling it a “sad and reproachable series of events…which thankfully concluded with the project being permanently abandoned”.

MEN have approached FIFA for comment.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Meet the 6ft 3in trans French basketball star who wants to join the WNBA and could prove Sophie Cunningham right

Published

on

French transgender basketball star Julie Tetart has revealed dreams of playing in the WNBA

French transgender basketball player Julie Tetart has revealed her dreams of playing in the WNBA, potentially adding a new chapter to the ongoing debate over transgender athletes participating in professional women’s sports.

The 34-year-old center recently finished a dominant 2025-26 campaign for her team in Monaco, leading France’s second-tier Ligue 2 in both scoring and rebounding. 

Tetart averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds per game, including a record-breaking performance in March where she posted 21 points and 30 rebounds in one game.

Despite her individual dominance on the court, Tetart’s stellar statistical season drew mixed reactions in France. Media and fan uproar ensued after she was bypassed for Ligue 2 MVP honors, though she was ultimately recognized as Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Domestic Player of the Year.

Advertisement

Tetart, who publicly came out as trans in October 2021, admitted that playing in the WNBA remains a lifelong aspiration – though she acknowledged significant hurdles to making that dream a reality.

‘If they contact me, I won’t say no. But you have to be realistic: I’m old, and there are far better players than me!’ Tetart told OutKick.

French transgender basketball star Julie Tetart has revealed dreams of playing in the WNBA

Advertisement
The 34-year-old recently finished a dominant 2025-26 campaign for her team in Monaco

The 34-year-old recently finished a dominant 2025-26 campaign for her team in Monaco

Her calls to play in the WNBA come amid drama surrounding transgender athlete inclusion - after Sophie Cunningham spoke about 'protecting young girls' from 'biological men'

Her calls to play in the WNBA come amid drama surrounding transgender athlete inclusion – after Sophie Cunningham spoke about ‘protecting young girls’ from ‘biological men’ 

‘Obviously, it’s a childhood dream just like for any female basketball player, but unfortunately, it’s not possible,’ the French native wrote back. 

When pressed on why it’s ‘not possible,’ Tetart noted: ‘The league, yes. The country, no,’ hinting at potential political hurdles under the Trump administration. 

Advertisement

However, she confirmed that if a WNBA franchise offered her a contract, she would be ready to step onto the court. ‘I won’t say no,’ she added.

Former WNBA player Audrey Sauret, who is French, voiced concerns earlier this year regarding trans athletes competing in women’s leagues, arguing that allowing participation creates unfair competition for biological women and risks discouraging female athletes. 

She said: ‘Ligue 2 serves as a kind of testing ground, to introduce trendy ideas, but by allowing them to participate in professional competitions, we create unfair competition, especially for younger players.

‘This can close doors and discourage aspiring athletes. This situation risks becoming commonplace, even if it’s regulated. Men and women aren’t built the same way. 

Advertisement

‘Changing hormones doesn’t erase gender differences. I regret that this issue wasn’t addressed much sooner.’ 

The prospect of Tetart – who stands at 6ft 3in – entering the league comes as the WNBA faces heightened scrutiny and debate regarding athlete eligibility. 

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham recently sparked widespread national discussion after publicly advocating for restrictions to ‘protect young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’

'If they contact me, I won't say no. But you have to be realistic: I'm old, and there are far better players than me!' Tetart said about her aspirations of playing in the WNBA

‘If they contact me, I won’t say no. But you have to be realistic: I’m old, and there are far better players than me!’ Tetart said about her aspirations of playing in the WNBA 

Advertisement
Tetart averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds per game, including a record-breaking performance in March where she posted 21 points and 30 rebounds in one game

Tetart averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds per game, including a record-breaking performance in March where she posted 21 points and 30 rebounds in one game

Cunningham's comments have been met with backlash in the WNBA - such as when Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a 'Trans Kids Belong' t-shirt on Sunday

Cunningham’s comments have been met with backlash in the WNBA – such as when Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ t-shirt on Sunday 

When asked to respond directly to Cunningham’s stance on transgender participation in women’s athletics, Tetart offered a brief reply: ‘Aucun’ – translating to ‘None.’

Cunningham’s comments have sparked fierce debate in recent weeks and on Sunday Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve made her feelings on the topic extremely clear – after opting to wear a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ t-shirt on the sidelines in Minneapolis. 

Advertisement

In recent weeks, fans have been left divided by Cunningham’s comments. While some have cheered her on the court, others have booed. And while some have brought signs praising her, others brought signs to criticize her remarks.

Back in 2022, Indiana Fever star Cunningham faced heavy backlash after sharing a post from CBS Sports host Josh Pate regarding the controversy surrounding former Penn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and their inclusion on the women’s team.

Pate’s post read: ‘Female collegiate athletes deserve so much better than this’. 

Cunningham was forced to release a statement over the matter, at the time, saying that she ‘stands’ with athletes, but calling for ‘fair’ competition in events.

Advertisement

In a recent interview with ESPN, Cunningham spoke about the backlash and doubled down on her remarks, saying: ‘I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that’.

‘I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Pac-12, Mountain West close out litigation by finalizing a settlement

Published

on

Pac-12, Mountain West close out litigation by finalizing a settlement

The Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences have finalized a settlement over “poaching” and exit fees.

The two conferences announced on Tuesday that all sides have reached final agreements to settle all pending litigation. The statement included Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State and The Board of Trustees of the California State University on behalf of San Diego State and Fresno State.

“With these matters concluded, the conferences and institutions can move forward with certainty and focus on serving their student-athletes, campuses, fans, and communities,” the statement said.

The conferences announced an agreement in principle in May.

Advertisement

The Pac-12 and some of new the schools joining the conference filed a lawsuit in California in 2024, claiming the poaching clause the league agreed to when it signed a scheduling agreement for its football teams was invalid. The clause called for payments to the Mountain West of $10 million for the first team that left, with the amount increasing by $500,000 for every additional team — to a total of $55 million.

The scheduling agreement with the Mountain West allowed Oregon State and Washington State to piece together football schedules after 10 schools left the Pac-12 in 2024, leaving the conference’s future in doubt.

The Pac-12 had its motion to dismiss denied by Judge Claudia Wilken in November after the sides failed to reach an agreement in mediation last summer.

Colorado State and Utah State filed a separate lawsuit — later joined by Boise State — against the Mountain West seeking to avoid exit fees ranging from $19 million to $38 million.

Advertisement

Colorado State, Utah State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Boise State are set to leave the Mountain West and join the Pac-12 this fall. The conference added Texas State last year to reach the eight-team minimum to be eligible for an automatic bid for its champion in the College Football Playoff.

Gonzaga also is leaving the West Coast Conference to join the Pac-12 as a non-football member this fall.

The Mountain West has added UTEP, Hawaii and Northern Illinois for football starting this fall.

___

Advertisement

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Anthropic’s AI used fake human profiles to trick people in safety test

Published

on

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei speaking on a stage while gesturing with his hands.

The latest artificial intelligence (AI) tools from Anthropic and OpenAI went to new extremes in trying to undermine a popular platform during testing by the UK’s AI Security Institute.

The AISI said on Tuesday that Anthropic’s Mythos and OpenAI’s Sol models engaged in a level of “autonomy and deception” it had not seen before.

During routine AI safety testing, an Anthropic agent created fake profiles of real people as it tried to trick a person standing between it and access to GitHub, a large platform where technology developers store software code.

Anthropic and OpenAI noted in response to AISI’s report that its test had reduced or removed normal safeguards.

Advertisement

AISI evaluators first noticed “unusual data transfers leaving our research systems” during a test, then found that “some of the agents being tested had engaged in sustained, potentially harmful activity directed at real people and organisations”.

It turned out that a Mythos agent had created “malicious code” and attempted to insert it into GitHub’s system.

The Mythos agent identified and researched the people who maintained GitHub and created a series of “fake online identities” based on those real people. It did so as part of an effort to pressure and trick the real people into approving its malicious code.

The agent even sent people direct messages masquerading as the real people it had researched.

Advertisement

“When the agent’s pull request was challenged in public, it edited its earlier activity to appear harmless and considered adopting a fresh identity to continue,” AISI said.

Throughout the attempts, it was human review that stopped the agent from succeeding in delivering the malicious code to GitHub.

While AISI said the Mythos agent had not been instructed specifically to avoid or carry out such behaviour, it was “the first time we have seen risks around autonomy and deception manifest this clearly, without specific prompting, in the real-world”.

The rival AI companies, which are poised to be listed on the public stock market, have in recent weeks said their tools were responsible for several cyber-hacking incidents.

Advertisement

Anthropic wrote in a public statement that the AISI testing parameters were “not representative of any of our production models”.

It added that the company is conducting its own investigation into the incident in order to “identify the causes of its behavior”.

A spokesperson for OpenAI said the AISI testing conditions “do not reflect ordinary use” and that the company would “continue working with evaluators and other stakeholders across the industry to strengthen shared practices for conducting evaluations safely as models become more capable”.

AISI said on Tuesday that its testing of AI models with such safeguards turned off is routine, as is giving such tools access to the open internet.

Advertisement

It added that the model behaviour at issue amounted to “a small number of events under very specific conditions”.

Nonetheless, it said the way Mythos and Sol acted in response to a straightforward task went outside of what the AI tools were prompted to do.

“The activity undertaken by the agent showed signs of novel, potentially deceptive behaviours, and were to an extent and severity we did not anticipate”, AISI said.

Most of the malicious agent actions AISI reported were done by Anthropic’s Mythos. OpenAI’s Sol was only blamed for two of the noted actions.

Advertisement

The core issue occurred last week, as part of a test in which evaluators with AISI asked each of the models to “solve a cybersecurity challenge” that involved GitHub, the software code repository, which is owned by Microsoft.

GitHub was notified by AISI of the attempted breach of its system. Microsoft has been contacted by the BBC for comment.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Cambridge houseboat dwellers speak out amid fears around River Cam’s health

Published

on

Cambridgeshire Live

Cambridge residents living on the River Cam voiced concern about an ‘eyesore’ barge that’s been left to fall into the river

Cambridge residents living on the city’s iconic river have shared their thoughts after fears that its health is at “serious risk”. Richard Whittaker said “everyone’s aware” that rivers across the country are in a “terrible condition at the moment”.

Advertisement

Earlier this year, water tested at the designated bathing site at Sheep’s Green found the water to be among the poorest quality in England. The Environment Agency has advised people not to swim there.

The 60-year-old has lived on the River Cam for the last six years and said it’s in “quite a bad state” with weeds so thick that boats are getting stuck. He said: “A huge section of this concrete siding has just fallen into the river and they’ve put a metal platform over it by the water point – it’s all very old infrastructure.”

The public has been warned to stay away from the riverbank near Jesus Green Lock where a section is collapsing into the river. The lock itself has been shut since summer 2024.

Jesus Green Lock and Baits Bite Lock were both closed after being found unsafe. Until the latter reopened in October 2025, houseboats were trapped in the stretch of river between them.

Advertisement

A houseboat outside Jesus Green Lido, abandoned since its owner died in 2023, was among those stuck. Pieces of wood and even windows have been falling off into the river. Cambridge City Council said at the time they couldn’t remove it due to Baits Bite Lock being closed. The houseboat is still there at the time of writing – months after the lock reopened.

Richard said he’s reported it – as have many others – and even offered to take it down himself, but feels the council doesn’t listen to houseboat owners. He said: “Generally they don’t really like to deal with us.

“There’s a stigma about the people living on boats – like they are a bunch of pirates or something. People just think just because it’s an alternative way to live, they immediately think everyone’s crazy who’s living on the boats – but it’s actually a mixture of people, just like anywhere else.

Advertisement

“To leave an eyesore like that in the middle of central Cambridge, in the you know, in the parks, beautiful parks, and everyone’s walking along here, and it just sits there.”

Neil Waters said that he thinks the conservators, who have taken care of the river since the 1700s, do the best they can with little in the way of resources.

The 52-year-old said: “I mean – I’m quite happy with life. We don’t pay too much and it’s quiet – I think the conservators are up against it, they don’t have a lot of staff or a lot of money.”

The mooring fee is paid to Cambridge City Council and allows houseboat owners to use the river which has facilities to empty wastewater and stock up on fresh water.

Neil said: “We don’t pay a huge mooring fee but we don’t get a lot for it. There’s one service point and that’s about it – it would be nice if there was another service point near Midsummer Common so they don’t have to come all the way out here.”

Eduardo Soto is new to houseboat life, having moved to his boat only about six months ago, and says he’s thrilled to live so close to the city.

The 32-year-old said: “I used to live in Essex, then we moved here. It’s very nice having space nearby the town – it’s an amazing place, city and a great experience being in a boat.

Advertisement

“I love the rowers in the morning and in the evening – it’s quite nice seeing them passing by. The lock over there is broken at the minute but obviously I don’t have a lot of experience – I’m sure there’s people who have been here longer than me and can see other kinds of hiccups and issues.”

A spokesperson for the Conservators of the River Cam said: “We appreciate the concerns that have been raised and want to reassure river users that the issue of the houseboat has not been overlooked. While responsibility for the mooring of the houseboat rests with Cambridge City Council, we continue to work with the Council to support efforts to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

“We also recognise the frustration felt by some boat owners while both Jesus Lock and Baits Bite Lock were closed, which restricted movement along parts of the river. The reopening of Baits Bite Lock in December 2025 has now restored access to the wider navigation. Mooring fees are charged by the City Council and not the Conservancy.”

Advertisement

Cambridge City Council has been approached for comment.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Armed man arrested at Trump’s golf course ahead of president’s visit

Published

on

A sign for Trump's golf course overlooks a bluff in California

Authorities in California have arrested a man who was seen near a golf course owned by President Donald Trump in the Los Angeles area, ahead of the president’s visit for a fundraising dinner there.

Jeanine John Taele, 38, was found with a pistol and illegal ammunition at the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes, investigators say.

According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, he was “observed walking throughout the golf course grounds taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activities”.

The arrest took place on Sunday afternoon. Trump is currently visiting California to attend a Republican party fundraising dinner at the course on Tuesday.

Advertisement

Taele is being held on charges of carrying a concealed firearm and possession of armour-piercing/prohibited ammunition.

In a news release, the sheriff’s department said Taele was arrested after plainclothes federal agents reported a suspicious person to local authorities during the middle of the day, around 1530 ET (2330 BST).

When police confronted the man, they discovered that he was being sought in connection to a robbery by the El Segundo Police Department, about 15 miles (25km) north of Rancho Palos Verdes, a wealthy coastal enclave known for its hills and scenic cliffs.

Authorities searched him and found he was carrying a 16-round magazine containing hollow point ammunition. In his vehicle, which was parked at the golf course, they found a loaded pistol, along with a loaded magazine containing hollow-point ammunition.

Advertisement

Hollow point bullets flatten and widen on impact, causing maximum damage to vital organs. California, which has some of the strictest gun laws in the US, has banned magazines capable of holding more than 10 bullets.

The suspect’s home in Downey, a city also in the LA-area, was raided on Monday by agents from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the LA County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau.

The sheriff’s department said his home was searched due to the “potential security implications surrounding the incident”.

Inside his home, they found an “illegally modified AR platform rifle” a .45 pistol, body armour, high-capacity magazines, a plethora of bullets for pistols and rifles and multiple notebooks “containing concerning statements”.

Advertisement

The investigation is continuing, with assistance from the US Secret Service, and officials say more charges may be filed later.

The sheriff’s statement adds that they have not identified any “credible threat to our communities”.

“However, this case underscores the importance of vigilance, strong partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and the proactive steps taken to identify and investigate suspicious activity before it can escalate.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025