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  • Drugs, violence and racism: A week in Glasgow city centre

    Drugs, violence and racism: A week in Glasgow city centre

    Constantvpn.com – Glasgow has seen protests by far-right organisations whose members cover their faces Videos of brutal beatings, blatant drug deals, and racial violence in the centre of Scotland's biggest city have become a common sight on social media. Posts claim that parts of Glasgow's city centre are a "no-go zone" where it's not safe for unsuspecting members of the public, especially women, to enter. Angry protests have spilled on to the streets – but is it as bad as some say?

    For a week in June, BBC Disclosure filmed in the city centre to see for ourselves. We captured people openly dealing and taking drugs, as well as thefts, arrests, and even a brawl involving young men throwing traffic cones at a man with a dog. A taxi driver who regularly drives into the area told us so many people were off their head on drugs and that it was sometimes like the "zombie apocalypse".

    And a convenience store manager said he was racially abused at least 20 times a day and his shop was under constant attack from drug addicts. This all played out just a stone's throw away from the famous Central Station, where many tourists are first welcomed to Glasgow. Welcome to Glasgow Disclosure investigates claims that parts of Scotland’s biggest city have become a no-go zone because of crime, homelessness and antisocial behaviour.

    Crime and anti-social behaviour in the city centre have become such an issue that earlier this year police were given special powers to temporarily ban people from the hotspot area around St Enoch Square and the infamous Four Corners. More than 1,500 notices have been issued since the introduction of the "dispersal zone" in March but the problems in the city centre persist. Most evenings as we were filming there was a visible police presence – but one night, when there were few officers around, we saw a group of young men throwing traffic cones at a man who responded by chasing them with his dog.

    Later, our film crew were verbally abused and threatened by a group of young men hanging around near the shopping centre. It was an intimidating atmosphere and it made us consider what it must be like for someone vulnerable walking on their own. Kip Lawson says he's afraid to walk in his home town after he was attacked Last year, according to freedom of information requests made by the BBC, there were more than 400 violent assaults in the main streets and square at the heart of the dispersal zone.

    Kip Lawson was beaten so badly his lip was ripped open and he lost part of a front tooth. He says he was approached by a group of drunk white men while walking home at night. "I had never been involved in a violent altercation and then suddenly, you're getting battered," Lawson says.

    Just four months later, he says he was assaulted again, this time by a black man who attacked him for his phone. "I can't even walk through my gorgeous town without feeling like something bad is going to happen," he says. According to another BBC FOI request, since 2023 police have recorded almost 2,800 crimes on Union Street alone.

    Faisal Umar manages a 24-hour convenience store on the street, which sits in the heart of the dispersal zone. He told BBC Scotland News his shop was regularly robbed by drug addicts or young kids and he constantly faced racist abuse. Across the road from his shop is a hotel that houses homeless people, one of three such places within a very small area.

    Many of the residents are addicts, and dealers use underage kids to sell drugs to them. "This street is the hub of drug dealers and the police know this," Umar says. But he says because the dealers are under age the police can't do anything.

    "It's just a routine of every day, we need to call the police and they come and say: 'What can we do?'," he adds. Faisal Umar says his shop is robbed regularly As part of our time in the city centre, we went on patrol with the police. PC Steven Gemmell confirmed there was "a lot of child exploitation" and the young people involved in drug-running rarely saw the inside of a cell.

    Instead, he says they carry small amounts of drugs at any one time and come up with creative ways to avoid being hit with a possession charge. Gemmell says: "If they have a few wraps of drugs, a lot of the time they'll conceal it in their mouth. "So, if I walk up to someone tonight, maybe one of the younger dealers, they'll noticeably swallow.

    "It's a risk they're willing to take even if that bursts in their stomach." Sure enough, later in the week, a dealer sold drugs right in front of our cameras, licking the wraps out of his inner lip before handing them out to a buyer. During our time in the city centre, we witnessed other transactions on the streets that appeared to be drug deals. Darren Docherty is the leader of vigilante group Scots Active Darren Docherty, leader of vigilante group Scots Active, says drugs are being openly sold by what he calls "new people", though he does not define exactly who he means by this.

    Critics say Scots Active's members are racist and far-right extremists. Many wear balaclavas as they patrol the city centre streets. They deny it is to intimidate but say it is to protect themselves and their families.

    Docherty, who chooses not to cover his face when out on patrol, denies to the BBC that he is a racist but confirms his group often clash with young black and Asian drug dealers in the city centre. "They don't like us patrolling the area because we expose them selling their drugs," he says. Police Scotland are not required to record the ethnicity of suspects in crime reports, therefore a breakdown is not available.

    Large groups of youths marched through St Enoch Square in Glasgow In recent years, Glasgow has accepted more asylum seekers than anywhere in the UK, as part of a Home Office scheme. However, once they are granted refugee status, support from the UK government stops and many turn to the council for assistance, ending up in temporary or homeless accommodation. "It's nothing other than two cultures do not align, and that's what's causing a lot of friction," Docherty says.

    He says this has led members of Scots Active to join recent anti-immigration demonstrations that turned violent. On our first day of filming a masked mob of hundreds of people rampaged through the city in response to a shocking knife attack in Belfast for which a Sudanese man was arrested. A man performs a Nazi-style salute as police separate the masked group Four days later, an anti-racism rally was met by dozens of far-right demonstrators who clashed with police.

    The black-clad group – including at least one performing a Nazi-style salute – scuffled with police officers as they tried to keep the group away from the much larger protest against racism. Thousands of anti-racist campaigners marched along Buchanan Street in the city centre with banners such as "refugees welcome " and "hate has no place here". Some were angry that the much smaller group of anti-immigration protesters were attracting media attention and hijacking their message.

    One told us: "These people, the far-right thugs dressed in masks, say that they are doing it over concern for women and girls. "Actually, women from Scotland and across the UK know exactly who the threat is." Docherty was in the middle of the scuffles that day and the BBC has since seen a video where he talks about hitting a police officer. We asked him about this and he claimed he was acting in self-defence.

    We also asked Docherty what he made of the Nazi salutes we witnessed during one of the protests. "That's just stupidity. That's making us all look like idiots," he replies.

    "I wanted to punch the boy, but if I punch him, that's making us look even worse than what he's doing." Ch Insp Stephen McManus, of Police Scotland, admits that racial tensions have become a bigger part of the job. "Glasgow is a multicultural and diverse city, and there is usually a high level of tolerance," he says. "There is undoubtedly a level of intolerance creeping in which has become included in protest." In the three months of making the Disclosure documentary, there were six serious sexual assaults reported in Glasgow city centre.

    Crime and violence has been rising in the city centre Anti-immigration influencers have taken to social media in anger, speculating on the ethnicity of the attackers if not stated by the police. Scots Active say they patrol the streets to protect women and girls from sexual predators. McManus says there could be many reasons why a person's ethnicity is not put out in the media.

    He says police need to "protect the integrity of the inquiries" when sharing information about a crime. "I think what we need to be very careful of is misinformation that's circulating on social media, as that rhetoric absolutely fuels community tensions and can lead to protests as we've seen recently," he says. An anti-racism rally was met by dozens of far-right demonstrators who clashed with police In the documentary, the BBC spoke to Zoe, not her real name, who was sexually harassed on a bus as she travelled through the city centre.

    Zoe, who is in her 20s, says the man who sexually harassed her was possibly Middle Eastern but she challenges those who link Glasgow's sexual crimes to race. She says it is terrifying how often these attacks are happening to women, but is deeply sceptical of what the anti-immigration groups say motivates them to take to the streets. "They say it's about protecting women and children, but it's not," Zoe says.

    "It's about being racist, causing public disorder, and being aggressive and violent and just going out and causing it really." According to Scottish government figures, there has been an 11% increase in reported rapes, attempted rapes and sexual assaults across Glasgow in the past five years. There's no requirement for police to record the ethnicity of suspects, but this was recorded in 113 of the 170 rapes reported in Glasgow. Figures released under freedom of information showed that where it was recorded, 89 of the suspects were white and 24 were Asian, African or from another ethnic group.

    Police have been given special powers to temporarily ban people from the hotspot area around St Enoch Square As the sun set on our last day of filming, we approached a group of drug addicts near the River Clyde. After scoring what appeared to be crack cocaine, one of the group unfolded their paper "dispersal notice", barring them from the zone for 24 hours, before going on to use the letter to help split up the drug. Taxi driver Iain, who took us into the city centre, said the drug problem had got much worse in recent years.

    He said the dispersal orders often moved people from one area of the city to another, such as Sauchiehall Street. "It's like the zombie apocalypse sometimes and you can see they are completely away with it," he says. "I've lost count of the amount of times I have seen police taking people and putting them into the back of the wagon.

    They do quite a good job but that's generally at the weekends." Ch Insp McManus told us: "High-visibility policing works and we regularly look at demand and crime data to deploy our officers to areas of increased demand and need. "Within Glasgow city centre we have got a dedicated community policing team and at the weekends – Friday and Saturday nights – we have got a dedicated policing plan which draws on officers from across greater Glasgow." Ch Insp McManus is in charge of policing the dispersal zone We wanted to speak to the Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken about the underlying causes of what we witnessed in the city centre but she wasn't available to be interviewed. Instead, a spokesman said: "Antisocial behaviour and criminality are, in the first instance, police matters – but we are committed to working with Police Scotland and other partners to ensure the city centre continues to be a welcoming and attractive place for everyone.

    "Earlier this year, the council agreed additional investment to expand CCTV security monitoring in the city centre, enabling officers and police colleagues to work together to respond to issues." Drug dealer exploited 14-year-old boy into selling drugs for him Anti-racism rally disrupted by masked group in Glasgow Three arrested over Glasgow disorder and racist assaults after Belfast knife attack

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  • Watch moment police arrest wanted man while he slept on roof

    Watch moment police arrest wanted man while he slept on roof

    Salford Roof Standoff Ends as Officers Arrest Sleeping Man

    Constantvpn.com – A two-day police operation in Salford concluded in one of the most unusual arrests recorded in recent Greater Manchester policing history: a wanted man was pulled from a rooftop while fast asleep, dragged down a ladder, and taken into custody in the garden below. Video captured the moment officers from the force’s tactical unit lowered a ladder against the back porch of a house on Reservoir Street, then reached up to seize the man as he lay motionless on the roof tiles. What followed was a brief but chaotic struggle as the suspect was hauled down, his trousers slipping in the process, before officers secured him on the ground.

    Two Days of Disruption on Reservoir Street

    The standoff began on Saturday when emergency services were dispatched to a property on Reservoir Street after reports of an incident. Rather than resolving the situation quickly, the operation stretched across two full days, during which the area remained under active police management. Neighbours endured prolonged disruption while officers maintained a continuous presence at the scene, coordinating with partner agencies to find a safe way to end the confrontation without escalating risk to anyone nearby.

    Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the man had been requested for arrest by another force. He was wanted on a recall to prison order connected to separate matters, meaning his presence at the Salford property was not simply a local disturbance but part of a broader enforcement action. The recall mechanism allows courts to bring back individuals who have been released early or who have breached conditions, and it places the obligation on whichever force is nearest to effect the arrest.

    The Arrest Itself

    When officers finally moved to end the standoff, they chose a method that minimised the chance of a violent confrontation: approaching the sleeping man quietly and taking him by surprise. An officer climbed the ladder and grabbed the suspect while he was still asleep. The man reacted, and a physical struggle followed as he was pulled down from the roof. Footage shows his trousers dropping during the descent before officers completed the arrest in the garden of the property.

    Two serving officers sustained minor injuries during the incident. The force has not specified the nature of those injuries beyond describing them as minor, but they were sufficient to be recorded as part of the operational outcome.

    Charges and Custody

    The 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including causing public nuisance, criminal damage, public order offences, burglary, and assaulting two police officers. He remained in police custody following the arrest. The breadth of the suspected offences suggests the two-day standoff involved more than simply occupying a roof; the man appears to have been inside the property, caused damage to it, and interacted with officers in ways that triggered multiple charges.

    Force Leadership Response

    Det Ch Insp Helen Bagnall addressed the operation’s impact on the neighbourhood and on the officers involved. Speaking after the matter was closed, she said:

    “During two days of disruption to the local community, we worked continuously with our partners to bring this matter to a safe conclusion.”

    She went on to describe the operation as an extensive deployment of vital policing resources, and used the incident to underscore the everyday risks officers accept in their work:

    “This was an extensive use of vital policing resources and clearly demonstrates the dangers our officers face on a daily basis in order to protect the people of Greater Manchester.”

    Community Impact and Aftermath

    Bagnall extended thanks to residents of Salford for their “patience and understanding” while emergency services managed the scene over the two-day period. She acknowledged that some properties in the vicinity had sustained damage as a result of the man’s actions during the standoff. The force stated it would work alongside partner organisations to ensure that affected residents received appropriate support in dealing with any repairs or losses.

    For the residents of Reservoir Street, the episode represented an unusual intrusion into daily life. A two-day police cordon around a single property, combined with the visible presence of tactical-unit officers and emergency vehicles, would have disrupted routines, limited access to homes, and generated considerable anxiety among neighbours. The fact that the operation ultimately concluded without serious injury to civilians or officers, and that the wanted man was secured for the recall order, was presented by the force as the intended and necessary outcome.

    Broader Context

    Recall-to-prison arrests are a routine part of the English criminal-justice system’s enforcement architecture, but they occasionally produce high-visibility standoffs when the individual being sought has taken refuge in a location that complicates a safe approach. Roof-top occupations, in particular, present tactical challenges: officers must weigh the risk of a fall against the risk of a violent reaction, and the choice of approach — whether to negotiate, wait, or act decisively — depends on the individual’s behaviour and the environment. In this case, the decision to act while the man was asleep appears to have been made after two days of continuous assessment, suggesting that negotiation or passive containment had not produced a resolution.

    The incident also highlights the resource implications of multi-day operations. Officers assigned to a single-property standoff are unavailable for other duties across the force area, and the sustained presence of emergency services ties up vehicles, communications channels, and specialist units. For a metropolitan force covering a large and densely populated area, even a two-day commitment to one address represents a measurable diversion of capacity.

    The man arrested on Reservoir Street remains in custody and will face the courts on the charges listed by Greater Manchester Police. The recall order from the other force will proceed through its own legal pathway once the immediate charges are dealt with.

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  • Ferrari’s first ever electric car sold for record $40m at auction

    Ferrari’s first ever electric car sold for record $40m at auction

    Ferrari’s Electric Debut Car Commands $40 Million at Charity Auction

    Constantvpn.com – The prancing horse’s inaugural battery-electric vehicle has just set a new benchmark in the world of automotive auctions. A one-of-one Ferrari Luce — the marque’s very first production electric car — changed hands for $40 million (£29.5 million) at an RM Sotheby’s charity sale held in California. The figure represents more than 35 times the standard retail price of a Luce, and it eclipses the previous record for a new car sold at auction, which stood at $26 million when a bespoke Ferrari Daytona SP3 supercar was hammered away in 2025.

    Sotheby’s confirmed that every dollar of the sale will flow directly into the Ferrari Foundation’s educational programmes. The auction house declined to identify the buyer, describing the transaction as an “unbeatable opportunity” to acquire the first production chassis ever built of the Luce programme. The particular car offered carried a white paint finish, bespoke wheels, and customised brake components that distinguish it from any other unit rolling off the line.

    A Launch That Divided the Brand’s Loyalists

    The Luce arrived on the global stage in May to a reception that was, by any measure, polarising. Conceived under the creative direction of Sir Jony Ive — the industrial designer best known for reshaping the iPhone — the five-seat electric grand tourer represented a radical departure from the low-slung, rear-engined, petrol-throated machines that have defined Ferrari for seven decades. Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Leo were both invited to witness the unveiling, a gesture that underscored how seriously the company treated the moment.

    Yet the very next trading session saw Ferrari’s share price slide as investors digested the wave of criticism. Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini voiced public disapproval, and former Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo went further, warning that the vehicle was

    “risking the destruction of a legend.”

    Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s chief design officer, pushed back in a May interview, framing the controversy as an inevitable by-product of genuine innovation and expressing confidence that public opinion would eventually warm to the car’s intentions.

    Why the Luce Matters Beyond the Showroom

    Stripped of the spectacle, the Luce is a strategic statement aimed squarely at the electric-vehicle segment now dominated by Elon Musk’s Tesla and a constellation of Chinese manufacturers that have flooded the market with affordable, feature-rich EVs. Ferrari’s stated ambition was to enter that arena not as a follower but as a premium counterweight — a halo product that would anchor the brand’s credibility in a powertrain category where it previously had none.

    Demand, at least in the early months, appears to have validated that ambition. Ferrari has not published a specific sales target for the Luce, but a Financial Times report indicated the company had already met its annual unit goal for the model, buoyed by particularly strong appetite from Chinese buyers. Ferrari did not respond to requests for comment on that report.

    Where the $40 Million Sits in Auction History

    Ferrari has long been a magnet for record-breaking hammer prices. The Daytona SP3 sale in 2025 had briefly held the crown for the most expensive new car ever auctioned. Before that, the all-time auction record belonged to an ultra-rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which fetched $142 million in 2022 — a figure that still dwarfs anything sold in the new-car category.

    The Luce’s $40 million result, while not threatening that overall benchmark, redefines what collectors will pay for a factory-fresh electric supercar. It signals that the intersection of heritage branding, limited production, and electrification can command prices previously reserved for vintage icons.

    Charity, Identity, and the Road Ahead

    Sotheby’s framed the charity dimension of the sale as a “tangible expression of innovation, responsibility, and long-term vision for future generations,” language that positions the transaction not merely as a high-stakes purchase but as a philanthropic act tied to the Ferrari Foundation’s work in education.

    For a marque whose identity has been inseparable from combustion, exhaust note, and mechanical drama since 1947, the Luce’s journey from backlash to record-breaking charity sale in a matter of months is itself a telling narrative. Whether the five-seat electric grand tourer ultimately reshapes Ferrari’s brand equation — or remains a fascinating footnote — will depend on how the broader market digests the concept over the coming years. The auction result, at minimum, proves that collectors are willing to put real money behind the experiment.

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  • US women in politics spark conversation about balancing family and career

    US women in politics spark conversation about balancing family and career

    Constantvpn.com – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez have both spoken in recent days about balancing their careers with motherhood Last summer, Representative Sara Jacobs would run up to her office to give herself injections of hormones before rushing back to Congress for a session with her fellow lawmakers. The shots were for the second round of freezing her eggs, a medical procedure that can give women more time to have children. "It was an empowering decision that gave me more agency," the 37-year-old said, adding that the process was challenging.

    "Your body hurts. Your hormones are crazy. It's kind of like puberty and menopause at the same time." Jacobs announced she was beginning the egg freezing process in 2021, at a time when she said few lawmakers were discussing the topic in the halls of Congress.

    The process – which can cost more than $10,000 (£7,400) and is rarely covered by insurance – involves doctors harvesting eggs from the ovaries and freezing them for a future pregnancy. This week, Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced she too was beginning the process of freezing her eggs , documenting the daily mechanics of giving herself hormone shots on social media. Watch: Key moments from Karoline Leavitt's White House tenure The left-wing Democrat's announcement sparked a conversation about the challenges of balancing motherhood and a demanding career, the same week that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced she would be leaving the Trump administration to spend more time with her family, including her infant.

    "The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mum my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy and attention required of [being] the White House press secretary," Leavitt said. Several women with busy careers spoke to the BBC about the challenges of juggling their work with motherhood in the only industrialised nation that does not mandate paid parental leave. Less than a quarter of workers in the US have access to paid family leave through their employer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    More than 120 nations around the world – including all European countries – provide paid maternity leave. In the US, women are increasingly having children at older ages, while more are choosing not to have children at all. From 2016 to 2023, the average age of all mothers giving birth in the US rose from 28.7 to 29.6, according to a 2025 report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Michele Heisler (left) says raising her children while working as a professor of medicine meant long nights, and lots of help Michele Heisler, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, gave birth to her first child after going back to medical school at the age of 30. She was pregnant with her son during her third year of medical school. Heisler, who serves as medical director for non-profit Physicians for Human Rights, said she had only been able to dedicate enough time to her career because of access to resources – including nannies – and a husband who was an equal partner in parenting.

    "Unless it's clear that both are equal parents, [child rearing] is always going to fall on the woman, and then you're going to have to take a step back in some way," Heisler said. Heisler said a flexible schedule is what allowed her to pursue her career to the fullest – staying up late at night to work and waking up sometimes at 05:00 to get her research done – so she could spend time with her children. Legal scholar Seema Patel says she stays up late to finish work after her children are in bed Seema Patel, an associate professor of law at UC Law San Francisco, also stays up late at night to try to finish her work so she doesn't have to miss moments with her children.

    "The reality is that these years in your kids' lives are so fleeting, and I'm super aware of the time," she said. Patel worked for San Francisco's Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, which became the first local government in the US to pass a law requiring employers to provide paid parental leave. But through her career as a workers' rights lawyer, she has seen many lower-wage workers and parents who are not lucky enough to have access to paid time off.

    When Patel began working as a federal attorney, her boss advised her to save up her vacation days in case she eventually wanted to have children and needed to take leave. She ended up taking the advice. "I was a brand new, young attorney who had not even contemplated that stage of my life, but I had to in that moment, face that question of – I better be saving my vacation days," she said.

    But even with some maternity leave and a dedicated partner, as her children – now ages 13, 11 and seven – have grown older, the work-life juggling act remains a challenge. "I have a high-producing job," she said. "How can I do that while also being there for my kids and attentive to them?

    I don't have an answer." Congresswoman Sara Jacobs documented her journey freezing her eggs on social media For now, Jacobs, who has completed two rounds of egg freezing, plans to hold off on having children while her job requires her to fly across the country from California to Washington. "Figuring out how to be a mum when I'm gone half the time across the country, it's logistically complicated," she said. Jacobs said she was impressed by her fellow lawmakers who have managed to make it work.

    Only a handful of women have given birth while in Congress, while a few dozen lawmakers are mothers to children under the age of 18. The federal government, like many US employers, does not offer paid parental leave, Jacobs noted. "Both Congress and the general American workplace were designed by and for men who had often stay-at-home spouses who handled all of the domestic work," she said.

    "It's going to take a lot of work for us to create a society where the domestic work is really shared equally between women and men." In the meantime, Jacobs feels reassured to have a back-up plan for whenever she does feel she can fit children into her busy career. "I hope to be able to do that one day, but I just haven't figured the time is right just yet." Who could replace White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she's freezing her eggs Why doesn't the US have mandated paid maternity leave?

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  • I survived two years as prime minister in a hit new game – then my cabinet deserted me

    I survived two years as prime minister in a hit new game – then my cabinet deserted me

    Constantvpn.com – Players in the prime minister simulator No 10: Full Confidence must balance the moods of factions including their cabinet and the media A mobile game made by a developer in Manchester has recently beaten the global phenomenon Minecraft to top Apple's paid games chart. Its success is perhaps even more surprising given its subject matter – UK politics. No 10: Full Confidence by Benjamin Brewis sees players take on the role of prime minister, making decisions through a wave of parliamentary scenarios and trying to remain in power for as long as possible.

    The success of Brewis's app, and the creation of others like it, suggests the dramatic recent ebb and flow of Westminster may have inspired a popular new sub-genre. No 10: Full Confidence is a prime minister simulator game In No 10: Full Confidence , external , players who take on the precarious position of prime minister must balance the moods of four factions – their cabinet, backbenchers, the media, and the public – to remain in the game. Decisions are made across more than 300 fictional political scenarios, handwritten by Brewis.

    The storylines range from the mundane – dealing with GP appointment waiting times – to the absurd. "I have a two or three-part storyline where a dog is let loose into the House of Lords by a lobbyist during a vet bill and that spirals out of control," Brewis said. Each scenario asks players to pick one action from three choices on the screen, with each potentially upsetting or pleasing the different factions.

    Much like in real life, if one side completely turns against you your political career is finished. While some situations may sound farcical, Brewis said he had plenty of real life examples to draw on as inspiration. "I'd remember that MP who had a spider that he'd threaten MPs with , or when Boris Johnson walked into a fridge.

    I'm frantically writing them all down." My first attempt at playing prime minister in No 10: Full Confidence hasn't left me considering a Westminster career. As my chosen candidate, Verity Grimshaw, I start off strong, managing to survive a crisis in which thousands of A-level students receive the wrong grades. I only manage to stay in the post for one year and nine months, taken out – somewhat ironically given my actual job – by a complete lack of trust by the press.

    Unfortunately, a cabinet minister resigns and publishes a three-page-long letter that contains the phrase "the PM was warned" four times. This letter being read out in full on BBC Radio 4 turns out to be the last straw for poor Verity. My final choice in the game of "respond directly, address every point, don't let it sit unanswered", seemingly does not go down very well.

    Brewis says some users have fared a lot better than my sorry effort. "Someone has stayed in for 1,885 months, which is 157 years," he says. "I'm not sure if that's a democracy any more." One scenario players must navigate in No 10: Full Confidence raises big questions about livestock Brewis said he was inspired to begin creating the app around December 2025, when "it was all kicking off" with former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and talk of potential challenges to his leadership was starting to grow.

    "I remember thinking at the time, someone should just start taking the mick out of this," he said. "We've had so many prime ministers – it's funny now." Five different people have occupied No 10 since 2016 – three in the space of just over three years, and one for just 49 days. Dr Russell Foster, a lecturer in British and International Politics at King's College London, said the "churn of prime ministers" and growing presence of politics on social media could also help explain why Westminster is suddenly appearing on our devices.

    And it was all going so well… No 10: Full Confidence is not the only game based around Westminster's wheeling and dealing. Fantasy Parliament , external is a browser-based game designed by another UK-based developer, Evan Roberts, which lets players draft their own fantasy league of real-world MPs, scoring points based on their real-life media coverage.

    With the strategy game's Policy Tester, players can even type in proposals to a ChatGPT-style AI model, which then replies in the style of how it believes different groups of voters – such as Coastal Keith or Graduate Gemma – would react. Meanwhile, UK Politics Simulator, "built on real UK data down to ward level", is reportedly due out later this year for PC, made by the Scarborough-based company Black Cannon Games. Despite the success of his own venture, currently ranking 5th in Apple's UK paid games charts – above Monopoly Go – Brewis said he does not know if any politicians have actually played his game.

    However, he has received some feedback on how accurately the game depicts UK political life, from his friends who work in the civil service. "It's exactly like this," they told him, "but worse." Power-washing, pool-cleaning and mowing: Why millions are playing games about mundane jobs Grand Theft Auto made him a legend. His latest game was a disaster Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends.

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  • Five years after the Taliban swept to power, does the West have any influence?

    Five years after the Taliban swept to power, does the West have any influence?

    Five Years After the Taliban: Western Influence in Question

    Constantvpn.com – Five years after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the question of Western influence has become increasingly complex. Deep within a whitewashed basement workshop in a village south of Kabul, young women continue their work with purpose. They stir large cauldrons of bubbling cherries and plums, carefully affixing labels to glass jars of homemade preserves. Such ventures represent one of the few remaining havens where Afghan women can develop professional skills and earn an income under Taliban governance.

    The workshop operates under the leadership of Najia, a forty-seven-year-old entrepreneur and mother of nine who entered marriage at just fourteen years old. Had government authorities not prohibited girls and young women from attending secondary schools and universities, numerous women in this workshop—including Najia’s own daughters—might be pursuing entirely different educational paths.

    Women’s Rights Under Pressure

    Jam-making workshops have become among the vanishingly rare avenues through which women can continue learning while generating income. Yet even this limited space faces mounting pressure. New regulations require women to request male assistance when transporting their products to market, and exclusively men may now occupy stalls at trade exhibitions to display their goods.

    “The world has to talk to the Taliban in a different way because it’s just not working,” says Najia. “The lives of Afghan women have to change because we’re losing hope.”

    The Taliban justify these restrictions through various explanations, frequently citing claims that women fail to wear appropriate hijab or head coverings. Five years have passed since this ultra-conservative Islamist movement seized control of Afghanistan, during which time women have been excluded from substantial portions of public life and girls over twelve years of age face complete prohibition from attending school.

    International Response and Recognition

    Observers both within Afghanistan and internationally continue debating the most effective strategies for engaging the Taliban to secure meaningful transformation. This question remains deeply divisive, with numerous factions holding conflicting positions on critical issues. Women’s rights, unpredictable Taliban decrees, international sanctions, and aid reductions amid a worsening humanitarian emergency all feature prominently in these discussions.

    The global response reveals significant divisions. Western nations tend to prioritize human rights considerations, while other countries emphasize investment potential. Even within Western capitals, consensus remains elusive regarding optimal approaches. Many policymakers now acknowledge that existing strategies yield insufficient results. Very few voices advocate complete isolation, particularly given United Nations warnings that twenty-two million Afghans—representing nearly half the nation’s population—depend on various forms of foreign assistance for survival.

    Afghanistan has endured tremendous challenges. An agonizing economic collapse, devastating natural disasters, border conflicts with neighboring Pakistan, and the arrival of millions of deported Afghans from distant countries have all battered this impoverished nation. Despite these pressures, the Taliban have consolidated their authority. Since fighters captured Kabul in a rapid offensive on August 15, 2021, the movement has demonstrated growing confidence while maintaining control despite occasional attacks from armed opposition groups operating from abroad, as well as Islamic State militants.

    The Taliban now collect tax revenues and have signed agreements covering mining, energy, and other sectors with Beijing, Moscow, Abu Dhabi, and Tashkent, alongside other regional partners. Nevertheless, international sanctions connected to terrorism and human rights concerns continue constraining the country. Russia stands as the sole nation to formally acknowledge Taliban rule, and the movement has yet to assume what it considers its legitimate position at the United Nations in New York.

    “The West is losing the argument over recognition,” says a former senior UN official who requested anonymity while continuing work in Afghanistan. “There’s no doubt the Taliban would like to be recognised at the UN but it’s no longer as potent a bargaining chip as it was at the beginning.”

    Formal diplomatic recognition has ceased to dominate discussions. Behind the towering blast walls of Kabul’s foreign ministry, within a sprawling compound featuring manicured lawns and elegant historic structures, Taliban diplomats continuously add names and flags to an expanding collection of Afghan embassies worldwide. These facilities now operate under Taliban control rather than representing the final remnants of the government they displaced. The current count exceeds forty embassies.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the current status of women’s education in Afghanistan? Girls over twelve years of age face complete prohibition from attending school, while women have been excluded from substantial portions of public life since the Taliban took power.

    How many Afghans depend on foreign assistance? According to United Nations warnings, twenty-two million Afghans—representing nearly half the nation’s population—depend on various forms of foreign assistance for survival.

    Which countries have recognized Taliban rule? Russia stands as the sole nation to formally acknowledge Taliban rule, while the movement has signed agreements with Beijing, Moscow, Abu Dhabi, and Tashkent covering mining, energy, and other sectors.

    How many Afghan embassies are currently operational? The current count exceeds forty embassies, which now operate under Taliban control rather than representing the final remnants of the government they displaced.

  • Eurovision proposes new rules to reduce political voting

    Eurovision proposes new rules to reduce political voting

    Eurovision Unveils Sweeping Voting Overhaul Amid Political Concerns

    Constantvpn.com – The Eurovision Song Contest is preparing for significant structural changes designed to minimize political influence on voting outcomes. Following Bulgaria’s Dara securing victory through both public and jury acclaim this year, the European Broadcasting Union has outlined comprehensive reforms aimed at creating a more balanced competitive environment.

    Addressing Persistent Political Voting Patterns

    Organizers have identified what they describe as increasingly problematic voting behaviors driven by geopolitical factors rather than musical merit. In correspondence with participating broadcasters, the EBU emphasized that politically motivated voting has evolved from occasional occurrences into a persistent phenomenon that many stakeholders find concerning.

    Even without major paid campaigns, and with a voting system that we can vouch for, it has become clear that today’s geopolitical climate is driving votes for certain artists for reasons that have very little to do with their performances.

    The organization noted that while political voting is not unprecedented in Eurovision’s long history, the current frequency and intensity represent a shift that warrants immediate attention. The proposed changes aim to preserve the contest’s integrity while maintaining public engagement.

    Controversy Surrounding Israel’s 2025 Performance

    Recent scrutiny intensified following Israel’s strong showing in the 2025 competition. Yuval Raphael’s “New Day Will Rise” achieved a remarkable public vote performance, earning 297 points to finish ahead of all other participants in the public category. However, jury evaluations placed the song at fifteenth position, creating a notable disparity between the two voting segments.

    Questions emerged regarding the voting mechanism after official Israeli government social media channels, including accounts associated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, encouraged supporters to cast twenty votes for Raphael—the maximum permitted under previous regulations. This coordinated effort contributed to Raphael ultimately finishing as the competition’s runner-up in the overall standings.

    This is nothing new in Eurovision’s history – we have seen it happen before – but this time it is persistent, and for many it is deeply worrying.

    Proposed Structural Changes to Voting System

    The EBU’s letter, signed by chief executive Jean Philip De Tender and Eurovision Reference Group chair Ana Maria Bordas, outlines two primary modifications. First, the organization plans to transition entirely to online voting, eliminating phone and text message options. Second, participants would be required to select their top three entries rather than concentrating votes on a single performer.

    While the new system would prevent multiple votes for the same country, dedicated supporters could still register additional accounts using different payment methods. The technical rationale for online-only voting centers on the practical challenges of implementing multi-selection requirements through traditional text and telephone channels.

    The United Kingdom has already completed this transition, beginning with this year’s contest. The EBU confirmed that further details regarding the implementation timeline would be published in the coming months.

    Broader Contest Reforms and Sponsorship Changes

    Beyond voting mechanics, Eurovision has introduced several additional modifications. The minimum age requirement for performers has increased from sixteen to eighteen years old. Broadcasters facing armed conflicts or sensitive geopolitical situations will no longer qualify to host the event. Regulations concerning pre-recorded vocal usage have also been tightened.

    In a separate development, Moroccan Oil concluded its six-year sponsorship arrangement with the contest. The cosmetics company, which provided professional hairstylists and hair products to participating artists, ended the partnership without public explanation. The sponsorship had faced increasing criticism during recent years as protests regarding Israel’s participation intensified amid the conflict in Gaza.

    These developments reflect Eurovision’s ongoing effort to navigate complex international relationships while maintaining its identity as a celebration of music and cultural exchange. The contest, now celebrating its seventieth anniversary, continues to adapt its framework to address evolving challenges while preserving the elements that have made it one of the world’s most-watched annual events.

    The Bulgarian co-hosting arrangement mentioned in recent announcements further demonstrates the contest’s commitment to geographic diversity and regional representation in its organizational structure.

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  • ‘I shot Mr Thompson’- What it was like inside court as Mangione pleaded guilty

    ‘I shot Mr Thompson’- What it was like inside court as Mangione pleaded guilty

    Mangione Enters Guilty Plea in Federal Court for UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting

    Constantvpn.com – In a moment that brought closure to one of the most watched criminal cases in recent American history, Luigi Mangione stood before a federal judge on Friday and formally admitted to shooting Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, on a Manhattan street. The 28-year-old’s appearance in court concluded more than eighteen months of intense legal proceedings, public fascination, and speculation about his fate.

    Mangione arrived at the courthouse wearing a beige prison uniform layered over a white T-shirt. His feet were secured with shackles, and he carried his hands behind his back, though notably, US marshals had not placed handcuffs on his wrists. The courtroom was filled to capacity with journalists, supporters, and a select group of court staff members who had secured their attendance through a lottery system. Seated prominently in the front row behind the prosecution team were members of Thompson’s family, several of whom showed visible emotion throughout the proceedings.

    The Courtroom Moment

    As attendees waited for Judge Margaret Garnett to take the bench, Mangione conferred with his attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, reviewing documents in anticipation of what might come next. The hearing was originally scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM but commenced a few minutes later. The proceedings opened with an immediate revelation when Agnifilo announced to the court that her client was prepared to enter a guilty plea.

    Following this announcement, the courtroom fell into silence as Judge Garnett posed a series of questions to Mangione. She sought to confirm that he fully understood the consequences of his decision, inquiring about his personal background and medication usage. His responses were brief but confident. When asked whether he comprehended that he could face life imprisonment, Mangione simply replied, “yes.”

    It was only when Mangione began reading his own statement to the court that he appeared to hesitate momentarily. His delivery was hurried and occasionally mumbled. After the judge gently encouraged him to speak closer to the microphone, he continued with greater clarity until reaching his central admission.

    “After years of enduring severe pains from a broken back” and dealing with the healthcare insurance industry, Mangione stated that he had learned UnitedHealthcare would hold an annual conference in Manhattan in December 2024. He researched online and emailed the company posing as an investor to learn more about the event, Mangione told the court. “Unlike previous interactions with insurance” he got a quick reply, he said.

    Planning and Execution

    Mangione’s statement provided fresh details about how he prepared for the shooting. He explained to the court that he utilized a 3D printer to construct a firearm. On the morning of December 4, 2024, he approached Thompson on a Manhattan street and fired, resulting in the CEO’s death.

    “I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died,” Mangione confessed to the court, marking the first time he had publicly recounted the events of that day.

    Contrary to widespread media reports suggesting Mangione would accept a plea deal, he simply changed his plea from not guilty to guilty without any negotiated agreement. This distinction means that while he avoids a trial, the full scope of his punishment remains to be determined by the judge.

    Legal Consequences and Next Steps

    Mangione faces two federal stalking charges, each carrying a maximum penalty of life in prison. Prosecutors have recommended that he serve between twenty-four and thirty years behind bars. However, the final decision rests with Judge Garnett, who will determine his sentence on December 18.

    Additionally, Mangione must still face a separate state-level trial related to the same murder, which is currently scheduled to commence in September. This dual-track legal process means that even after federal sentencing, additional proceedings await him.

    Thompson’s family issued a statement following the hearing, describing the day as a significant milestone in their pursuit of justice. The emotional weight of the moment was palpable in the courtroom, where the victim’s relatives sat quietly as Mangione spoke.

    The case has drawn international attention, transforming a local shooting into a global story. Mangione’s actions sparked widespread debate about healthcare costs, corporate accountability, and the American justice system. His guilty plea brings a measure of resolution, though the full implications of his sentence will not be known until December.

    As the courtroom emptied, the focus shifted to what comes next. Mangione’s legal journey is far from over, but he has finally acknowledged what many believed all along—that he was the man who shot Brian Thompson on a cold December morning in New York City.

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  • Derailed Essex train leads to travel chaos

    Derailed Essex train leads to travel chaos

    Commuter Disruption After Essex Rail Incident

    Constantvpn.com – Travel across Essex faced significant upheaval when a Greater Anglia passenger train left the tracks near Wickford. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, causing widespread cancellations and delays for thousands of commuters. Emergency responders quickly mobilized to the scene as the situation unfolded.

    The affected service was traveling from Southend Victoria toward London Liverpool Street when it came off the rails at approximately 14:12 BST. All Greater Anglia departures from Wickford station were subsequently suspended. Despite the dramatic nature of the event, no passengers sustained injuries, and the train remained upright throughout the incident.

    Passenger Accounts and Immediate Response

    Jon Young, a 37-year-old resident of Brentwood, provided a vivid description of what occurred aboard the train. He recounted how the carriage began moving erratically before stabilizing.

    The train swung wildly for around 10 seconds, like it was about to tilt over. It then carried on going for a couple of minutes but there was a horrible vibrating sound.

    According to Young, smoke began filling the rear carriage, prompting frightened passengers to exit quickly. A second train that could not proceed was also evacuated from the area. Meanwhile, c2c services departing from Southend Central continued running normally.

    Network Rail issued warnings that substantial delays would persist through at least Saturday. This disruption affected travelers heading to destinations including Southminster and Braintree. The derailed train had originally left Rayleigh at 14:06 but failed to arrive at Wickford by the scheduled 14:11 departure time.

    Investigation and Weather Factors

    Multiple agencies deployed teams to examine the cause of the derailment. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch sent investigators to collect evidence and determine what led to the accident. Mark Francois, the Conservative Member of Parliament representing Rayleigh and Wickford, noted that investigators would specifically evaluate whether weather conditions played a role.

    Martin Frobisher from Network Rail explained that the ongoing heatwave created unusual difficulties for rail operations. He confirmed that speed restrictions had not been implemented in either Wickford or Lewes prior to the incident.

    We’ve got our investigations underway. We’ve got technical engineers on site, our best experts who are on site with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch. They’re looking very thoroughly at what’s happened.

    Frobisher emphasized that while temperature was under consideration, it was premature to draw definitive conclusions. The Department for Transport reinforced that British railways remain among the safest globally, noting that derailments occur with remarkable infrequency.

    Local Impact and Emergency Services

    The East of England Ambulance Service treated 62 individuals aboard the derailed train. All passengers were released at the scene following medical evaluation. An air ambulance landed near Salcott Crescent as a precautionary measure, joining police officers, firefighters, and paramedics already on location.

    Danielle Belton, a Conservative councillor in Rochford who operates a business nearby, described feeling the derailment’s force through her office walls. She recalled colleagues reacting with surprise to the sudden disturbance.

    All the girls in my office, we all kind of went, ‘blimey, what was that?’ You felt the office rattle and you heard the loud noise.

    Southend Airport experienced additional complications as passengers struggled to reach onward destinations. The airport sits along the affected rail corridor, and several travelers found themselves stranded without alternative transport options. Local residents distributed bottled water and ice lollies to emergency personnel working in temperatures reaching 33°C (91.4°F).

    This event followed closely on the heels of another Essex-area incident. Less than a day earlier, two passengers suffered serious injuries during a separate derailment in East Sussex. British Transport Police confirmed that no injuries were reported in connection with the Wickford incident.

    Broader Implications for Regional Travel

    The timing of this derailment during peak summer travel season has raised concerns among commuters and rail operators alike. Hot weather can cause track expansion and other mechanical issues that affect train stability. Network Rail’s statement about exceptional challenges suggests that similar incidents may occur as temperatures remain elevated throughout the season.

    Passengers planning journeys through Essex are advised to check service updates before traveling. The combination of ongoing investigations and potential weather-related factors means that disruption could extend beyond initial expectations. Rail operators have indicated that technical teams will continue monitoring conditions and adjusting services as needed.

    For those seeking further information or wishing to share their experiences, local media outlets have opened channels for community input regarding this developing story.

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  • Vultures are disappearing in Nigeria – but the ‘Vulture King’ is fighting to reverse the trend

    Vultures are disappearing in Nigeria – but the ‘Vulture King’ is fighting to reverse the trend

    A Sacred Forest Saves Nigeria’s Vultures from Extinction

    Constantvpn.com – In the heart of south-eastern Nigeria, a remarkable conservation story unfolds within the boundaries of a sacred forest. While vultures vanish from skies across West Africa, residents of Awka-Etiti continue to coexist with these misunderstood birds, protected by centuries-old traditions that have transformed their community into a sanctuary for one of nature’s most vital scavengers.

    The Vulture King and His Sacred Grove

    Chukwuemeka Igwe, now in his fifties, has earned the title “King of Vulture” through decades of dedicated volunteer work with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation. His nickname reflects both his personal commitment and the deep reverence his community holds for these birds. Within the sacred forest surrounding the shrine dedicated to the deity Nguma, vultures walk freely among humans, scavenging for food and nesting in ancient trees that have sheltered the community for generations.

    People fear the environment where the shrine is. No evil will ever happen here. So, nobody fights vultures that perch here.

    This local belief system has created an unexpected refuge. While hunting and poisoning decimate vulture populations elsewhere, the indigenous people of Awka-Etiti do not hunt these birds. Instead, they sometimes offer fresh animal sacrifices at the shrine, which attract the scavengers. The community maintains an ancient adage: “When you put down a sacrifice and you do not see vulture[s], know that something happened in the spirit world.” This belief reinforces the birds’ sacred status, as their presence signals that the deity has accepted offerings and heard the community’s prayers.

    Nature’s Essential Clean-Up Crew

    Despite being perceived as ugly or sinister by many, vultures perform one of the most critical ecological services on the planet. These birds consume dead animals within hours of death, preventing carcasses from becoming breeding grounds for dangerous bacteria and disease. Their remarkably powerful stomach acids enable them to safely digest infected animals, effectively stopping the spread of deadly illnesses such as anthrax and rabies.

    The consequences of vulture disappearance extend far beyond the loss of a single bird species. Stella Egbe, a conservation biologist with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, emphasizes the severity of the situation: “In places where the total collapse of vultures has happened, there has been impact of rising zoonotic diseases.” Without these natural cleaners, ecosystems lose a fundamental defense mechanism against disease transmission.

    Multiple Threats Converge

    Vultures face a perfect storm of threats across the African continent. Rapid urban expansion has transformed landscapes and destroyed the tall trees essential for nesting. However, habitat loss represents only part of the crisis. According to BirdLife International, poisoning accounts for an estimated sixty percent of vulture deaths throughout Africa, making it the single largest cause of mortality for these birds.

    The commercial value of vultures has skyrocketed in recent years, driven largely by demand in traditional medicine and Vodun practices. Dead adult vultures in Nigeria once sold for approximately twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand naira—roughly eighteen to twenty-two dollars—but now command prices as high as two hundred thousand naira, or one hundred forty-five dollars per bird. This economic incentive has intensified hunting pressure, particularly in West and southern Africa where traditional medicine use has emerged as one of the most significant drivers of vulture decline.

    Adding to the crisis, vulture eggs and nests are increasingly targeted. For such a slow-breeding species, this represents a catastrophic development. Adult vultures typically reach sexual maturity between five and seven years of age and produce only one chick every one to two years. Many young vultures fail to survive their first year of life. When nests are removed and eggs harvested, recovery becomes nearly impossible.

    Conservation on the Horizon

    Cape Vultures represent one of seven vulture species facing extinction across the continent. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, researchers from across the region will convene in Abuja later this year to review the West African Vulture Conservation Action Plan, originally drafted in twenty twenty-two. The meeting aims to strengthen regional cooperation and implement more effective protection measures.

    The success of Awka-Etiti demonstrates that cultural traditions, when properly understood and supported, can serve as powerful conservation tools. As communities across Africa grapple with balancing modern development and traditional practices, the Vulture King and his community offer a model for coexistence—one where ancient beliefs and modern science work together to protect nature’s essential scavengers from the brink of extinction.

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