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National News

UK bans TikTok from official Government phones over security concern

TikTok has been banned from Government phones after a security review but ministers and officials will still be able to use the Chinese-owned app on their personal phones. Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden announced the move, which he said would be “good cyber hygiene” amid a risk to “sensitive Government data”, with immediate effect on Thursday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had been under pressure from senior MPs to follow the US and the European Union in barring the video-sharing appRead More

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National News

Friend of teen knifed outside school told police he had joined a gang and left

The friend of a teenage boy stabbed to death outside his school gates told police it happened because he “joined a gang and had left”, a court has been told. Khayri McLean, 15, died in a “well-planned and targeted” knifing at the entrance to North Huddersfield Trust School after being attacked by two balaclava-wearing youths “lying in wait” for him as he left, prosecutors say. A 15-year-old boy who knifed Khayri in the chest has admitted murder, jurors at LeedsRead More

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National News

Ivan Toney called up to Gareth Southgates first post World Cup England squad

Ivan Toney has returned to Gareth Southgate’s England squad – despite a potential ban hanging over his head. The in-form Brentford striker is in Southgate’s first squad since the World Cup quarter-final exit to France in December for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine this month. But Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling is missing for the opening qualifying matches, having been absent for the Blues’ 3-1 win at Leicester at the weekend. Toney is still waiting for a Football Association verdict after being charged with 262Read More

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National News

Bono Pressure to look macho stopped me from admitting love of Abba

U2 frontman Bono has said the pressure to look “macho” as a young man stopped him from admitting he enjoyed the music of Abba. The singer, 62, said he did not have the “courage” to “own up” to liking the Swedish pop superstars but now was able to see that “you can’t be empirical about everything in art”. Bono spoke alongside guitarist The Edge, 61, during an hour-long special for BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room, where they played songs fromRead More

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National News

Gregor Townsend believes Scotland can cope without Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg

Gregor Townsend is confident Scotland will be able to cope without influential backs Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match at home to Italy. The experienced pair are missing through injuries that forced them off in the closing stages of last weekend’s defeat by Ireland. Blair Kinghorn will replace Russell at stand-off and Ollie Smith will take the place of full-back Hogg, as was the case in one of last summer’s Tests against Argentina. Asked ifRead More

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National News

Richard Bransons Virgin Orbit pauses operations while it seeks extra funds

Richard Branson’s satellite launch firm Virgin Orbit has paused operations, the company said, amid reports that it is working to secure additional funding. The news comes after the company, which is based in California, failed in its first ever satellite mission from UK soil in January. In a statement, the company said: “Virgin Orbit is initiating a company-wide operational pause, effective (from) March 16 2023, and anticipates providing an update on go-forward operations in the coming weeks.” The changes wereRead More

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National News

Governments 2030 electric vehicle target difficult to reach

That's according to the Duke of Richmond The Government’s ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030 could be “difficult” to achieve, the Duke of Richmond has said. The duke, who owns the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex where popular motoring events including the annual Festival of Speed and Revival are held, expressed his concerns over the target to transition to electric cars as he launched the venue’s 2023 motorsport calendar. He told the PA news agency:Read More

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National News

Currys cuts profit outlook again on Nordic woes

Electronics retail chain Currys has trimmed its profit guidance for the second time in just over three months, as trading woes in Scandinavia continue to affect the group. It has hired a new chief executive of the Nordics business as it ramps up overhaul efforts for the division, where it admitted the performance remains “very challenging”. Currys said the Nordics’ troubles were offsetting “strengthening” trading in the UK and Ireland and would leave profits sharply lower. It said underlying pre-taxRead More

today 15

National News

Levi Colwill up for the cup after Brighton deliver derby success against Palace

Brighton defender Levi Colwill wants to build on their derby success against Crystal Palace by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals. Solly March’s first-half goal settled the grudge match on the south coast to keep the Seagulls in the hunt for Europe next season. But they will put the race for the top four on the backburner this weekend when they take on Sky Bet League Two club Grimsby in the last eight of the cup. Colwill returned to the BrightonRead More

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