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Hackers have stolen more than 600,000 records from the UK's Department for Education, including names and email addresses belonging to officials, school leaders and university staff. The attack targeted the department’s help desk and the Turing Scheme database, which tracks British students studying abroad. Cybercriminal group ExfilSquad has claimed responsibility. Some headteachers’ details have reportedly been published on the dark web. The DfE said it had acted quickly to contain the breach, referring the incident to the Information Commissioner, and is working with the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre. Both affected portals have temporarily switched to telephone contact. Nationally significant cyberattacks rose from 63 in 2022 to 204 last year, driven by advanced tools, artificial intelligence and reliance on third-party suppliers.

 

The Daily Telegraph

BBC News

The Guardian

The Times

Israeli manufacturers are finding it difficult to attract skilled foreign workers to maintain imported machinery amid heightened criticism of the country by some international governments after three years of war, which has strained business links with foreign companies and partners. Companies are increasingly saddled with imported machinery that has stopped functioning or can’t be installed, and they require foreigners to attend to it. Ron Tomer, the owner of Israeli pharmaceutical company Unipharm, which has invested in a €20m ($17m) European-produced machine, observes that unions with certain political affiliations have banned their members from traveling to Israel.

 

Bloomberg

More than half of the director disqualifications in the UK since 2023 are linked to the misuse of COVID-19 financial assistance, according to the Insolvency Service, with some 1,683 disqualifications stemming from pandemic-related fraud. The government faced criticism at the time for its handling of the £47bn bounce back loan scheme, which lacked sufficient checks. Last year, counter-fraud commissioner Tom Hayhoe said the design of the scheme had created "specific vulnerabilities to fraud and error" which precipitated losses of up to £2.8bn. Hayhoe found that overall, fraud and mistakes in administering support programmes had cost taxpayers £10.9bn.

 

The Times

Irish consumer sentiment edged lower in July, with the Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey falling to 61.6 from 62.2 in June, as concerns over the cost of living continued to weigh on households. The reading remains well below the survey's long-term average of 83.2, although above the 40-month low of 53.3 recorded in April following higher fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict. Measures of current conditions, consumer expectations and the broader economic outlook all weakened slightly during the month.

 

The Irish Times

Reuters

UK vehicle production fell 7.5% in the first half of 2026, although output stabilised during the second quarter as exports strengthened, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The industry said there was growing optimism under the new government but warned further action was needed to reduce energy costs, reform electric vehicle regulations, and secure favourable trading arrangements with the European Union to attract future investment and support long-term growth.

 

Reuters

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Microsoft regarding potential misleading communications about subscription options for Microsoft 365. The probe focuses on whether users were adequately informed about changes to their plans, particularly concerning the integration of the AI service Copilot. Microsoft is reviewing the CMA's claims and said it remains committed to transparency amid job cuts affecting its Xbox division.

 

The Daily Telegraph

The Independent UK

BMW plans to offer voluntary redundancy to nearly half of its 85,000 German staff, aiming to cut 8,000 white-collar jobs by the end of next year. The decision follows a profit warning due to declining sales in China and increased cost pressures. The restructuring aims to reduce overheads while maintaining vehicle assembly efficiency. "BMW is now responding to the slump in the Chinese market whilst simultaneously working to strengthen the competitiveness of its German sites," said Horst Ott, head of the Bavarian branch of the IG Metall union, who sits on BMW's supervisory board under a German system which gives labour representatives half the seats.

 

Deutsche Welle

France 24

Reuters

The Guardian

The Times

Żabka shares fell by as much as 14% on Monday after Seven & i Holdings ended discussions to acquire an equity stake in the Polish convenience store operator, saying it could not agree terms that were in the best interests of its shareholders. The retailer's shares later traded 9.2% lower, reversing gains made following reports of Seven & i's interest. Analysts suggested valuation expectations were too high, while the collapse of the talks revives concerns over a potential share overhang from major shareholders CVC Capital Partners and Partners Group, which continue to hold significant stakes in the business. 

 

Bloomberg

Nobuo Miwa, president of Tokyo-based information security service provider S&J, has highlighted the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, particularly those driven by artificial intelligence, in a recent interview. Major Japanese companies, including Nichirei, Askul, and Asahi Group Holdings, have faced significant disruptions due to such attacks. “Attack programs can be created in the blink of an eye with AI,” Miwa said, noting that Japan's historical lack of cyberattacks has left many companies vulnerable, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. Miwa stressed the importance of identifying potential attack routes and implementing risk mitigation strategies, observing: “Countermeasures vary greatly depending on a company's size and system configuration.” He also mentioned that ransomware attacks often occur late Sunday night or early Monday morning.

 

The Japan Times Online

The Bank of England is investigating investment banks' exposure to Asian equities, citing concern about concentrated risks in AI-related companies and potential client defaults.

 

Financial Times

Meta Platforms faces scrutiny for allowing thousands of ads promoting AI “nudify” apps, violating its own advertising policies. According to the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project, Beijing-based GatherOne has been responsible for around 7,600 ads for apps that create sexualised videos, including one linked to child pornography. Katie Paul, TTP's director, said: “Meta appears to be giving a free pass to one of its top Chinese advertising partners when it comes to nudify ads.” Despite Meta's claims of prohibiting such content, the findings suggest a prioritisation of ad revenue over user safety. GatherOne has announced a suspension of new advertising accounts related to nudifying services and says it is enhancing compliance measures.

 

Bloomberg

Los Angeles Times

Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has found that just 44% of 16- to 24-year-olds in England feel satisfied with their lives at the moment, down from 62% in 2010. The figure is as low as 34.7% in the most deprived areas. The IPPR's Conor Carleton said life satisfaction and belonging "have fallen off a cliff for young people in England." He said: "Fewer and fewer feel safe, supported or connected to the people and places around them . . . and fewer still are getting to enjoy being young. This is not a minor wobble. It reflects a wider shift in which growing up in England has become more pressured, isolating and less enjoyable than it was even a decade ago."

 

The Guardian