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Starmer Courts Xi as Santander Shuts Branches; Minnesota Judge Curbs DHS Amid Springsteen’s Trump/ICE Swipe; Apple TV Lands Sanderson’s Cosmere, Bridgerton S4 Debuts Sophie; Greece Says “Eat the Venom Fish,” Serena Teases Return, ScotRail’s Armed Forces Support Stays Optional-ish
ScotRail’s Armed Forces Support, Mostly a Spreadsheet Optional Situation
ScotRail says it only records Armed Forces status when staff self-identify, which currently amounts to two reservists. Those reservists have taken training leave three times in the past three years, and ScotRail does not keep central records for veterans, service leavers, cadet force adult volunteers, or families of serving personnel. It shared internal guidance on reservist mobilisation, including protections under the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985 and arrangements for pay, pensions, and benefits, plus public-facing support like fundraising and access for Armed Forces charities.
Santander to Close 44 Branches, 291 Jobs Potentially at Risk
Santander announced plans to shut 44 bank branches, potentially putting 291 roles at risk, as another high-street lender continues the industry tradition of loudly “serving communities” while physically leaving them.
Bruce Springsteen Drops “Streets of Minneapolis,” Takes Aim at Trump and ICE
Bruce Springsteen released a new protest track, “Streets of Minneapolis,” criticising Donald Trump and ICE. He dedicated it to the people of Minneapolis, immigrant neighbours, and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two U.S. citizens reportedly shot and killed by ICE agents this month.
Judge Blocks DHS From Detaining Legally Present Refugees in Minnesota
A judge barred the Department of Homeland Security from arresting or detaining refugees who are legally present in Minnesota, a legal setback to the Trump administration’s push to intensify immigration enforcement. Turns out “legally present” is not just a fun vibe, it is a status with consequences.
Keir Starmer Meets Xi Jinping in Beijing to Pursue Business Deals and a Reset
Keir Starmer met Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first UK prime minister to visit China in eight years, as he pursued business deals and floated a proposed “strategic partnership” aimed at resetting relations after years of strain. Diplomacy, that ancient art of smiling politely while everyone checks what they can get.
Apple TV Reportedly Secures Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere Adaptation Rights
Apple TV reportedly landed adaptation rights to Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere, with early plans weighing Mistborn as a film and The Stormlight Archive as a TV series. Sanderson is expected to write, produce, consult, and retain approval rights. The Cosmere spans 24 books in a shared galaxy, including seven Mistborn novels and five Stormlight Archive entries, and Blue Marble is reportedly attached as a production partner for Stormlight.
Greece’s Plan to Fight an Invasive Venomous Fish: Eat It
Environmental NGOs in Greece are promoting eating a venomous invasive fish to reduce its impact, pitching “sustainable gastronomy” as a practical solution. According to Stelios Charitable Foundation trustee David Watson, the idea is to turn an ecological problem into dinner, which is refreshingly direct for modern policy.
Serena Williams Files Paperwork, Does Not Rule Out a Tennis Comeback
Serena Williams filed the required paperwork and says she is not ruling out a return to professional tennis. Which is less “announcement” and more “keep your calendars vaguely nervous.”
Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 Introduces Sophie Baek
Netflix’s Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 introduces Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), whose arrival reportedly reveals new layers in Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). Translation, the wardrobe budget continues its reign of terror, and someone is about to feel feelings in extremely expensive rooms.
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This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.
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