UK visa services firm sues ex-boss for £6m over alleged improper use of profits

Exclusive: Ecctis alleges Cloud Bai-Yun used profits from government contract to buy out her shares in breach of fiduciary duty

The company that runs visa services for the UK government is suing its former chief executive for £6m over her alleged improper use of profits earned during a period of record immigration.

Cloud Bai-Yun, who once represented the UK on an international ethics and fraud advisory body, is accused by Ecctis of a breach of fiduciary duty, according to court filings.

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Conservatives not close to recognising ‘how badly placed they are’, says Gauke

Former minister says Tories are ignoring heartland voters and risk losing ground to Reform in next election

The Conservatives are “not close to recognising” how badly they are positioned for the next election, the former cabinet minister David Gauke has said.

Gauke, a former justice secretary who also worked in the Treasury under George Osborne, said many in the party were not willing to fully repudiate Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.

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EU leaders defend Ukraine’s freedom to decide future ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Statement on Ukrainian sovereignty signed by all EU leaders except for Viktor Orbán before call with Trump

European Union leaders made a rallying call to defend Ukraine’s freedom to decide its own future in advance of their virtual summit with Donald Trump – convened to discuss US strategy before the president’s talks with Vladimir Putin on Friday.

With the exception of Hungary, all EU leaders signed a joint statement, with Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, also calling for the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to attend the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on Friday.

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European defense plants growing 3 times faster amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, FT reports – The Kyiv Independent

  1. European defense plants growing 3 times faster amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, FT reports  The Kyiv Independent
  2. Europe builds for war as arms factories expand at triple speed  Financial Times
  3. Europe’s Biggest Weapons Boom Since the Cold War—And Why It Could Change the Balance Against Russia  UNITED24 Media
  4. FIREPOWER: Why European arms makers are in Ukraine  Euractiv
  5. Debrief: Fog of War Brings Clarity To Defense Backlogs  Aviation Week Network
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