Coalition coy on curriculum changes despite Dutton’s claims of student ‘indoctrination’

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Coalition’s outline of changes to national curriculum based on ‘critical thinking’ and ‘common sense’ is yet to be revealed

The Coalition has refused to detail changes it would make to the national curriculum after Peter Dutton said students were being “indoctrinated” and pledged in his budget reply speech to “restore” a curriculum focused on “critical thinking, responsible citizenship, and common sense”.

Dutton has made repeated references to the education system in recent weeks, including floating on Sky News placing a “condition” on funding to ensure kids weren’t “guided by some sort of an agenda that’s come out of universities” and pledging “we need to stop the teaching of some of the curriculum that says that our children should be ashamed of being Australian” in the Channel 7 debate.

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What’s next for North Korean troops fighting for Russia? A possible Ukraine deployment, experts, officials say – The Kyiv Independent

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  1. What's next for North Korean troops fighting for Russia? A possible Ukraine deployment, experts, officials say  The Kyiv Independent
  2. About 600 North Korean soldiers killed in war in Ukraine, lawmakers say  Al Jazeera
  3. Hundreds of North Korean troops killed while fighting Ukraine, Seoul says  Reuters
  4. Putin thanks North Korea for help in Kursk, as Germany criticizes US plan for Ukrainian concessions  CNN
  5. North Korea confirms it sent troops to Russia, calling them 'heroes'  NBC News
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The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson fights for an Oscar in first trailer

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Actor makes dramatic bid for awards glory as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in biopic also starring his Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt aim for awards glory in the first trailer for fact-based sports drama The Smashing Machine.

The wrestler-turned-actor plays the MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the film inspired by the 2002 documentary with the same name. Kerr won multiple awards and medals in his career and also struggled with substance abuse.

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EU top court rules against Malta’s golden passport scheme – Reuters

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  1. EU top court rules against Malta's golden passport scheme  Reuters
  2. Malta's golden passport scheme breaks EU law, top court rules  BBC
  3. EU Bans Sale of ‘Golden Passports’ as Trump Opens Doors  Bloomberg.com
  4. Malta’s ‘golden passport’ scheme ruled to be illegal by EU’s top court  The Guardian
  5. Maltese ‘golden’ passports were sold to Russians with Ukraine war links  Financial Times
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France accuses Russian intelligence of repeated cyber attacks since 2021 – Reuters

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  1. France accuses Russian intelligence of repeated cyber attacks since 2021  Reuters
  2. France says Russian hackers behind attack on Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign  The Guardian
  3. Cyberattacks: France officially attributes hacking to Russia for the first time  Le Monde.fr
  4. Notorious Russian hackers behind 2017 ‘Macron leaks,’ France says  politico.eu
  5. France accuses Russia of escalating cyberattacks since 2021, charges GRU's 'Fancy Bear' unit  The Kyiv Independent
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Phasing out fossil fuels ‘doomed to fail’, says Tony Blair as he calls for rethink of net zero policy – UK politics live

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‘Any strategy based on either phasing out fossil fuels in the short term or limiting consumption is a strategy doomed to fail,’ says former PM

Severin Carrell is the Guardian’s Scotland editor.

Keir Starmer is not expected to campaign in the Hamilton byelection, a critical contest for Scottish Labour which takes place in early June, Anas Sarwar has confirmed.

I wouldn’t expect Keir to be campaigning in the byelection. That’s not to say he won’t, but I’m not expecting Kier to campaign in the byelection.

I’ll be on the stump campaigning for a Labour win. I’m the candidate for first minister next year. I’m the one that wants to remove the SNP from government.

Next year, we’ve got to demonstrate to people that for all Nigel Farage might want to come here with his easy answers and create a bit of a circus, the reality is a vote for Reform only helps the SNP. If you want to get rid of the SNP, only Scottish Labour can beat them.

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HSBC sets aside more cash for bad loans amid Trump tariff war

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UK-based bank warns that trade tensions will lead to lower investment, consumer spending and GDP growth

HSBC has sounded the alarm about the impact of higher trade tariffs on economic growth, unemployment and inflation around the world, as it set aside more money to cover bad debts and reported lower profits.

The UK-based bank reported a $200m (£149m) rise in expected credit losses to $900m in the first quarter, as it increased allowances to “reflect heightened uncertainty and deterioration in the forward economic outlook due to geopolitical tensions and higher trade tariffs”.

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Primark owner’s shares drop as sales fall amid Trump tariff fears

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Company says consumer confidence could deteriorate further as countries face risk of recession

Shares in the owner of Primark fell after the budget clothing chain posted a sharp drop in UK sales and lost market share, as the company warned that consumer confidence was likely to worsen further amid Donald Trump’s trade wars.

Associated British Foods (ABF), which also owns a sugar business and food brands such as Ryvita and Kingsmill, said several countries could slide into recession as a result of US trade policy.

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Japan and Philippines to start talks on 2 defense pacts in the face of China’s growing aggression – AP News

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  1. Japan and Philippines to start talks on 2 defense pacts in the face of China's growing aggression  AP News
  2. Japan, Philippines pledge to deepen security ties amid China tensions  Al Jazeera
  3. Japan, Vietnam pledge to support free trade as PM Ishiba visits Hanoi  Reuters
  4. Singapore, Australia head to polls, Ishiba visits Philippines  Nikkei Asia
  5. Why China will be wary as US, Japan, Philippines forge closer security ties  South China Morning Post
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Climate plan based on phasing out fossil fuels doomed to fail, says Tony Blair

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Former PM claims net zero policies losing public support and says there should be greater focus on carbon capture

Tony Blair has warned that any strategy based on phasing out fossil fuels in the short term or limiting consumption is doomed to fail.

Calling for a reset of action on climate change, the former prime minister suggested the UK government should focus less on renewables and more on technological solutions such as carbon capture.

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Haiti’s first and only cardinal set to vote in upcoming conclave to elect new pope – Catholic News Agency

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  1. Haiti’s first and only cardinal set to vote in upcoming conclave to elect new pope  Catholic News Agency
  2. One of these cardinals could become the new pope  AP News
  3. A Contender for the Papacy in the Mold of Francis  The New York Times
  4. Papal conclave will last only 2 or 3 days, cardinal predicts  ABC News
  5. When is the conclave? The Vatican sets date to elect new head after Pope Francis' death  USA Today
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Jo Cox family says Kneecap offering ‘half an apology’ over alleged call to kill MPs

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Husband of murdered Labour MP says Belfast rappers’ talk of being unfairly targeted undermines their statement

Brendan Cox, the husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox, has said the Irish rap trio Kneecap have offered only “half an apology”, after criticism of comments in which they appear to call for politicians to be killed.

Kneecap apologised to Jo Cox’s family and that of the MP David Amess, who was also murdered, in the face of mounting criticism, including from Downing Street and Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader.

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