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Former top civil servant gives evidence to MPs on Mandelson vetting ahead of critical vote for Starmer - UK politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-28T07:57:29+00:00

Philip Barton gives evidence to foreign affairs committe, with Morgan McSweeney due later this morning, ahead of vote this afternoon Last night the foreign affairs committee published a long memo from the Foreign Office giving answers to questions it had for Ian Collard, who was head of security at the Foreign Office at the time of the Mandelson appointment. Collard was the person who briefed Olly Robbins on the outcome of the Mandelson vetting interviews and who recommended that vetting should be approved, because the risks highlighted in the vetting interviews could be managed.Here is Henry

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Global fintech sector set to triple to $2 trillion by 2030 amid AI push: McKinsey

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-28T07:54:03+00:00

The report observes that new horizontal players, technology firms providing infrastructure and software to financial institutions, are gaining traction, contributing about 13 per cent of total fintech revenues

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Mitsu Chem Plast ventures into Intermediate Bulk Container manufacturing

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-28T07:54:00+00:00

The expansion is aligned with India’s growing demand for industrial bulk packaging solutions and the global shift towards standardised, reusable bulk liquid containers

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Keir Starmer to face vote on Mandelson vetting scandal as key figures give evidence to MPs - UK politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-28T07:46:19+00:00

Morgan McSweeney among those giving evidence to foreign affairs committee ahead of Commons vote Good morning. The former US president Lyndon Johnson is credited with saying the most important skill in politics is knowing how to count, meaning that ultimately what matters is being able to win a vote. But sometimes in politics what matters just as much, or even more, is the ability to win the argument. Today Keir Starmer will be tested on both these measures.Winning the vote should be easy. Here is our overnight preview story by Pippa Crerar on the events setting up today’s vote on a motion tabl

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DOMS takes stationery off the shelf at Mumbai Kids Expo

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-28T07:44:02+00:00

The company’s booth was structured as a hands-on activity space rather than a conventional product display, allowing children to try and use products on the spot

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Aluminium futures: Buy on a dip

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-28T07:43:58+00:00

The broader trend remains positive 

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Author of novel depicting toddler role-play spared jail after being convicted of writing child abuse material

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-28T07:32:00+00:00

Lauren Ashley Mastrosa given 18-month community corrections order after book was read by handful of advance readersThe author behind an offensive novel depicting toddler role-play has been convicted but spared jail for penning child abuse material.Lauren Ashley Mastrosa, a 34-year-old former marketing executive for a Christian charity, wrote Daddy’s Little Toy under the pen name Tori Woods and published it through an online pre-release in March 2025. Continue reading...

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TN clocks 2nd year of double-digit growth at 10.83% in FY26

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-28T07:26:32+00:00

Achievement follows the state recording 11.19% growth in the previous year leaving the national average of 7.4% "far far behind" Industries Minister T R B Rajaa said

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Middle East crisis live: Iran says it needs guarantees against attacks before Gulf can be stable

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-28T07:26:29+00:00

Tehran’s UN envoy says ‘full respect’ of Iran’s rights also key for lasting regional stabilityUS is being ‘humiliated’ by Iran’s leadership, says Friedrich MerzWe are restarting our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran.Iran needs “credible guarantees” against more US-Israeli attacks before it can ensure security in the Gulf, Tehran’s envoy to the UN has said, while on a Russian visit Iran’s foreign minister blamed Washington for the failure of peace talks.Donald Trump is unhappy with an Iranian proposal on the war because it does not address Iran’s nuclear program, Reuters cited a US of

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Why are gold, silver prices falling as crude spikes?

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-28T07:23:58+00:00

MCX Gold fell 0.64% to ₹1,51,721 per 10 grams, while spot gold on COMEX dropped 1% to $4,693.7 per troy ounce

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Minister says Australia ‘ill-prepared’ for conflict – as it happened

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-28T07:18:26+00:00

This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe White House has nominated David Brat, a former Republican member of the US House of Representatives, to be the next ambassador to Australia.Brat represented Virginia in Congress and served two terms before he was defeated by a Democrat in 2018 in a close race. He is currently a vice-president of business relations at Virginia’s Liberty University.It wouldn’t fund the entire amount of that extra storage, but it would help make a contribution …Obviously, this comes at a cost … But given what we’re facing right

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Shadow minister says Australia ‘ill-prepared’ for conflict – as it happened

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-28T07:18:26+00:00

This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe White House has nominated David Brat, a former Republican member of the US House of Representatives, to be the next ambassador to Australia.Brat represented Virginia in Congress and served two terms before he was defeated by a Democrat in 2018 in a close race. He is currently a vice-president of business relations at Virginia’s Liberty University.It wouldn’t fund the entire amount of that extra storage, but it would help make a contribution …Obviously, this comes at a cost … But given what we’re facing right

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