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Women in Maiduguri are spearheading a community‑driven peace initiative that aims to steer teenagers away from the violent “Marlians” gangs that have plagued the city for years.Grassroots Women‑Led Dialogue Replaces Pure Security CrackdownsFrom 2018 to 2021, the Unified Members for Women Advancement (UMWA), with support from Conciliation Resources, began holding bi‑weekly dialogue sessions with gang leaders in ten volatile neighbourhoods. The approach shifted the narrative from treating gang members solely as a security problem to viewing them as potential peace advocates.Local women trained to run weekly peace‑awareness programmes on Sundays.Community groups such as the Ajilari Cross Development Association and the Gomari Development Association expanded mediation efforts.Former gang members, including Mohammed Abdulhamid, now lead groups that publicly renounce violence.Scale of the Crisis: Injuries, Displacements, and Gang NumbersThe backdrop to the peace effort is stark:UN estimates more than 35,000 deaths and over 2 million displaced persons across the Lake Chad region.In 2023, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum ordered a widescale crackdown after deadly clashes.Community leaders estimate that over 1,000 gang members have passed through the dialogue circles, though independent verification is lacking.Shifting Community Dynamics in Borno StateWomen‑led peace circles have begun to change local power balances. Formerly feared gang members are now mediators, and residents report a reduction in street‑level robberies and weapon‑related assaults. However, the gains remain fragile; former members still face threats from rival factions, and the absence of a formal reintegration framework leaves many vulnerable to relapse.Future of the Peace Circles Amid Funding GapsDonor fatigue is eroding the financial base of the initiative. Organisers often cover meeting costs out of pocket, and without sustained funding the mediation programmes risk collapse. Analysts like Hassana Ibrahim Waziri warn that continued patience, local ownership, and renewed investment are essential to prevent a resurgence of gang violence and to cement the nascent peace.

The Launch of 'Patch the Planet' OpenAI announced a new initiative on Monday designed to help the open source community improve its cybersecurity game and ward off bugs. 'Patch the Planet,' (which is a not-so-subtle allusion to 'Hack the Planet,' the iconic catch phrase from the 1995 movie Hackers) will see OpenAI team up with the security company Trail of Bits to help open source maintainers secure their projects. How the Initiative Works OpenAI said security staff from Trail of Bits will work directly with open source maintainers to review potential code issues. OpenAI's security tools — like Codex Security — will be used to assist in the process. 'Many maintainers are already being asked to sort through more reports, more quickly, with the same limited time and resources,' OpenAI said Monday. 'Patch the Planet is built to reduce that burden, not add to it: security engineers review findings before they reach maintainers, work with projects to develop patches and tests, and build reusable workflows that help teams continue improving security after the first fixes land.' The Importance of Open-Source Security Open source projects are the digital bedrock upon which the commercial software industry rests. Unfortunately, due to the decentralized and poorly monitored structure of that ecosystem, much of the software is insecure. Bugs in open-source projects can turn into major problems for commercial codebases. The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity The log4j debacle from several years ago — when a bad vulnerability was discovered in a widely used open source utility — is a good example. Much of the concern surrounding tools like Mythos (Anthropic's highly publicized security tool) seems to stem from the fact that AI can now automatically identify existing bugs within codebases and set about creating exploits for them. While the automation of cybercrime is not new, these tools undoubtedly have the potential to make it significantly more convenient for bad actors. The Future of Open-Source Security OpenAI is turning that formula on its head by using AI to help the open source community better protect itself. It's hard not to read it as a competitive swipe at Anthropic, while also recognizing that it's something the open source community desperately needs.

The Transfer Request That Shook AtléticoJulián Alvarez has publicly declared his intention to leave Atlético Madrid, stating he wants to "fulfil his dream" amid reported interest from Europe's football elite. The 26-year-old forward made this announcement following Argentina's World Cup Group J victory over Austria, revealing he had communicated with Atlético officials about his desire to transfer.Europe's Heavyweights Enter the RaceMultiple reports suggest that Atlético Madrid faces intense competition for Alvarez's signature, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain all reportedly interested in acquiring the Argentinian striker. This comes weeks after Atlético rejected a substantial €150m (£129.4m) offer from Real Madrid for the player's services.The Financial Implications of a Potential TransferAlvarez joined Atlético from Manchester City in 2024 in a deal worth up to €95m (£81.5m), making his potential departure a significant financial transaction for the Spanish club. The rejected €150m bid from Real Madrid indicates the market value for the player has potentially increased since his initial transfer, positioning Atlético for a substantial profit should a move materialize.Impact on Atlético's Season StrategyThe sudden transfer request creates uncertainty for Atlético Madrid's upcoming season plans. The club may need to quickly identify a replacement for their forward, potentially disrupting their pre-season preparations and tactical formations. This situation also affects team morale and could influence other players' decisions about their futures at the club.What Happens Next in the Transfer SagaWhile Alvarez maintains that his future remains undecided and "it's not known when it will be resolved," the public nature of his request puts pressure on Atlético to find a resolution. The club has been contacted for comment by news agencies, and fans await official announcements. With the transfer window typically open for several more weeks, Europe's top clubs may increase their bids or accelerate negotiations to secure the player's signature before the window closes.

The Government's Family-Friendly VAT ReductionFrom Thursday, families can enjoy reduced prices at popular attractions and restaurants as the government's 'Great British summer savings' scheme begins. Billed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as a way to 'support families with the little treats in life,' the temporary VAT cut will reduce ticket prices at family attractions such as zoos and theme parks as well as the cost of children's cinema tickets and restaurant meals.What Activities Are Included in the VAT Cut?The chancellor has temporarily cut VAT from 20% to 5% on a range of family-friendly activities from when schools break up in Scotland on June 25 until children return to classrooms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on September 1. The reduced rate, which businesses can choose to pass on, applies to:Children's and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitionsAdmission tickets, for children and adults, to attractions, including: amusement parks, zoos, soft play centres, nature reserves and wildlife parksChildren's meals in restaurantsThe initiative is designed to ease the cost of living, and if companies pass on the reduced rate, the government says savings for a family of two adults and two children equate to £20 on a theme park outing, £17 for a wildlife park, £1.50 off children's cinema tickets and £2 off children's meals.Major Attractions Participating in the Discount SchemeBig attractions including Peppa Pig World, Alton Towers and Legoland are among the well-known names taking part. Merlin Entertainments, which owns 20 venues including Alton Towers and Legoland, has updated ticket prices to show 'summer VAT savings applied.' Advance tickets for both parks now start at £29.75, down from £34.Famous for its safari park in Wiltshire, Longleat has also updated its ticketing system with the discount bringing the cost of advance tickets for a family of four down to £122.30, a saving of £17.50.The Odeon, Vue and Cineworld cinema chains are also taking part. While prices vary depending on where you live and how you book, Odeon says a family ticket (two adults and two children) will come down from £32 to £28.50 during the scheme.Restaurant Chains Offering Children's Meal DiscountsGreene King, with more than 2,500 outlets, McDonald's, Wetherspoons and Nando's are among the household names promising to pass on the tax saving on children's meals. Nando's says its 'Nandino' meals will come down from £6.95 to £6.08 while on the Wetherspoons children's menu a £5.75 meal drops to £5.03. McDonald's is slashing the price of a typical Happy Meal by 27% to £2.99.There is no legal requirement for businesses to participate, and some struggling hospitality businesses may decide not to, or only pass on part of the discount.Important Details About the VAT ReductionThe discount only applies to children's meals eaten in a restaurant or cafe, not takeaways. (McDonald's has extended the Happy Meal discount to drive-thru and takeaway customers who order through its app meaning only home delivery is excluded.)For a children's meal to qualify, it must be advertised and priced as a child's meal, and it must be eaten in a restaurant or cafe. The reduction does not apply to meals marketed as smaller portions or lower-calorie options. Where a children's meal is supplied for a single inclusive price, say including a drink or additional courses, the entire package is eligible for the reduced rate. Meals that include an alcoholic drink do not qualify.What's Not Included in the SchemeSeason tickets, such as the popular Merlin passes that start at £139, are not included in the scheme. The rules say that a weekly or season pass allowing multiple visits beyond the summer holidays do not qualify if they cost more than a standard single-entry ticket.The reduced rate for cinema, theatre, exhibition and show entry applies to children's tickets and is only extended to adults as part of a family package. For attractions (and soft play centres) the reduced rate applies to all tickets.Refund Policies for Existing BookingsYou might get a refund for existing bookings, but businesses don't have to provide one. For its part, the government says it 'would expect that where a customer has prepaid that they would be refunded for any additional VAT paid.' Longleat, for example, says that customers who had already booked a date covered by the offer will get an automatic refund of the difference.However, Hever Castle in Kent says on its website that the 'offer is not retrospective and cannot be applied to tickets bought before this date. Existing bookings cannot be cancelled and rebooked to take advantage of the discounted prices.' This approach 'ensures we can apply offers fairly and consistently across all seasonal campaigns,' it adds.

The Lead: Lloyds' Strategic AI ExpansionLloyds Banking Group has launched a significant AI recruitment drive for 300 tech experts, weeks before its chief executive, Charlie Nunn, announces a strategic plan for the 261-year-old lender. The bank intends these recruits to work on its use and development of agentic AI by September, referring to autonomous AI models that can plan and execute tasks with minimal human oversight.The Technical Breakthrough: Agentic AI ImplementationThe initiative focuses on deploying agentic AI technology across various banking functions. While the hiring drive will increase Lloyds' headcount for now, the group did not rule out its broad adoption of AI leading to job cuts in the future. The AI cohort will be deployed to projects including identifying and preventing scams and fraud, distilling and searching documents in the HR department, and making online banking more accessible and personalized.The Financial Impact: Measurable AI BenefitsLloyds' AI programme has already delivered significant financial gains. Generative AI provided a £50m boost to its balance sheet last year, and the group expects a £100m benefit this year, thanks to its growing use of agentic AI models. The recruits will be part of a 1,000-strong AI team also made up of retrained Lloyds staff, deploying existing large language models such as Anthropic's Claude and building on top of public LLMs such as Google's Gemini to the bank's own specifications.The Industry Shift: Banking's AI TransformationThe initiative comes as many of the world's biggest banks adopt AI to simplify processes and cut costs. The Spanish owner of Santander UK aims to save more than £400m by 2028 through automation and hopes to generate another £300m in extra income, with all 185,000 staff worldwide given access to AI tools. Similarly, Standard Chartered recently announced 7,000 job cuts, due in part to AI adoption.The Future Outlook: AI Challenges and OpportunitiesAs Lloyds prepares to announce a new multi-year strategy next month, the bank acknowledges that AI will reshape organizational structures and change roles. However, research suggests that some UK banks are becoming reliant on AI faster than they are preparing for outages of the technology. KPMG's survey showed that while 93% of UK bank executives believed they could keep operating during a significant AI outage, only 47% had carried out testing around AI disruption, while 26% had not conducted any. This raises important questions about risk management and regulatory compliance in the rapidly evolving AI banking landscape.

The Magic of Maren Hassinger's RetrospectiveFor 50 years, the American artist Maren Hassinger has created fascinating site-specific sculptures out of the simplest of actions: tying a square knot, twisting metal into organic shapes, blowing breath into a plastic bag, walking through a room. With Maren Hassinger: Living Moving Growing, the Berkeley Art Museum (BAMPFA) offers a suitably comprehensive, yet ephemeral retrospective, recreating her most celebrated works, documenting her many performances, and even bringing audiences into the fun."There's a kind of magic to her work," said the BAMPFA senior curator Anthony Graham, "the way she's able to transform materials and really change the space that those things inhabit, to make us see them in a new way."The Artistic Vision: Transforming the OrdinaryHassinger makes you look at things anew. One of her earliest pieces, simply known as Untitled Rope, brings together four biceps-thick, industrial-grade lengths of rope, each arranged into a loose macramé knot tantalizingly on the verge of being pulled taut. "I always approach the sculpture thinking that it's this latent performance," said Graham, suggesting what would happen if we joined forces to tie off the ropes. "Like if we were just to walk on either end, pick up the rope, and close the knot together, we'd be pulling away, but also joining us closer."Knots are found everywhere in Living Moving Growing. They are present in pieces like Untitled Rope and Sign of the Times, the latter of which features innumerable strips of the New York Times carefully twisted and tied together to form massive ropes of newspaper that hang down from a gallery wall. You can see enormous pieces of wire rope on the verge of being knotted, pink plastic bags tied off to hold breath, and even Hassinger's hands effortlessly tying one knot after another in her 2005 video piece Birthright.The Community Connection: Building Through ArtAs Graham shared, the quotidian nature of knots, as well as their great versatility, make them ideal practices for Hassinger, who tends to zero in on things that become invisible to us in their repetition, yet that are essential building blocks of our shared lives. "Tying knots is a skill that is at once everyday, like tying one's shoes, but could also be decorative, like macramé, or could be industrial, like the kinds of knots that are needed on ships," he said. "In a lot of her work there are these kind of repetitive gestures, but really approached with a sculptural sensibility so that there's a shift in scale."In Hassinger's hands, these routine practices can become a means of reaching out to others to build connection. Her piece Love (Pyramid) shows the artist filling innumerable neon pink plastic shopping bags with her own breath and a tiny love note, then pinning them to the gallery wall in a huge sculpture.With work like Love (Pyramid) and Sign of the Times, what would otherwise be consumerist trash becomes a source of wonder and humanity, drawing in onlookers and making us think about how the simple act of breathing unites us all. Love (Pyramid) is also a piece that requires upkeep, meaning that it assumes a degree of ongoing care and interaction that brings museum staff into Hassinger's practices of the quotidian. "It's really simple, just to take a deflated bag, fill it back up with air, and pin it right back on the wall," said Graham. "So there's again this ability to care for things and to give them new lives."The Historical Context: A Pioneer's JourneySign of the Times brings Hassinger's creation into the Berkeley Art Museum's community, as the institution is staging workshops to slowly build the sculpture over time. When I toured the exhibit, long cords of knotted newsprint hung down several feet of a gallery wall, looking like a cross between jungle vines and shredded paper. Over time, as Hassinger leads monthly workshops to fill in more and more space, the sculpture will become progressively larger, eventually filling up the entire gallery with the strangely organic forms.These workshops are more than an opportunity to exorcise some anxiety by tearing the paper of record into tiny little strips, twisting it up and knotting it into itself — they are a way to bring Hassinger's use of repetition to a wider audience, and to have it form the basis of togetherness.As Graham explained, inviting everyday people into Hassinger's process of creation breaks down hierarchies and power structures that are usually embedded into an art museum, giving curators, experts and audiences alike a basis for simply interacting as people. "On opening day, we were in the theater and it was kind of incredible," he said of Hassinger's initial workshop. "The theater is full of everyone just talking, everyone was kind of in the world together, and it had broken down this hierarchical thing. It was, like, 'no, we're like all in this world together, right?' For Hassinger, that becomes the radical act, to create a caring world."The Legacy: Video Works and IdentityVideo pieces like Birthright and Daily Mask foreground politics of race and identity that, while present in Hassinger's sculptural work, are far less available on the surface of things. The former traces her family history, as it documents the moment in which she began to explore new branches of her family tree through a first meeting with her uncle. The latter shows a closeup of Hassinger's face while she applies a grease oil stick to her face, eventually covering herself in a depiction of blackface.As a Black female creator coming up in the 1970s largely in performance and site-specific sculpture, Hassinger faced her share of difficulties finding her place in the art world. After graduating from UCLA in 1973, she found community with other Black avant-garde artists, including David Hammons, Franklin Parker and Ulysses Jenkins, supporting each other at a time when few others would support them.

The Lead: JLR's Battery Supply CrisisJaguar Land Rover faces significant risks of delays to electric car battery deliveries from its £5.2 billion government-backed factory in Somerset, as construction problems mount and the main contractor is abruptly terminated. The setbacks threaten JLR's ambitious electric vehicle strategy at a critical time when the automaker is already facing challenges meeting UK electric vehicle sales mandates.The Construction Crisis at Agratas SomersetThe battery factory, owned by Agratas (a sister company of JLR under Tata), has terminated its main construction contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), and replaced it with Tonroe Group Ltd (TSL). The decision came with only three weeks' notice, creating immediate uncertainty about the project's timeline. This marks the second departure of a leading contractor, following TClarke's exit in March amid reports of a "strained relationship."The project has already faced multiple delays, with the start date pushed from the initial 2026 target to 2027, and now likely to be missed again with an internal target of January 2028. Several critical components are behind schedule, including the substation equipment that can take two years or more to arrive, and the ring road construction has not yet begun.The Financial Fallout: Soaring Costs and Budget PressuresAgratas has set a budget of approximately £800 million for the construction, but the actual cost is likely to exceed that by at least £500 million, according to sources with knowledge of the project. The budget mismatch has created tensions as contractors attempted to meet what they viewed as impossible targets.SRM, which was never under formal contract but worked under a temporary arrangement for over two years, billed about £400 million during that period without ever reaching a contractual agreement. The financial pressures come as Agratas simultaneously builds a gigafactory in Sanand, western India, with reports suggesting Indian management pushed for UK costs to match the other project.Industry Impact: UK's Electric Vehicle Transition at RiskThe Somerset battery factory is widely seen as a critical step in the UK automotive industry's transition away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles. The UK government has promised £380 million in subsidies for the plant, making its timely completion a matter of national importance.Delays to the Agratas facility could prove particularly challenging for JLR, which depends on its sister company for cells to power its new electric Jaguar and Land Rover models, including the already delayed electric Range Rover. The setbacks come as JLR executives have expressed doubts about meeting the UK's electric car sales targets (ZEV mandate), potentially exposing the company to significant fines.The high turnover of senior staff at Agratas UK—including the head of process engineering, vice-president of global manufacturing engineering, and the upcoming retirement of the vice-president of manufacturing operations—further complicates the project's execution and raises concerns about management stability.Future Outlook: JLR's EV Strategy in FluxThe construction challenges at the Somerset factory coincide with a strategic shift at JLR, which has decided to sell more hybrid vehicles rather than battery-only models. This decision may reduce immediate pressure on battery supply but raises questions about long-term demand from the Somerset facility.JLR chief executive PB Balaji acknowledged the time pressures in November, stating: "We are running against the clock on this one. It is stressed, but we'll do our best to reach there." The company's ability to navigate these challenges will be critical to its future in the increasingly competitive electric vehicle market.As the UK government has recently water down the ZEV mandate targets, some pressure may be alleviated, but the fundamental construction and management issues at the Somerset factory remain unresolved. The success of this project will likely influence future investments in UK battery manufacturing and the broader automotive industry's transition to electric vehicles.

The Deadly Double Attack in Pakistan's NorthwestTwo roadside bomb blasts in northwestern Pakistan have killed at least seven people in a coordinated attack that specifically targeted civilians and then rescuers responding to the initial explosion. The incident occurred in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, in a region plagued by militant activity and cross-border tensions.Details of the Bombing SequenceThe first explosion on Saturday hit a private pick-up truck carrying passengers, detonated by a remote-controlled IED (Improvised Explosive Device). As survivors and rescuers were transporting the injured to hospital, a second IED was deliberately detonated, causing additional casualties. Police officer Yasir Afridi confirmed that three people were wounded in the attack, which demonstrates the calculated nature of this militant strategy to maximize casualties.Rising Regional Tensions and Militant PresenceNo group has claimed responsibility for the blast, but the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) and other armed groups operate in the area. The attack occurs amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Pakistan blaming Afghan territory for harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks. These tensions have recently escalated into direct military confrontations, including Pakistani air strikes on Afghan cities and counter-accusations from both sides.Economic and Humanitarian ImpactThe border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has remained largely closed since violence escalated in October, freezing bilateral trade and disrupting the movement of people and goods. This closure has had significant economic consequences for both countries, particularly affecting communities in border regions that rely on cross-border trade and family connections. The continued violence threatens to further destabilize an already fragile region and exacerbate humanitarian challenges.Future Outlook for Regional SecurityPrime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. However, without meaningful dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan and a coordinated approach to counter militancy operating in the border regions, such attacks are likely to continue. The international community may need to facilitate renewed diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of militancy in the region and prevent further escalation of violence that could destabilize the entire area.

Fed Maintains Rates Amid Transition to Warsh LeadershipThe United States Federal unanimously decided to hold interest rates steady at 3.5 to 3.75 percent, marking the first policy decision under new chair Kevin Warsh who took over from Jerome Powell last month. The central bank acknowledged that economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty, primarily due to the conflict in the Middle East.Policy Shifts Under New LeadershipIn his first meeting as Fed chair, Warsh announced significant changes to the central bank's approach. The Fed will launch five new task forces focusing on productivity, jobs, and inflation, signaling a renewed emphasis on these critical areas. Warsh also announced the central bank will drop forward guidance on monetary policy, stating that financial markets perform best when they react to incoming data rather than anticipating Fed responses.Economic Data Shows Persistent InflationInflation hit 4.2 percent last week, marking a three-year high according to the consumer price index report from the US Department of Labor. This was primarily driven by energy prices, which jumped 23.5 percent in May. While news of a potential peace deal between the US and Iran has driven down oil prices to a three-month low, analysts warn that supply chain bottlenecks and depleted fuel stockpiles could keep energy prices elevated for months.Political Pressures and Market ExpectationsThe decision comes amid shifting political dynamics, with President Trump having initially demanded rate cuts but now opposing any increases. Despite these pressures, Warsh emphasized the Fed's commitment to price stability. Financial markets, however, anticipate changes ahead, with CME FedWatch forecasting a 30 percent probability of rate hikes by September and over 50 percent by December if current economic conditions persist.Future Path for Monetary PolicyEconomists predict a gradual tightening of monetary policy, with Capital Economics forecasting a rate hike in December 2026 and another early in 2027. Goldman Sachs suggests the central bank will likely not cut rates until mid-to-late 2027. Warsh's "wait and see" approach reflects the delicate balance between addressing inflation concerns while acknowledging the recent geopolitical shifts that could impact energy markets and economic growth.