Authorities have not officially connected the arrests to a shootout outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on 7 April in which two police officers were wounded.
POLITICO's London Playbook features interviews with key figures ahead of anticipated PM Andy Burnham's rise, following Nigel Farage's surprise resignation as an MP for Clacton. Kemi Badenoch, Kanishka Narayan, Lucy Powell, Danny Kruger, and Darren Jones are among those interviewed.
Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch stated that Nigel Farage is "cracking under pressure" following his decision to trigger a by-election in his Clacton seat. Badenoch criticized Farage's move as a "gimmick" and a "waste of taxpayers' money," questioning his ability to handle scrutiny.
The ECB has instructed 110 major European banks to develop action plans by October 31 to address cybersecurity threats from advanced AI systems. The European Systemic Risk Board also warned of 'severe' systemic cyber risks from frontier AI models, noting their potential to amplify cyberattacks and create strategic dependencies.
A British maritime agency reported strikes on two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz within an hour on Tuesday. One tanker sustained minor structural damage from a drone, while another was hit by an unidentified projectile. A third ship reported being hit earlier in the day. Qatar condemned the attack on its tanker and held Iran responsible.
MCC Brussels is exploring funding options after its parent organization, Mathias Corvinus Collegium Foundation in Hungary, was ordered to close by July 31. The Hungarian government's action impacts MCC Brussels' financial future, with communications head John O'Brien calling the situation "Kafkaesque."
Nigel Farage has resigned as a Member of Parliament for Clacton, triggering a by-election. The Brexit veteran will stand as Reform UK's candidate, framing the race as "people versus the establishment." The move follows scrutiny over undeclared donations and aims to shore up his personal support.
