The Daily T: Is Farage coming for Scotland?
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Associated Press
39 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Britain hopes a crackdown on people-smugglers' social media ads will help curb Channel crossings
LONDON (AP) — Britain says people who advertise fake passports or people-smuggling services on social medial could face up to five years in prison, in the government's latest effort to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats. The government said Sunday that anyone convicted of creating online materials intended to break U.K. immigration law will face prison time and a large fine. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the aim was to stop the 'brazen tactics on social media' used by smuggling gangs. 'Selling the false promise of a safe journey to the U.K. and a life in this country — whether on or offline — simply to make money, is nothing short of immoral,' she said. Assisting illegal immigration to the U.K. is already a crime, but officials believe a new offense — part of a border security bill currently going through Parliament — will give police and prosecutors more powers to disrupt gangs that send migrants on perilous journeys across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the crime gangs are a threat to global security and should be treated like terror networks. Since taking office a year ago, Starmer's center-left Labour Party government has adopted powers to seize the assets of people-smugglers, beefed up U.K. border surveillance and increased law-enforcement cooperation with France and other countries to disrupt the journeys. Despite that, more than 25,000 people have reached Britain by boat so far this year, an increase of 50% on the same period in 2024. Small boat crossings have become a potent political issue, fueled by pictures of smugglers piling migrants into overcrowded, leaky inflatable boats on the French coast. Opposition parties say the government's plans aren't working — though the government argues the problems built up during 14 years when the Conservative Party was in power, The Conservatives say Starmer should not have scrapped the previous government's contentious and expensive plan to send migrants arriving by boat on a one-way trip to Rwanda. 'This is a panicked attempt to look tough after months of doing nothing,' Conservative immigration spokesman Chris Philp said. The government says it will take time to clear a backlog of applications that has left thousands of migrants stuck in temporary accommodation — often hotels — without the right to work. The hotels have become flashpoints for tension, attracting protests fueled by a mix of local concern, misinformation and anti-immigrant agitation.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Man, 20, builds country with just 400 citizens — and says it all began as ‘an experiment'
A man has declared himself president of a self-proclaimed country nestled in a disputed patch of land between Croatia and Serbia — and it comes complete with a flag, cabinet, currency and nearly 400 citizens. Daniel Jackson founded the Free Republic of Verdis, a less than 125-acre sliver of forest along the Danube River. Advertisement He did so after discovering the area was unclaimed by either neighboring country due to an ongoing border dispute. 'Verdis was an idea I had when I was 14,' said Jackson, who is 20 years old. 'It was just a bit of an experiment at first with a few mates. We have all dreamed of creating something crazy.' Jackson officially declared the republic's independence on May 30, 2019, news agency SWNS reported. The area the British man claimed, known on maps as 'pocket three,' has since been named the world's second-smallest country, right behind Vatican City. Advertisement The digital designer, who earns a living by creating virtual worlds on Roblox, began shaping Verdis into a functioning government when he was just 18. 'We started making Verdis a reality when I was 18 by forming some laws and a flag,' he said. 'We have now built up a government and have a great cabinet,' he said. 5 Daniel Jackson, the president of the Free Republic of Verdis, holds the country's flag. Daniel Jackson / SWNS 5 The passports of Verdis decorated with the shield of the small republic. Daniel Jackson / SWNS Advertisement The official languages of Verdis are English, Croatian and Serbian — and the nation uses the Euro as its currency. Verdis is accessible only by boat from the Croatian city of Osijek, though attempts to settle there have gotten some significant resistance. In October 2023, Croatian police detained several settlers, along with Jackson himself, before deporting them and issuing him a lifetime ban from entering the country. 'They deported us but couldn't give a reason why,' Jackson said. 'They said we were a threat to homeland security.' Advertisement 5 'Verdis' sits on a small piece of disputed land on the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia. Google / SWNS Now operating what he calls a 'government in exile,' Jackson has accused Croatian authorities of installing surveillance along his country's shoreline to block access from Serbia, SWNS reported. We have had a lot of problems with Croatian authorities, but we do want a good relationship with them in the future,' he added. 'They haven't taken to us kindly and have been aggressive,' he claimed. Per SWNS, Jackson now travels frequently to Belgrade, Serbia, where he says officials have been more receptive. 5 People park a boat on the shores of the Danube River where the Free Republic of Verdis claims land. Daniel Jackson / SWNS Despite his ban from Croatia, he continues to advocate for the right to access Verdis and hopes to return to live there one day. 'If successful, I would step down from my position and call an election,' he said. Advertisement 'I am not interested in power at all … I just want to be a normal citizen. It has been eye-opening, and I am quite proud of what I have achieved,' he added. Verdis began with just four people but now claims over 400 official citizens from a pool of more than 15,000 applicants. 5 Now operating what he calls a 'government in exile,' Jackson has accused Croatian authorities of installing surveillance along his country's shoreline to block access from Serbia. Daniel Jackson / SWNS Each person receives a passport — though Jackson has warned people against trying to use it for actual international travel. Advertisement That said, some citizens have reportedly used their Verdisian passport to enter other countries. 'It is a very small country so we have to be careful who we let in,' Jackson told SWNS. 'When it comes to approving people, we look for in-demand skill sets such as experience in medicine or policing.' Advertisement Despite mounting setbacks, Jackson said he remains optimistic. 'It is a matter of when, not if, we get back on the land,' he said. 'Croatia doesn't claim the land, so we have the right to it, and we believe that we have a good chance.' Jackson, who is originally from Australia, is determined to make Verdis more than just a thought experiment, SWNS reported. 'To the naked eye it is just a lot of forest, but when you realize that you are in a country you have created, it is magical,' he said.
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
CapitalMath: Guiding the Future of Traditional Finance
British fintech company CapitalMath is redefining wealth management with the official launch of its MAT Intelligent Strategy System—a platform designed not just as an investment tool but as a movement toward democratizing financial control. The company also announced the beginning of its global expansion plan. At the core of CapitalMath's philosophy lies a powerful belief: investing should not be a game reserved for the privileged few, governed by inaccessible rules and opaque advice. Instead, it should be a rational, transparent process available to everyone. Echoing Apple's iconic "Think Different" campaign, the company stands by the idea that "only those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who actually do." Breaking from a Flawed Legacy Traditional wealth management systems appear professional on the surface but are riddled with inefficiencies and inequalities. Everyday investors face delays, costly consultations, and vague advice often rooted in personal bias or market 'sentiment.' Worse yet, when asked why a financial decision was made, responses rarely go beyond 'experience.' As the late Charlie Munger once said: 'If you cannot explain what you are doing with a model, you probably do not know what you are doing.' CapitalMath takes this to heart. The company was born from decades of firsthand experience and introspection by its founder, Nicholas Hawthorne. After earning a Master's in Applied Finance from Macquarie University in 1993, Hawthorne worked as a trader, hedge fund analyst, and asset allocation advisor on Wall Street—eventually earning over $1 million annually. But the 2008 financial crisis changed everything. As Lehman Brothers collapsed and trust in traditional institutions plummeted, Hawthorne asked himself: 'Who really benefits from the advice we give? Are we serving clients, or protecting entrenched interests?'. In 2009, he walked away from institutional finance and began sharing investment insights directly with the public online. By 2011, he was actively supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement and immersing himself in quantitative finance. Building from Scratch What began as a series of online financial tools evolved into a full-fledged fintech operation. In 2015, Hawthorne assembled a remote team of financial and tech professionals, setting the groundwork for what would become CapitalMath. In 2019, the company was officially established. Through pivotal moments such as the rise of Bitcoin and the GameStop movement, CapitalMath gained valuable insights and attracted like-minded innovators: Harrison Cole, formerly of JPMorgan, joined the MAT system team in 2020. Charlotte Hayes, an advocate of financial inclusion since her university days, now serves as Global Head of Network Financial Services. Alexander Morgan, once a key contributor to IBM's digital asset projects, left corporate tech to support CapitalMath's mission. The MAT System: Technology as Trust CapitalMath's MAT Intelligent Strategy System is built on three pillars: Automation: It executes the user's investment strategy 24/7, without emotional interference. Logic: Every action is backed by data, mathematical models, and clear rationale. Personalization: The system tailors strategies to each user's risk tolerance and financial goals. The system provides investors with transparent insights into its decision-making processes, eliminating reliance on human memory, subjective judgment, or waiting periods. Investors retain full control over adjustments, with clear visibility into the rationale behind every decision. As Steve Jobs once said, 'Everything around you that you call life was made up by people who were no smarter than you.' That mindset fuels CapitalMath's bold vision to question outdated norms and hand financial control back to users. Quoting Yuval Noah Harari: 'Algorithms will redefine trust.' CapitalMath embraces this idea fully—replacing guesswork with systems and emotion with verified logic. Peter Thiel's philosophy also resonates here: 'Great businesses do not just improve the world, they rewrite it.' For CapitalMath, the goal is not to make advisors better—it's to make them obsolete. The Mission: Make Rational Investing a Right CapitalMath aims to build a new foundation: one where anyone can access powerful tools and make data-driven decisions. Whether users are new to investing or managing complex portfolios, CapitalMath is designed to provide: A system that runs even when users sleep A clear explanation behind every move Full control, based on rules users create A strategy that keeps its own pace—unmoved by daily market noise Ultimately, the company believes investing is not about who is smartest, but who has the best system. As CapitalMath moves forward, it is committed to refining its platform, expanding its global presence, and building the world's most trusted intelligent investment infrastructure. Because true financial freedom begins when systems are more reliable than emotions—and trust is built on logic, not promises. About CapitalMath CapitalMath is a British fintech company founded in 2019 by Nicholas Hawthorne, a former Wall Street professional with over 30 years of experience in financial markets. The company was born from a vision to challenge the traditional wealth management system and create transparent, logic-driven investment solutions for everyone. Its flagship product, the MAT Intelligent Strategy System, empowers users to make informed investment decisions based on real-time automation, personalized strategies, and verifiable logic. The platform reflects CapitalMath's belief that rational investing should be a basic right—not a privilege reserved for the few. With a growing team of financial technologists and a global expansion underway, CapitalMath is committed to becoming the most trusted intelligent investment infrastructure worldwide. Contact
