AGP Executive Report

UK Defence & Security: Poland and the UK signed a defence and security pact with plans for joint interceptor design and medium-range anti-aircraft missile production, plus exercises to sharpen rapid response. Cybersecurity: Researchers warn of “Underminr”, an attack that can hide malicious traffic behind trusted domains using shared CDN routing, potentially exposing tens of millions of domains. AI & Business Software: Asana completed its acquisition of StackAI, adding cross-system execution for enterprise human-agent teams. Autonomous Maritime: Kraken Technology Group and Davie will build uncrewed surface vessels in Québec, starting with the K3 Scout platform. Health & Biotech: WHO recommends Regeneron’s maftivimab for clinical trial prioritisation in response to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. Medical Breakthrough: A world-first human trial will use stem cells to regrow inner-ear nerves for hearing loss. Energy & Trade: The GCC and the UK concluded free trade agreement talks, moving to legal text finalisation. UK Economy & Industry: Britain’s vehicle production stabilised in April, but commercial output fell as EU protectionism concerns grow.

UK STEM & inclusion: University of Huddersfield launches its first UK cohort for the Global Engineer Girls programme, sending students to a global conference in Istanbul to boost women in engineering. Climate & heat risk: A spring heatwave is pushing Europe into record territory, with the UK breaking a century-old temperature mark at Kew Gardens (35.1°C) and Swiss climatologists warning the heatwave season is expanding. AI in everyday life: YouTube faces backlash over “slop dots” that generate AI remixes inside Shorts, while UK researchers warn “AI humaniser” tools are helping students evade detection—fueling pressure for assessment redesign. Cyber & national security: GCHQ says nearly 500,000 Russian troops have died in Ukraine and warns Russia is relentlessly targeting UK critical infrastructure and democracy. Tech business & services: Amazon rolls out first AI-generated children’s shows; Valve hikes Steam Deck OLED prices in the UK; Monzo launches loyalty-based O2-powered eSIM plans; and SBS unveils a cloud “Digital Branch” platform to replace legacy teller systems. Energy & infrastructure: Rolls-Royce SMR partners with Doosan Enerbility for SMR component manufacturing support in Britain and the Czech Republic.

Cybersecurity & AI: GCHQ chief Anne Keast-Butler warns the UK faces a “narrowing window” as Russia and China step up hybrid attacks, urging faster, AI-enabled cyber defence and tighter digital security. Regulation Watch: The FCA reopens its AI Input Zone and the Bank of England, FCA and HM Treasury issue a joint reminder on frontier AI cyber resilience, signalling more scrutiny ahead. Online Safety: Prime Minister Keir Starmer says a “game changer” social media policy for children is coming after consultation, with reports pointing to curbs on addictive features rather than a full under-16s ban. Autonomous Transport: The UK Department for Transport is accepting applications for self-driving taxi and bus pilots under an Automated Passenger Service scheme, with robotaxi trials set to expand in London. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Scotland Excel launches a £160m engineering and technical framework with 39 approved suppliers to help councils deliver specialist projects. Manufacturing Skills: Make UK’s 130th anniversary event brings “Mini Makers” workshops to spark the next generation of engineers and innovators. Health Tech: Excelsoft and AQA partner to build a next-gen e-marking platform for high-stakes exams, aiming to mark around 12m scripts a year. Science & Climate: UK heatwave coverage continues, alongside research and commentary on extreme heat risks and how to cope.

AI Infrastructure & Water Stress: A new Grundfos paper warns the UK’s push to build AI data centres as Critical National Infrastructure could stall without clearer rules on sustainable water and energy use, as the country faces a multi-billion-litre daily water shortfall. Manufacturing Planning Pressure: Make UK says the planning system is “not fit for purpose”, blaming delays and cost hikes for deterring investment, and urges faster action via the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Critical Materials Supply Chains: Leeds spinout Silex World expands its critical materials platform into an integrated, traceable, modular refining model for rare earth and strategic metals, with rollout work underway in India. Cyber Security Warning: GCHQ’s chief is set to tell the UK it’s facing relentless Russian hybrid attacks on infrastructure, supply chains and public trust, with AI making the threat landscape move faster. Energy Bills Hit: Ofgem confirms the price cap rises 13% from 1 July, adding about £221 a year for a typical household. Regional Aviation Decarb: Loganair signs a 15-year SAF offtake deal with ClimaHtech to support lower-carbon flights across the UK’s regions. Stocks: Nanoco shares plunge 41% after it announces plans to delist and go private.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions: The US launched “self-defence” strikes on Iran, targeting missile sites and mine-laying boats, while Tehran warned it will respond to any breach of the ceasefire—pushing Brent crude back near $100 and rattling oil-sensitive markets. Public Safety Tech in Action: Southend police arrested suspects after deploying live facial recognition, turning away 250 people from the city amid fears of weapon-carrying youths. AI Ethics Goes Mainstream: Catholic bishops in England, Wales and Scotland are promoting Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, calling for AI governance that protects human dignity and rights. Rail Connectivity Upgrade: Labour plans faster train Wi‑Fi via low‑Earth satellite links and better coverage in tunnels, aiming to lift service availability above 90%. Online Safety Policy: The UK is set to avoid Australia’s blanket phone ban approach, instead targeting addictive design features for under‑16s. Business & Markets: BP’s chairman was ousted over bullying allegations; UK stocks edged higher as investors tracked earnings and deal hopes. Health & Climate: A hantavirus case was evacuated back to the UK after a cruise outbreak, while record heat continues to drive demand for cooling solutions.

AI in finance leadership: MarketReader has appointed Andrew Lane as CEO after Acuity Trading’s strategic investment, aiming to scale its real-time “why markets moved” attribution for brokers and institutions. Online safety: Doctors warn social media is as harmful to children as smoking, as the UK’s Growing Up in the Online World consultation weighs bans and curfews. Transport upgrade: London’s Bond Street Station is set for a £99m makeover by 2029, with new terraces, shops and improved links—while Tube services should stay largely unaffected. Health tech: Stanford researchers unveiled a wearable ultrasound patch for continuous monitoring of babies in the womb, targeting fewer false alarms than today’s intermittent checks. Space security: The UK’s new Borealis software is already live ahead of schedule to track orbital debris and threats to satellites. Energy storage abroad: Sri Lanka’s first commercial BESS has arrived via Colombo Port, with 160–640MW planned across multiple substations.

UK takeover watch: Ingredion’s £2.7bn bid for Tate & Lyle would wipe out the last original FT30 member after 91 years, a reminder of how quickly “UK plc” can shrink when deals go through. Big Tech money: A new report claims major platforms and AI firms can earn up to $160,000 per internet user over a lifetime, with the UK and Europe among the biggest paydays. Cybersecurity: Cloud Atlas is said to be modifying Windows termsrv.dll to quietly enable multiple RDP sessions, keeping attackers working while users stay logged in. AI ethics and safety: Salesforce’s UK boss warns that launching AI without guardrails and the right data can be “catastrophic” for businesses. Public safety: Vancouver police say fresh pollen analysis may place a still-unidentified woman’s final days in Seattle or Portland. Church and AI: Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical urges AI to be “disarmed,” putting human dignity first.

Medical Breakthrough: US scientists report a new ultrasound-based cancer approach, “histotripsy”, that can dissolve tumours without incisions, radiation or thermal damage, building on early kidney-tumour trial results. AI & Data Reality Check: At Data Summit 2026, enterprise leaders argue AI failures often come from weak “data foundations”, not the models themselves. UK Energy Safety: The British Hydropower Association issues fresh guidance on pumped-storage reservoir safety, reflecting how modern, automated schemes behave differently from older designs. Payments in Motion: A new market forecast says in-vehicle payment services could nearly triple to $15.70bn by 2033 as connected cars and digital wallets spread. Health & Policy: The DWP’s Timms Review looms over PIP changes later this year, while a council in Medway pushes ahead with a £44m care home plan. Global Watch: BBC World Service expands with Romanian and Hungarian digital news services, using AI-assisted translation with human oversight.

Cybersecurity Row: Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick defended Nigel Farage after Farage claimed Russian-linked hackers targeted his phone over a controversial £5m crypto gift—arguing Farage is a “victim” and that authorities should be doing more. Middle East Diplomacy: The US and Iran are reported to be close to a deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, with Trump saying talks are “largely negotiated” but not to be rushed. Defence Tech: Britain’s Defence Secretary’s jet was hit by suspected electronic attack near the Russian border, knocking out satellite navigation and disrupting onboard connectivity. Road Tech & Enforcement: Clean Up Britain wants litter cameras at motorway junctions and slip roads, with £500 fines aimed at cutting roadside waste. EV Charging Push: Australia’s debate is shifting toward more affordable kerbside chargers to support mass EV adoption. Crypto Markets: Coinbase says it isn’t worried about Wall Street competition, framing crypto as a community-led alternative to traditional finance.

Palantir vs London politics: Sadiq Khan’s office has reignited the UK’s biggest data-and-security argument, after he blocked a Met Police contract with Palantir and the row spilled into a wider values fight over surveillance, AI and public trust. Higher ed trade pressure: China’s transnational education boom is accelerating, but UK universities are being warned they may struggle to scale the compliance and workforce needed to run overseas programmes safely. TNE “equivalence” under threat: A new UK law is now challenging the “equivalence” promise at the heart of the model, with medical franchise students at Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia caught in the fallout. AI marketing backlash: UK PR experts say firms are “AI washing” to chase buzz, with claims often outpacing proof. Heatwave practicalities: Health experts broadly say sleeping with a fan overnight is fine if it doesn’t dry you out or aggravate allergies.

World Cup Shock Decisions: Thomas Tuchel has named England’s 26-man squad with big omissions — Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are out, Trent Alexander-Arnold misses out, and Ivan Toney is back in. AI & Safety Push: UK police and the NCA want tougher controls for under-16s, including blocking apps that offer “high-risk” features like direct contact, weak age checks and harmful discovery. Defence Tech Watch: South Korea’s submarine ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho has arrived off Canada, as Ottawa weighs a multibillion-dollar deal between Hanwha Ocean and TKMS. Climate & Health Alarm: New UK-linked projections warn heat will drive floods, wildfires and rising climate deaths, with government action needed beyond individual fixes. Science Win: Rothamsted Research confirms a gene-edited barley via the UK precision-breeding route, aiming for higher-energy forage and lower methane.

NATO Readiness Drill: Soldiers have been staging a “Russia invades the Baltics” scenario deep under London’s Charing Cross as NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps tests how quickly it can respond. Defence Stockpile Pressure: The wider context is growing alarm in the UK about how fast ammunition and drones could run out in a week-long conflict scenario. Space Biotech: UK startup BioOrbit has sent a space-based protein-crystal unit to the ISS on a SpaceX flight, aiming to help produce fridge-stable cancer drug formulations. Public Health Watch: Uganda confirms three more Ebola cases, including a health worker, as scientists push vaccine work. Legal Tech: The UK Jurisdiction Taskforce publishes practical guidance on how “control” works for digital assets under English law. Homegrown Science: King’s College London turns sheep wool into bone-healing material in animal trials. EV Charging Push: Ministers expand public charging for drivers without driveways under the LEVI programme, targeting 300,000 chargers by 2030.

Online Safety Clash: Protesters gathered outside the UK science ministry and Meta’s London HQ to argue a proposed under-16s social media ban “isn’t the answer”, pushing instead for Big Tech accountability and controls like removing addictive features. Defence Tech in the Spotlight: NATO’s UK-led wargame used a disused London Tube platform as a temporary command post, testing how commanders would coordinate drones, jamming and targeting in a simulated Estonia scenario—while highlighting how much still depends on future funding and integration. Biometrics Under Pressure: Facewatch appointed a senior data/cyber barrister as its GDPR DPO and gained Secured by Design accreditation as live facial recognition expands in retail. Health & Science: Pharming won EU marketing authorisation for Joenja (leniolisib) for APDS; UK scientists are also racing an Ebola vaccine using Covid-era ChAdOx1 tech. Business & Markets: Blockchain.com filed confidentially for a US IPO; Serabi Gold set AGM and dividend dates.

Online Safety Crackdown: The UK’s ICO says major platforms still haven’t introduced “viable and privacy friendly” age assurance, warning that underage data is still being processed on services meant for adults. Retail Pressure: UK retail sales volumes fell 1.3% in April (fuel down 10.2%), with shoppers cutting back as fuel prices and the Middle East crisis weigh on confidence—leaving Tesco and Sainsbury’s largely unmoved. Crypto vs Quantum: Bitcoin fans and exchanges are stepping up “post-quantum” planning as quantum computing timelines creep closer. Space Watch: Britain’s upgraded Noctis-1 telescope spotted a new Chinese spy satellite, with officials framing it as a fast-moving space security test. AI in the Real World: London AI workflow startup Scope raised about €17m to speed up industrial inspections. Sports Tech: Harry Maguire co-founded Feedz, aiming to improve coaching feedback with voice-to-report tools.

Marine Science Boost: A new £8.1m Camas House building at the European Marine Science Park in Argyll is now complete, with seven labs and sustainability targets aiming for carbon neutrality, plus school placements and apprenticeships to feed local talent. AI Caution From the Top: Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warns AI’s economic payoff may take years, likening it to electrification’s slow-burn productivity gains. Public Sector Tech Tension: London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocks a £50m Met Police deal with Palantir over procurement and value-for-money concerns. UK–GCC Trade Momentum: The UK and GCC conclude talks on a modern free trade agreement, with Oman and Kuwait in focus, framed as a long-term boost for exporters and investors. Health Tech & Finance: NervGen starts a proposed public offering; Teva gets EMA acceptance for a long-acting schizophrenia injection; and VAT on summer attractions drops to 5% for cost-of-living relief. Security/Defense: ZenaTech’s drone platforms move into the DoD cybersecurity phase for Blue UAS certification.

UK Tech & Regulation: Ofcom has secured new child-safety commitments from Snapchat, Roblox and Meta, including stricter stranger-contact defaults and chat controls for under-16s, while it calls out TikTok and YouTube for not doing enough to curb harmful content in kids’ feeds. Streaming & Devices: Roku is pushing into the UK projector market with Roku TV Smart Projectors that bundle the Roku experience, apps and FAST channels. AI & Markets: Nvidia’s record quarter keeps AI chip optimism high, lifting Asian stocks after another big earnings beat. Business & Investment: CircuitHub has raised $28m to expand automated PCB manufacturing across Europe and the US. Trade: The UK and GCC have sealed a landmark free trade deal, expected to boost trade by nearly 20% and add £15.5bn a year. Defence Tech: Smart Shooter won an Israeli Defence Ministry contract for anti-drone SMASH Hopper weapon stations.