International
Chinese state linked to hacking of UK Defence Ministry

Chinese state linked to hacking of UK Defence Ministry
Sky News has learned of a significant data breach at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), with indications pointing towards state-sponsored hacking by China. The breach targeted service personnel, prompting concerns about national security and individual safety.
According to sources, the cyberattack, allegedly orchestrated by the Chinese state, targeted the MoD’s payroll system, compromising the personal information, including names and bank details, of both current service personnel and veterans. While all salaries for this month will be disbursed as planned, the breach raises serious concerns about the vulnerability of sensitive government systems.
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, a former soldier, expressed suspicions that China may exploit the financial vulnerability of affected individuals for coercive purposes. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to address the issue in Parliament, outlining measures to safeguard affected personnel and mitigate future risks.
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The MoD has moved swiftly to investigate the breach, assuring that no data appears to have been extracted thus far. However, the incident underscores the evolving nature of cyber threats and the imperative of bolstering national defenses in the digital realm.
The breach comes amid escalating tensions between the UK and China, with recent accusations of cyber aggression attributed to “state-affiliated actors.” Labour’s shadow defence secretary, John Healey, has called for a comprehensive response from the government, emphasizing the gravity of the breach and its implications for national security.
Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith echoed concerns about China’s systemic threat, calling for a recalibration of UK policy in response to Beijing’s hostile activities. The incident underscores the need for heightened vigilance and investment in cybersecurity infrastructure, as advanced warfare increasingly extends into the digital domain.
Chinese state linked to hacking of UK Defence Ministry
International
Canada offers cybersecurity training with job placements for immigrants

Canada offers cybersecurity training with job placements for immigrants
The Canadian government, in collaboration with private sector partners, is offering a cybersecurity training programme in Calgary designed to support immigrants in securing employment in the growing tech industry.
The initiative provides hands-on learning and job placement opportunities in one of 16 entry-level cybersecurity roles. Participants will earn industry-recognized micro-credentials, equipping them with the skills needed to launch their careers.
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Funded by the Alberta Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade, the programme is delivered in partnership with ReTrain Canada and Manpower Canada. The 12-week training session, scheduled for March, will run Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Through this initiative, participants will gain expertise in cybersecurity fundamentals, encryption techniques, and applied penetration testing—all at no cost—while also receiving practical work experience to enhance their employability.
Canada offers cybersecurity training with job placements for immigrants
International
US ends legal status for 500,000 immigrants

US ends legal status for 500,000 immigrants
The United States said Friday it was terminating the legal status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, giving them weeks to leave the country.
President Donald Trump has pledged to carry out the largest deportation campaign in US history and curb immigration, mainly from Latin American nations.
The order affects around 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who came to the United States under a scheme launched in October 2022 by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and expanded in January the following year.
They will lose their legal protection 30 days after the Department of Homeland Security’s order is published in the Federal Register, which is scheduled Tuesday.
That means immigrants sponsored by the program “must depart the United States” by April 24 unless they have secured another immigration status allowing them to remain in the country, the order says.
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Welcome.US, which supports people seeking refuge in the United States, urged those affected by the move to “immediately” seek advice from an immigration lawyer.
The Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program, announced in January 2023, allowed entry to the United States for two years for up to 30,000 migrants per month from the four countries, which have grim human rights records.
Biden touted the plan as a “safe and humane” way to ease pressure on the crowded US-Mexico border.
But the Department of Homeland Security stressed Friday that the scheme was “temporary.”
“Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status, nor does it constitute an admission to the United States,” it said in the order.
Trump last week invoked rare wartime legislation to fly more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador, which has offered to imprison migrants and even US citizens at a discount.
US ends legal status for 500,000 immigrants
AFP
International
UK announces new passport application fees starting April 2025

UK announces new passport application fees starting April 2025
The UK government has confirmed it will introduce new fees for passport applications beginning on April 10th, 2025.
The changes, which are still subject to parliamentary approval, will see a rise in costs for both online and paper applications, affecting adults and children alike.
According to the UK Home Office, the adjustments will apply to both domestic and overseas passport applications.
The fee increases, as stated, are part of an ongoing effort to ensure the passport system is financially self-sustaining, reducing the need for funding from general taxation. The Home Office clarified that the government does not make any profit from the fees.
Fee increases for domestic applications
Starting April 10th, 2025, the fee for a standard online application within the UK will rise for both adults and children. The cost for an adult’s application will increase from £88.50 to £94.50, while for children it will go up from £57.50 to £61.50.
Postal applications will also see an increase, with the adult fee rising from £100 to £107 and the child fee increasing from £69 to £74.
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Charges to premium service fees
The Premium Service, which allows for passport issuance within one day, will also become more expensive.
- For adults, the fee will rise from £207.50 to £222
- For children, the fee will increase from £176.50 to £189.
This service is available for those who need a passport urgently and are applying from within the UK.
Higher costs for overseas applications
For individuals applying from overseas, the standard online application fee will also increase;
- The adult fee will rise from £101 to £108, and the child fee will increase from £65.50 to £70
- For paper applications made abroad, the adult fee will rise from £112.50 to £120.50, while the child fee will increase from £77 to £82.50.
The Home Office stated that the new fees are necessary to maintain the passport service and ensure it is financially viable. The fees contribute to covering the cost of processing passport applications, offering consular support to UK citizens overseas, and managing UK border services.
“The fees contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas, including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders,” the office said.
It is also related that in 2024, 99.7% of standard applications from the UK were processed within three weeks, where no additional information was required. Customers are advised to apply well in advance of their travel plans to avoid delays.
These fee adjustments are in line with guidelines from HM Treasury, which regularly reviews passport fees.
UK announces new passport application fees starting April 2025
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