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Denmark says Russian warship fired flares at military helicopter
Denmark has accused a Russian warship of firing two emergency flares at one of its military helicopters in the Baltic Sea, summoning the Russian ambassador and prompting Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to condemn the “reckless” act as an attempt to “intimidate and divide”. The incident occurred as tensions remain elevated on Nato’s eastern flank, coinciding…
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Democrats say supreme court rejection of Trump mail ballot restrictions will ensure ‘safe, secure and accurate elections’ – US politics live
The US Supreme Court has rejected Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the midterm elections, prompting Democrats to say the ruling protects “safe, secure and accurate elections.” Trump reacted furiously, branding mail-in voting “a laughing stock” globally and accusing the justices he appointed—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett—of…
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China’s spy chief warns AI could bring an end to Communist party rule
China’s Minister of State Security, Chen Yixin, has issued a stark warning that artificial intelligence poses a serious threat to national security and could ultimately endanger Communist Party rule. In an article for state-run magazine China Cyberspace, he accused “hostile forces” of using generative AI to spread political rumours and wage “cognitive warfare” against China,…
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Russian frigate fires two flares at Danish military chopper, narrowly missing the NATO aircraft as Putin becomes increasingly aggressive
A Russian frigate fired two flares towards a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Denmark on Monday, narrowly missing the aircraft, in an incident Danish leaders have condemned as reckless and unacceptable. The helicopter was on a routine mission photographing the frigate when the flare passed within metres of it, with no prior warning…
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Louise Haigh: UK must heed warnings from AI experts
The UK’s first secretary, Louise Haigh, has told ministers to “heed the warnings” from AI industry leaders about potential threats, as pressure builds on the prime minister to use next year’s UK-hosted G20 summit to drive global regulation of the technology. Speaking at the TUC conference, Haigh said AI had huge potential to improve public…
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Farage says a Reform UK government would stop unions funding Labour if they block £72m donations – UK politics live
Nigel Farage has warned that a future Reform UK government would prevent trade unions from funding the Labour Party if unions succeed in pushing through a cap on political donations, after his own party received an unprecedented £72m from two donors. Trade unions responded with a joint statement stopping short of backing an outright cap…
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Greens leader Zack Polanski releases campaign video in Urdu to target Pakistani voters as he takes on Labour for Keir Starmer’s former Commons seat
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has released a campaign video entirely in Urdu ahead of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on 8 October, prompting criticism from Conservative figures who argue politicians should campaign only in English. The by-election, triggered by Sir Keir Starmer standing down from his former Commons seat, is seen as a…
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Cabinet minister refuses four times to rule out poorest pensioners being dragged into income tax – as ‘triple lock’ is set to see payments rise 3.9% in April
Pensioners face fresh uncertainty over whether they will be dragged into paying income tax, after Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds repeatedly declined to guarantee that those relying solely on the state pension would be shielded from tax bills. The concern stems from the state pension being on course to rise 3.9 per cent in April, pushing…
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Piddington goes to the polls: Villagers vote in ‘independence referendum’ on leaving UK as they fight plans to house 1,250 migrants at MoD base next door
Residents of Piddington, a small Oxfordshire village of around 350 people, held a symbolic “independence referendum” today to protest government plans to house 1,250 male asylum seekers at a nearby former Ministry of Defence garrison. The vote, which has no legal standing, was organised after villagers said ministers ignored their objections, and campaigners hope it…
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Reform ‘already spending’ £72m super-donations’ despite risk they are blocked – as party warns of tit-for-tat ban on Labour’s union cash if it wins next election
Reform UK has begun spending £72million in donations from crypto-billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, despite the risk that the money may have to be returned under proposed foreign-donor rules. The funds are already being used to hire additional staff and launch Reform TV online, even as Labour signals it could tighten the law in…