-
Brutal storm batters Spain’s Costa Blanca: Cars left submerged as torrential rain turns streets into rivers in Brit holiday hotspots
Severe storms battered Spain’s Costa Blanca, with torrential rain and flash flooding turning streets into rivers in popular destinations including Alicante and Benidorm. The weather caused cars to become stranded, businesses to flood and debris to be swept into roads, highlighting continuing risks for residents and holidaymakers after a British man recently died in flash…
-
British military sites were targeted by drones hundreds of times in last year, new figures show as tensions rise with Russia and Iran
British military sites have experienced a sharp escalation in drone-related security incidents, with 340 recorded in the past year, more than double the 126 incidents recorded two years earlier. This surge reflects heightened tensions between the UK and Russia, particularly following Britain’s military support for Ukraine and Russia’s threats to treat British facilities in Ukraine…
-
Russian voters are handed ballot papers with an X already marked in favour of Putin’s party as elections are hit by mass fraud claims
Russia held its first wartime parliamentary election over three days beginning 18 September, amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud. The election is significant as it features virtually no opposition and is widely expected to secure Kremlin dominance, with critics describing it as a “sham” election that prevents genuine democratic choice. Multiple irregularities were reported across…
-
The British town that became the vape capital of Europe. IAN GALLAGHER visits the grey streets where nearly a THIRD of schoolchildren have smoked drug-infused e-cigarettes and some young girls vape instead of eating
Blackburn, once a global cotton-manufacturing centre, has become an unlikely hub for Europe’s vaping industry, with numerous shops and factories supplying Britain and overseas markets. The sector generates about £500 million in annual sales and employs more than 2,000 people, but its economic benefits are overshadowed by concerns about youth access, addiction and drug-contaminated products.…
-
A four-minute warning isn’t enough: Russia’s new relentless missile tactics exhaust Kyiv residents
Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, using fast ballistic missiles that give residents little or no time to reach shelters. The change has undermined the sense of predictability provided by Ukraine’s air-defence warnings, leaving many civilians exhausted, frightened and reconsidering whether they can safely remain in the capital. In the first 10…
-
Russia plotting to deploy sinister new AI weapon to meddle in US elections, officials warn just WEEKS before midterms
US officials warn that Russia has authorised a covert online influence campaign ahead of November’s midterm elections, using social media and artificial intelligence to spread divisive political material and undermine confidence. The operation reportedly aims primarily to deepen existing divisions and create chaos, rather than directly alter voting systems or support one particular party. The…
-
Don Jr repays Russian oligarch for wedding party after Republican revolt over ‘corruption’
Donald Trump Jr has reportedly repaid Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev after Kremlev helped fund a lavish Bahamas wedding celebration, including a private island and fireworks. The repayment followed criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who said accepting substantial support from a wealthy foreign figure with links to Vladimir Putin raised corruption and conflict-of-interest concerns. President…
-
‘Blasé’ Andy Burnham is urged to wake up to Putin’s ‘plans to attack Europe’ amid concerns warning signs are being missed
The article reports growing warnings from European leaders that Russia could intensify attacks against NATO countries, while accusing the UK Government of appearing insufficiently concerned. Poland’s Donald Tusk and France’s Emmanuel Macron urged greater urgency, as Russia was alleged to be conducting hybrid operations and testing European support for Ukraine. The report says drones and…
-
Letter to Brezhnev review – terrific return for Merseysiders’ romance with Russian sailors
The Royal Court theatre in Liverpool is staging a stage adaptation of the 1985 film Letter to Brezhnev, a beloved story about two working-class women in post-industrial Liverpool, one of whom pursues a romance with a Russian sailor. This revival matters as a cultural touchstone exploring themes of escape, hope and border-defying love—released just before…
-
Why Europe has been absent from the great AI safety debate
Europe is largely absent from the global artificial intelligence safety debate, despite the technology potentially affecting the continent significantly. Christine Lagarde, head of the European Central Bank, framed Europe’s dilemma starkly this week: the continent can either reject AI and lose economic growth, or embrace it and become dependent on tools developed by the United…