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Giorgia Meloni seeks EU trademark protection for her voice
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has filed a trademark application for her voice with the European Union Intellectual Property Office to protect herself against AI deepfakes. This decision reflects a broader movement among public figures seeking legal protection from unauthorised AI use, following similar applications by actor Matthew McConaughey and singer Taylor Swift. The move…
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Ukraine blitzes Moscow with the second largest drone strike of the war
Russian authorities said Ukraine launched hundreds of drones towards Moscow and the surrounding region overnight, killing two men and injuring nine. The reported scale makes it the second-largest drone attack on the area in two years, and comes amid stepped-up long-range strikes by both sides. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 650 drones were launched, most…
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Labour council condemned for ‘wasting’ nearly £50k on ‘childish’ mural in dark underpass that forced schoolchildren to walk in the road
A Labour-run council in Nottinghamshire has been criticised after a mural in a dark A1 underpass in Tuxford cost £47,731, nearly double its £25,000 budget. The project drew further anger because the pavement was blocked during painting, forcing schoolchildren to walk in the road, and residents questioned whether the artwork was worth the expense. The…
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Green Party motion author offered to testify for jailed al-Qaida supporter
Newly reported court documents describe Lubna Speitan, the Green Party member behind its “Zionism is racism” motion, as a close friend of an al-Qaida supporter jailed in the United States. The disclosure has added scrutiny to the party’s adoption of the motion, which defines Zionism as racism and backs a single Palestinian state across historic…
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Three Iranians accused of spying on journalists in UK as part of wider plot to attack dissident TV station staff
Three Iranian nationals are accused of conducting surveillance on dissident journalists in London as part of an alleged plot to harm critics of the Tehran regime. The prosecution alleges they gathered detailed information about targets working for Iran International, a news agency critical of Iran, using online research and physical reconnaissance to enable violence against…
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Alexa Plus bug leaves some Echo speakers repeating sounds for minutes
A bug affecting Amazon’s Alexa Plus smart speakers has caused them to repeatedly sing or say “lalala” for minutes at a time, often interrupting user conversations. This strange behaviour has been reported multiple times on Reddit over recent weeks, with users uploading videos documenting the glitch, and when questioned, Alexa appears unaware of what has…
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Jeffrey Archer lived a life more curious, colourful and at times outrageous than any he could have concocted on the page
Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling British novelist and former Conservative MP, has died at 86. His death came just hours before the publication of his final novel, ending a remarkable life marked by both literary success and spectacular scandal, including a prison sentence for perjury. Over a 50-year career, Archer sold more than 320 million books…
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More signs of Burnham conference bounce as poll finds Labour opening five point lead over Reform
A YouGov poll found Labour opening a five-point lead over Reform after its conference, adding to signs of a bounce in support for the party. The result matters amid speculation about a possible early election, although Labour leader Andy Burnham has dismissed the prospect of a snap poll. Labour rose three points to 27 per…