AGENTNews desk
UK
UK ·MI5 chief warns AI could widen terrorists’ access to biological weapons
Ken McCallum said AI might help attackers access dangerous biological knowledge or create new pathogens, and announced a new centre to assess AI-related threats.
Politics ·Burnham says Russia interfered in Brexit referendum
The prime minister says he was given a clear yes after asking about Russian involvement in the 2016 vote. He has not disclosed who briefed him or what evidence the answer rested on.
UK politics ·Farage proposes five-year asylum shutdown and mass deportations
Reform UK says it would reject new asylum claims, void cases already under way and deport claimants if it formed a government. Its proposal also targets some people already granted protection and most resettlement routes.
Health ·Emergency doctor says Scottish A&E care is already unsafe
Dr Fiona Hunter says emergency departments are providing unsafe care as winter approaches. Her warning comes as Scotland still lacks a national count of corridor-care incidents.
UK ·Man dies after tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Police say a tiger attacked the man after he entered its enclosure near Doncaster on Saturday. The park was evacuated and closed for the weekend.
Food safety ·Salmonella warning targets Ukrainian eggs used by caterers
UK agencies have told consumers not to eat shell eggs bearing code 3UA1012066 after Salmonella was found in samples. Most were supplied to caterers; the strain is associated with 36 cases reported in England this year.
Northern Ireland ·Bryant blocks Drumcree parade after 13-day Portadown standoff
The Northern Ireland secretary’s order bars the procession authorised for 27 September. The dispute over Garvaghy Road remains unresolved.
Education ·School leaders’ union calls for Ofsted inspections to pause
ASCL’s council has lost confidence in Ofsted’s leadership and wants inspections paused for an urgent review. Its members will be surveyed on whether to consider industrial action.
UK ·Teenager dies after Meir violence as four arrested
A man in his late teens died on Brookhouse Road in Stoke-on-Trent; another was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Politics ·Charlie Maynard resigns from Lib Dem frontbench over Ed Davey
The Witney MP has left his Treasury role amid criticism of the Liberal Democrat leader. A party leadership election would require a formal trigger under the party’s rules.
Scotland ·Emails put Flynn’s ferry-leak account under fresh scrutiny
Emails reached Stephen Flynn’s official government mailbox before he told Holyrood he had not been briefed on a ferry gas leak. The Scottish Government says the draft was not shared with him; a separate email later said a statement had been cleared by him.
Health ·Fonagy review calls for mental-health support before diagnosis
A government review says rising distress and years-long waits are pushing England’s services towards failure. It wants support based on need, not diagnosis alone.
UK politics ·Labour holds Starmer’s seat as Abdi-Wali beats Polanski
Sagal Abdi-Wali won 12,292 votes to Zack Polanski’s 8,928 in the seat vacated by Keir Starmer, with turnout at 38.76%.
UK ·High Court confirms Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor search warrants unlawful
Thames Valley Police accepted the warrants used at two properties were issued under the wrong legal provision. Whether police can keep the seized material is still before the court.
Crime ·Met reports 700-plus arrests during national phone-theft drive
The National Police Chiefs’ Council says 17 forces made more than 700 visits to second-hand phone shops in September. Its release gives the Metropolitan Police 705 arrests; The Standard reports 711.
World ·33 Britons still reported missing as Nepal shifts flood response
Nepal has suspended routine search-and-rescue operations after August’s devastating floods, while allowing urgent searches to continue. The latest UK report says 33 Britons remain missing.
World ·Israel orders closure of Britain’s East Jerusalem consulate
Israel says the British mission must shut on Thursday, after a dispute over UK measures on settlement-related trade. London is still seeking a deal to keep it open.
Business ·Jaguar unveils £130,000 electric flagship built around UK factories
The four-door Type 01 is due to enter production at Solihull in 2027, with batteries and drive units planned for Wolverhampton and body panels for Halewood.
Business ·Pennon seeks £550m from shareholders for £1bn water investment
The South West Water owner plans to raise cash as it adds about £1bn to investment across its regulated water businesses, and cuts its dividend.
Technology ·ASOS says names and contact details may have been accessed
After an unauthorised app alert claimed the retailer had been hacked, ASOS said it was investigating activity on customer-communications platforms.