Obama reportedly urges Democrats to prioritize safety plan for AI

• Hardline factions in Iran are leveraging escalating tensions with the United States to consolidate domestic power. • Holly Dagres of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy notes that rigid power centers are strengthening despite widespread Iranian belief that the state is plagued by corruption and repression.

• The Vatican convened an international symposium to document systemic violence and religious persecution against faith communities in the Middle East and the Global South. • The event focused on the geopolitics of 21st-century faith and the specific patterns of violence targeting believers in these regions.

• An Iranian commercial vessel was attacked near Qeshm Island, resulting in one death and four injuries. • An official attributed the attack to the "US terrorist enemy."

Call for ‘constitutional change in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland’ likely to challenge Burnham’s devolution agendaThe first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are meeting to affirm their nations’ right to seek independence from the UK, as part of a summit that is likely to challenge Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda.Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, Scottish National party leader John Swinney and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding at a landmark conference in Cardiff on Monday, calling on Westminster “to prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland”. Continue reading...

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany and pilot swim to safety after plane made emergency landing in lakeA Republican congressman said he had to swim to safety after a plane he was traveling in made an emergency landing in a lake late Saturday.Representative Tom Tiffany says he was returning from the La Crosse county Lincoln Day Dinner when the light aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau downtown airport. The pilot made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. They both ended up in the water and swam to safety. Continue reading...

The man who once helped Richard ‘Dirty’ Desmond save a load of tax was wheeled out to face Laura KuenssbergYou wait years for one party donation of £36m and then two come along at once. Reform can hardly believe its luck. All hail the crypto billionaires. Tacky pale turquoise suits all round. And Nigel Farage won’t have to worry about spending any of his own money – if you can call the £5m freebie his own money – on his security. Nor do those champagne and oysters lunches to discuss loose change donations of £500K from people living overseas pay for themselves. From now on Reform won’t need to bother getting out of bed for anything less than eight figures.Fair to say that if it had been Labour or the Tories trousering £72m from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo then Reform would be on full outrage rampage. How the political system was rigged against it and how the two main parties are hotwired cash machines. In bed with the super-rich. But since the money is heading towards its own bank account, everyone in the party is totally chilled. This is just the way life ought to be. Who wouldn’t want a country where two billionaires can attempt to buy the democratic process? Continue reading...

Woman’s family says she died of injuries after being shot in the head while sitting inside a tent near Khan YounisA pregnant Palestinian woman died on Saturday from injuries sustained after being shot in the head by Israeli forces south of Khan Younis, according to her family and medical workers, as strikes across Gaza killed more than 10 people over the previous 48 hours.The woman, named as Iman Shalouf, 27, who was nearly eight months pregnant, was sitting inside her family’s tent in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis when Israeli gunfire struck her in the head, according to paramedics and witnesses. Continue reading...

Hampshire and Isle of Wight force says it wants to speak to men in connection with anti-migrant unrest that left seven officers injuredPolice have released images of six men they would like to speak to after violent disorder in Portsmouth last week that left seven officers injured.About 200 people gathered at Eastney Marina on Sunday night after a small boat carrying asylum seekers arrived on the south coast having crossed the Channel. The activists dispersed the following day in the early hours. Continue reading...

Sheriff’s office identifies Kaegan Jude Solet, 47, as person of interest after series of stabbings in Houma leaves four deadPolice are searching for a person of interest after a series of stabbings in Houma, Louisiana, left at least four people dead and another person in critical condition in hospital.The Terrebonne parish sheriff’s office identified Kaegan Jude Solet, 47, as a person of interest, after deputies were initially called to the Ashland Drive area of Houma and located a juvenile with apparent stab wounds. Continue reading...

Country heads to the polls as latest polling shows 0.3-point gap between left and right wing blocsin StockholmHej, that’s hello in Swedish, from Stockholm, where I spent this morning eating Swedish pastry and meatballs talking to voters about the country’s prospects as they cast their votes in today’s parliamentary elections. Continue reading...

Plan to give US adults $5,000 has been greeted with incredulity across the political spectrum as well as outrageDonald Trump on Sunday doubled down on his controversial pledge to give US adults a $5,000 “dividend” if his Republican ⁠party keeps control of Congress after November’s midterm elections.The plan has been greeted with expressions of incredulity across the US political spectrum as well as outraged accusations of seeing to bribe voters. The plan – which would cost more than a trillion dollars – also comes amid huge concern over the US national debt, which topped $40tn for the first time in August.Reuters contributed to this article Continue reading...