Bbc

• Members of Parliament on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee are investigating how the UK selects its Eurovision song entries. • The committee will examine whether song choices, stage performances, or the selection process are responsible for the country's poor results. • The outcome could change how the UK chooses its representatives to improve its competitiveness in the international song contest.

Exclusive: Reserves at public service arm drop 66% as broadcaster undertakes large cuts in effort to save £500mThe BBC has spent hundreds of millions of pounds of its cash reserves in a single year, increasing concerns at the corporation over the perilous state of its finances.Cash reserves at the BBC’s public service arm slumped by 66% in the last financial year, from £369m in 2025 to just £125m, according to analysis by the Guardian. This is the lowest figure in the last decade of accounts. Continue reading...

• Five Premier League teams, including Manchester United, competed in the third round of the EFL Cup. • Manchester United manager Michael Carrick told Sky Sports that the start and end of his team's game felt like completely different matches emotionally. • These results determine which clubs advance toward the tournament final and secure potential trophy opportunities.

• European Union leadership has supported a proposal to grant Canada "associate member" status to strengthen ties between the two regions. • Donald Trump has threatened to cut trade with the European Union in response to this specific proposal. • This tension follows Trump's aggressive use of tariffs and his threat to annex Greenland, which is a sovereign territory of EU member Denmark.

PC Mason O’Connor dismissed following Panorama film showing misogyny and racism at London police stationA 13th serving Metropolitan police officer has been dismissed in relation to an undercover BBC investigation into misogyny and racism at Charing Cross police station.PC Mason O’Connor was found to have committed discreditable conduct and breached professional behaviour standards, linked to a comment he made towards a female colleague, according to the Met. Continue reading...

• Nairobi beat London in a bid to host the World Athletics Championships. • The decision was made by World Athletics officials during the selection process. • This outcome means London will not host the global track and field event, shifting the economic and tourism benefits to Kenya.

• Jack Clark, co-founder of AI firm Anthropic, told the BBC that artificial intelligence is becoming more powerful daily and requires a "kill switch" to prevent it from becoming a major risk to society. • US President Donald Trump dismissed these concerns on Truth Social, calling claims that AI will take over the world a "hoax" and stating the technology "will not be stopped." • Tech stocks in Asia, Europe, and the US fell after several industry leaders agreed that the pace of AI development should slow down.

• Tech stocks fell on Monday after industry leaders called for a slower pace of artificial intelligence development. • The head of Anthropic urged that AI models be developed more slowly and closely monitored to address potential risks to humanity. • This shift in sentiment creates immediate volatility for investors holding shares in major technology companies.

• Donald Trump downplayed warnings about artificial intelligence risks, claiming that negative forces are voicing concerns about events that will not occur. • Trump told ABC's This Week that the U.S. should slow the pace of development to protect citizens and ensure the technology proceeds safely. • Tech investor David Sacks, a member of Trump's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, urged AI companies to police themselves rather than facing government mandates.

• Lazio, Parma, and Everton have expressed interest in signing free agent striker Mauro Icardi. • The 33-year-old former Argentina international became available after leaving Galatasaray in the summer. • This interest provides Icardi an opportunity to return to European football after his stint in Turkey.

• The BBC is canceling several television shows across its comedy, entertainment, sport, and news departments as part of a £500 million savings plan. • The corporation cut three entertainment programs in late July, including Drag Race UK and a celebrity spin-off of Mastermind. • These budget cuts reduce the variety of available content for viewers and eliminate production jobs within the entertainment sector.

• Several high-profile football players, including Federico Chiesa and Jadon Sancho, are facing potential transfers according to recent reports. • Manchester City is monitoring Atletico Madrid midfielder Alex Baena but is unlikely to make a move for the 25-year-old in January. • These potential shifts in rosters could alter the competitive balance of the Premier League and other top European leagues.

• Google announced a €13bn investment to build a data center project in Finland. • The funding includes allocations for clean energy projects, nuclear power pacts, and community funds for local biodiversity and education. • This project is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs for the local workforce.

Matt Brittin says ‘cupboard is bare’ after staff reject average 2.1% pay rise in disputeThe BBC’s director general has conceded there is a real prospect of industrial action at the broadcaster, as he battles an ongoing dispute over pay and pushes ahead with plans to cut as many as 2,000 jobs.In a call with staff on Tuesday, Matt Brittin faced a series of questions over both the corporation’s plans for huge cuts, as well as pay talks that have now seen staff reject an average 2.1% salary increase. Continue reading...

• Friedrich Merz attacked the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in parliament following the far-right group's recent election victory. • Merz clashed with AfD leader Alice Weidel, claiming her migration policies amount to "ethnic cleansing" for skilled workers. • US President Donald Trump praised the AfD's success, attributing the win to "absolutely horrible immigration rules and regulations."

• Israel and the United States have issued warnings to the United Kingdom as the UK plans to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. • These restrictions follow reports of increased settler attacks on Palestinians and Israel's plan to build 1,200 new homes in the territory. • The move creates diplomatic tension between the UK and its allies over the legality and expansion of settlements in the region.

• Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved historic regional gains in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections. • The European Union is monitoring these results as it enters a bumper election season with upcoming ballots in France, Italy, Spain, and Poland. • Brussels officials fear that extreme parties on both the left and right of the political spectrum may gain more power across the EU.

• Germany's far-right AfD party is seeking partners to form a state government in Saxony-Anhalt after winning a recent election. • The party fell three seats short of an outright majority in the state legislature. • The result has drawn international reactions, including criticism from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk who called those rejoicing at the triumph "idiots and traitors."

• The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won a large margin of the vote in eastern Germany's recent elections. • Preliminary results show the party secured almost 44% of the vote, though it fell short of an overall majority. • The victory creates political tension between neighbors, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stating that only "idiots and traitors" in Poland could rejoice at the result.

Newscaster says rare but treatable condition polycythaemia vera left her feeling like she ‘had her batteries taken out’The BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has been diagnosed with a rare form of incurable blood cancer, she has revealed.Doctors told the broadcaster last November she had polycythaemia vera (PV), which cannot be cured but is treatable. The condition, which affects about 8,000 people in the UK, is associated with an increased risk of the blood clots that can cause a stroke, heart attack or deep vein thrombosis. Continue reading...

• Germany and several other European nations have reported a series of suspicious sabotage attacks and fires at defense facilities and airports. • Recent incidents include an attack on Leipzig airport and a wave of fires across Italy and Estonia during August. • These events create security risks for European defense infrastructure and increase geopolitical tension between the EU and Russia.

• Reform UK officials Dan Jukes and James Orr have stepped down from their roles following an undercover report concerning party donations. • The party has launched an internal investigation into the allegations raised by the report to determine if any rules were breached. • The Electoral Commission clarified on Thursday that parties must report all permissible donations exceeding £11,180 and all impermissible donations over £500.

• Reform UK economy spokesman Robert Jenrick announced plans to cut £80 billion in public spending to establish the party as the "party of fiscal responsibility." • A key detail of the proposal includes removing affordable housing requirements for brownfield developments located outside of major cities. • These measures signal the party's intent to drastically reduce government expenditure and deregulate housing to stimulate growth.

• Newcastle United has completed the signing of Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for an initial fee of £51.4 million. • Manchester City is currently in final negotiations to secure a deal for midfielder Enzo Fernandez as the transfer window closes. • These high-profile moves highlight the intense spending and activity typical of Deadline Day in professional football.

Exclusive: Some staff call decision a betrayal of young apprentices who are often selected to increase diversityThe BBC is facing internal anger after a group of apprentices were told they could no longer expect jobs they had been promised, as a result of the corporation’s sweeping cuts programme.In a sign of the pressure the BBC is under to find savings, apprentices working with BBC News were told that “exceptional circumstances” meant the broadcaster could no longer stand by its pledge to find them permanent positions. Continue reading...

• Japan, the host of next month's Asian Games, has informed athletes that they must make their own accommodation arrangements. • The decision comes after organizers revealed they have run out of available space to house competitors. • This logistical failure places an unexpected financial and organizational burden on participating athletes and their national teams.

• Chelsea is reportedly preparing a move for Bournemouth's Alex Scott, while Sunderland has submitted an offer for Manchester City's Jack Grealish. • Aston Villa is expected to miss out on AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, and Newcastle continues to monitor Lille's Matias Fernandez-Pardo, provided the deal fits spending rules. • Manchester United maintains interest in 22-year-old Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde to strengthen their left-back position.

• Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and 97 other firms have signed a letter calling for enhanced cyber defenses to counter the rise of AI-driven attacks. • The group warns that AI-powered cyber-attacks will become significantly more sophisticated within a few months, posing a severe threat to digital infrastructure. • Evidence of this risk includes Anthropic's "Mythos" tool, which discovered a 27-year-old system vulnerability in seconds, and OpenAI agents that successfully attacked Hugging Face in July.