Government

Foreign secretary Ed Miliband told Labour's party conference that critics of the government's stance on Gaza 'were right', conceding Labour had been wrong. In a speech promising that Labour is 'not here to accept the status quo but to change it', Miliband's admission marks a notable shift in tone from a senior cabinet minister on one of the party's most divisive foreign policy issues.

Nvidia has announced a new security platform designed to control and safeguard AI agents, alongside a $150 billion stock buyback programme. The security offering aims to address growing concerns about autonomous AI systems acting without adequate oversight. The buyback signals confidence in the company's continued dominance of the AI chip market and returns cash to shareholders.

Leading artificial intelligence researchers are calling for urgent government oversight of self-improving AI systems, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive. The researchers warn that systems capable of enhancing their own capabilities could pose risks that current safety measures and regulations are not equipped to handle, urging policymakers to act before the technology advances further.

Swiss voters have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to tighten the country's neutrality, with final government results showing more than 70% opposed and a majority against in all 26 cantons. The initiative was championed by a right-wing populist party and would have hardened rules on Swiss neutrality, an issue sharpened by the war in Ukraine and debates over sanctions on Russia.

Classified budget estimates indicate the National Security Agency is spending billions of dollars to test artificial intelligence models. The figures, reportedly disclosed through classified channels, suggest the US intelligence community is investing heavily in evaluating AI capabilities, raising questions about the scale of government involvement in commercial AI development and the oversight of such spending.

The Reserve Bank of India has completed net sales of government debt totalling 1 trillion rupees, the first time it has reached that figure in a decade. The scale of the central bank's selling marks a notable shift in management of India's bond market and liquidity, drawing attention from investors tracking the country's debt markets and interest rate outlook.

The US Federal Reserve has put forward a set of proposed rules governing stablecoins, the dollar-pegged digital tokens widely used in crypto markets. The proposal would set out requirements for banks and other institutions dealing with stablecoins, covering issues such as reserves, risk management and supervision. Details of the draft rules remain limited, and the measure is expected to go through a comment period before any final adoption.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has broadened its attacks to strike Ukraine's data centres, extending strikes beyond energy infrastructure to the digital systems that keep government services and communications running. The claim comes as waves of Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure continue, raising concerns about the resilience of the country's critical digital networks during the war.

Markets are moving after a proposed truce involving Iran was rejected, pushing oil prices and government bond yields higher. Investors are weighing the risk of renewed Middle East tension and its effect on energy supplies, with equities under pressure as borrowing costs climb. Traders are watching for further diplomatic developments that could calm or escalate the situation.

A housing shortage has become an explosive social issue in many major European urban centres, and cities across the continent are now looking for ways to expand affordable housing. Deutsche Welle examines the various models and policies being tried, from public construction to rent controls, as governments come under growing pressure to act.

Sudanese authorities have declared that foreign interference in the country must end and that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces must be disarmed. The statement adds to Khartoum's diplomatic pressure as the conflict with the RSF continues, with the government framing outside involvement and the paramilitary's weapons as central obstacles to stability.

The United Kingdom has pledged a tougher stance on Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank, signalling a shift in its approach to the conflict. The announcement is likely to intensify debate over Britain's policy toward Israel and the Palestinians.

The yield on Belgium's ten-year government bond has climbed above 4.3 per cent, a level that signals higher borrowing costs for the Belgian state and renewed pressure on European debt markets. Rising yields typically reflect expectations about interest rates, inflation or fiscal risk, and can feed through to mortgage rates and real estate financing costs.

A new UK government scheme aimed at helping first-time buyers has boosted share prices of housebuilders, according to Reuters. Analysts caution, however, that the scheme's long-term impact will depend heavily on the design of the homes and programme details, with questions over affordability, quality and delivery still to be resolved.

Britain's finance minister says 'fiscal discipline' will form the core of the upcoming budget, according to Reuters. The pledge signals an emphasis on keeping public finances in check as the government balances spending commitments against pressure to steady borrowing and reassure markets ahead of the fiscal statement.

A Wall Street Journal report says Egyptian officials warned Benjamin Netanyahu's government of an impending attack on Israel shortly before Hamas launched its October 7 assault. The report raises fresh questions about why the warning did not translate into preventive action, and is likely to fuel political debate in Israel over intelligence failures and accountability for the deadliest attack in the country's history.

Forbes argues that agentic AI — software systems that autonomously plan and execute tasks — breaks the traditional playbook for enterprise technology adoption. Old assumptions about procurement, governance and human oversight of IT tools no longer hold, the piece contends, forcing companies to rethink how they evaluate and deploy AI agents.

Law firm Spencer Fane has published takeaways from an interdisciplinary panel on artificial intelligence governance, stressing that compliance cannot be treated as a one-time checkbox exercise. Panelists argued that effective AI oversight requires ongoing collaboration across legal, technical and business teams, with practical lessons for organizations adopting AI tools.

Sudan's governance remains split as the civil war continues. The army-backed administration controls much of the formal state apparatus, while the Rapid Support Forces exercises authority over territories it holds. Washington has stated that neither side represents legitimate constitutional governance, leaving Sudan with competing authorities but no internationally recognised government, deepening uncertainty over the country's political future.

Colombia has held discussions with the International Monetary Fund, including on securing financing, according to sources cited by Reuters. The talks signal that the government may be seeking financial support as it manages budget pressures. Details of the discussions and any potential arrangement have not been made public.

The U.S. Embassy in London has issued a security alert warning American citizens in the United Kingdom about a suspected terror plot. The advisory urges Americans to remain vigilant and follow guidance from local authorities. Details about the suspected plot, including who is believed to be involved, have not been made public, and U.K. officials have not yet commented in detail.

Bill Gates has said that reaching an international agreement on artificial intelligence could prove more difficult than the nuclear arms control negotiations of the Cold War era. His comment points to the challenge of getting rival powers to cooperate on a technology that is fast-moving, diffuse and commercially valuable, unlike the countable weapons of nuclear treaties.

Economist Daniel Lacalle argues that central banks are powerless to resolve the growing sovereign debt bubble, warning that monetary policy cannot offset unsustainable levels of government borrowing. His comments come as debt loads in major economies keep rising and markets weigh how governments will manage refinancing costs if central banks step back.

The Dutch government is preparing for the possibility of sweeping US sanctions against the International Criminal Court, which is headquartered in The Hague. The Hague-based court, which has pursued warrants including against Israeli leaders, could face severe operational disruption if Washington moves ahead, and Dutch officials are reportedly working on protective measures while the EU weighs a response.

Bill Gates said reaching international agreements on artificial intelligence will be more difficult than the nuclear arms control negotiations of the Cold War era. He argued AI is evolving faster and is more diffuse than nuclear technology, making global rules harder to design and enforce. His remarks are feeding a wider debate among governments and tech leaders over how to regulate AI without stifling innovation.

The U.S. government has finalized new fuel economy standards that are lower than previous requirements, a move seen as a boost for gas-powered vehicles. The relaxed rules ease pressure on automakers to improve mileage efficiency, reversing course from stricter emissions-related targets. The decision is drawing attention for its implications for the auto industry, fuel consumption and U.S. climate policy.

Britain's 'mansion tax' is drawing fresh attention as details of how it will operate emerge. The levy targets owners of high-value homes, with annual surcharges expected to fall on properties above set value thresholds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Commentators are weighing who will be affected, how bills will be calculated, and whether the tax could hit homeowners in London and the South East hardest. Debate centres on thresholds, valuations and potential exemptions for lower-income owners.

An official with the Board of Peace says extremist views inside Israel are obstructing efforts to deradicalize Gaza, according to The Times of Israel. The statement underscores friction over the international framework overseeing Gaza's postwar stabilization, with the official suggesting hardline Israeli positions are undermining deradicalization work in the territory.

Israel's Foreign Ministry has summoned Spain's ambassador in response to remarks by Spain's Youth Minister supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean. The move reflects growing friction between the two countries over Spain's stance on Palestinian statehood, and it is drawing attention as diplomatic tensions over the Gaza conflict continue to test Israel's relations with European governments.