John Healey in talks with Canada about UK joining new global defence bank
Posted on Tuesday September 15, 2026

Exclusive: Britain is understood to have been formally invited to become founding member of multilateral lender

John Healey is in talks with the Canadian government about joining a new global defence bank intended to help allies rearm to counter mounting security threats, just weeks after Rachel Reeves rejected the move.

The chancellor is understood to be actively considering a bid to join the proposed Canada-led defence, security and resilience bank (DSRB), which proponents say could help the UK fund defence projects at lower cost, before planned talks with his Canadian counterpart this week.

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UK retirees with no other income will not pay tax on new £13,000 state pension, No 10 says
Posted on Tuesday September 15, 2026

Average wages rose by 3.9% in three months to July, signalling pensioners will receive uplift of same percentage in 2027 under triple lock

The government has promised retirees they will be excluded from paying tax on the full new state pension after official figures paved the way for an inflation-beating increase above the tax-free personal allowance.

Figures published on Tuesday showed that average UK wages rose by 3.9% in the three months to July, signalling that pensioners will receive an uplift of the same percentage next year under the triple lock.

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Carney says Canada will pursue ‘unique security and economic alliance’ with EU amid US trade spat
Posted on Tuesday September 15, 2026

Prime minister speaks of strengthening Canada’s economic and political ties to Europe at Canada Investment Summit

Mark Carney said Canada will pursue a “unique security and economic alliance” with Europe as he positions his country as a base to build in the “new global economic order”.

Speaking to investors, company executives and government ministers at the inaugural Canada Investment Summit on Tuesday, the prime minister pitched Canada as a “safe harbour” and lucrative home for foreign capital as his government looks to reduce its reliance on trade with the United States.

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Could AI really wipe out humanity – six experts spell out the risks
Posted on Tuesday September 15, 2026

We examine claims and counterclaims about the risks and calls to slow down the pace of AI development

There have been some shocking claims in recent days about AI safety: we face a 10% chance of doom; AIs are worse than nukes; a “botnet” threatens the entire internet; it’s all a big tech psyop.

Below, we look at six claims and reactions to them.

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Trump facing AI backlash in Congress as push for guardrails intensifies
Posted on Tuesday September 15, 2026

President has dismissed anxieties over AI’s dangerous potential even as Democrats and some Republicans acknowledge risks

• Analysis: Why a decade of doomsday warnings failed to slow AI race

Donald Trump is facing a rare backlash from the US Congress as Democrats and some Republicans push for guardrails on the world’s most powerful AI companies.

Concerns over the dangerous potential of AI reached fever pitch this week after tech leaders sounded the alarm over the rapid advancement of the technology and its potential threat to humanity.

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‘I created my mom and talk to her’: AI ghosts and deathslop are changing the way we mourn
Posted on Tuesday September 15, 2026

The rise of AI-generated tributes and bots for ‘talking’ to the dead has experts concerned more people will grieve in isolation

Tributes rolled in after the death of Dolly Parton last month. Jack White performed Jolene at a London gig. Kesha sang Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You), a single her mother wrote for the country music titan. Even Pitbull stopped his Madison Square Garden show to memorialize Parton and all the other “powerful women” in the crowd. But one of the strangest – and most viral – eulogies did not come from a celebrity. It did not even come from a person.

Run Jolene, at just under five minutes, is an earworm of a country song, containing all the cliches of the genre: twangy singer, banjo licks, corny lyrics. Those lyrics concern Jolene, the fictional romantic rival made infamous by Parton. “Somebody better warn Jolene / Dolly’s coming through those gates,” the voice croons. “Run Jolene / Girl you better move your feet.”

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Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur: Carabao Cup third round – live
Posted on Tuesday September 15, 2026

⚽️ Carabao Cup news from the 8pm BST kick-off at Anfield
⚽️ Ipswich v Arsenal – follow it live
⚽️ Live scoreboard | Send your thoughts to Scott via email

1 min: There have been a few concerns about Mamardashvili’s distribution with his feet … and he whistles his first pass, a simple one towards Kerkez on the left, out of play. He looks suitably sheepish. No real harm done, though.

After a quick blast of You’ll Never Walk Alone, Tottenham Hotspur get the ball rolling. They’re kicking towards the Kop in this first half. Meanwhile Ian Copestake replies to krishnamoorthy v: “I could have crossed the road faster but I have to get my kicks somehow.”

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England set Sri Lanka 255 to win first T20 after Brook’s brutal 114 – live
Posted on Tuesday September 15, 2026

• Over-by-over match updates, play from 6.30pm BST

• Pietersen’s return is pure content | And mail James

3rd over: England 36-1 (Buttler 21, Brook 2) Harry Brook walks out to the middle with his slightly splay footed simian stroll. Quick singles exchanged with Buttler make it five runs and the wicket off Wellalage’s first over. The pitch is flat and the outfield rapid.

Gone! Nye Donald perishes with a toe ender that is well caught at mid off. His dayboo with the bat is over but his strikerate is still a nosebleed inducing 240.

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