EU and Nato vow to step up pressure on Russia after'new escalation' in Germany The heads of Nato and the European Commission have warned that Russia is growing increasingly reckless and vowed to respond to a new normal. Leipzig marks a new escalation on European Union soil directly attributed to Russia, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a day after Germany blamed Russia for a failed drone attack last month on Leipzig airport. We have to step up and that means being ready to respond to Russia's recklessness faster and better, von der Leyen said. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said the whole alliance, which includes the US, stood in full solidarity with Germany. Russia has rejected German accusations that a drone carrying explosives deliberately targeted a Ukrainian cargo plane on 4 August.

'Cowboy builders' targeted in new government clampdown People carrying out home renovations will gain greater protections against cowboy builders through a new database of trusted traders and a payment system offering more safeguards, the government has said. Traders signing up to the scheme launching next month will need to demonstrate certain standards of customer service, transparency and dispute resolution. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said unscrupulous tradespeople leave families with months of stress as well as unfinished work. The National Federation of Builders said the changes would not stop rogue operators while the Tories suggested there would be added paperwork for firms already operating legitimately. Citizens Advice has said home renovations are one of its biggest sources of consumer complaints.

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Anthony Albanese will tell national cabinet his government will legislate next year to ensure the benefits of AI and datacentres are shared among states. Anthony Albanese will tell national cabinet his government will legislate next year to ensure the benefits of AI and datacentres are shared among states. Albanese seeks to quell datacentre disquiet as climate expert warns'we've got one shot to get the rules right' Anthony Albanese will seek to use Wednesday's high-stakes talks with premiers to quell growing unhappiness about national controls on datacentre developments, promising new approval laws will complement state rules. Faced with growing opposition from conservative governments in Queensland and the Northern Territory, Albanese will tell national cabinet he plans a major piece of legislation next year to ensure the economic benefits of AI are shared widely. The meeting on Wednesday will come after the latest forecast from the Australian Energy Market Operator showing datacentre power use is projected to increase seven-fold over the next decade.

Zelensky has'questions to answer' about corruption in his government, sacked minister tells BBC To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has questions to answer about corruption in his government, his sacked defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has told the BBC. Fedorov, a popular minister who modernised the armed forces and pioneered drone warfare, was fired last month after reportedly falling out with the head of Ukraine's armed forces. He told the BBC a money laundering investigation announced last week raised questions about Zelensky's awareness of potential corruption in his inner circle. Fedorov also reiterated that democracy should not be the hostage of Putin - but stopped short of declaring his own political ambitions days after he posted a video calling for elections in Ukraine. Supporters have protested on Kyiv's streets weekly since he was sacked, calling on the president to reinstate him.

The economist Lord Jim O'Neill, who has been advising the prime minister, has said he will not be taking a job in Andy Burnham's government. Lord O'Neill, a crossbench peer, was once a treasury minister under the Conservatives. As first reported by, external the Financial Times, he said he did not want the constraints involved in taking on a formal role. The former chief economist at Goldman Sachs had been tipped to become Burnham's chief economic adviser. He said he was enjoying what he was currently doing too much and did not want to have to give up control of his business interests to comply with official rules.

What is Iran's Pickaxe Mountain? Turkiye lays out'mechanisms' of defence pact with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will group senior ministers, hold joint exercises and deepen defence industry cooperation under a military pact signed between the regional powers last week, Turkiye's defence ministry says. The three countries on August 7 signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, which stipulates that an armed attack against any member would be regarded as an attack on all, similar to NATO's Article 5 collective defence clause. "Under the accord, strategic political and military mechanisms plan to be established involving the Defence Ministers, Foreign Ministers, and Chiefs of General Staff/Armed Forces Commanders, and that coordination among the three countries will be conducted at the highest level," it said. The ministry added that joint military exercises involving land, naval and air forces, as well as air defence and unmanned systems were planned, in addition to deeper defence industry cooperation.

Intervention follows days of delays and a near-miss between two planes on the Sydney aiport tarmac. Prue Car has asked Nesa to'urgently' examine AI and move to protect student learning amid growing evidence the technology is affecting student's cognitive development. Prue Car has asked Nesa to'urgently' examine AI and move to protect student learning amid growing evidence the technology is affecting student's cognitive development. Car said she has asked Nesa to "urgently" examine artificial intelligence and move to protect student learning amid growing evidence the technology is affecting student's cognitive development. Half of students' HSC result is based on school-based assessments, some of which is finished outside the classroom. Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to support teaching and learning, but it should never replace the thinking, creativity, and hard work that education is designed to develop.

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Federal departments and agencies still use automated decision-making in some service delivery functions, prompting fears AI systems could replace more human-led processes. Federal departments and agencies still use automated decision-making in some service delivery functions, prompting fears AI systems could replace more human-led processes. The use of AI in automated decision-making by government departments and agencies will be subject to tough rules under a new national plan, expected to extend to consumer protections, workplace safety and privacy. As the Albanese government grapples with the rapid growth in the use of artificial intelligence and a boom in datacentre construction, senior ministers have begun work to draw up new rules to ensure safety is built into AI processes inside government, prioritising fairness, accuracy and transparency. Federal departments and agencies continue to rely on automated decision-making in some service delivery functions, prompting fears increasingly sophisticated AI systems could replace more human-led processes.