Boris Johnson’s top adviser Dominic Cummings is facing new allegations that he committed further breaches of the government’s lockdown rules.

Mr Cummings was already facing calls for his resignation after admitting travelling more than 250 miles with his wife, who had suspected coronavirus infection, to County Durham.

Now there are new claims that he left the home where he was staying in Durham and was seen by witnesses visiting a town 30 miles away.

Mr Cummings has said he went to Durham with his wife and child to be close to relatives while in lockdown. Downing Street had earlier insisted that he acted within the lockdown rules.

Mr Cummings has been unapologetic, saying he had done the right thing, and had behaved reasonably and legally. Cabinet ministers have backed him and said he has Boris Johnson’s full support.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News reporting from Political Correspondent Iain Watson.

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After a strong week at Labour Party conference has the prime minister made his first foul? Downing Street has said Manchester …

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China’s President Xi Jinping returns to the White House on Thursday for the first time in over a decade.

A priority for both leaders will be to discuss AI. The two countries are currently locked in a fierce competition for AI dominance, amid dire warnings from US tech executives in recent weeks that the speed of AI development needs to be slowed, as the risks to humanity are too great.

President Trump has rejected those calls for a slowdown or suggestions of regulation, in part because of his concerns that China will overtake the US in AI development.

In this episode we speak to the BBC’s China correspondent Laura Bicker who tells us what China’s AI revolution looks from inside the country. And we ask how this issue is changing the power dynamics between the US and China.

New episodes of The Global Story are released daily. If you’re in the UK, listen on BBC Sounds. If you live outside the UK, listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#China #AI #BBCNews

00:00 Introduction
00:53 Inside China’s AI boom
06:00 What do Chinese people think of AI?
10:06 How China is preparing for an AI future
14:13 Why China doesn’t want to slow down AI
16:38 What does China want from the US?
19:50 The battle over AI chips
23:20 AI, trade and Taiwan
25:13 How AI is shifting US-China power
26:45 Outro

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An alleged case of gang rape at a Cornell frat house has caused widespread outrage after new details emerged in a civil suit brought by the purported victim. Evidence including a Snapchat screenshot advertising a “free” sexual encounter has seen anger online directed not only towards those men accused of being involved, but others who apparently failed to step in.

As a criminal investigation is reopened, Marianna and Matt explain how this case has taken over social media, from scathing critiques of campus culture and opaque accountability measures, to doxxing, misidentification and censorship.

The university’s leadership has denied its response was inadequate.

Also this week, we discuss arguably the most viral story of the year – the fallout at a covid-conscious lesbian bar in western Massachusetts. After the struggling Last Ditch decided to suspend their mask mandate on Saturday nights, they were met with a torrent of abuse calling them ableist and even eugenicist.

Top Comment takes you through the chaotic conversations which followed, and we consider whether AOC spoke too soon when she famously closed the book on Woke 1.0 identity politics.

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BBC Tech Now visits Sweden to see how cutting-edge technology is helping preserve a historic warship for future generations.

Built from organic materials, historic ships are constantly at risk from decay, environmental changes, and structural stress.

Conservation experts are now using advanced scanning, monitoring, and digital tools to better understand these fragile vessels and slow the effects of time.

Watch how innovation is helping keep the past alive.

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