Author: damazah@gmail.com

A group of peers is calling for the British government to be able to deactivate powerful AI systems and switch off the country’s data centres in the event of the tech posing a threat to national security.It is led by the Liberal Democrats’ Lord Tim Clement-Jones, who has proposed the measure as an amendment to the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill which is currently making its way through Parliament.He said it would enable the building of a “vital safety net” and provide a democratically accountable means to “halt a runaway system before it can compromise our critical national infrastructure”.He added…

Andy Burnham will begin the process of courting European leaders when he welcomes Emmanuel Macron as the first foreign head of state to visit him in Downing Street.The prime minister will meet the French president at No 10 on Thursday as he looks to make inroads on a number of foreign policy objectives, including curbing irregular migration and sealing a new deal with the EU.The meeting marks one of Burnham’s first forays into foreign policy, having previously promised to remain mostly focused on domestic issues, and comes weeks before a crunch EU summit that could shape much of his future…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that he remains in charge of the political structures in Rivers State and the FCT, vowing to deliver them to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Mr Wike made the declaration on Wednesday during a media chat in Port Harcourt, where he described himself as the “General Commander of the Political Infantry” and dismissed the suggestion that only a sitting governor could control a state’s political structure. “You do not need to be governor before you can be in charge. I am the General Commander of the…

Sabalenka’s pace and power was too much for world number 160 Iatcenko, who managed just three winners compared to the 24 put away by the top seed. Iatcenko looked a bundle of nerves in the biggest match of her career, but composed herself to get on the scoreboard for 5-1 and immediately broke out into a relieved smile.It was merely respite as Sabalenka held to love in less than 90 seconds to clinch the opening set.Despite only being on court for 24 minutes, Iatchenko decided she wanted a bathroom break to change her kit – but more likely for a…

On Tuesday, Miley Cyrus released an elusive trailer for her forthcoming 10th album, Bass Persuades. The promo simply featured her title as, “Miley,” and appeared to usher in a new era for the star, sans surname. The name change was reflected across Cyrus’ socials as well. In one Instagram post alongside a portrait of herself with a white rose in her mouth, she wrote: “Music takes hold of us. We feel it, sing it, sometimes dance to it, let it out and carry on. It is powerful, vulnerable, sweet and strong. Heart full, heartache, every part of life in between.…

The family of Molly Ticehurst, who was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend Daniel Billings in her home in central western New South Wales in 2024, has come face-to-face with her killer.Tony Ticehurst on Thursday described his 28-year-old daughter as big-hearted and deeply loved. She was his best friend and confidant, he told the supreme court in Orange.His voice heavy with emotion, Ticehurst addressed Billings directly several times, describing him as selfish.“I hope that every night Molly’s screams keep you awake,” Tony Ticehurst told the first day of Billings’ sentence hearing.“When she died, part of me died with her. I believe…

Australia’s new national agency for environmental protection has approved its first coal project, allowing a Queensland open-cut mine to keep digging until 2055 while clearing threatened woodland and koala habitat.The confirmation of the extension of the Saraji mine, which digs and exports coal for steel making, comes after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, denied this week there was tension over Australia’s fossil fuel exports during talks with Pacific leaders.The National Environmental Protection Agency confirmed to Guardian Australia it had approved the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) mine extension to dig a further 55m tonnes of coal between now and 2055.The approval…

Broadcom CEO Hock Tan speaks at the digital X event in Cologne, Germany, on Sept. 13, 2022.Ying Tang | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesBroadcom shares edged up in extended trading on Wednesday after the chipmaker issued a rosy forecast for the next fiscal year and hinted at growing business with artificial intelligence labs.Here’s how the company did in comparison with LSEG consensus:Earnings per share: $3.32 adjusted vs. $3.24 expectedRevenue: $29.59 billion vs. $29.36 billion expectedFor the fiscal fourth quarter, Broadcom said it expects revenue of $34.8 billion, while analysts were expecting $35.03 billion, according to LSEG. Broadcom’s revenue increased 86% during…

Londoners are able to hail the UK’s first robotaxis – as Uber today becomes the first company to launch a self-driving minicab.Initially, it only has 15 autonomous vehicles with a licence to operate in the city, and each one must have a human safety driver behind the wheel ready to take control if anything goes wrong.Uber said it surveyed London-based customers via the app and more than 100,000 said they would choose a self-driving taxi if one was available, despite incidents of driverless rides malfunctioning in US cities where they already operate.As I found out when I became the first…

Reform UK begin their annual conference in Birmingham a bigger party than they were a year ago, their numbers swelled at Westminster, at Holyrood, in the Senedd and in local authorities.But they also gather amid significant political headwinds, much of which revolve around money.There was that whopping £5m gift to Nigel Farage from Christopher Harborne, the Thailand based British billionaire, and the long running row about whether the money should have been declared by Farage once he became an MP.Then there is, among other things, the Metropolitan Police investigation into donations to the party during the last general election campaign.Reform…