Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

US President Donald Trump has taken to social media to mock UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, sharing a Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit that depicts Starmer panicking at the prospect of a call with Trump. The skit, which aired on the premiere of the new British version of SNL, shows Starmer, played by George Fouracres, trying to avoid a call with Trump.The video was shared on the same evening that Trump and Starmer spoke about the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the US-Israel war on Iran. During their call, the two leaders focused on the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by Iran since the US and Israel launched strikes on February 28.The closure of the strait has sent oil prices soaring, creating the biggest energy crisis since the 1970s. Trump has repeatedly criticized Starmer for not doing enough to support the US efforts to break the blockade, accusing him of being a 'coward' and saying he is 'disappointed' in him.Starmer has asserted that any attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz needs careful consideration and a viable plan, and that his number one priority is to protect British interests and de-escalate tensions. The UK government has given authorization for the US to use its military bases to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Raheem Sterling's much-anticipated move to Feyenoord has yet to yield the desired results, as he struggled to make an impact in the highly anticipated De Klassieker against Ajax. Despite having a chance to attack Ajax's right-back Lucas Rosa, Sterling failed to capitalize, and his performance was marred by a lack of match fitness.The 31-year-old English forward, who joined Feyenoord on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the season, has had a difficult start to life in the Eredivisie. With Feyenoord currently sitting in second place, albeit far behind league leaders PSV Eindhoven, the pressure is on Sterling to deliver results and help the team secure a Champions League spot.Feyenoord's coach, Robin van Persie, acknowledged Sterling's struggles, stating that the player's fitness levels and on-field impact need to improve. Van Persie emphasized the importance of winning matches during this period of Sterling's acclimation, highlighting the need for the team to deliver results.Sterling's performance in De Klassieker was a microcosm of his challenges at Feyenoord so far. Despite showing glimpses of his former self, including a smart first-time ball and some earnest tracking back, he failed to leave a lasting impact on the game. His substitution in the 59th minute was a testament to his underwhelming display.The clock is ticking for Sterling to turn his form around, with Van Persie expressing optimism about the player's potential to improve. However, with only a few months left on his loan deal, Sterling needs to quickly adapt to the Dutch league and prove his worth to Feyenoord and potential suitors.

The US and Iran have been engaged in secretive backchannel talks, mediated by countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Oman, in an effort to prevent further escalation of the conflict in the region. The talks, which were denied by Iran initially, may lead to a resolution, but the path forward remains uncertain.According to reports, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have been in communication, with the Egyptian Foreign Ministry tweeting that conversations were underway on Sunday, 24 hours before Donald Trump's deadline to start attacking Iran's energy infrastructure.The talks have been chaotic, with multiple mediators jostling for the title of peacemaker in chief. Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, spoke with Trump on Sunday, while Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday.Iran's Foreign Ministry initially denied any talks had taken place, saying: “There is no negotiation whatsoever between Tehran and Washington.” However, the ministry later opened up, with spokesperson Esmail Baghaei saying that messages had been exchanged through friendly countries, indicating America's request for negotiations to end the war.The talks may yield a complete and total resolution in the war, according to Trump, who announced that he was holding off from attacking Iran's energy infrastructure due to the “very good and productive conversations” that had been held with Iran.A 15-point deal has been proposed, including joint control of the strait of Hormuz, no nuclear bombs, and no enrichment of uranium. However, Iran's willingness to agree to abandon its right to enrich uranium remains a major sticking point.If talks fail, Trump warned: “We'll just keep bombing our little hearts out.”

UK MPs have called on the government to halt a contract with Palantir, a US-based spy-tech company, after it was revealed that the firm will gain access to a vast trove of highly sensitive UK financial regulation data. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the watchdog overseeing thousands of financial bodies, has hired Palantir to apply its AI systems to two years' worth of internal intelligence data to help tackle financial crime. However, the Liberal Democrats and Green party have raised concerns over Palantir's ties to Donald Trump and the potential risks to national and economic security. The Liberal Democrats have called for a government investigation into the contract, citing concerns that it could be "a huge error of judgment". Palantir, founded by Peter Thiel, a billionaire supporter of Trump, has built up over £500m in contracts in the UK, including with the NHS, police, and Ministry of Defence. The company supports the US and Israeli militaries and the ICE immigration crackdown. Insiders at the FCA have questioned whether there are sufficient safeguards in place to prevent the data from being exploited. There are concerns about the potential for data about sensitive FCA investigations into high-profile figures to be accessed during Palantir's work. The FCA has insisted that Palantir will be a "data processor", not a "data controller", meaning it can only act on instruction from the regulator. The FCA will retain exclusive control over the encryption keys for the most sensitive files, and the data will be hosted and stored solely in the UK. Despite these assurances, MPs have expressed concerns over the risks associated with the contract. Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesperson, called for an investigation into the FCA's Palantir contract, citing concerns over Palantir's ties to Trump. The Green party MP Siân Berry has called for the government to "step in immediately and protect our national and economic security by blocking this contract award". Palantir has denied claims that it may "use customer data for our own purposes", stating that this is "something that we have no business interest in, and that we are legally and contractually prevented from doing".

The recent arson attack on Jewish ambulances in London's Golders Green and the escalating violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank are stark reminders of the dangers of unchecked hatred and intolerance. In Golders Green, a center of Jewish life in London, masked attackers set fire to four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a volunteer emergency service. This antisemitic hate crime has left the community shaken and highlights the growing concern about safety and security. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Israeli settlers have been attacking Palestinian villages, torching homes and cars, and forcing families to flee. This cycle of violence is not only devastating for those directly affected but also has far-reaching consequences for the entire region. The author, David Davidi-Brown, argues that these incidents are interconnected by a growing lack of empathy and understanding between communities. He emphasizes that silence in the face of injustice is complicity and that it is essential to challenge hate and violence wherever it occurs. The article also highlights the importance of solidarity and cooperation in the face of adversity. The author cites the example of the Vivian Silver awards, which honor individuals who refuse to give in to hatred and division. The awards were established in memory of Vivian Silver, a lifelong peace activist murdered by Hamas on October 7. Ultimately, the article concludes that we have a choice about how we respond to these incidents. We can choose to let hatred and fear consume us or refuse to let them shape our actions. By refusing to give in to hatred and instead choosing empathy and understanding, we can work towards a more just and peaceful future.

The horror film The Mortuary Assistant, based on Brian Clarke's popular indie video game of the same name, stands out for its convincing practical effects. The movie recreates embalming techniques with remarkable accuracy, much like the game, which allows players to learn about these processes in detail.The film's strength lies in its simulation element, effectively placing viewers in the shoes of someone preparing a body for cremation. However, this aspect may appeal to a more niche audience compared to mainstream horror movies.Unfortunately, the film lacks balance in its narrative, with the characters of Rebecca and Raymond being portrayed as dark and tormented, leaving little room for contrast or character development. The introduction of demonic possession adds a familiar horror element, but it feels somewhat disconnected from the rest of the story.Despite its well-crafted direction and impressive practical effects, The Mortuary Assistant falls short in delivering a well-rounded horror experience. A potential sequel could explore more complex characterisation or a schlockier, more formulaic approach to create a more engaging narrative.The Mortuary Assistant is available on Shudder and AMC+ from 27 March.

Irish actor Barry Keoghan, known for his roles in various films and upcoming projects, has candidly shared the negative impact of online abuse on his life. In a recent interview with SiriusXM host Ben Harlum, Keoghan disclosed that the relentless online abuse about his appearance has reached a point where he “doesn’t want to go outside” anymore. Despite having left social media in 2024 to escape the harassment, Keoghan admitted that the abuse continues to affect him significantly. He expressed concern about how this online hate might influence his career and personal life, particularly his role as Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles tetralogy. Keoghan acknowledged that while many fans are supportive, there is a “nasty side” to online interactions. He mentioned that he often finds himself “shying away” from public events and feeling the urge to “hide away” due to the constant abuse and hate. This situation has become so severe that it’s affecting his willingness to continue acting, which could be disappointing to his fans. The actor also expressed worry about the potential impact on his three-year-old son, Brando, who may encounter these negative comments in the future. Keoghan emphasized the need to protect his child from the harsh realities of online abuse. Keoghan has been open about his difficult past, including his time in foster care and his mother’s struggles with drug addiction. Recently, he has been involved in projects such as Netflix’s Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man and The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event, where he stars alongside Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, and Joseph Quinn.

The UK government has unveiled plans for seven new towns in England, a move hailed as the most ambitious housebuilding project in the country for over 50 years. These new towns will feature between 15,000 to 40,000 homes each and are designed to be built with coordinated infrastructure, including schools, healthcare facilities, public transport links, and walking and cycling paths. The locations of the new towns include under-developed inner-city land, a historic village, and an existing new town. Notably, up to 40,000 homes are planned around the Bedfordshire village of Tempsford, near the A1, on a former RAF base. This new town will also feature a major station interchange, linking the east coast mainline with a new east-west link between Cambridge and Oxford. Five of the projects are situated within or on the edges of major cities, including two in London. These include: Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield, on the northern edge of London, with up to 21,000 homes. Thamesmead in south-east London, with 15,000 homes, supported by an extension of the Docklands Light Railway. Victoria North in Manchester, with about 15,000 homes. Leeds South Bank, with a planned 20,000 homes. Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc in the north of Bristol, with 40,000 homes. The final project involves 40,000 new homes in Milton Keynes, a city created from Buckinghamshire farmland and villages as one of the second-generation post-war new towns. Housing Secretary Steve Reed emphasized that the plan marks a significant shift in how the UK builds for the future, with communities designed from the ground up to include homes, jobs, transport links, and green spaces.

Have you ever felt like you're racing against the clock, constantly chasing appointments and deadlines? This relentless pursuit of time is a universal experience, but what is time, really? Is it a physical phenomenon or just a tool we use to coordinate our lives? Time is often seen as an independent, physical entity that ticks by relentlessly, but emerging scientific evidence suggests that this isn't the case. Time is more like a mathematical tool, useful for coordinating our interactions, but it doesn't have an independent existence of its own. Just like money, we've become dependent on it, but it's not a physical reality. The pressure to be 'on time' is instilled in us from a young age, and we're constantly surrounded by clocks and digital alerts that divide our day into smaller pieces. This has led to a phenomenon known as 'time famine,' where the more efficient and productive we try to be, the less time we feel we have. Studies have shown that people experiencing time famine are less likely to engage in activities they enjoy, eat healthily, or seek medical attention when needed. Our brains don't have dedicated areas for tracking time, and our experience of it can vary greatly. Time can seem to drag or fly by, depending on our circumstances. For example, people with certain conditions, like akinetopsia, experience time in sudden jumps or frozen moments. The psychedelic drug mescaline can also distort time perception, making it seem like hours or even centuries have passed. Quantum physicists have found that time is not a fixed, physical flow. The famous double-slit experiment shows that a physicist's choice of measurement can influence the behavior of a particle. In a lesser-known variant of this experiment, the physicist's choice at the point of measurement can even influence the particle's past behavior. This suggests that time is not a fixed, linear concept, but rather a flexible and subjective experience. Some indigenous cultures, like the Aymara people of Chile, experience time differently. They see the future as hidden behind them, unseeable and unknowable. The Amondawa people of the Amazon have no clocks or concept of time. Instead, they live in the present, experiencing 'lived time,' which is a personal, malleable experience of change. Lived time is different from clock time, as it's not defined by numerical counters or seconds. Each moment is like a tapestry, woven from changes on multiple timescales. When we focus on lived time, it expands and becomes richer, rather than narrowing or contracting. It's a flow that carries us and connects us with others, rather than something we chase and never catch. To combat time famine, we need to remind ourselves that the clock is a tool, not a master. We should beware of digital alerts and alarms that divide our day into smaller pieces and instead focus on the rich pattern of changing connections that wire us into each moment. By doing so, we can tap into the creative process of lived time and experience a more fulfilling and connected life.