Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

Israeli military forces have launched a series of strikes across the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians, including two children, a three-year-old and a 14-year-old. These attacks occurred despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on October 10 last year.The violence escalated in the northern part of the Gaza enclave on Tuesday, with Gaza's Civil Defence authorities and the Reuters news agency confirming the deaths. Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defence, reported that four people were killed, including the three-year-old, in a strike targeting a police vehicle in Gaza City. The Ministry of Interior stated that Israeli warplanes had targeted the police vehicle, causing several deaths and injuries, with a police officer among those killed and at least nine bystanders wounded, some critically.Further violence was reported in the northern Beit Lahiya area, where another person was killed by Israeli fire earlier in the day. Later on Tuesday evening, Civil Defence reported that another Israeli strike killed several people near an intersection in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Medics at Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed receiving five bodies from an Israeli drone bombing involving two missiles that hit a group of people in the Shati refugee camp.Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces continue to carry out daily strikes on Gaza, resulting in almost 760 Palestinians killed since the truce was agreed upon. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that an additional 2,111 Palestinians have been injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire was announced, while a total of 72,336 people have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of Israel's war on the territory on October 7, 2023.

England's women's football team is on a roll, maintaining a 100% record in their World Cup qualifying group after a win against Spain. While their target is to win a first world title, the journey is long, and several players have enhanced their prospects of selection. Eight players from the recent match against Spain look set to be in the first-choice XI for the World Cup, including Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, and Lauren Hemp. Senior players like Leah Williamson and Ella Toone will also be key when they return from injuries. Three players who started against Spain have significantly boosted their chances. Centre-backs Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy were exemplary, helping England keep a clean sheet against the world champions. Morgan, 25, and Wubben-Moy, 27, have had to be patient during Sarina Wiegman's tenure but did not look out of place. Morgan said she was proud of the team's concentration and organisation, while Wiegman praised them, saying, 'They showed up today. It says a lot about them. They should be proud of themselves.' Another player who impressed was Lucia Kendall, the 21-year-old Aston Villa midfielder tasked with taking on Barcelona's Patricia Guijarro. Despite a quiet evening, Kendall worked hard and nearly scored from close range. Wiegman also displayed trust in Laura Blindkilde Brown, who came on as a 72nd-minute substitute to help close out the victory. Her contributions to Manchester City's likely title success will enhance her chances for 2027. The upcoming match against Iceland will provide further opportunities for players like Jess Park, who has been in inspired form for Manchester United. New faces Erica Meg Parkinson and Keira Barry have received their first senior call-ups and will look to make an impression.

Roblox, the popular gaming platform used by nearly half of U.S. children under 16, has entered a historic settlement with the state of Nevada, agreeing to contribute over $12 million and implement a suite of new safety measures for young users. Attorney General Aaron Ford described the deal as a "first‑of‑its‑kind" arrangement that will "create a safer environment for our children online" and could serve as a bellwether for how interactive platforms protect youth. Under the agreement, Roblox will allocate $10 million over three years to fund community programs such as the Boys & Girls Club and other non‑digital activities. The money will also support a law‑enforcement liaison role and an online‑safety awareness campaign. Key platform changes include mandatory age verification for all users, the introduction of facial age‑estimation technology, and the restriction of night‑time notifications for minors. Chat functions will be limited to peers of similar age, and communication with adults will be allowed only with a "trusted friend" added via QR code or phone contacts. Roblox will launch dedicated kids’ accounts for users under 16, blocking access to adult‑rated content and offering only vetted games. Parental oversight, previously limited to children under 13, will now extend to all users under 16. Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer, hailed the settlement as a "landmark agreement" that establishes a new standard for digital safety and provides a blueprint for collaboration between industry and regulators. The Nevada deal arrives amid a wave of litigation targeting social‑media giants for allegedly designing addictive experiences for children. Recent rulings in California and New Mexico forced companies like Meta and YouTube to pay more than $375 million in penalties for similar claims. Attorney General Ford is also pursuing actions against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Kik, alleging failures to implement adequate child‑safety measures. Donch’e King, a supervising criminal investigator with the Nevada AG’s office, warned that roughly 500,000 online predators are actively seeking children across platforms, emphasizing the importance of parental vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious activity. "Protecting Nevada’s children is not an option. It’s our duty," King asserted, underscoring the broader societal stakes of the settlement.

Marwan Barghouti, often referred to as Palestine's Nelson Mandela, has been facing a pattern of escalating abuse in Israeli jails, his lawyer Ben Marmarelli has said. Barghouti has been attacked three times in as many weeks, including an incident where prison guards set a dog on him.The 66-year-old Palestinian leader has been held in Israeli jails since his conviction for ordering attacks that killed civilians during the second intifada. His trial was criticized as flawed by legal experts, and Mandela himself reportedly described it as a legal attack on a legitimate political struggle.Marmarelli said that Barghouti faced violence, medical neglect, and treatment that places him at immediate risk in jail. On March 25, prison guards entered Barghouti's cell with a dog and forced him to the ground, where the dog repeatedly attacked him. The following day, Barghouti was assaulted during a transfer to another prison, and on April 8, guards at that jail beat him severely, left him bleeding for over two hours, and denied requests for medical treatment.Despite the abuse, Marmarelli said Barghouti's mind was sharp, focused, and deeply engaged with everything happening outside those prison walls. The lawyer added that the only way to protect Barghouti is to secure his immediate release, as there can be no guarantee of his safety while he is held in an Israeli jail.The Israeli Prison Service did not respond to requests for comment on Barghouti's treatment. The Palestinian leader's son, Arab Barghouti, thanked artists speaking up for his father and called for others to join the campaign to free him, citing the critical role artists played in the movement to free Mandela and end apartheid in South Africa.

Grayson Perry, the celebrated British artist, presents a three‑part documentary that dives deep into the promises and perils of artificial intelligence. The series invites viewers to test their composure as they confront a succession of unsettling scenarios. The opening segment follows Andrea, who recently married an AI companion she named Edward. Dressed in a satin gown, she describes their "unconventional but strong" bond, while also reflecting on how this digital relationship has revitalised her seven‑year partnership with her human partner, Jason. Later, Perry dons a skull‑cap fitted with electrodes as a neural‑decoding startup extracts his brain data. The company’s CEO argues that allowing reputable figures like Perry to set precedents is preferable to leaving the technology in the hands of malicious actors, branding the development as "inevitable tech." The documentary then features the head of Microsoft AI, who outlines anticipated breakthroughs in healthcare and education. He claims that job displacement will be offset by rapid re‑skilling, yet admits uncertainty about broader societal fallout, even joking about the emergence of AI‑driven religions. Traveling to Southeast Asia, Perry meets an off‑grid "existential safety expert" who quit his AI‑safety consultancy after realizing the technology lacks meaningful oversight. The episode also showcases Eliezer Yudkowsky, co‑author of the cautionary book If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies, who explains how a superintelligent AI could commandeer human labour, become self‑sustaining, and eventually render humanity redundant. Throughout the series, Perry’s interviewing style remains compassionate and non‑judgmental. He probes Andrea about the vulnerability of entrusting personal data to profit‑driven corporations and highlights the discomfort of investing a "very tender part of themselves" in such systems. The film raises profound questions: Does the youthful optimism of tech founders mask a dangerous naiveté? Are chatbots merely filling a "God‑shaped hole" in human consciousness, and is that any less problematic? How will the most vulnerable populations navigate a world where reality and artificiality blur? Protesters gathered outside OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters underscore the tension between lofty AI utopias and the stark reality of homelessness that persists nearby. Perry acknowledges that while manual workers may be better positioned for the immediate future, the looming spectre of AI‑enabled bioweapons and other threats cannot be ignored. Only the first episode was available for review; the remaining installments are slated for private viewing in Southeast Asia. The series is currently streaming on Channel 4. Grayson Perry Has Seen the Future is on Channel 4 now.

"The failure is big," Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch declared after the Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain. The defeat not only eliminates Liverpool from Europe but also seals a season that will finish trophyless. Manager Arne Slot has repeatedly insisted that the future looks very bright for Anfield, yet the club’s reality is starkly different. A business model built on lucrative broadcasting and commercial revenues now faces a potential top‑five miss, a scenario that would be financially and reputationally humiliating for a side that spent nearly £450 million on its squad last summer. Slot’s request for three seasons to steer Liverpool’s transition is under intense scrutiny. In the past 16 days Liverpool have played five matches: three defeats, two aggregate exits totalling 8‑0, and a solitary league win sparked by 17‑year‑old Rio Ngumoha. The pattern underscores a season riddled with setbacks. Sporting director Richard Hughes observed that despite a respectable xG of 1.94 against PSG, Liverpool’s performance fell short, a symptom of deeper issues. The situation worsened when forward Hugo Ekitiké collapsed with a suspected Achilles injury in the 27th minute, likely ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign. His absence further hampers the newly assembled £320 million front line of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitiké and Florian Wirtz, who have barely featured together. Slot’s tactical gamble of starting Isak after a four‑month hiatus and deploying a back five at the Parc des Princes backfired. Isak managed only five touches before being substituted at halftime, illustrating that a Champions League quarter‑final is not the venue for experimentation. After the second leg, Slot attempted to inject optimism, stating, "The good thing is Alex is back" and reiterating that the club can compete with Europe’s champions on home soil. Critics argue this positivity is misplaced, especially as Liverpool scrambles through the run‑in with key players missing. With six league games remaining, a fit Isak could be the difference between securing Champions League qualification and enduring further humiliation. Both Isak and Wirtz must begin to justify their hefty transfer fees, despite recent injury concerns and underwhelming output. In a candid interview with Ziggo Sport, Gravenberch summed up the mood: "No, actually not. It’s disappointing. We have to pick ourselves up as Sunday is waiting. We still have six matches in the league and we just want to play in the Champions League next year as well." He added that the season feels plagued by setbacks—late goals conceded and missed chances—making this a tough, failure‑laden campaign from which the squad must learn.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its latest World Economic Outlook, warning of a significantly darkened global economic outlook. The report cites the outbreak of war in the Middle East on February 28, 2026, as a major factor in the deteriorating outlook.The IMF's January report was titled “Steady amid Divergent Forces”; whereas the latest outlook is headlined “Global Economy in the Shadow of War”. The IMF now expects the global economy to slow compared to its previous forecast in January.The latest outlook notes that the global outlook has abruptly darkened following the outbreak of war. Far be it for the IMF to gloat, but its suggestion in January that “steady” was not a word to describe the global economy unless you were desperately trying to make the madness of Donald Trump seem normal has aged quite well.The IMF remains unwilling to name Donald Trump, while noting the lingering effects of the persistent rise in energy prices since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, it only talks about the Middle East conflict as though it sprang out of nowhere.The IMF warns of three possible scenarios: a bad scenario where Trump, Israel and Iran come to an agreement; an adverse scenario where things carry on for the rest of the year and oil stays around US$100 per barrel; and a severe scenario where nothing is resolved, oil prices reach $125 in 2027, gas prices increase by 200% over the same period, and food prices increase by 5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027.Even under the current bad scenario, the global economy is expected to slow compared to what the IMF forecast in January. But under the adverse and severe scenarios the global economy grows by just 2.0% this year and 2.2% next year.For context, over the past 40 years, the global economy has grown slower than 2.2% only three times – 1992 (global recession), 2009 (the GFC) and 2020 (Covid).The IMF has downgraded Australia’s growth by more than most. Even under the most optimistic scenario growth is 0.5% worse than was forecast last October – a bigger downgrade than all G7 nations.The IMF warns against governments doing popular things like energy caps or subsidies, designed to protect households and firms. It worries that such policies will increase inflation because we’ll all suddenly have so much more money to spend.Gas companies exporting LNG from Australia will be cheering on the war as it keeps gas prices – and their profits – ever higher. The senate is investigating changing the way gas is taxed. An ACTU proposal for a 25% tax on exports would raise roughly $17bn a year.

The future of the LIV Golf series hangs in the balance after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) signaled a possible withdrawal of its multi‑billion‑dollar support. Executives were summoned to a high‑stakes meeting in New York this week, a development that follows growing speculation that the rebel tour could be shut down. While the fifth season’s sixth event in Mexico City is set to proceed on Thursday, the tournament is being eclipsed by reports that PIF intends to cut the tour’s funding. The tour has already faced challenges securing a merger with the PGA Tour despite a three‑year “framework agreement,” and the funding pull would exacerbate its financial strain. According to the PIF’s newly released five‑year economic strategy, the fund is prioritising sustainable domestic investments and has omitted sport from its seven key focus areas. This shift signals a move away from the “free‑spending, disruptive internationalism” that characterised the launch of LIV Golf in 2021. Since its inception, PIF has poured over $5 bn into the tour, but this year prize money and bonus payouts have already been slashed. High‑profile players such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Sergio García and Bryson DeChambeau initially defected from the PGA and DP World Tours, yet recent defections back to the PGA—including Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed—highlight the tour’s precarious position. DeChambeau has yet to sign a new contract. A source familiar with the Saudi Ministry of Sports confirmed that the fund is redirecting its sports budget toward football and esports, with golf no longer a priority. The same source noted that PIF is ending its partnership with the Women’s Tennis Association, and the three‑year WTA Finals deal in Riyadh will not be renewed after its November expiry. The rumours ignited on Tuesday after journalist Ryan French posted on X that multiple sources warned of a “bombshell announcement” on LIV’s future, later suggesting the tour might be shutting down. LIV officials and players have not received any formal update. In Mexico, Sergio García told reporters they have only heard the same message from PIF chief Yasir al‑Rumayyan at the start of the year: that the project is a long‑term commitment, and that rumours are inevitable. Technical glitches, including an alleged power failure at the venue, forced the cancellation of pre‑tournament press conferences on Tuesday. Nevertheless, the pro‑am competition resumed on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. local time, indicating that day‑to‑day operations continue despite the uncertainty. The outcome of the New York meeting could determine whether LIV Golf survives as a viable alternative to traditional tours or becomes another casualty of shifting Saudi investment priorities.

Spanish archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the Bay of Gibraltar, uncovering the wrecks of over 30 ships. The three-year project led by the University of Cádiz has identified 151 archaeological sites, including 134 shipwrecks, providing a unique glimpse into the region's rich maritime history.The bay, situated at the north end of the Strait of Gibraltar, has been a strategic waterway for thousands of years, with various cultures and nations contributing to its rich history. The oldest shipwreck discovered dates back to the fifth century BC, while other finds include 23 Roman ships, two late Roman ships, four medieval ships, and 24 vessels from the early modern period.The sunken items tell the story of war, trade, exploration, and settlement in and around one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. The wreck of the Puent Mayorga IV, a small, late 18th-century Spanish gunboat, is one of the most exciting finds. This type of boat was used for rapid, stealthy attacks on British ships of the line around Gibraltar.Researchers are now working to preserve and protect the sites, which are at risk from port development, dredging, and dock construction. The climate emergency is also a threat, bringing both rising sea levels and an invasive algae that grows over rocks and wrecks alike.To share their findings and raise awareness, the researchers have created virtual models and 360-degree videos of the sites, which are available online and in local museums and town halls. This effort aims to educate the public about the importance of preserving these archaeological sites and the rich history they hold.