“Artificial intelligence will eliminate the need for all jobs and give people robot friends who “know you better than you know yourself”, Elon Musk has told Rishi Sunak. The technology billionaire said that the rapid advance of AI technology would raise the question of “how do we find meaning in life” as computers became able to do all jobs better than humans. As Sunak struck a deal for spy agencies and government experts to check AI before it was released, the prime minister and Musk also raised the possibility of Terminator-style robots turning on humans, stressing the need for “off switches”. In an unprecedented 40-minute interview, Sunak questioned Musk about his views on the future of AI after a summit…” – The Times
“New artificial intelligence (AI) technology is to be tested by spies to ensure it doesn’t threaten national security, Rishi Sunak announced on Thursday. The Prime Minister said the landmark step agreed with leading technology firms to vet the next generation of AI models before they’re released will help “tip the balance in favour of humanity”. A total of 10 “like-minded” countries and the EU agreed to collaborate on testing the new technology against a range of “potentially harmful capabilities”. Mr Sunak said the work to assess “national security risks” would be carried out with the support of Britain’s intelligence agencies… The agreement between governments and tech firms is voluntary…” – The Daily Telegraph
“Israeli troops are fighting Hamas militants on the streets of Gaza City as an invasion by ground forces made faster progress than many expected. Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), said the army had now surrounded the city from all directions and engaged with the militants defending it. “We have advanced another significant stage in the war,” he said. “The forces are in the heart of northern Gaza, operating in Gaza City, surrounding it, and deepening the offensive and its achievements.” The IDF said 19 of its men had been killed since the beginning of the invasion a week ago, including a lieutenant colonel. However, it said that it had killed 130 “Hamas terrorists” on Thursday afternoon alone.” – The Times
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“Austria has become the first EU country to follow the UK’s lead and seek to adopt a Rwanda-style deal to deport asylum seekers to a third country. On a visit to the country on Thursday, Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, signed a migration and security agreement with Austria in which the two countries agree to work more closely together with Vienna also stating it would pursue “third country” asylum schemes. It is the first EU country to sign such an agreement with the UK, whose £140 million Rwanda deportation scheme is on hold pending the outcome of a Supreme Court judgement on its legality. Austria’s offshoring scheme will differ from the UK’s in that migrants deported to a third country will be allowed to return to Austria…” – The Daily Telegraph
“Interest rates will remain high for an “extended” period of time and may have to rise again, the Bank of England has warned in blow to Rishi Sunak’s hopes of better economic news ahead of the next election. The Bank voted to hold interest rates at 5.25 per cent as it warned that the war between Israel and Hamas could drive up energy prices again. It forecast that interest rates will not start falling until the summer. It offers little hope for the 1.6million people who will come off fixed-rate mortgages next year, potentially adding thousands of pounds a month to their repayments. The Bank also suggested that there was a 50-50 chance that the economy could enter into a recession next year.” – The Times
“Matt Hancock insisted on personally deciding “who should live and who should die” if hospitals were overwhelmed, the former head of the NHS has said. Lord Stevens of Birmingham told the Covid inquiry that in mid-February 2020, Whitehall planning envisioned 840,000 people dying as the NHS was overwhelmed, but that this did not prompt a change of strategy. He said there was a “disconnectedness” between Whitehall and the realities of the NHS on the ground, saying it was clear at least ten days before Boris Johnson changed strategy that the health service was heading for disaster. Stevens said it was not clear at the time how likely the “reasonable worst-case scenario” of 840,000 deaths was in mid-February, calling for a better system of judging probabilities.” – The Times
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“Boris Johnson blamed the decision to impose the national lockdown in March 2020 on the NHS “failing to grip” the problem of bed blocking, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry heard. The former prime minister claimed it was “the decades-old problem” of delayed discharges that left him with little choice but to introduce restrictions. Delayed discharges occur when a patient is fit and well enough to leave hospital but cannot because a care package, support or accommodation for them is not in place in the community, such as in a care home…Mr Johnson said that the issue meant lockdown was needed to avoid the NHS becoming overwhelmed, which he appeared to suggest would be less likely if more beds were available for a surge in Covid patients.” – The Daily Telegraph
“The West Midlands mayor should be handed the powers and responsibilities held by the police and crime commissioner, the current mayor, Andy Street, has told the home secretary. Street, a Conservative, said crime in the region had “more than doubled” in the year to June 2023 and he had concluded “that enough is enough and crime in the West Midlands has now reached a point where something has to change”. He proposed that the transition should take place after the next mayoral election. The region’s Labour PCC, Simon Foster, described the move as “profoundly undemocratic” and a “cynical and divisive power grab”… He referred to new powers that the government holds under the Levelling up and Regeneration Act…” – The Guardian
“Sir Keir Starmer was facing criticism on Thursday night after failing to wear a poppy when filming a video message about Islamophobia, having earlier worn one as he delivered a speech about the Middle East. Allies insisted the symbol had been removed by mistake rather than because of fears it could have negative connotations for some Muslim voters. A spokesman for Sir Keir said: “It was absolutely not purposely removed. The content of the video had nothing to do with him not wearing a poppy.” The Labour leader wore the poppy on Tuesday morning as he delivered a central London speech on his approach to the war in Gaza. Later that day, when he filmed a video to mark the start of Islamophobia Awareness Month…the symbol was gone.” – The Daily Telegraph