3 h. ago Policymakers who think AI can help rescue flagging UK economy should take heed | Heather Stewart

Healthy scepticism is needed because flaw is that large language models remain prone to casually making things upFrom helping consultants diagnose cancer, to aiding teachers in drawing up lesson plans – and flooding social media with derivative slop – generative artificial intelligence is being adopted across the economy at breakneck speed.Yet a growing number of voices are starting to question how much of an asset the technology can be to the UK’s sluggish economy. Not least because there is no escaping a persistent flaw: large language models (LLMs) remain prone to casually making things up. Continue reading...

Events

31 h. ago Andrew Lloyd Webber is ‘hot again’ –with help from new kids on musicals block

Veteran composer’s work is everywhere, but generation who grew up admiring him say he has never been out of touchWhen Andrew Lloyd Webber walked on stage to collect the Tony award for best musical revival for Sunset Boulevard, it was the first time in 30 years he had been recognised by the American Theatre Wing.The Jamie Lloyd-directed revival was the star of the show at American theatre’s big night last Sunday with its three wins signifying a return to prominence for the veteran composer. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago My unexpected Pride icon: Free Willy helped me see the radical power of coming out

An oppressed orca breaking free to find its true family? It may not be obviously queer, but I’ve found much comfort in Willy and Jesse’s story in this filmI don’t know precisely when I first watched Free Willy. But I do remember that the film was central to a childhood obsession with whales – orcas, specifically – that followed me well into adulthood. (I still remember a lot of random facts, such as “killer whales can live up to 90 years old!” and “their pregnancies are 17 months long!”)Released in 1993, just a few months after I was born, the film follows Jesse – a moody 12-year-old foster kid with abandonment issues – and his unlikely friendship with Willy, an orca confined in a far-too-small pool at a local marine park. Jesse and Willy have a lot in common. Both are antisocial, stubborn and mistrustful, but form a close bond – one that sees Jesse determined to free Willy from the park where he is being exploited for profit by an evil businessman. It’s a classic good v evil tale –...

Politics

53 h. ago Increase summer income and cut costs by checking for unclaimed benefits or discounts

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that there will be no more one-off payments to help people cope with the cost of living crisis in 2025

Politics

4 d. ago Barclays opens London innovation hub with Microsoft and Nvidia onboard

Barclays opens London innovation hub with Microsoft and Nvidia onboard  Finextra Research

Politics

4 d. ago Pep Guardiola has made Man City change that will have 'big impact' on squad

Pep Guardiola has brought in Pep Lijnders as his assistant manager for 2025/26, the man who helped Jurgen Klopp mastermind Premier League and Champions League triumphs at Liverpool

Politics

4 d. ago 13 best fans for 2025 – tried and tested models to help you stay cool

Get ready for heatwaves with these top-rated fans

Politics

9 d. ago Dumfriesshire business hosts launch for search for Helping It Happen Awards 2025

Claxton's Whisky and Dalswinton Estate won the rural business category at last year's awards.

Events

9 d. ago Transfer window updates, World Cup qualifying and more: football news – live

Men’s transfer interactive | Women’s transfer interactiveRead the latest edition of Football Daily | And mail BarryWomen’s Euro 2025: A glitzy, celeb-speckled Euro squad launch helped the feelgood factor around England’s Lionesses a month ahead of this summer’s Euros but there are still questions over squad harmony, strength in depth and player welfare. Words: Suzanne Wrack.Nations League semi-final: Down 5-1 after 67 minutes at the Stuttgart Arena, France scored three goals to reduce their deficit but it was Spain who advanced to Sunday’s final against Portugal. Sid Lowe reports Continue reading...

Sport

1 week ago AD FEATURE: 7 Father’s Day gift and meal ideas you can surprise your dad with this year

Dads deserve to be spoiled - here’s our handy 2025 guide to help you out

Politics

2 w. ago Immunotherapy trial helps cancer patients with tumours live 40% longer

Experts praise groundbreaking results from therapy using genetically modified Car T-cells Cancer patients treated with a pioneering immunotherapy that genetically modifies their own cells to wipe out tumours live 40% longer, according to “exciting” and “groundbreaking” results from a world-first clinical trial.Car T-cell therapy is a new form of immunotherapy where a patient’s own T-cells – a type of white blood cell – are tweaked in a lab to target and kill cancer cells. The designer cells are then infused back into their bloodstream to fight the disease. Continue reading...

Science

2 w. ago AD FEATURE: Reimagining Manchester's skyline: The innovation hubs opening in 2025 helping drive growth across the city

Bruntwood SciTech unveils great workspaces for you to be based at this year

Politics

2 w. ago Late try helps Maroons save face in Game 3 of women’s Origin series

Chelsea Lenarduzzi clinches 18-14 win for QueenslandBumper crowd seals Newcastle as home of women’s gameQueensland salvaged pride in the Women’s State of Origin series by claiming the third contest 18-14 thanks to a second-half comeback in Newcastle that prevented the Blues from securing a first clean sweep in the three-match series.Powerful Maroons prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi crashed over from an Ali Brigginshaw pass with four minutes to go, taking three Blues defenders with her, to put Queensland into the lead and spoil the Blues’ party. “Ali actually gave me a bit of a look, and I knew what she meant,” Lenarduzzi said. “It’s one of my favourite plays, and worked at the right time.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Can trade in soil carbon credits help farmers – and the climate?

Regenerative agriculture has growth potential for the offsets market, but scientists question its green credentialsOn a blustery spring day, Thomas Gent is walking through a field of winter wheat on his family’s farm, which straddles the Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire border. Some of the green shoots reach his knees, while the ground between the plants is covered with clover.Sinking a spade into the soil, Gent grins as he points to the freshly dug clod of earth on the blade. “Look at the root structure,” he says. “It rained 20mm last night. The water has drained down because the soil structure is in the right format.” Continue reading...

Society

3 w. ago ‘If dieting works, where’s the evidence?’ How weightlifting helped Casey Johnston love her body again

The American writer spent year after miserable year trying to be smaller. Then she stepped into a gym, picked up a barbell – and never looked back. She talks about self-confidence, her new book and the joy of eating like a ‘big beautiful horse’Before Casey Johnston started weightlifting, she had assumed it was the preserve of “people who already had some sort of talent or need for it – like you’re a football player, a firefighter or in the military, and you need to be physically capable in that specific way”. Getting started seemed intimidating: the technique, the gym environment.Cardio, however, had always felt intuitive. “You go out the door and you run until you can’t run any more, and that’s it,” she says. As was the idea that it should be punishing. As a younger woman always obsessively trying to lose weight, she ran half-marathons in sub-zero temperatures and feared eating even the calories burned by any run in case it “undid” her hard work – never mind how cold her extremitie...

Economics

3 w. ago First look at how Oldham skyline could be dramatically changed with four huge developments

Four new building complexes are planned

Events

3 w. ago The future of Manchester's tallest tower set to 'shape city's skyline' is in doubt

Councillors will debate it next week

Politics

3 w. ago Zebu Live 2025 to Drive UK’s Web3 Renaissance as London Becomes Global Innovation Hub

Zebu Live 2025 to Drive UK’s Web3 Renaissance as London Becomes Global Innovation Hub  dlnews.com

Politics

3 w. ago Ben Stokes quits alcohol to help hamstring injury rehabilitation

England Test captain to return against Zimbabwe‘It’s just getting harder to do everything’Ben Stokes has stopped drinking alcohol during his latest injury rehabilitation in an effort to be firing on all cylinders for England this summer. The Test captain is set to make his comeback on Thursday in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, having been sidelined since December after tearing his left hamstring in New Zealand.He rushed back from a similar injury last year but his recovery this time after an operation has been painstakingly managed and Stokes has left no stone unturned to fulfil his vow to return in peak physical condition. Speaking to the Untapped podcast, the 33-year-old said: “After my first major injury, I remember the shock of it, after the initial adrenaline had stopped, thinking: ‘How has this happened? We did have a bit of a drink four or five nights ago, could that have played a part? It wouldn’t have helped.’ Continue reading...

Events