2 h. ago The cost of slop poses a risk to all of us as AI reckons with reality in 2026

Revenues may be rising rapidly, but not by nearly enough to cover the wild levels of investment under wayThe US dictionary Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2025 was “slop”, which it defines as “digital content of low quality that is produced, usually in quantity, by means of artificial intelligence”. The choice underlined the fact that while AI is being widely embraced, not least by corporate bosses keen to cut payroll costs, its downsides are also becoming obvious. In 2026, a reckoning with reality for AI represents a growing economic risk.Ed Zitron, the foul-mouthed figurehead of AI scepticism, argues pretty convincingly that, as things stand, the “unit economics” of the entire industry – the cost of servicing the requests of a single customer against the price companies are able to charge them – just don’t add up. In typically colourful language, he calls them “dogshit”. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago 'I'm vacuuming more than ever since trying Hoover's most powerful cordless vac'

Hoover has launched its most powerful cordless vacuum yet, we tested it out to see how it performs in a busy family home

Politics

8 h. ago Poon’s at Somerset House, London WC2: ‘The tofu dip alone is worth booking a table for’ – restaurant review

Poon’s at Somerset House, London WC2: ‘The tofu dip alone is worth booking a table for’ – restaurant review  The Guardian

Society

8 h. ago Oura Ring's sleek alternative to a smartwatch just got £100 cheaper in rare sale

The fitness tracking brand has knocked up to 30% off its smart rings which is rare

Economics

9 h. ago Botswana pitches ‘golden passport’ scheme as diamond sales fall

Foreigners would pay up to $100,000 for citizenship under the proposal

Politics

10 h. ago Myanmar's military government releases more than 6,100 prisoners on independence anniversary

Myanmar’s military government has granted amnesty to more than 6,100 prisoners and has reduced other inmates’ sentences to mark the 78th anniversary of the country's independence from Britain

Events

10 h. ago Rogue Great Ormond Street surgeon 'harmed up to 100 children' with botched operations on their legs

Almost 100 children were harmed by a rogue surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital through botched surgeries on their legs, a report has found.

Events

12 h. ago More than 100 private schools forced to close after Labour's controversial tax raid on fees

The grim tally was revealed by independent schools' leader Julie Robinson on the first anniversary of the policy being introduced on January 1 last year.

Economics

12 h. ago Rogue Great Ormand Street surgeon 'harmed up to 100 children' with botched operations on their legs

Almost 100 children were harmed by a rogue surgeon at Great Ormand Street Hospital through botched surgeries on their legs, a report has found.

Events

14 h. ago The Rivals theatre review: Classic comedy revival is gorgeous but awkwardly updated

This 250th anniversary revival of Sheridan’s play transports it to the Jazz Age but doesn’t always make it swing

Events

16 h. ago Waiting for the Out review – totally magnificent TV about philosophy in prison

Dennis Kelly’s brilliant drama about a teacher in prison is moving, gripping and almost painfully vulnerable – plus the main character decimates everyone at a middle-class dinner party. What more could you want?It’s hard to imagine a better route into true philosophical inquiry than time in prison. Regret, causality, the nature of freedom: these are urgent issues to the incarcerated. Time is both impossibly empty and passing at terrifying speed. You face endless days and nights with only the inside of your head for company. You are at the sharpest end of practical philosophy, whether you like it or not. What is life for? Could it be changed for the better?Accordingly, the teaching of philosophy in prison is entirely logical. But that depends on who is doing the teaching, and why. This magnificent six-part drama is adapted by Dennis Kelly (with both sitcom romp Pulling and conspiracy epic Utopia on his CV, Kelly is a hard man to predict) from Andy West’s memoir A Life Inside. By beco...

Events

16 h. ago Waiting for the Out review – Poignant prison drama tackles the reality of modern masculinity

Josh Finan gives a delicate, sensitive performance as an academic teaching a beginner class in philosophy at a British prison

Events

16 h. ago Maduro’s capture had the world’s ear – but Trump returned to petty gripes

Though he also discussed plans to ‘run’ Venezuela, the US president could not resist upending his moment of glory“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few but what I’d really like to talk about is my disastrous predecessor and some pathetic city mayors,” is what Winston Churchill didn’t say during Britain’s war against Adolf Hitler.On Saturday, Donald Trump fancied himself at his most Churchillian as he hailed the derring-do of US military heroes who toppled Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in an audacious overnight operation. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Man, 22, is arrested after three patients are attacked in A&E rampage

Greater Manchester Police rushed to Bolton Hospital at around 4.15pm on Friday afternoon after reports of a man attacking patients.

Events

19 h. ago US sees spike in flu cases in December, after most severe season since 2018

Not clear whether more people will get the flu this season, but more than 3,100 people have died in last year in USThe United States has seen the number of influenza cases climb significantly in December, coming after the most severe flu season since 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.It’s not yet clear whether there will be an increase in the total number of people who get the flu this season – or whether more people just got it at once in December – but more than 3,100 people died from the virus in the US in the year ending August 2025, according to the latest data from the CDC. Continue reading...

Politics

21 h. ago Seven dead and dozens missing after migrant boat set for Europe capsizes near Gambia

Gambian President Adama Barrow confirmed that more than 100 survivors have been rescued from the vessel which overturned in the North Bank region

Events

21 h. ago Trump shares shocking picture of Nicolas Maduro restrained after violent capture

The image shows what appears to be Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro, with a blindfold and headphones on and wearing a grey tracksuit after being snatched from his bed

Politics

24 h. ago Welsh council facing up to almost £5m worth of cuts next year

Recommendations for where to make cuts have came from a group that was put together to assist cabinet members with the development of budget proposals for the 2026-27 financial year

Economics

28 h. ago Toyota RAV4 review: One of the cleanest and most efficient family SUVs on offer

The RAV4 is steeped in history having launched in the UK back in 1994. But it has matured with style and now offers excellent efficiency, impressive performance and all-round practicality, wrapped up in a stylish package.

Politics

29 h. ago British fashion giant is shutting ‘truly historic’ superstore TODAY – bringing end to 100

A BRITISH fashion giant is shutting its “truly historic” superstore, bringing the curtain down on a site with more than a century of history. Matalan has confirmed that today, January 3 is the final day of trading at its Cricklewood Broadway store, with shoppers urged to grab last-minute bargains before the doors close for good....

Culture