The UK Covid inquiry has accused Rishi Sunak and the UK government of not revealing their messages.
The UK hearing revealed “devastating” information, according to Aamer Anwar, the main lawyer representing the Scottish Covid Bereaved family group.
He said:
The families we represent deserve the truth. The Scottish Covid Bereaved find it inconceivable that the most senior figures in the Scottish government from former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, [deputy first minister] John Swinney, [finance secretary] Kate Forbes to the present first minister Humza Yousaf failed to retain their WhatsApp messages over the two-year period of the pandemic.
The vice-president of the United States, Kamala Harris, has announced her participation in a significant summit on AI safety taking place in the UK next week.
Rishi Sunak has extended an invitation to global leaders, including those from China, and tech executives to meet at Bletchley Park and discuss regulations for technology.
Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the DUP, stated that there are still major differences between his party and the government in discussions about post-Brexit trade agreements.
He participated in a gathering with leaders from other Northern Ireland parties in Belfast to meet with a group of American business executives.
Donaldson said:
We consistently gather as leaders of our party, a practice that has been ongoing for several months now.
There has been extensive collaboration and communication among the parties for several weeks with the hope that we will soon be able to witness the formation of a government.
However, we have not reached that point yet. There are still gaps that need to be addressed and issues that require resolution in our communication with the government. We are actively working every week to resolve these matters.
I believe we have made some strides, but there are still notable deficiencies in regards to guaranteeing that the replacement of the Northern Ireland protocol is effective for Northern Ireland. It is important that these new arrangements allow for seamless trade with the rest of the United Kingdom, eliminating any barriers that may exist under the protocol for the movement of goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, or vice versa.
Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, has been accused of possible plagiarism in her latest book on women economists.
A review conducted by the Financial Times of the publication, The Women Who Made Modern Economics, discovered over 20 instances of text from other works that seem to have been directly copied or slightly altered without proper credit given.
The paper’s examples consist of a Guardian obituary, multiple Wikipedia entries, and a quote from a fellow Labour frontbencher.
Basic Books, the publishers of the book, acknowledged that sentences in the book did not have proper references. Reeves’s office denied any plagiarism but acknowledged that there were mistakes and promised to fix them.
According to a representative who spoke to the Financial Times:
We strongly deny the accusation made against us by this newspaper. These were unintentional errors and will be corrected in future printings.
Basic Books stated that the book contains a bibliography from over 200 sources. It informed the FT:
If information is gathered from various sources, it is not necessary for the author to cite every single one.
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Before his speech on artificial intelligence, Rishi Sunak paid a visit to the Moorfields Eye Hospital in central London.
Dr. Siegfried Wagner and Dr. Xiao Liu demonstrated a retinal scan procedure utilizing the latest technology to him.
The shadow secretary for science, Peter Kyle, has called on Rishi Sunak to follow through with his statements after his speech about the potential risks and concerns surrounding artificial intelligence.
He told Sky News:
AI is currently providing significant advantages for the UK and the possibilities for the future of this advanced technology are limitless. However, it also presents potential hazards.
Ensuring safety is a top priority in order to avoid this technology from becoming uncontrollable.
Rishi Sunak must support his statements with concrete steps and make public the next measures to ensure the safety of the public.
We have not yet seen specific plans for how the government will regulate the most influential AI models.
A government led by the Labour party would establish definitive guidelines for ensuring the safety of AI technology. This would allow for the utilization of this cutting-edge technology in improving our public services and promoting economic growth.
British government officials will convene an urgent committee meeting to address the escalating efforts to negotiate “pauses” in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, following a recent tank attack in Gaza.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden announced that he will be leading a Cobra meeting on Thursday morning, joined by representatives from the Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence, and Cabinet Office.
He reported that there has been some progress in providing necessary aid to Gaza civilians who are facing shortages of food, water, and medicine. However, negotiations between countries are ongoing in order to assist those who are still in need.
According to him, the UK is advocating for designated breaks in hostilities that are both time and location-specific, to facilitate the delivery of essential supplies like water filters and medical kits by aid organizations. However, Britain has refused to comply with demands for a complete cessation of violence.
During an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Dowden stated:
The reason why we don’t support a wider ceasefire is one just has to understand the position of people in Israel. If it had been the case in the UK that a group of terrorists had entered and indiscriminately sought to murder over 1,000 people, there would be demands that we remove this threat.
The Israeli government has the right to protect its citizens from threats, as long as it follows international law. We have conveyed this message to the Israeli government and others.
The situation in Gaza is becoming more and more desperate. A Red Cross team has reported witnessing chaos and fatigue as a result of Israel’s complete blockade, severe shortage of fuel, and constant bombings.
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Dominic Cummings, the top adviser to Boris Johnson during the pandemic, will testify in the Covid inquiry next week. He will be joined by other high-ranking officials from Number 10 who were also involved during that time.
According to PA News, the investigation has verified that Cummings will make an appearance on October 31.
On October 30, Martin Reynolds, who previously served as Johnson’s principal private secretary during his time as prime minister, will provide testimony. Lee Cain, the former director of communications at Number 10, will also give evidence on the same day.
The prime minister has acknowledged that engaging with China regarding artificial intelligence may not yield positive results.
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During a Q&A session, Rishi Sunak discussed the UK’s decision to invite Beijing to participate in its AI safety summit, stating:
I can’t say with 100% certainty that China will be there.
However, I strongly believe that it was the correct decision to invite them.
China is undeniably the second strongest country in terms of AI, following behind the US. This is supported by the significant level of research investment and ongoing activity in the country.
He added:
This does not guarantee success, nor does it ensure complete agreement.
It is important to communicate and interact with others in order to find a comprehensive solution for AI in the long term. This will likely involve a global effort, and it is ultimately up to China to decide if they will participate.
According to Rishi Sunak, byelections pose a challenge for current governments. However, he expressed confidence in his government’s ability to decrease taxes once inflation is reduced.
When asked about a possible byelection for Peter Bone’s seat in Wellingborough, the prime minister stated following his speech on artificial intelligence.
I believe that byelections pose many challenges for current governments. I discussed this topic recently, and we will continue to work hard for the benefit of our country.
As a Conservative, I firmly support reducing taxes. It is evident that taxes should be lowered.
When I assumed the role of prime minister, my main focus was reducing inflation. As I mentioned before, the most significant tax reduction we can provide for the nation is cutting inflation in half. Inflation is what causes individuals to have less money, drives up the costs of goods, and depletes savings.
This approach closely aligns with the principles of Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson, and I believe it is the correct economic strategy.
As mentioned previously, once we decrease inflation, it will be the opportune time to focus on the future. I am committed to creating a more financially advantageous economy for our nation.
I am certain that we will achieve this, but our first priority is to decrease inflation.
The UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, stated that other countries view the UK as a model for technology regulation.
He told reporters:
As a nation, we have a tendency to get this correct.
Our regulatory approach prioritizes principles and proportionality to safeguard essential elements while promoting innovation.
This is the defining characteristic of the United Kingdom.
According to Rishi Sunak, the UK cannot ignore the potential dangers of AI and must face them head on.
During the Q&A session following his speech, the prime minister stated:
Our taskforce is currently dedicating a significant amount of resources towards AI safety research, surpassing the efforts of any other nation. This is a top priority for us.
There is ongoing discussion regarding the likelihood and timeline of these risks occurring, which can be observed among the community of AI professionals and scholars.
I believe that despite any uncertainty, the potential risk may be significant. Therefore, it is important for us to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and protection of others. This is our ongoing commitment.
He expressed that the upcoming safety summit and the establishment of the new institute are indicative of his commitment to ensuring public safety.
Sunak continued:
We must not ignore or expect this to stop happening by avoiding the issue.
AI does not adhere to borders, therefore our best strategy is to proactively enhance our knowledge and abilities to comprehend potential risks and effectively address them.
Rishi Sunak said it was too simplistic to say artificial intelligence would “automate and take people’s jobs”, but admitted that all new technologies have an impact on the labour market.
He answered questions following his presentation in London.
I believe it is crucial to acknowledge that AI does not solely automate tasks and replace human jobs.
Instead of thinking of it as a sole pilot, consider it more like a co-pilot,” he explained, using the example of welfare case workers utilizing AI to assist with their daily responsibilities.
Technology transforms the job market, ultimately leading to a stronger and more efficient economy.
While they may generate overall growth, it does result in shifts within the labor market.
According to Sunak, the most beneficial action the government can take is to provide a top-notch education, which he is striving to accomplish.
It is challenging to anticipate the specific changes in the job market for individuals, but as a governing body, we can ensure the presence of a top-notch education system.
This is the most effective method to ensure that all individuals in our nation reap the rewards of not only AI, but also any other opportunities that come our way.
Source: theguardian.com
