Tag Archives: United Kingdom

25Jul/23

Actors are really worried about the use of AI by movie studios – they may have a point

July 25, 2023FilmsAmazon, Applications of artificial intelligence, Artificial intelligence, Audio deepfake, Brian Cox, Computer graphics, Creative Commons, Deep learning, Deepfake, disney, Dominic Lees, Duncan Crabtree, Extra, Fran Drescher, Gal Gadot, Generative artificial intelligence, Hugh Jackman, Identity theft, Ireland, Liam Budd, London, Manchester, Mathilde Pavis, Netflix, Ryan Reynolds, SAG-AFTRA, SAG-AFTRA strike, Scarlett Johansson, Synthetic media, Tim Burton, United Kingdom, United Statesadmin

Dominic Lees, University of Reading

Film and television actors in the US came out on strike on July 14, causing Hollywood productions to shut down. The action has also had an impact on US films shooting in the UK: director Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2 has “paused” and the production of Deadpool 3, filming at Pinewood Studios with stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, has been stood down.

The dispute is about remuneration for actors, very few of whom enjoy the high income of Hollywood stars. But an additional argument between the union, SAG-AFTRA, and film producers is about the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Actors are fearful of the impact of AI on their careers.

Continue reading →

20Jul/23

How having five friends boosts the adolescent brain – and educational performance<

July 20, 2023SocialAdolescence, Ann, Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, Christelle Langley, Chun Shen, Cognition, Cognitive development, Cognitive neuroscience, Cognitive psychology, Cognitive science, Creative Commons, Friendship, Generation Z, Jianfeng Feng, Puberty, SHUTTERSTOCK, Social cognition, Social psychology, United Kingdomadmin

Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, University of Cambridge; Christelle Langley, University of Cambridge; Chun Shen, Fudan University, and Jianfeng Feng, Fudan University

As most parents of teenagers are acutely aware, there comes a time when children start prioritising their friends over their parents. While young children rely on their parents for social interactions and influences, there’s a notable switch during adolescence, where the influence from peers and friends becomes more important.

Continue reading →

18Jul/23

Penalties, passes, and a touch of politics: the Women’s World Cup is about to kick off

July 18, 2023FootballAmir Nasr Azadani, Auckland, Australia, Brisbane, China, Creative Commons, David Rowe, FIFA, Gianni Infantino, Harry Kane, Ireland, Mahsa Amini, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, OneLove, Qatar, Russia, Sam Kerr, Saudi Arabia, Sepp Blatter, Sydney, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia, Zurichadmin

David Rowe, Western Sydney University

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off this Thursday night, the first football world cup hosted by Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

New Zealand opens the tournament by taking on Norway in Auckland, while Australia’s Matildas will play Ireland in front of an anticipated 80,000 fans at a sold out Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Continue reading →

11Jul/23

Treat culture: why indulging in small, affordable pleasures can help you cope with tough times

July 11, 2023Food and DrinkConsumption, Creative Commons, Emily, Emotions, Happiness, Jason Sit, Paris, Personal life, Philosophy of love, Pleasure, Positive mental attitude, SHUTTERSTOCK, United Kingdomadmin

Kokho Jason Sit, University of Portsmouth

Life today is stressful. Since the start of the pandemic, social media has been flooded with coping mechanisms and wellbeing trends to help people manage their emotions and worries about the state of the world. If you’ve tried therapy and “hot girl walks”, you may also have heard of the latest life hack: buying yourself a little treat.

Continue reading →

10Jul/23

China’s gallium and germanium controls: what they mean and what could happen next

July 10, 2023PoliticsBeijing, Canada, Chemical elements, China, Creative Commons, Gallium, Gavin D. J. Harper, Germanium, Germany, Integrated circuit, Japan, Light-emitting diode, Mark Agnor, Metalloids, Netherlands, Russia, Semiconductor, Semiconductor device, Semiconductor devices, Silicon–germanium, Solar cell, Transistor, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Statesadmin

Gavin D. J. Harper, University of Birmingham

From August, China is to restrict exports of gallium and germanium, two critical elements for making semiconductor chips. With China dominating the supply of both elements, exporters will now need special licences to get them out of the country. The move has the potential to harm a range of western tech manufacturers that use these elements to make their products.

Continue reading →

07Jul/23

How holidaying in developing countries affects local inequality

July 7, 2023TravelAlex, Alexander Tziamalis, Barbados, Creative Commons, Distribution of wealth, Dominican Republic, Economic growth, Economic inequality, Effects of economic inequality, Egalitarianism, Gross domestic product, Income distribution, Income inequality in the United States, India, Poverty, Redistribution of income and wealth, Tanzania, Tourism, United Kingdom, United States, Yuan Wangadmin

A few years ago, one of us (Alex) went for a vacation to the Dominican Republic. The motivation was similar to millions of other tourists every year: escape the daily routine, enjoy the sun and beaches, and gather some strength to face another cold winter.

Unfortunately, a few things weren’t very conducive to a happy break. The staff at the mammoth hotel were making as little as US$1 (£0.79) for a 12-hour shift. Worse, most of them lived in a shanty town nearby. They had no sewers and no reliable electricity.

The hotel also exploited its power over local farmers to procure food exceedingly cheaply. Schools were overcrowded and many children dropped out to work in businesses like these hotels and farms, perpetuating the cycle.

Continue reading →

06Jul/23

World’s oldest profession: still fighting

July 6, 2023SocialAnti-social behaviour order, Claire Finch, Dawson Claire Finch, Decriminalization of sex work, Diana Johnson, English Collective of Prostitutes, Gemma, Human sexuality, Human trafficking, Jack the Ripper, Juno Mac, Lauren Crosby Medlicott, Lenuta Haidemac, London, Migrant sex work, Molly Smith, Niki Adams, Prostitution, Prostitution in the United Kingdom, Prostitution law, Sex and the law, Sex industry, Thomson Reuters Foundation, United Kingdomadmin

By Lauren Crosby Medlicott | Freelance Journalist

The policies:

Street Offences Act 1959, Section 1.

The Crime and Disorder Act, 1998.

Sexual Offences Act 2003, Section 53.

Modern Slavery Act 2015

The Impact:

Criminalised for kerb crawling and working together, British sex workers feel they are fighting a desperate battle with the law to provide for themselves and their families. Continue reading →

03Jul/23

Artificial Intelligence will never be able to beat the complexity of Nature’s Intelligence

July 3, 2023InnovationIndia, United Kingdom, Windsoradmin

India Global Forum’s UK-India Week 2023 culminated with the second Founders and Funders Retreat in Windsor on June 30. The retreat witnessed speakers from the UK and India discuss the themes of emerging technologies, financing future technology, and inspiring journeys. Continue reading

30Jun/23

I’m one of the UK’s official climate change advisers – our new report says the country is no longer a world leader

June 30, 2023EnvironmentCarbon neutrality, China, Climate change, Climate Change Committee, Climate change in the United Kingdom, Climate change policy, Creative Commons, Deben, Department of Energy and Climate Change, Glasgow, Greenhouse gas emissions by Turkey, Joe Dunckley, John Gummer, Kevin Shipp, Mission Zero: Independent Review of Net Zero, Piers Forster, SHUTTERSTOCK, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Statesadmin

Piers Forster, University of Leeds

The UK’s Climate Change Committee – the official independent advisory body of which I am interim chair – has spent the past three months poring over thousands of pages of government strategy documents to inform its latest annual progress report to parliament. And our confidence in the UK meeting its climate goals is now markedly less than it was in our previous assessment a year ago. Key opportunities have been missed.

Continue reading →

27Jun/23

Stephen Lawrence’s murder was covered up by Freemasons in the Metropolitan Police?

June 27, 2023CrimeBlack British history, Eltham, Freemasonry, Institutional racism, Jean Charles de Menezes, Metropolitan Police, Murder of Stephen Lawrence, Police, Racism, Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, Stephen Lawrence, The Secret Policeman, United Kingdom, Walesadmin

June 27, 2023 /Crime/ — The Metropolitan Police is not run by Freemasons. Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that is open to men of all faiths and backgrounds. There are a number of Freemasons who are also police officers, but they do not have any special influence over the running of the force.

There have been some allegations that Freemasons have used their influence to protect fellow members from prosecution, but there is no evidence to support these claims. The Metropolitan Police has a number of policies in place to prevent any form of discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of membership of a fraternal organization. Continue reading →