Oil price expected to surge after Iran strikes and strait of Hormuz closure
Posted on Sunday March 01, 2026

Stock markets around the world could tumble on Monday and motorists are likely to pay more at the pump What the strikes on Iran mean for oil pricesUS–Israeli war on Iran – latest updatesThe price of oil is expected to soar on Monday as the US-Israel war on Iran and the effective closure of the crucial strait of Hormuz rattles investors despite major producers’ pledges to increase its output.US crude is on track to rise by 11% when trading resumes, according to data from the broker IG. The jump comes as Opec+, the cartel of oil producers, agreed on Sunday to step up its output by more than expected as it assessed the impact of the conflict. Continue reading...

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OBR a backseat driver with out-of-date maps, thinktanks tell Rachel Reeves
Posted on Sunday March 01, 2026

Chancellor urged to reform Office for Budget Responsibility to open way to more public investmentRachel Reeves must reform the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to open the way to more public investment, an alliance of thinktanks has argued ahead of the chancellor’s spring forecast on Tuesday.With Keir Starmer’s government under intense pressure after Labour’s defeat by the Greens in Thursday’s Gorton and Denton byelection, the thinktanks called on Reeves to review the watchdog’s remit. Continue reading...

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What is the strait of Hormuz and why is it crucial for oil supplies?
Posted on Sunday March 01, 2026

Effective closure of the narrow waterway could spell trouble for many developed economies US-Israel war on Iran – latest updatesThe US-Israeli war on Iran has ignited fears that escalating military aggression in the Middle East could send oil prices soaring, push up prices at the pump and drive a global economic downturn.The US began “major combat operations” in Iran on Saturday morning, shortly after Israel launched a strike against Tehran. Within hours of the US-Israeli strikes, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reportedly warned tankers in the strait of Hormuz that no ship would be allowed to pass through the world’s most critical oil trade route. Continue reading...

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OpenAI to work with Pentagon after Anthropic dropped by Trump over company’s ethics concerns
Posted on Saturday February 28, 2026

CEO Sam Altman claims military will not use AI product for autonomous killing systems or mass surveillanceOpenAI said it had struck a deal with the Pentagon to supply AI to classified US military networks, hours after Donald Trump ordered the government to stop using the services of one of the company’s main competitors.Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, announced the move on Friday night. It came after an agreement between Anthropic, a rival AI company that runs the Claude system, and the Trump administration broke down after Anthropic sought assurances its technology would not be used for mass surveillance – nor for autonomous weapons systems that can kill people without human input. Continue reading...

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Her husband wanted to use ChatGPT to create sustainable housing. Then it took over his life.
Posted on Saturday February 28, 2026

Kate Fox says Joe Ceccanti was the ‘most hopeful person’ before he started spending 12 hours a day with a chatbotOn 7 August, Kate Fox received a phone call that upended her life. A medical examiner said that her husband, Joe Ceccanti – who had been missing for several hours – had jumped from a railway overpass and died. He was 48.Fox couldn’t believe it. Ceccanti had no history of depression, she said, nor was he suicidal – he was the “most hopeful person” she had ever known. In fact, according to the witness accounts shared with Fox later, just before Ceccanti jumped, he smiled and yelled: “I’m great!” to the rail yard attendants below when they asked him if he was OK. Continue reading...

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Arsenal edge battling Chelsea thanks to Timber and Raya to restore five-point lead
Posted on Sunday March 01, 2026

There were 63 minutes on the clock and the ­Arsenal crowd were in a state of extreme agitation. William Saliba had the ball at the back and he was taking his time – largely because there was nothing on for him. The fans screamed at him to hurry up. To do something. Anything. Chelsea were not just level at 1-1, they had dominated the second half up to this point.Out on the right flank, Jurriën ­Timber gestured for every­body to calm down. There was still time. Arsenal would be fine if they could keep their focus. It took Timber three minutes to practise what he preached. When Declan Rice arched over a corner, Timber wriggled free to head home what proved to be a priceless winning goal. Continue reading...

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Tottenham lacking in attack, midfield, defence and ‘brain’, says Igor Tudor
Posted on Sunday March 01, 2026

2-1 defeat at Fulham was Spurs’ fourth league loss in a row‘We are always late on everything. That’s the problem’Igor Tudor described the situation Tottenham find themselves in as “amazing” and suggested they have just three major problems as they fight relegation: the attack, the midfield and the defence. Spurs’ 2-1 defeat at Fulham was their fourth in a row in the league and leaves them just four points above the relegation zone.“I cannot tell you anything new,” said a downbeat Tudor. “We need to find the forces inside each of us. I said to the players: ‘It’s always what you’re going to do, what you want to do with yourself,’ you know? More personality, more wish to do before reacting, plenty of things … We are lacking when we attack, we lack the quality to score the goal. We are lacking in the middle to run and we are lacking behind to stay there to suffer and not concede the goal. So, an amazing situation. Amazing.” Continue reading...

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