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• Marks & Spencer suffered a cyber-incident earlier in April
• The media are saying the attack was the work of ScatteredSpider
• The retailer is still tackling the outage

The major cyber-incident at British Retailer Marks & Spencer, which has been ongoing for more than a week now, seems to be the work of Scattered Spider, an infamous and slippery threat actor. The news was broken by BleepingComputer, citing “multiple sources” and claiming this was a ransomware attack. The company itself did not want to comment on the information, though.

In late April, news broke of a “cyber incident” that affected M&S stores for “days” and resulted in “small changes” to store operations. The company also confirmed Click and Collect services were impacted, and that some stores were unable to process contactless payments.

A few days later, the company said it had to take some systems and processes offline, and that Click and Collect services had to be paused in all stores. Online orders were halted as a result, as well.

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Old actors or new copycats?

The retailer said in a statement that in order to protect colleagues, partners, suppliers, and the business, it “made the proactive decision to move some [of our] processes offline”. There were no confirmations that this was a ransomware attack, although it all pointed to that being the case.

Now, BleepingComputer says that this was, in fact, a ransomware attack, conducted by none other than Scattered Spider. This is not a state-sponsored threat actor, but rather a financially motivated collective. It usually targets companies in the west, such as tech firms, telcos, and those working in hospitality. The group breaks into networks through social engineering tactics and SIM-swapping.

In earlier years, it used to deploy the BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware variant, but since this group disbanded and disappeared, it pivoted to other solutions. In this case, the publication says it deployed the DragonForce encryptor to M&S’ VMware ESXi hosts on April 24, encrypting virtual machines. DragonForce has recently pivoted to a 'cartel' business model.

Multiple cybersecurity teams have been brought in to investigate and assist with mitigating the damage, including CrowdStrike, Microsoft, and Fenix24.

Via BleepingComputer

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When it comes to viewing numbers, The Last of Us season 2 is bigger than a bloater – and notably, bigger than the first season too.

Where season 1 attracted 4.7 million viewers for its debut, making it the second most-watched HBO premiere in more than a decade, the first episode of The Last of Us season 2 reached 5.3 million people.

The Last of Us has been a huge hit for HBO. As Variety reports, the first season reached 8.2 million people with its finale and this second season got off to an even stronger start.

What makes it one of the best Max shows is that the characters feel incredibly real – and that means their stress is our stress, their fear is our fear, their losses are our losses. And if that's the kind of thing you like, Max has many more shows that deliver the same kind of experience, albeit in very different environments.

While these other shows may not be full of Infected, they're as contagious as cordyceps; if you're looking for shows that'll absolutely hook you like The Last of Us does, I think you'll love these.

The Pitt

Where to watch: Max (US), Foxtel Now / Binge (AU)

The hospital in The Pitt isn't quite as bleak as the one we saw at the end of The Last of Us Season 1 and in flashback in season 2. But it's hardly a holiday resort either.

Noah 'ER' Wyle and a spectacularly strong cast are doctors in a Pittsburgh ER, and over the course of 15 nail-biting hours the story strands come together in a horrifying event that pushes everyone involved to, and sometimes beyond, their limits.

There are no zombies in here, but there's a whole ton of humanity as we follow the residents, nurses and patients through a single marathon day. So far I've only cried at one episode of The Last of Us; I cried at least once in every single episode of The Pitt.

As The New Yorker put it: "It’s structured such that you know you’ll have your heart broken and mended several times per episode – it’s just a matter of how."

True Detective

Where to watch: Max (US), Sky / Now TV (UK)

Over its four seasons True Detective's quality wavered – season 1 has a 92% Rotten Tomatoes critical rating, whereas the you-should-probably-skip-it second season didn't even crack the halfway mark. But the first, third and fourth seasons of this intense, odd and often deeply disturbing cop drama are well worth watching.

The first season was "one of the best detective shows ever aired on TV," CBR said, while RogerEbert.com praised the leads: "[Matthew] McConaughey and [Woody] Harrelson don't just fill out these characters, they disappear into them, delivering two of the best performances you'll see in TV or film this entire year."

Season 2... let's not go there. Instead, let's go to the third season and the magnificent Mahershala Ali. Digital Spy spoke for many: "Come for the unravelling Arkansas mystery - but stay for the mesmerising tour de force that is Mahershala Ali and you won't be disappointed by this latest outing." Los Angeles Magazine agreed. "Ali isn't in every scene in True Detective; it just seems like it. The show is Ali's masterpiece".

One question came up again and again: where are the women? In response, season 4 put Issa López in the director's seat and Jodie Foster and Kali Reis centre stage for a disturbing snow-set nightmare.

"The Jodie Foster-led revival balances supernatural flourishes with distinctly human horrors," said The New Yorker. And RogerEbert.com described it very well: "A mesmerizing study of murder, misogyny, racism, cycles of abuse, and possibly something out of H.P. Lovecraft, 'Night Country' will rattle you."

Chernobyl

Where to watch: Max (US), Sky / Now TV (UK)

Chernobyl is a dramatization of the events that created a post-apocalyptic wasteland near Pripyat, then part of the Soviet Union, in 1986. And it's almost unbearable, a masterclass in tension and looming horror.

For The Australian, the short season was "created with an awesome attention to historical accuracy and detail, brought back that harrowing event with frightening clarity and a superbly orchestrated sense of danger and dread." And Collider said that "Chernobyl is a series where you will have to remind yourself to unclench your jaw and un-tense your shoulders while watching it. It is heartbreaking and intense".

For Polygon: "HBO's five-part Chernobyl series is perhaps one of the best examples of cosmic horror that has ever been filmed, and that feat is made more impressive by the fact that the show is based on real-world events." And Vanity Fair said that the show "is not just excellent television; it's paradigm-shifting historical storytelling, the kind of tale that alters, ever-so-subtly, the texture of the real world."

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Enjoy ultra-HD detail that takes full advantage of big screens for the ultimate home theater. These are some of the best projectors I've ever tested.

The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that a three-judge panel would hear arguments on May 6 in the case of Rumeysa Ozturk. She's been detained for five weeks as of Tuesday.

(Image credit: Rodrique Ngowi)

• 25,000 workers only saw a 2.8% time saving after using GenAI chatbots
• 8.4% saw new tasks being created, adding to their workloads
• Time savings rarely translate to higher earnings

According to a new working paper from the University of Chicago's Becker Friedman Institute for Economics, generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude have had minimal to no impact on wages or employment so far, despite initiation concerns and worker apprehension.

The findings come from a study of around 25,000 workers in Denmark across 11 AI-exposed occupations. The study found no significant changes in earnings or hours worked after the implementation of these AI tools.

Anders Humlum and Emilie Vestergaard, the paper's authors, also noted no noticeable economic outcomes, such as total employment and wage bills at the firm level.

GenAI isn't actually affecting workers that much, study finds

The paper explores how companies can guide their workers, noting that encouragement and training efforts can boost adoption. Firm-led investments nearly doubled adoption rates from 47% to 83%, according to the research.

However, the average time savings reported by users was only 2.8% – just over an hour on the basis that an employee is working a 40-hour week. Furthermore, only 8.4% of workers saw new jobs being created, such as teachers monitoring AI-assisted cheating, workers editing AI outputs and crafting better prompts.

Contrary to the time-saving promises, Humlum and Vestergaard noted that these additional responsibilities actually increased workloads in some cases, meaning that time savings only translated into higher earnings 3-7% of the time.

The researchers noted: "While AI chatbots are now widely used – saving users time and creating new job tasks, especially in workplaces that encourage their use – their overall impact on the labor market remains limited."

They also noted that "labor market rigidities appear to delay the economic impact," demonstrating how a company's approach to artificial intelligence can dictate its success.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, April 29 (game #1191).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1192) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1192) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1192) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1192) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1192) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• T

• A

• D

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1192) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1192, are…

• BATON
• TORSO
• ANNEX
• DROWN

This Quordle was really hard work.

Fortunately, to begin, I was faced with a word that had to end ATON, so had no choice but to guess BATON.

However, the next three words were less straightforward. I got TORSO after deducing that TOR was the most obvious letter combination for the start of the word, and I got DROWN by thinking the same with DRO.

No logic was going to help me with ANNEX, but I’m delighted that it only took me one wrong turn before I guessed correctly.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1192) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1192, are…

• UNDER
• BLUFF
• WAIVE
• SHAPE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE
• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT
• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY
• Quordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSE

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, April 29 (game #688).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #689) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• HEEL
• ROOM
• DYNASTY
• FACE
• GIMMICK
• STANDING
• SEATING
• MILDEW
• UPPER
• SOLE
• REGARD
• CHAIRS
• CAPACITY
• ENGROSS
• TONGUE
• IMAGE

NYT Connections today (game #689) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Think feet first
• GREEN: Lodging
• BLUE: Your honor
• PURPLE: Look for disgust

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #689) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A SHOE 
• GREEN: ACCOMMODATION 
• BLUE: REPUTATION 
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "YUCK" 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #689) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #689, are…

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A SHOE HEEL, SOLE, TONGUE, UPPER
• GREEN: ACCOMMODATION CAPACITY, CHAIRS, ROOM, SEATING
• BLUE: REPUTATION FACE, IMAGE, REGARD, STANDING
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "YUCK" DYNASTY, ENGROSS, GIMMICK, MILDEW

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

I made just one mistake today, but I'm classing this as a dirty win as I had no idea what any of the categories were and had zero confidence throughout that any of my four word groups were correct.

At first I saw 16 random words with only three very tenuous links – SOLE and HEEL (soul and heal), CAPACITY and SEATING (theaters), REGARD and STANDING (class system). Instead, I fudged similar-sounding groups together and somehow fluked through.

My mistake came with the final two groups. For reasons I can’t even explain I had ENGROSS wrong but the other three words correct. When I got “one away” I swapped in TONGUE and kicked myself that I’d failed to see this group, at least.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, April 29, game #688)

• YELLOW: COOKING CONCOCTIONS BATTER, DOUGH, MIXTURE, PASTE
• GREEN: SEEN ON A TABLE AT A DINNER PARTY CANDLESTICK, PITCHER, PLACEMAT, PLATE
• BLUE: THINGS TO CLIMB LADDER, MOUNTAIN, ROPE, TREE
• PURPLE: WHAT "DIAMOND" CAN REFER TO GEMSTONE, INFIELD, RHOMBUS, SUIT

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, April 29 (game #422).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #423) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Best in class

NYT Strands today (game #423) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• DOOM
• SEED
• SLUR
• MORBID
• LIME
• SLATE

NYT Strands today (game #423) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #423) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 4th column

Last side: top, 3rd column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #423) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #423, are…

• EYES
• DRESSED
• SMILE
• COUPLE
• ATHLETE
• FRIENDS
• HAIR
• SPANGRAM: YEARBOOK

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

It took me a long time to realize that today’s Strands search was YEARBOOK, or to be precise senior superlatives in yearbooks.

The first correct word I got was EYES, so I thought we could be looking for dogs, which was my initial hunch from the theme “best in class” – although the "best in show" search was not that long ago, so it would have been a quick repeat.

Thankfully, being British and extremely senior I didn’t have to go through the humiliation of yearbooks and having my mullet forever enshrined in print.

Although I get their charm as time capsules, I know I would have been voted “Most likely to bluff their way through life” rather than any of the ego-boosting categories in today’s search.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, April 29, game #422)

• TACO
• TORTOISE
• WALNUT
• NUCLEUS
• NAUTILUS
• ARMADILLO
• SPANGRAM: SHELLS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

I’ve been a loyal Spotify subscriber for the best part of 10 years, and there are many reasons why I’ve stuck with it (my Daylist is the first thing that comes to mind). However, despite this, there are several downsides to one of the best music streaming services - its Smart Shuffle feature being one. But now there’s a new way to disable this annoying feature altogether.

Spotify introduced Smart Shuffle in 2023, a feature that weaves song recommendations in between the ones in your personally curated playlists, and it didn’t sit well with music fans- myself included - to say the very least. Thankfully, you no longer have to put up with its annoyances as users have spotted a new way to disable it.

Eagle-eyed users on Reddit brought attention to the new ‘Enable all play modes’ toggle in the Spotify app settings that was added very quietly. When this setting is enabled, you can sift through the Linear, Shuffle, and Smart Shuffle options when listening to your playlists. Disabling it turns off Smart Shuffle for all of your playlists.

You can now remove Smart Shuffle! from r/truespotify

This new setting appears differently for some users (see below) but has the exact same functionality. So far, it seems as though it’s gradually rolling out globally - I’ve already taken advantage of it - so it may not be visible to all Spotify users just yet.

Comment from r/truespotify Goodbye Smart Shuffle, we never needed you anyway

Though it was designed to ‘breathe new life’ into your listening experience and offer a personal new music discovery alternative, a large portion of Spotify subscribers never warmed up to the feature as a whole, complaining that its rotation of song suggestions lack in variety and don’t live up to its daily renewal promises. On top of that, Smart Shuffle annoyingly interrupts the standard Shuffle function.

When Spotify first brought out Smart Shuffle, I dabbled in it mainly as a means of finding similar songs to fill out my specific playlists, an alternative way of using the ‘Recommended songs’ list at the bottom of each playlist. At first, it was handy, but the novelty wore off rather quickly.

For a feature that uses your music habits as well as the knowledge of Spotify’s music experts to offer new song suggestions, it’s not the most dynamic music discovery feature and lacks scope. There are far better features out there for music discovery - I stand by the trusty New Music Friday playlist that’s generated weekly, and I’ll reiterate my soft spot for Spotify Daylists. So, for now, it’s time to disable Smart Shuffle until Spotify can come up with a better solution.

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• A Windows leaker has found a guided tour for the Copilot app
• This is present in a test build of Windows 11, and offers a six-step introduction to the AI app
• It covers the basics such as how to upload a file to have Copilot examine it, and the major interface elements of the app

Microsoft is apparently planning on introducing a guided tour for the Copilot app, in order to show the uninitiated what the AI assistant can do in Windows 11.

The fresh introduction for Windows 11 preview builds was noticed by PhantomOfEarth on X, as you can see in the below post.

The Copilot app on Windows is getting a guided tour to help new users get started with it. pic.twitter.com/4BRqQiPAWlApril 28, 2025

The leaker provides a quartet of screenshots to show you how the guided tour is currently implemented. (I should note that although it isn’t stated explicitly, the assumption is that this is hidden in Windows 11 test builds, and not yet enabled by Microsoft).

The offer of the guided tour is placed at the top of the screen, above the Copilot text and prompt panel.

If you click to take it, the tour in its current form is something of a whirlwind affair. We’re shown three of the six steps which introduce the prompt box (where you ask Copilot to do things), the button to upload files for Copilot to work with, and the icon to click to transform the app into a mini-window (for multitasking).

(Image credit: MSI) Analysis: An obvious move

A guided tour for newbies to this particular facet of AI in Windows 11 seems like a sound enough move. Not everyone is familiar with Copilot in its new standalone app form, and a gentle introduction to the basic functions isn’t going to hurt. And if you’re not interested, obviously you can just ignore it (dismissing the prompt by turning down the tour).

Indeed, Microsoft might even work to beef up the tour a bit, although that may not be the case given that its purpose is just to deliver a brief introduction to the key elements of the Copilot app.

All of this is assuming that the piece of functionality makes the cut for inclusion in Windows 11, although as noted, I can’t see why it wouldn’t.

As you may recall, Copilot wasn’t always an app. When the AI assistant first arrived in Windows 11, it was integrated directly into the OS as a side panel (that pulled out from the right-hand side of the desktop). Microsoft then changed its mind and split off the AI into a standalone application, so it could be interacted with like a normal app – even though decoupling it from the operating system in this way kind of felt like a step backwards. Particularly when the Copilot app was so basic to begin with, although that has now changed.

Exactly where Copilot is going in Windows 11 remains to be seen, and there’s no shortage of folks who are rather underwhelmed at the progress made with the AI assistant so far. (And some who might’ve been quite glad to encounter a recent bug that accidentally deleted Copilot from Windows 11, rather unbelievably).

A lot of big initial promises about Copilot being able to enact sweeping changes to settings based on broad natural language prompts (such as “make my games faster”) still seem a long, long way off from where we stand right now. Currently, the Copilot app for Windows 11 isn’t that much different to using Copilot on the web.

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Hackman was also in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease and likely had not eaten for a long time, according to the new report. The actor, 95, had been in poor health for some time.

(Image credit: Mark J. Terrill)

Earlier this year, the government accepted, almost in its entirety, the proposed AI Opportunities Action Plan. The ambitious plan demonstrates a significant commitment to the development and deployment of Sovereign AI capabilities to deliver an “AI vision for Britain.”

UK government is bullish about AI’s potential for economic growth, and rightly so. It’s estimated that AI will contribute up to $ 15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Today, Britain is the third-largest AI market in the world, behind the US and China. But the race is gaining pace. For the UK to meet its ambition to deliver the highest sustained growth in the G7 and remain a world leader, it needs a thriving domestic AI ecosystem.

The AI Action Plan represents a defining moment in advancing the UK’s leadership in AI innovation. It prioritizes secure and sustainable AI infrastructure, high-quality data and a skilled workforce, all wrapped up in safe and trusted AI development and adoption. This is a crucial moment for UK enterprises. Those who seize the opportunities it presents and position the UK as “an AI maker, not an AI taker” will succeed. Those who do not risk obsolescence.

The business imperative for Sovereign AI

Sovereign AI represents a crucial strategy for establishing the UK as a global leader in advanced AI capabilities. But the ramifications are broader than that. Sovereign AI also offers UK businesses a pathway to unlock the full potential of AI while mitigating the risks associated with reliance on foreign technologies. To put that into context; more than £ 14 billion worth of inward investment and thousands of jobs were confirmed immediately after the AI Opportunities Action Plan was published.

With that in mind, we should view the AI Action Plan as a call to action to the private sector. UK businesses should seize this moment to embed themselves within the AI ecosystem by forming alliances with technology partners and government stakeholders already championing sovereign AI. And there are more AI-businesses putting their weight behind the UK’s AI strategy every day. These relationships are critical for scaling operations and driving advancements in priority sectors such as healthcare, sustainable energy and education.

What Sovereign AI in the UK looks like

Worldwide, we see three approaches to implementing Sovereign AI: government for government, government for industry, and government with industry. Any country or nation can adopt one or more of these models.

Sovereign AI compute’ is defined in the AI Action Plan as compute owned or allocated by the public sector (what we would class as ‘government for government’ and ‘government for industry’). The AI Action Plan recommends a 10-year investment commitment of Sovereign AI Compute. That includes expanding the capacity of the AI Research Resource (of which The Dawn supercomputer at the University of Cambridge, is part) twenty-fold by 2030.

This represents a significant expansion of the UK’s AI compute capabilities and will ensure that researchers and startups can access the necessary infrastructure to drive breakthroughs. Clearly the opportunities here are vast. But the UK does not need to own or operate all the compute it will need. In fact, the AI Action Plan determines that Sovereign AI compute will almost certainly be the smallest component of the UK’s overall compute portfolio.

We believe it is the third approach, ‘Government with industry’, that arguably presents a greater opportunity for UK enterprises. This collaborative model emphasizes codesigning national strategies with private industry, fostering an environment where private industries can innovate, modernize and lead in AI ecosystems.

For example, the Action Plan recommends establishing ‘AI Growth Zones’ (AIGZs) to lead the accelerated build out of AI data centers. AI developers who choose to work on shared AI priorities as part of these Growth Zones could benefit from a streamlined planning approvals process. There is even discussion about the possibility of relief schemes that incentivize private sector investment.

The public-private collaboration advocated for in the AI Action Plan will enable business and government to get the most from each other and play to their respective strengths. Government can provide policy frameworks and financial support, while private enterprise can contribute expertise, innovation and speedy execution. Crucially, the model also represents an opportunity for quick wins, with smarter procurement on the table, best practice sharing and even ‘AI Sector Champions’ on hand to drive through adoption barriers.

Targeted innovation for national growth

Sovereign AI provides a framework for developing AI solutions that address critical societal and economic challenges. By aligning their objectives with national priorities, such as those outlined in the AI Action Plan, businesses can create targeted innovations with a meaningful impact. For example, the UK ranks healthcare, sustainable energy and education as priority sectors for AI-driven transformation. By collaborating within these frameworks, businesses can both contribute to national development and position themselves as leaders in emerging AI markets.

The dual benefit of this approach lies in its localized impact. Innovations codeveloped with national-level goals in mind are more likely to find support, funding and widespread adoption, making them less susceptible to external disruptions. This directly supports UK businesses in obtaining a competitive advantage against global counterparts, particularly in industries reliant on cutting-edge technologies.

Paving the future with Sovereign AI

Sovereign AI is a defining element of the UK’s vision to secure its position as a global leader in AI. It empowers secure innovation and competitiveness and enables businesses to adapt to the rapidly changing data landscape. And it provides those who want to start up and scale-up their businesses to play an active role in building a prosperous future for the UK.

UK business leaders must seize the opportunity to embed themselves in this evolving AI ecosystem. By aligning their strategies with national frameworks and taking advantage of government-supported partnerships, they can position themselves at the forefront of this transformational wave.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• The Wheel of Time fans have launched a campaign to ensure the show isn't cancelled
• Amazon hasn't confirmed if the high fantasy series will return for a fourth season
• The Prime Video TV Original's latest season was the best-rated one yet

The Wheel of Time (TWoT) fans have rallied together to call on Amazon to renew the high fantasy show for more seasons.

With the Prime Video TV Original's fate hanging in the balance, fans are urging Amazon MGM Studios and fellow production company Sony Pictures Television not to cancel it after three seasons.

With general audiences and critics alike (per Rotten Tomatoes, anyway) labeling it the show's highest-rated entry so far – I even waxed lyrical about it in my review of The Wheel of Time season 3 – many assumed that a season 4 renewal was a case of when, not if.

However, that's not been the case. At the time of publication, The Wheel of Time season 3 only ended 12 days ago, but viewers have grown increasingly concerned by Amazon and Sony's radio silence on the matter. So, they've taken matters into their own hands.

TWoT's fanbase are worried that Amazon and Sony are choking the life out of the Prime Video TV Original (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

The global fan campaign, dubbed 'Renew WoT', is a concerted and concentrated fan effort to prove how eager they are to see TWoT's story told in full.

Indeed, TWoT devotees are petitioning their fellow viewers, as well as Amazon and Sony, to ensure that the program returns for a fourth season and beyond.

In a bid to prove how much they care about one of the best Prime Video shows' future, organizers have set up a website – RenewWot.com – as a hub where worried audience members can throw their weight behind the campaign. There, fans can sign a petition asking the show's production studios to greenlight more seasons, read testimonials from their fellow fanatics, and more.

That's not all. TWoT fans are also being called on to send an email to Amazon and Sony executives via an Action Email webpage to politely show why they want to see the series continue. To date, almost 7,000 emails have been sent to those in the corridors of power.

Will we see Mat, Nynaeve, and Min in season 4 and beyond? (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Lastly, every Friday at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm BST, fans are being asked to take to social media, use the hashtag #RenewWoT, and state why they'd like to see more seasons of Amazon's live-action adaptation of Robert Jordan's book series namesake.

In a press release, the campaign's organizers called the series "a rare example of a major fantasy adaptation with deep character arcs, inclusive casting, and intricate world-building. Consistently improving each season, fans believe its potential is far from finished". The group also believes the campaign "stands out for its tone – focusing on appreciation, not outrage – and amplifying the voices of diverse fans across cultures and backgrounds."

So, will it work or is this another fan petition set to fall on deaf ears? For what it's worth, Josha Stradowski, who plays Rand, exclusively told me that the cast and crew were "confident" that The Wheel of Time season 4 would be greenlit eventually.

A post shared by Wheel of Time Series News (@wot.series)

A photo posted by on

Per audience measurement specialists Nielsen, The Wheel of Time accrued 505 million minutes streamed for the week running March 24 to 30. However, that data only takes US audience figures into consideration and is spread across the series' 21 episodes that were released up to and including March 30. Without more public data to pore over, then, it's still difficult to determine how well the Rafe Judkins-created program has performed worldwide and if it'll return at some point.

Still, fans aren't giving up hope that TWoT will be back.

"We know renewals depend on a lot of factors and maybe it [season 4] just hasn’t been announced yet," one unnamed organizer said. "By showing the studios how much we appreciate the show and want more, we are either validating a decision already made, or giving them a helpful nudge."

Time will tell if all of this hard work has paid off or not. For now, I've reached out to Amazon for an official comment on the fan campaign and I'll report back if I receive a response.

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• Nvidia has released another GeForce hotfix driver to address several issues
• The new hotfix driver 576.26 comes right after hotfix driver 576.15
• Issues of black screens and BSODs remain

Nvidia's RTX 5000 series GPU launch has seemingly set off a barrage of driver issues, with reports of black screens and cases of the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) ever since the first Game Ready Driver 572.16 for the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 was released. Unfortunately, six drivers later, similar problems remain.

Nvidia now has released a new GeForce Hotfix driver 576.26, available on its support page, which includes fixes for several games and crash-related issues. Its arrival comes almost immediately after a previous hotfix (576.15) for the mainline Game Ready Driver 576.02, which was released to address a major temperature sensor bug and other display hiccups.

However, users are still voicing complaints about issues such as black screens when installing new drivers. In some cases, this prevents users from accessing the Windows login screen; instead, they're met with a loading cursor and a black screen. Many beleagued PC gamers took to Reddit to voice their concerns, as you can see:

Comment from r/nvidia Comment from r/nvidia Comment from r/nvidia Comment from r/nvidia

It's clear that Team Green is working hard to address these issues, and consecutive hotfix releases are one indication of that. However, it's not exactly a good look as far as consumers are concerned - especially those looking to obtain a new RTX 5000-series GPU (like the RTX 5060 Ti or the upcoming RTX 5060), as new Game Ready Drivers are often released specifically to support newer GPUs.

While drivers released since 572.16 have been stable for some users, it isn't the case for everyone. RTX 5000-series owners are currently advised by Nvidia to install 572.xx drivers that add official support for their functionality, so rolling back to older drivers isn't really possible for users with these GPUs. I’m currently reviewing an RTX 5000-series laptop, and I’ve been lucky enough to not experience any issues, but judging from the Reddit comments above, many have not been so lucky.

(Image credit: Nvidia) I've stuck with Game Ready Driver 572.47 for months, and I don't regret it

To put it simply, this is the worst series of GPU driver release issues I've seen, as users have been reporting troubles for months. I understand that Team Green is working hard to address these issues, and I applaud that, but gamers spending their hard-earned money on GPUs won't be pleased at all.

I was lucky enough to dodge the bullet of recent driver-related complications. As I highlighted previously, attempting to install a new driver left me with a black screen, forcing a restart, which then left me stuck at another black screen with a loading cursor.

I initially thought this was caused by the problematic Windows 11 24H2 update, so my solution was booting Windows into Recovery Mode and uninstalling the latest quality update, which finally let me back into my system. It was only later, when I realized that other Nvidia GPU users were reporting the same issues, that I rolled back to driver 572.47 - and I’ve been free of major problems since.

There's nothing more that I can suggest other than finding a driver that is stable for your system and avoiding any new version until there's absolute certainty that these hiccups have been resolved. Let's hope that time comes soon...

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HMRC’s recent consultation on e-invoicing marks a significant step in the UK’s efforts to modernize tax compliance. This initiative aims to put the UK in line with EU’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) framework, both sharing a common goal: to drive efficiency in digital tax reporting and real-time compliance.

While e-invoicing is nothing new (in fact, the technology has been in use for over two decades), a growing number of countries are mandating its adoption for certain transactions. Currently, approximately 130 countries have either implemented or are in the process of establishing e-invoicing frameworks, defining both required data and format specifications.

Globally, there is widespread recognition on the importance of standards in facilitating e-invoicing, especially in international trade, with industry estimates suggesting that adopting e-invoicing can reduce invoicing costs by 60-80%. The UK must keep pace to remain a competitive force in the global business landscape.

Where e-invoicing stands in the UK

E-invoicing is legally permitted in the UK; however, it is not mandatory. The UK has made efforts towards digitalization of compliance with the introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) which requires VAT-registered businesses surpassing the required threshold to maintain digital records, and submit VAT returns electronically using compatible software. The only exception is for suppliers to NHS England, who must issue e-invoices via the Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line (PEPPOL) network.

While several accountancy software providers in the UK offer e-invoicing capabilities, adoption remains low. But evidence suggests that wider uptake could offer both business efficiency and tax reporting benefits. E-invoicing can:

• Enhance productivity by reducing administrative burdens and costs
• Improve cash flow through faster payments and better data management
• Streamline tax reporting, reduce errors, and support businesses in meeting their tax obligations

Centralizing the compliance side

As real-time e-invoicing becomes the standard, indirect tax compliance must fundamentally shift alongside this change. Traditionally managed as a separate function, compliance is now integrated directly into transaction systems. Businesses must ensure that tax reporting is seamlessly embedded in their order-to-cash and procure-to-pay workflows to meet real-time reporting requirements.

The operational impact of this shift is substantial. Companies should invest in robust system integrations to avoid inefficiencies, delays, and potential penalties. Research from Vertex highlights the challenge, revealing that 62% of companies publicly report non-compliance issues, while 75% struggle internally to keep up with evolving tax mandates.

To remain compliant and competitive, businesses need an approach that combines technology investment, process re-engineering, and resource allocation.

Compliance as a business imperative

Delaying compliance efforts can lead to costly, reactive solutions. Instead, organizations should take a proactive stance to ensure seamless adherence to evolving regulations.

Staying informed about regulatory changes is essential, and businesses should actively engage with tax authorities, industry bodies, and compliance experts. Networking provides valuable insights and enables organizations to anticipate and prepare for regulatory shifts.

Automation also plays a crucial role in modern tax compliance. Implementing automated tax reporting reduces human error and enables real-time tax filing, ensuring accurate and timely payments. Intelligent invoicing systems that support dynamic tax calculations and real-time validation can significantly enhance compliance efforts.

Choosing scalable solutions that adapt to new regulatory frameworks is equally important. Businesses should implement flexible enhancements to accommodate compliance-specific data requirements, particularly if they operate across multiple jurisdictions. A compliance-first approach ensures smooth transitions without disrupting operations.

Finally, organizations should identify high-risk areas within their tax processes and allocate resources accordingly. Prioritizing compliance efforts in regions with stringent tax mandates can help mitigate potential risks effectively.

Approaches to real-time e-invoicing

As businesses worldwide transition to real-time e-invoicing, three core models have emerged that UK businesses can adopt:

• Post-Audit Model: Invoices are exchanged directly between trading partners without real-time government oversight. Tax authorities retain the right to audit invoices retrospectively.
• Clearance Model: Invoices must be submitted to and approved by the tax authority (or a government certified platform) before they are legally valid and can be exchanged between trading partners. Tax authorities may also require detailed reporting and validation of invoices in real-time or near real-time.
• Hybrid Model: This model often involves continuous transaction controls (CTC), where transaction details are reported continuously to the tax authority, but the invoice itself can still be exchanged directly between trading partners. It combines elements of real-time reporting and post-audit mechanisms.

Looking ahead: Adapting to ViDA and future regulations

With HMRC’s consultation underway, businesses must not only prepare for upcoming changes but also anticipate future regulatory shifts. To stay ahead, organizations should monitor regulatory developments, participate in industry discussions, and invest in adaptable e-invoicing solutions that support real-time tax compliance.

The digitalization of tax compliance is ongoing, and businesses that continuously evolve and adapt will be best positioned to thrive in an era of regulatory transformation.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

A coalition of unions, nonprofits and local governments has sued President Trump, Elon Musk and the heads of nearly two dozen agencies in an effort to block mass layoffs in the federal government.

(Image credit: Roberto Schmidt)

• Hitachi Vantara, a subsidiary of Hitachi, confirmed suffering a ransomware attack
• Working to restore its services, it had to shut down parts of its infrastructure, affecting many clients and services
• The media say this is the work of the Akira ransomware operation

Hitachi Vantara was forced to pull parts of its IT infrastructure offline to counter a ransomware infection. The company confirmed the news in a written statement shared with the media.

Hitachi Vantara is a data infrastructure and analytics company. It is a subsidiary of the Japanese giant Hitachi, and provides storage systems, cloud solutions, and data management software.

Many of its customers are large enterprises from different industries, including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government sectors. Lufthansa, Disney, national banks, and government organizations, all use Hitachi Vantara’s services.

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Akira ransomware

In a written statement shared with BleepingComputer, the company said it suffered a ransomware attack that disrupted its network:

"On April 26, 2025, Hitachi Vantara experienced a ransomware incident that has resulted in a disruption to some of our systems," Hitachi Vantara told the publication, stressing that it took down servers to contain the incident, brought in third-party experts to help, and that it’s working “as quickly as possible” to restore its operations.

While it didn’t say who the threat actors were, BleepingComputer claims this is the work of the Akira ransomware operation, citing a source familiar with the matter. The same source also claims the group stole sensitive files from Hitachi Vantara’s network and is requesting a ransom payment.

Hitachi Vantara’s cloud services have dodged a bullet, the publication further said, but added that in order to contain the incident, the company had to disrupt both Hitachi Vantara systems and Hitachi Vantara Manufacturing. On the flipside, customers with self-hosted environments can still access their data.

Akira first emerged in 2023, targeting businesses in different industries with the usual double-extortion tactics. It focuses on medium and large organizations in manufacturing, education, finance, and healthcare, and breaks in through VPN vulnerabilities and stolen credentials. Some of its more notable victims include Nissan Oceania, Stanley Steemer, and Bluefield University.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Samsung Galaxy S22 devices have received One UI 7 ahead of schedule
• This suggests Samsung's software rollout is going more smoothly
• We're starting to learn what features these older devices will receive

Samsung’s rollout of One UI 7 has been less than ideal, to put it mildly, but things finally look to be back on track as Samsung smartphones seem to be receiving their features ahead of schedule.

Its April rollout to older Samsung devices (outside of betas) already felt late – especially considering Google I/O’s Android 16 showcase (One UI 7 is based on Android 15) is expected in just a few weeks on May 20 and 21 – and that was only compounded by the discovering of a serious bug which caused further delays to Samsung software release.

Since then, a fix has been found and the software update continued, and better yet, it’s being reported (via SammyGuru) that devices as old as the Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 4 are starting to receive One UI 7 in South Korea.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)

This is notable because Samsung said these older Korean phones wouldn’t see the update until some time in May, meaning we’re not only back on track but ahead of schedule.

We may still need to wait a little longer for the same phones to get One UI 7 in other markets, but this is a clear sign that we (thankfully) shouldn’t be waiting too much longer to get the Android 15-based update.

But what will One UI 7 bring to these older, non-S25 devices?

What will One UI 7 look like on older phones?

With One UI 7 now appearing on more non-Samsung Galaxy S25 devices, it’s a lot clearer what features those devices will get – and what features they’re missing out on.

Newre devices should alreday have One UI 7 (Image credit: Samsung / Future)

Galaxy AI features like Now Brief are and Audio Eraser, expectedly, are absent, but older phones do look to be getting a toned down version of Now Bar (Samsung’s version of the iPhone Dynamic Island), though from what’s been shown off so far it looks like mostly a glorified media control bar on older phones.

They are receiving One UI 7’s various cosmetic changes, such as improved app screen customization, upgraded icons, such as the phone's battery, and new Game Booster controls so you can customize your experience for different titles.

We also expect to see a few helpful productivity, security, and camera tools on the older phones, based on this full run-down of every One UI 7 feature from Samsung itself.

As more devices receive the update, we should get a clearer picture of what One UI 7 features will be available universally, and with Samsung seemingly getting ahead of its rollout schedule, it shouldn't take much longer to get access to whatever upgraded tools we get.

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Regardless of which neighborhood you live in, you should have access to at least one solid internet option in Odessa. CNET has found the best internet providers for your needs.