The Great British Switch Off: an update from OpenReach

The Big Switch Off: living on borrowed time... Is the old phone network really the safer option?

Lets explore why Britain’s ageing Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) needs to change and what the move to digital connectivity means for homes, businesses and essential services.

From storms and power cuts to battery backup and protecting vulnerable customers, we examine what resilience really means in the digital age and challenge the assumption that old copper is always more reliable.

With the January 2027 PSTN closure approaching, discover why making the switch safely is a shared responsibility and why preparing early matters.

Not moved from copper to fibre yet? Contact Donline ASAP for options to stay connected!

www.youtube.com

It might be that we would have been better off never developing it’: Geoffrey Hinton doesn’t like the look of the future of AI

Nobel prize-winning computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton - widely considered to be one of the godfathers of AI - has raised concerns over the future of the technology, especially the risks it could be used to shut down global financial systems or cause massive power brownouts.

Just last year, Hinton was reminiscing about how quickly the technology has developed, stating that he “didn't think we'd get here in only 40 years,” and that “10 years ago I didn't believe we'd get here.”

He also recently warned about those with ulterior motives using AI for malicious purposes. “It is hard to see how you can prevent the bad actors from using it for bad things,” Hinton said. Given the recent torrent of AI-enabled cyberattacks, it appears his fears may be coming true. READ MORE...

www.techradar.com

Microsoft's desperation regarding "New Outlook"

 

Microsoft has run out of ways to push New Outlook, so it’s now rolling out a new feature that lets you claim Rewards points when you use it instead of Outlook Classic on Windows 11. 

If Outlook has already applied the update, you’ll find a new Rewards icon in the title bar, and you can open it to claim any pending Rewards.

This section is called “Explore on Outlook,” and Microsoft confirmed that it’ll offer points regularly for checking out features and services in New Outlook. 

www.windowslatest.com

Job cuts, lost customers and a £22bn debt pile: what has gone wrong at Virgin Media O2?

Mike Fries may be totting up swingeing job cuts, a £22bn debt pile and the loss of hundreds of thousands of customers, but he appears to be putting a brave face on the situation. “In our minds, anyway, this is not a crisis,” the boss of the co-owner of Virgin Media O2 said this week.

The UK telecoms company, which offers broadband, TV, landline and mobile services, had just announced £800m in cost savings, including potentially cutting up to a quarter of staff. Fries, the chief executive of Liberty Global, faced searching questions on its future and a potential refinancing of its huge debt pile next year. “We made it clear, we have nothing to add to where we sit today,” he said.

However, for the company’s 16,000 UK staff, the job cuts, and a raft of other measures including abandoning investing in upgrading its cable network to full fibre, are symptomatic of a business if not in crisis, then under extreme pressure. And it has left industry watchers wondering: what has gone wrong at Virgin Media O2? READ MORE...

Meanwhile in other news: Broadband ISP Virgin Media UK restrict Hub 4 router access over security fears.

www.theguardian.com

Reinstate mandatory warning before seizing a vehicle for anti-social driving

Please sign this PETITION to amend Section 59 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 to reinstate the mandatory warning before seizing a vehicle for anti-social driving. The Government should instead introduce strict statutory guidelines and body-worn video requirements for officers before immediate seizure to protect due process.

We believe the 2026 removal of mandatory warnings allow police to immediately seize vehicles based on subjective judgment. We feel this change will result in a lack of due process, creates inconsistent enforcement, and imposes severe financial penalties on motorists without prior notification or an independent tribunal appeal.

Reverting to a 'two-strike' system or mandating strict body-cam evidence could ensure transparency, protect innocent drivers from unfair seizures, and balance anti-social behaviour enforcement with basic legal rights. Please sign this petition - thank you.

petition.parliament.uk

Intel suffers record plunge in ‘absolutely brutal’ Wall Street sell-off

Intel suffered its worst ever stock market plunge on Friday, as fears surrounding AI triggered a tech rout on Wall Street.

The chip maker fell by more than 30pc after warning of a slowdown in PC sales. It blamed the weak fourth-quarter forecast on AI data centres’ seemingly insatiable demand for microprocessors, which has pushed up the price of computers and led to a shortage of components.

Dan Ives, an analyst and partner at Yorkville Ives, said Intel’s PC chip division “was a disaster this quarter driven by higher memory prices/supply issues caused by the AI buildout”.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Why isn't this in the news or trending?

On average, 12 Christians are killed every day in sub-Saharan Africa because of their faith. Yet hardly anyone is talking about it.

While other stories fill our feeds, millions of our brothers and sisters are living with violent persecution, displacement and fear. The church in sub-Saharan Africa is asking us not to look away and speak up for them.

www.opendoorsuk.org