"What the fuck is going on?" mutters Michael Fassbender's character through clenched teeth, reasonably early on in the course of this interminable film, based on the lucrative video game series Assassin's Creed. You can imagine each of its stars – Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Essie Davis – saying much the same thing while looking through the script, before being directed to the fee on the last page of their contract. It's an action movie, with dollops of thriller and splodges of Dan Brown conspiracy; and hardly five minutes go by without someone in a monk's outfit doing a bit of sub-parkour jumping from the roof of one building to another. And yet it is at all times mysteriously, transcendentally boring. I bet playing the game is much more exciting.

The Canadian firm is set to invest C$100 million ($75 million) in a new autonomous vehicle-testing hub over several years, the company's chief executive said on Monday, marking a change of direction for the smartphone pioneer. Apple is said to have taken the unusual step of working on its car software far away from its California HQ. QNX, which was bought out by Blackberry in 2010, is known for producing car software. What is REALLY going on in North Korea? 'Explosion' thought... From reacting to a bad gift to buying the perfect present:... Facebook Messenger FINALLY unveils group video calls that... Look up! FOUR asteroids are set to make a'close approach'... What is REALLY going on in North Korea?

Professor Viren Swami, a social psychology expert explains the five things you need to know about giving and receiving gifts He says the best presents are'giver-centric' rather than'recipient-centric' If you're given a present you don't like, the best way to diffuse the situation is just to say'thank you' even if you don't mean it He says the best presents are'giver-centric' rather than'recipient-centric' If you're given a present you don't like, the best way to diffuse the situation is just to say'thank you' even if you don't mean it We've all been there - you excitedly tear into a present, only to be met with yet another pair of socks. But what is the best way to react to a gift you really don't want? Police trial'Big Brother' AI system that is so powerful it... Virtual dating simulator that teaches men how to pick up... Terrifying 13ft Avatar robot takes its first steps:... Santa ISN'T sexist if he gives your daughter a doll:... Police trial'Big Brother' AI system that is so powerful it... Virtual dating simulator that teaches men how to pick up... Terrifying 13ft Avatar robot takes its first steps:... Santa ISN'T sexist if he gives your daughter a doll:... In a series of studies, researchers found that most people think recipient-centric gifts are preferred. Surprise gifts aren't always a good idea, especially if its not on their wish list But something less physical, such as tickets to a show, could bring more enjoyment in the long term Socially responsible gifts, such as charity donations in someone's name, may not leave someone feeling'warm' towards you Practical gifts can be great because the receiver will get use out of them Put yourself in the person's shoes and think about what they might get out of a gift in the long term Surprise gifts aren't always a good idea, especially if its not on their wish list Socially responsible gifts, such as charity donations in someone's name, may not leave someone feeling'warm' towards you Put yourself in the person's shoes and think about what they might get out of a gift in the long term If you do receive a poor gift, one way of defusing the situation is simply to say'thank you' (stock image) Christmas is culturally perceived as a time of giving and spending more of one's income on others, which is associated with greater levels of happiness than spending money on oneself At over seven feet tall, is Freddy Britain's biggest dog?

Cars are increasingly generating more and more data as they become ever more connected and empowered by smart, Internet of Things technology. The need to capitalize on this data is forcing auto manufacturers to rethink their data strategies. Thanks to modern telemetry, vehicles have been gathering and transmitting data on how they are used for several decades. But the real explosion in data volume is down to customer data available from the applications and services available to today's motorists. The generally accepted definition of a "connected car" is a vehicle which can access online information and use it to assist in the maintenance and operation of the vehicle, as well as enhance the comfort and convenience of drivers and passengers.

The study "Future of IT: Hype vs. Reality" revealed that while these emerging technologies have potential in the workplace, IT professionals are grappling with budget and security concerns as they evaluate the impact these technologies can offer today versus in the future. The results show that among emerging technologies covered in the survey, IT professionals in Europe, the Middle East and Africa expect IoT devices and AI technology to have the biggest impact in the workplace, and VR to have the least impact. In fact, 79 percent of IT professionals in the region said IoT devices will be useful to their business practices in three to five years and 55 percent said the same for AI. Although most IT professionals don't expect mass adoption to take off in the workplace for VR and 3D printers, some industries have significantly higher adoption rates than the industry average. "Despite recent innovations in VR and 3D printing, the majority of IT professionals across EMEA are struggling to find viable use cases for the technology in their organisations," said John Webb, general manager of Europe at Spiceworks. "As a result, many can't justify the investment as opposed to AI and IoT that offer tangible benefits for the workplace today.

New mums experience many changes – including dramatic ones in the brain, as scans taken before and after pregnancy have revealed. Elseline Hoekzema at Leiden University in the Netherlands and her team compared brain scans of 25 first-time mothers with those of first-time fathers, plus childless men and women. After having a baby, the mums showed shrinking in some areas of the brain, changes not seen in any of the other groups. Most of the affected areas were in regions of the cerebral cortex that are particularly important for understanding others' intentions and emotions. These same areas became active in MRI scans when mothers viewed pictures of their own babies, but not when shown photos of other people's babies, suggesting these regions are specifically involved in mother-infant bonding.

The VR simulator'gives a man the skillset to put any woman under his spell' Men using the app can virtually enter a bar, where several women are present Hints appear, telling men what to say, and when to touch the woman Many users have expressed concerns with the simulator, with one saying: 'We are not targets. There are no "behaviour patterns women find irresistible"' The VR simulator'gives a man the skillset to put any woman under his spell' Many users have expressed concerns with the simulator, with one saying: 'We are not targets. There are no "behaviour patterns women find irresistible"' In the hopes of making more men Lotharios, a firm has set up a virtual reality dating simulator, which promises to'give a man the skillset to put any woman under his spell' Police trial'Big Brother' AI system that is so powerful it... Will the iPhone 8 ditch glass for PLASTIC? Rumours say Apple... Still stuck for gift ideas? Experts reveal the top gadget...

The machine has taken its first steps, after two years secretly in development Robotics company'Korea Future Technology' is behind the machine Avatar-style robot is controlled by a pilot sitting inside making limb movements The robot is so heavy it makes the ground around it shake when it takes steps A 13-foot tall robot that walks like a human, making the ground around it shake, could become a reality. Seoul-based robotics company'Korea Future Technology' has completed the first tests of its giant human-like robot, called METHOD-1 (pictured) Move over Skype: Facebook trials group audio calls for... Think you have blue eyes? They are actually BROWN: Optical... The biggest map of our universe yet: Chart shows billions of... Was Einstein WRONG about gravity?Controversial new theory... Move over Skype: Facebook trials group audio calls for... Think you have blue eyes? They are actually BROWN: Optical...

In October, French forces were training Kurdish fighters outside the Iraqi town of Dohuk when a drone crashed to the ground. As they inspected the device, it exploded, killing two Kurdish soldiers and wounding many others. A Kurdish official later reported that the drone had been "booby-trapped" with a bomb disguised as a battery case. Former Rep. Jane Harman is the director, president and CEO of the Wilson Center. She served nine terms in Congress, representing the aerospace center of California.

The system maps more than 1 million distinguishable features on a person's face It is so powerful it can identify someone even only from a tiny part of their face Leicestershire police hopes the system will make it easier for police to identify suspects who are arrested but refuse to give their name British police are turning to artificial intelligence to help then identify suspects in blurry or poor quality CCTV images. The system can map more than a million distinguishable features on a person's face so it can learn to recognise them Still stuck for gift ideas? Experts reveal the top gadget... Rovers return! How Coronation Street is dogs' favourite... Why the long face? Study finds horses use visual and... Which emoji is popular in YOUR region?