What's happening to UK interest rates and what does it mean for mortgages? The Bank of England has kept UK interest rates unchanged at 3.75% for a sixth time in a row, keeping them at the lowest level since February 2023. Before the US-Israeli war with Iran, rates had been expected to fall in 2026, but the economic fallout from the conflict has pushed up inflation across the globe, making cuts unlikely and rises a possibility. Interest rates affect mortgage, credit card and savings rates for millions of people. What are interest rates and why do they change?

Image caption, In a statement, RTÉ said it feels Ireland's participation cannot be justified given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza Irish broadcaster RTÉ will not broadcast or participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. It is the second year in a row that the broadcaster has not participated in the competition. In 2026, RTÉ withdrew from the 2026 contest in Vienna, after the European Broadcasting Union confirmed that Israeli public broadcaster KAN would be allowed to take part. In a statement they said: RTÉ feels that Ireland's participation cannot be justified given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk. Last year Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia boycotted the Eurovision Song Contest, after it was decided Israel could compete. RTÉ added that they also remain deeply concerned by the continued denial of independent access to international journalists to the territory.

AI glasses are a double-edged sword for disabled people, who face unique risks from surveillance.

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The books in our list aim to explain and critique the AI industry and provide deeper political and social context to the AI moment. The books in our list aim to explain and critique the AI industry and provide deeper political and social context to the AI moment. Feeling overwhelmed by the AI doom loop? Here's the essential reading list to make sense of it all It's a chaotic time in an industry that's reshaping our lives - Guardian reporters and experts recommend the books that help explain how we got here, and where we're heading Have you been feeling trapped in an endless cycle of artificial intelligence hype and panic? It's a chaotic time to make sense of the industry that's reshaping our lives, whether or not we like it.

John Quincy Adams urged his son to read the Bible daily, believing Scripture was essential to civics education and raising citizens worthy of the Constitution.

A grassroots live tour by YouTuber Louis Rossmann highlights growing resistance to companies that keep people from controlling their devices. The train blasts through right as Louis Rossmann starts to speak. This has happened several times already at the event he's hosting on a Friday night in San Jose, California. All the speakers before him patiently paused when the train on the nearby tracks roared by, its loud horn blaring, then resumed talking. But Rossmann is mid-sentence in his rapid-fire delivery about the topic he's fiercely passionate about, and he doesn't stop. He shouts over the train.

Pope Leo XIV received a glass sculpture from a charity pushing to "protect human dignity" in the age of AI and help draft an independent set of guiding principles.

Why is London's mobile phone reception getting worse? Mobile users across London say their mobile service is becoming increasingly unreliable, with reports of slow data speeds, failed connections and calls not getting through. Mobile UK, the trade association representing the UK's major mobile networks, said London's mobile phone connectivity continues to lag frustratingly behind other international hubs. Data commissioned by the BBC England Data Unit found some of the worst areas were Liverpool Street and Covent Garden, where service proved to be extremely slow and unreliable during rush hour but worked normally during quieter periods. So what impact does this lack of connectivity have on Londoners and their ability to earn a living, and what are the reasons behind it?

Is the war entering a new phase? Ukrainian officials say at least 19 people have been injured in Russian missile and drone strikes targeting Kyiv and surrounding areas. Ukraine's Air Force said on Thursday that it destroyed or suppressed 131 Russian aerial targets during the overnight attacks, adding that the main areas targeted were the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa regions. Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces hit metallurgical and electronics plants, factories of the military-industrial complex, energy and transport facilities in the three regions. Three bulk carriers and a ferry used to carry supplies for the Ukrainian military were hit in the port of Chornomorsk, added the ministry.