‘I wish I could push ChatGPT off a cliff’: professors scramble to save critical thinking in an age of AI
With the potential for AI to increasingly substitute independent thought, a pressing question becomes even more urgent: what exactly is a university education for? “It creates hours of additional labor,” echoed Danica Savonick, an English professor at the State University of New York Cortland. California State University has joined several of the world’s largest tech companies to “create an AI-powered higher education system”, as the university put it. Clune, the Ohio State professor, said students have become more curious about his flip phone, which he started using after realizing his smartphone was “destroying” his attention. “There’s kind of defeatism, this idea that there’s no stopping technology and resistance is futile, everything will be crushed in its path,” said Clune, the Ohio State professor.
Source:The Guardian
March 11, 2026 12:03 UTC
One simple way to heal American politics: run more union members
But a new report from the Center for Working-Class Politics looks at a surprisingly simple way that ordinary people might have more influence in our political system: run more union members for office. In fact, we found that union candidates invoked pro-worker themes 159% more than their non-union candidates. Unfortunately, we also find that union candidates are too few and far between. In 2022, just 55 union candidates ran out of 1,200 total, and many of those had only weak ties or short tenures with unions. Like working-class candidates more broadly, most union candidates don’t have any way to support themselves while campaigning.
Source:The Guardian
March 11, 2026 12:01 UTC
No case for Starmer’s energy bailout
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Source:The Times
March 11, 2026 11:29 UTC
Bradford on Avon hotel named one of UK’s top places to stay
Woolley Grange, near Bradford on Avon, has been included on the Times’s exclusive list following a glowing review from travel writer Helen Ochyra. The Times has compiled the list via its “expert team of reviewers”, who have “hand-picked the best hotels in the UK” from hundreds of contenders. The review is less sold on the food, but still scores it a respectable seven out of 10. The culinary offering’s shortcomings lay in “a disappointing lack of consistency in the quality of the dishes and the service”. The new spa now “includes an alfresco hot tub and a full line-up of parent-soothing treatments, from bespoke massages to Elemis facials.”
Source:The Times
March 11, 2026 11:08 UTC
‘Cool restaurant’ near Wiltshire named one of best places
The Times has compiled the list via its “expert team of reviewers”, who have “hand-picked the best hotels in the UK” from hundreds of contenders. According to the paper, “this year’s list celebrates the very best new hotels as well as old favourites with something fresh to say.”Featuring on the list is Michelin-star restaurant Osip, which bagged an impressive overall score of nine out of 10 from the newspaper’s reviewer, Susan d’Arcy. The reviewer writes: “The 11-course tasting menu is obligatory, with enthusiastic waiters delivering a story with each course. Standout dishes included the lovage broth, a heavenly blast of summer sunshine, accompanied by a moreish fermented potato brioche and cultured butter topped with a dehydrated nettle. The boarding arrangements impressed Ms d’Arcy only slightly less than the food and location, resulting in an eight out of 10 rating.
Source:The Times
March 11, 2026 11:08 UTC
NY Times: Trump miscalculated Iran’s retaliation as war costs soar
US President Donald Trump miscalculated Iran’s response to the ongoing aggression by a US-Israeli coalition, while the Strait of Hormuz remains virtually impassable with oil prices hiking up, The New York Times says. The leading American daily said Wednesday that Trump seriously underestimated Iran’s response to the unprovoked war of aggression waged by a US-Israeli military coalition on February 28 and its ripples through the markets. According to the article, citing multiple unnamed sources, the Trump administration wrongly believed that oil prices blip up for a few days and then go down, just like they did during the 12-day war in June last year. Then, when he removed the post after administration officials said no escorts had taken place, markets were once again thrust into turmoil. The search for pathways out of the war has gained urgency since the weekend, as global oil prices surge and as the United States burns through costly munitions.
Source:The Times
March 11, 2026 10:52 UTC
Trump news at a glance: president issues an ultimatum to Congress to get voter ID bill passed
Donald Trump renewed his push on Monday for the Save America Act, a curtailment of voting access, after threatening on Sunday not to sign any bills until Congress approves the legislation. “All voters must show proof of citizenship in order to vote,” Trump said during remarks on Monday at a Republican event in Miami. “No mail-in ballots, except for illness, disability, military or travel.”He claimed that, if the bill were to pass, Democrats “probably won’t win an election for 50 years and maybe longer”. The White House previously confirmed that Trump was pushing for measures to be added to the voting bill on trans issues. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said last week that Trump “added on some priorities” for the bill, including a ban on “transgender transition surgeries for minors”.
Source:The Guardian
March 11, 2026 10:31 UTC
Cheltenham Festival 2026 race times, Gold Cup Day schedule and talkSPORT commentary for iconic event
Mark Walsh produced one of the great Gold Cup shocks in what was the highlight of the festival in 2025. Cheltenham Festival 2026: Dates and start timesThis year's Cheltenham Festival will run from Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13. Each day also has its dedicated title - Tuesday is Champion Day, Wednesday is Ladies Day, Thursday is St Patrick's Thursday and Friday is Gold Cup Day. To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. Find all the best Cheltenham Festival free bet offers from talkSPORT and our partners across the website during the week.
Source:The Times
March 11, 2026 10:05 UTC
Josh Laurito named SVP, data at The New York Times
Photograph: Supplied by The New York Times. The New York Times Company announced last week that Josh Laurito has been named senior vice president, data. The publisher says Josh will have executive oversight for The Times’s data strategy. Mr. Laurito joins The Times from Squarespace, where he served as vice president, applied data and insights. There, he led the company’s data strategy across engineering, analytics, and machine learning, delivering critical AI-powered user features and supporting the company’s growth through its public offering.
Source:The Times
March 11, 2026 09:49 UTC
US Oil Prices Surge Nearly $3 as Middle East Crisis
Both contracts extended losses in early Asian trade, after plunging more than 11% on Tuesday, despite U.S. crude prices leaping 5% at the market's opening. Such a volume would be more than double the 182 million barrels released in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "[It] doesn't look like the oil market thinks that 'largest ever' release of strategic reserves will help much against current crisis," SEB analyst Bjarne Schieldrop said. International Coordination EffortsG7 officials have also gathered online to discuss a potential release of emergency oil stockpiles to soften the market blow. Market Outlook and Analyst PredictionsEnergy consultancy Wood Mackenzie said the war is currently cutting Gulf oil and oil products supply to the market by some 15 million barrels per day, which could raise crude prices to $150 per barrel.
Source:The Guardian
March 11, 2026 09:43 UTC
Trump’s ego-trip war has collided with economic reality but he can’t undo the damage | Rafael Behr
Regime change was the plan, but Trump finds it easier to change plans than regimes. Another push for regime change is possible, but no one should be surprised by retreat to lesser goals. The Kremlin didn’t care about Ukrainian sovereignty when pursuing regime change in Kyiv, and is gratified to see Washington taking the same line with Tehran. Such distinctions are important for rebutting Putin’s cynical exercises in bogus moral equivalence, but not sufficient as justification for Trump’s war. It assumes that one man’s exercise of military power, unchecked by rule of law and without regard for economic consequence, redounds to greater US glory.
Source:The Guardian
March 11, 2026 09:30 UTC
Hasty redeployment of US missiles from South Korea to Middle East leaves Seoul rattled
US media has reported that the Pentagon is moving parts of a Thaad system to the Middle East, citing two officials. Why, critics are asking, did South Korea invest so much political capital in a defence system that could one day be removed? “Japan has not permitted the stationing of US forces so they can sortie from those bases to fire missiles towards the Middle East,” Junya Ogawa told MPs this week. The JoongAng Daily, a conservative South Korean newspaper, said any reduction in the country’s ability to defend itself “inevitably raises concerns”. “The [South Korean] government should work to ensure that any redeployed assets return promptly once their missions end, minimising potential gaps in deterrence against North Korea.
Source:The Guardian
March 11, 2026 08:27 UTC
My granddaughter is a school refuser — how can I help?
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Source:The Times
March 11, 2026 08:05 UTC
Stroud Times celebrates fifth anniversary
An online-only title launched with a mission to eschew “clickbait” and intrusive advertising is celebrating five years of publication. The Stroud Times was launched in 2021 by former Stroud News and Journal staff Ash Loveridge, Matt Bigwood and photographer Carl Hewlett. They have since been joined by ex-BBC Radio Gloucestershire presenter Faye Hatcher, pictiured, who lost her job as a result of the corporation’s local radio cutbacks. In a piece to mark the anniversary, Ash thanked readers and partners who have supported the publication since its launch. “The joy of Stroud Times is that it provides local, free and professional journalism.
Source:The Times
March 11, 2026 08:05 UTC
Uae Flights Update: British Airways cancels UK–Abu Dhabi flights until later this year amid Middle East airspace instability
canvaIsrael-Iran War: AirIndia, IndiGo, Global Carriers Suspend Flights Amid West Asia Airspace ClosuresSpecialrepatriation flights from Muscatto LondonXXRemain cautious about potential scamsXIn a significant update, British Airways has announced several important flight cancellations between the Middle East and the United Kingdom given the ongoing regional disruptions and airspace instability. Not only this, flights between the UK and Abu Dhabi will remain suspended for an even longer period, probably lasting until later this year.The reason behind is ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East. British Airways has scheduled special repatriation flights from Muscat to London’s Heathrow Airport.These have limited number of seats for existing bookings. British Airways advised that customers who believe they can safely travel to Oman should contact the airline’s dedicated assistance line to secure seats on the remaining services. Flight disruptions have affected passengers so the airline ha requested to trust only official communication channels for updates.
Source:The Times
March 11, 2026 08:01 UTC