Ashford’s ghost terminal could be brought back to life by Richard Branson | Letters

The decision to end Eurostar’s monopoly on cross-Channel rail shows that Britain is serious about growth (Virgin Trains on track to challenge Eurostar cross-Channel monopoly with access to key depot, 30 October).Far from just being an inter‑city triumph, allowing Virgin Trains to run rival international rail services brings with it the possibility of reopening the abandoned Ashford International terminal. Opened with £80m of investment, it has been a ghost terminal since Eurostar stopped trains there in 2020.Gathering dust, it has been a symbol of a country that had turned inwards, leaving businesses, tourism and people on the south coast poorer. Research from the Good Growth Foundation shows reopening it would boost our local economy by up to £2

China accuses Dutch of prolonging chip war that threatens to halt car factories

China has told the Netherlands to “stop interfering” in the seized chipmaker Nexperia, accusing it of prolonging a dispute that has disrupted the global car industry.The Dutch government took control of the semiconductor-maker at the end of September amid US security concerns about the company’s Chinese parent, Wingtech Technology.In response, China halted exports of Nexperia products, restricting access to the vital components used in everything from airbags to central locking, and prompting carmakers in the EU, the UK and Japan to issue warnings that supply shortages could lead to stoppages.The EU is in the middle of urgent talks with Beijing to lift export controls on the chips and also on crucial rare earth minerals, after a summit with officials from both sides in Brussels on Friday.On Tuesday, however, China signalled its decisions were still being coloured by the Nexperia dispute, accusing the Dutch of failing to cooperate on export exemptions and urging them to work in a “constructive manner” to ease supply chain issues

Apple Watch SE 3 review: the bargain smartwatch for iPhone

Apple’s entry level Watch SE has been updated with almost everything from its excellent mid-range Series 11 but costs about 40% less, making it the bargain of iPhone smartwatches.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.The new Watch SE 3 costs from £219 (€269/$249/A$399), making it one of the cheapest brand-new fully fledged smartwatches available for the iPhone and undercutting the £369 Series 11 and the top-of-the-line £749 Apple Watch Ultra 3

Experts find flaws in hundreds of tests that check AI safety and effectiveness

Experts have found weaknesses, some serious, in hundreds of tests used to check the safety and effectiveness of new artificial intelligence models being released into the world.Computer scientists from the British government’s AI Security Institute, and experts at universities including Stanford, Berkeley and Oxford, examined more than 440 benchmarks that provide an important safety net.They found flaws that “undermine the validity of the resulting claims”, that “almost all … have weaknesses in at least one area”, and resulting scores might be “irrelevant or even misleading”.Many of the benchmarks are used to evaluate the latest AI models released by the big technology companies, said the study’s lead author, Andrew Bean, a researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute.In the absence of nationwide AI regulation in the UK and US, benchmarks are used to check if new AIs are safe, align to human interests and achieve their claimed capabilities in reasoning, maths and coding

NFL trade deadline: Jets trade away All-Pros Gardner and Williams in franchise teardown

The Indianapolis Colts have acquired two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets in a stunning trade ahead of Tuesday’s NFL deadline, according to multiple reports.In exchange, the Colts will send two first-round picks to New York, marking one of the most significant deals of the season. Gardner, the No 4 overall pick in the 2022 draft, has quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier defenders, earning All-Pro honors in each of his first two years.“New York it’s been real,” Gardner posted with a green heart emoji on X.New York it's been real💚The move comes just months after Gardner signed a four-year, $120

LIV Golf backtracks from short format to 72-hole tournaments after pressure from players

LIV Golf has surprisingly backtracked on one of its founding principles by announcing tournaments in the fourth season of the Saudi Arabian-backed league will be played over 72 holes. Until now, LIV has proudly operated over 54 holes and three days, with the name itself partly based on a Roman numeral reference point. Could a rebrand to LXXII be imminent?The dramatic shift, which is believed to have come after pressure from players, means LIV will soon mirror the schedule traditional golf tours it once tried to upstage. LIV will, however, continue to run both individual and team competition elements.“The most successful leagues around the world – IPL, EPL [English Premier League], NBA, MLB, NFL – continue to innovate and evolve their product,” said Scott O’Neil, LIV’s chief executive