Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

Palantir’s senior UK representative has warned ministers against yielding to ideologically motivated campaigners as they explore the possibility of terminating a £330 million NHS contract for the company’s Federated Data Platform (FDP).The FDP, an AI‑enabled system intended to unify patient information across the health service, is part of a broader portfolio that includes contracts with the Ministry of Defence, several police forces and the UK’s financial regulator.Louis Mosley, executive vice‑chair of Palantir UK, told The Times that abandoning the deal would jeopardise patient care and hinder progress on the NHS’s most pressing challenges. He highlighted that the platform is projected to generate £150 million in benefits by the end of the decade, delivering a £5 return for every pound spent.According to the Financial Times, senior officials have begun informal discussions about activating a break clause that would allow the FDP’s operation to be transferred to an alternative provider once the system becomes fully operational next year.Palantir, a US‑based data‑analytics firm with ties to the Israeli and US militaries and former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contracts, has faced sustained opposition from the British Medical Association, which has long criticised the use of its technology in patient‑care settings.Health officials acknowledge the reputational risk, noting that the controversy now extends beyond traditional Labour‑left and Green Party critics. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson emphasised that the FDP is designed to improve care coordination, accelerate cancer diagnoses and increase treatment capacity, while maintaining strict data‑security safeguards.Health Secretary Wes Streeting, speaking on the Guardian Politics Weekly podcast, recognised public unease about Palantir’s political affiliations, referencing founder Peter Thiel’s right‑wing connections. He reassured listeners that Palantir does not have direct access to patient data, stating, "The platform is operated by us; Palantir never sees the data."Adoption of Palantir’s technology within the NHS has risen from 118 to 151 organisations since June, though it remains short of the government’s target of 240 organisations by year‑end. Labour backbencher Clive Lewis noted that the issue is becoming a visible concern for voters, reflecting broader anxieties about AI and foreign‑owned infrastructure in critical public services.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has embarked on a significant diplomatic visit to Germany, where he met with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss the reconstruction of his war-torn country and the potential return of refugees. During his visit, al-Sharaa highlighted investment opportunities in Syria's energy, transport, and tourism sectors, portraying his homeland as a diverse nation with a wealth of skilled people. He expressed his desire to see some of the Syrians who fled to Germany return to help with reconstruction efforts, particularly those who have acquired German expertise and education. German leaders have expressed their support for Syria's reconstruction. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul pledged to support reconstruction efforts, stating that the Syrians deserve a chance to rebuild their country. Chancellor Merz, who has been keen to limit irregular immigration, also suggested that many Syrians would return home voluntarily, citing the end of the war. The visit comes as Germany has resumed deportations to Syria, although only a handful of cases have been processed so far. About one million Syrians fled to Germany in recent years, many arriving in 2015-2016. However, protests have been registered in Berlin against plans to send refugees back to Syria, under the slogan 'No deportation deals with human rights abusers.' Al-Sharaa's visit was initially planned for January but was postponed due to ongoing fighting in Syria. His trip marks a significant step in Syria's efforts to rebuild and reintegrate with the international community, with Germany playing a crucial role in supporting these efforts.

Submersible hydroelectric systems are emerging as a pivotal component of North America’s clean‑energy strategy, especially as the Trump administration eliminates key subsidies for solar and wind. The technology, already proven in Alaska and Maine, is now being deployed in the densely populated Great Lakes corridor, where electricity demand and prices are climbing sharply. Last month, Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) announced its first urban installation on the St Lawrence River in Montreal, slated to launch two carbon‑fiber turbine units later this year. ORPC’s CEO Stuart Davies highlighted the river’s “consistent, high‑velocity water” and estimated a 60‑90 MW resource potential for the Montreal area alone. In parallel, ORPC is preparing a second project on the Niagara River near Buffalo, New York, and plans a future deployment on the lower Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The timing coincides with record electricity price spikes across the Great Lakes. New York’s public service commission approved substantial rate hikes in September, and further increases are scheduled for 2027, while Michigan and Ohio face similar pressures driven by data‑center expansion. These economic pressures are driving interest in marine‑based power. Unlike traditional hydropower, ORPC’s devices resemble “push‑lawn‑mower blades” and can generate between 0.5 MW and 5 MW continuously, offering a potential baseload for industrial users and a reliable backup during grid outages. Environmental considerations remain central. While Quebec benefits from long‑standing, low‑cost hydropower, U.S. projects endure an average eight‑year licensing timeline. Critics worry about impacts on fish and wildlife, though ORPC cites its Alaska deployment—operating since 2019 without recorded fish injuries despite massive salmon migrations—as evidence of minimal ecological risk. Researchers are also expanding the technology’s reach to slower‑moving waters. University of Michigan professor Michael Bernitsas demonstrated the Vivace system on the St Clair River, capable of harvesting energy from currents as low as 0.5 m/s, suggesting broader applicability across the Great Lakes watershed. Operating in fresh water offers a distinct advantage: the absence of salt eliminates corrosion, extending turbine lifespan and reducing costs compared with ocean‑based projects. Some European tidal installations have even anchored devices to riverbeds to avoid ice damage, a practice ORPC may adopt. Financially, the sector benefits from a 40‑50 % investment tax credit that remains intact, even as the Trump administration phases out Biden‑era subsidies for solar and wind. The National Hydropower Association confirms that marine‑energy tax incentives will stay in place through at least 2033, reshaping the competitive landscape and attracting inquiries from entities in over 70 countries. As electricity bills rise and policy shifts favor alternative renewables, submersible hydropower could become a cornerstone of the Great Lakes’ energy mix, delivering resilient, low‑carbon power while navigating regulatory and environmental hurdles.

Amnesty International has raised concerns that the 2026 Fifa World Cup, set to take place across the US, Canada, and Mexico, may become a 'stage for repression' rather than a celebration of football and unity. The organization published a report titled 'Humanity Must Win,' calling on Fifa and the host countries to take immediate action to protect fans, players, and local communities.The report highlights that while Fifa has promised a tournament where everyone feels safe, included, and free to exercise their rights, the reality on the ground, especially in the US, tells a different story. Amnesty International describes the US as facing a 'human rights emergency' under the Donald Trump administration, marked by mass deportations, arbitrary arrests, and 'paramilitary-style' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.ICE has announced it will be a key part of the security apparatus for the World Cup, despite concerns over its actions, including the killing of two American citizens by ICE agents in Minneapolis in January. Amnesty International also noted that none of the published US host city plans address how fans or local communities will be protected from ICE operations.The organization pointed out that fans from several countries, including Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Iran, and Senegal, face US travel bans, and LGBTQ+ fan groups from England and Europe have expressed concerns about attending matches in the US due to risks to transgender supporters. The report emphasizes that urgent efforts are needed to bridge the gap between Fifa's original promise of a safe and inclusive tournament and the current reality.Fifa stands to earn $11bn from the tournament cycle, but Amnesty's head of economic and social justice, Steve Cockburn, stressed that 'fans, communities, players, journalists, and workers cannot be made to pay the price' for the tournament's success. 'It is these people – not governments, sponsors, or Fifa – to whom football belongs, and their rights must be at the centre of the tournament.'

Demonstrators took to the streets of cities across the United States for the first 'No Kings' protest since the joint US and Israeli war against Iran began one month ago. The protests, which mark the third round of nationwide 'No Kings' demonstrations, saw over 3,300 events planned across all 50 states, with large crowds expected in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.The main event was scheduled for the Minneapolis-St Paul area in Minnesota, known as the Twin Cities, which became a focal point for Trump's hardline immigration crackdown in December. More than 3,000 federal immigration agents descended on the Twin Cities, leading to accusations of excessive force during deportation raids.In January, agents shot and killed two US citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, prompting nationwide outrage and calls for reform. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed as a result of the operation, which was wound down in February.Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders addressed attendees, and rock icon Bruce Springsteen performed at the event, along with folk singer Joan Baez. Actor Robert De Niro told the crowd in Minnesota in a pre-recorded address, 'You've shown bravery in the face of armed attack by government thugs, and you stood together and ran them out of town'.The previous two 'No Kings' marches took place in June and October and drew millions of people. Trump responded to the October protest by posting an AI-generated video depicting himself dumping faeces on the protesters. The US is currently in the midst of campaigns for its pivotal midterm elections in November, which will see Trump's Republican Party seek to defend its majorities in both chambers of Congress.Democrats are hoping to gain seats as Trump's popularity droops. Sanders was among the speakers who reminded protest attendees of the importance of the upcoming vote, saying, 'We will not allow this country to descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy. In America, we the people will rule'.

A devastating incident has occurred off the coast of Greece, where at least 22 migrants lost their lives after being at sea for six days in a rubber boat. The tragedy has brought renewed attention to the perilous journeys undertaken by migrants seeking asylum in Europe, despite stricter restrictions.According to the Greek coastguard, the boat had departed from Tobruk, Libya, on March 21, heading towards Greece, a common gateway for those seeking refuge in the European Union. During the journey, passengers lost their bearings and went without food or water for six days. The coastguard reported that the bodies of those who died were thrown into the sea on the orders of one of the smugglers.Two survivors were taken to a hospital in Heraklion on Crete. Greek authorities have arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, suspected of being people smugglers. Meanwhile, a Frontex European Union Agency vessel rescued 26 people, including a woman and a minor, off the island of Crete.This incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to Europe. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that over 16,770 people seeking asylum arrived in Crete in 2025, with at least 107 people dead or missing in Greek waters during the same period. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) also noted that at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in January due to extreme weather conditions.

House Republicans have shot down a bill passed by the Senate that would have resumed funding for federal agencies tasked with airport screenings, exacerbating a standoff that has resulted in chaos at airports as workers go without pay.In the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would finance most agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the US Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).However, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed he would not bring the Senate-passed bill to the floor for a vote, slamming it as a “joke”. Johnson suggested that the House could advance its own bill fully funding all DHS agencies for two months.President Donald Trump signed an executive memo directing DHS to work with the White House budget director to find a way to pay TSA employees, who have gone without pay since the partial government shutdown began in mid-February.“America’s air travel system has reached its breaking point. This is an unprecedented emergency situation,” Trump wrote in the memo, blaming the impasse on Democrats.Democratic lawmakers have slammed Republicans for rejecting bills that would ensure that TSA employees are paid while continuing to withhold additional funds from immigration enforcement.

In a recent development, human rights groups in Canada have strongly criticized the newly passed Bill C-12, which they claim will significantly undermine refugee and migrant rights in the country.The bill, which became law on Thursday, has been condemned by over two dozen organizations, including Amnesty International Canada, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and the Canadian Council for Refugees. These groups argue that the legislation will put thousands of individuals at risk of persecution, violence, and precarity.Key concerns about Bill C-12 include a new rule that will bar asylum seekers from getting a full hearing at an independent tribunal if they make their applications more than one year after entering Canada. Instead, they will have access to a pre-removal risk assessment, which rights groups say offers fewer protections.The bill also grants the government the power to cancel immigration documents, including permanent or temporary resident visas, and work or study permits, if it deems it in the “public interest” to do so. Critics argue that this will lead to mass cancellations of immigration documents and applications.“This government is replicating US-like anti-migrant sentiment and policies in Canada,” the rights groups said in a statement. They also expressed concerns that the bill will facilitate the sharing of personal information within and outside the country.The Canadian government has justified the legislation as part of a wider effort to reduce pressure on a strained immigration system and bolster border security. However, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has warned that Bill C-12 “may weaken refugee protection”.Refugee advocates say they will continue to push back against the legislation, citing concerns that it will fuel anxiety and fear among refugees and migrants. “People are here to work, to get out of [difficult situations],” said Flavia Leiva of the Welcome Collective refugee rights group. “We can’t forget that refugees are people who fled extremely difficult situations and who can’t go home.”

A tragic incident has unfolded off the coast of Greece, where 22 people hoping to reach Europe from North Africa have died after six days at sea in a rubber boat. Survivors told the Greek coastguard that the bodies of those who had died were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea.The coastguard reported that 26 people, including a woman and a minor, were rescued by a European border agency vessel off the island of Crete. The survivors included 21 Bangladeshi, four South Sudanese, and one Chadian citizen.According to the coastguard, the boat had left Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya, on March 21, and was bound for Greece, a common gateway for those seeking asylum in the EU. During the journey, the passengers lost their bearings and remained at sea for six days without food or water.The Greek authorities have arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, believed to be the smugglers, and are investigating them for "illegal entry into the country" and "negligent homicide".This incident highlights the ongoing Mediterranean migrant crisis, with the number of people who have died trying to reach European soil more than doubling in the first two months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. According to the International Organization for Migration, 559 people died in the Mediterranean during January and February, compared to 287 for the same period last year.