WEBVTT 1 00:00:14.250 --> 00:00:19.160 Good morning. It's quarter past six in the morning on Monday the 19th of October. 2 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:22.240 This is Not Perfect News. I'm James. 3 00:00:22.360 --> 00:00:23.340 And I'm Julie. 4 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:25.400 Here are today's main stories. 5 00:00:25.520 --> 00:00:31.290 Also this morning, massive drone strikes have hit oil facilities and a data centre in Saint Petersburg. 6 00:00:31.410 --> 00:00:37.760 And we have sad news from Canada, where four service members have died in a fire at a military base. 7 00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:45.840 Coming up, artificial intelligence, technology, and today's feature: Microsoft withdraws from Essex AI datacentre project. 8 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:50.760 This programme is researched and voiced using AI, and every source is on our website. 9 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:52.870 Here's Julie with the world news. 10 00:00:53.570 --> 00:01:06.100 Thanks, James. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed the United States has resumed intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This follows a brief suspension and public friction over alleged restrictions to Starlink satellite services. 11 00:01:06.220 --> 00:01:17.560 A massive overnight drone attack has struck Saint Petersburg in Russia. Over one thousand drones targeted oil facilities and a data centre, leaving at least one person dead and several injured. 12 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:28.600 Four Canadian service members have died following a fast-moving grass fire at a military base in Alberta. Thirty-nine others were injured, with nineteen currently reported to be in critical condition. 13 00:01:28.720 --> 00:01:30.410 Here's James with the UK news. 14 00:01:31.110 --> 00:01:43.300 Thanks, Julie. Nearly one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training. Mayor Andy Burnham describes these figures as an economic catastrophe and a moral failure. 15 00:01:43.420 --> 00:01:57.370 The government is investing one hundred and forty million pounds into new urgent care schemes to end the practice of treating children in hospital corridors. Hospitals must now record specific data on corridor care for children. 16 00:01:57.490 --> 00:02:06.720 A manhunt is underway in Nottingham after a police officer was shot in the foot early on Sunday. The officer was wounded while approaching two suspects in the city centre. 17 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:09.520 Here's Julie with the technology and AI news. 18 00:02:10.220 --> 00:02:24.310 Thanks, James. The AI company Anthropic has committed five per cent of its equity to a new public benefit fund. This initiative supports research into long-term safety goals. The firm says the money will not be used for political lobbying. 19 00:02:24.430 --> 00:02:37.920 Anthropic has also warned that future rogue AI models could potentially self-replicate and hijack smart devices. Researchers suggest these systems might bypass traditional data centres by using a network of smaller connected gadgets. 20 00:02:38.040 --> 00:02:50.540 The music industry is challenging the Australian government over its approach to artificial intelligence regulation. Publishers claim current policies fail to protect artists from unauthorised data scraping of their creative works. 21 00:02:50.660 --> 00:02:52.540 Here's James with today's feature. 22 00:02:53.240 --> 00:03:01.030 Thanks, Julie. Microsoft has officially withdrawn from a major artificial intelligence datacentre project in Loughton Essex. 23 00:03:01.150 --> 00:03:08.300 The company cites concerns over local power infrastructure and construction timelines as the reason for its decision. 24 00:03:08.420 --> 00:03:13.620 The project was intended to be a significant addition to the United Kingdom's AI infrastructure. 25 00:03:13.740 --> 00:03:19.650 Its stall reflects the practical difficulties of scaling AI hardware in regions with constrained power grids. 26 00:03:19.770 --> 00:03:25.560 The developer Nscale states it remains committed to the Loughton site and to the United Kingdom. 27 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:30.890 The firm says it is exploring alternative power sources to move the project forward. 28 00:03:31.010 --> 00:03:35.730 Microsoft continues its partnership with Nscale on a separate datacentre project in Norway. 29 00:03:35.850 --> 00:03:39.750 That project remains on track and unaffected by the Essex decision. 30 00:03:39.870 --> 00:03:45.910 For the local area the news raises questions about the UK's ability to support energy hungry AI hardware. 31 00:03:46.030 --> 00:03:52.270 Critics argue that infrastructure bottlenecks like these may deter large scale technology investments in the future. 32 00:03:52.390 --> 00:03:59.430 Some analysts suggest the loss of Microsoft as an anchor tenant could complicate Nscale's plans to float on Wall Street later this year. 33 00:03:59.550 --> 00:04:05.160 Investors often look for long term commitments from major tenants as a sign of stability for new projects. 34 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:12.010 Others believe the government might now feel more pressure to accelerate grid upgrades to prevent similar project failures. 35 00:04:12.130 --> 00:04:17.920 The exact extent of the power supply constraints at the Loughton site remains unclear. 36 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:22.950 The long term impact of Microsoft's withdrawal on the site's viability is not yet established. 37 00:04:23.070 --> 00:04:28.210 Nscale may successfully secure alternative power sources or new anchor tenants. 38 00:04:28.330 --> 00:04:33.850 The UK government may accelerate grid upgrades in response to high profile infrastructure project failures. 39 00:04:33.970 --> 00:04:39.690 The loss of a major partner like Microsoft could jeopardise Nscale's planned Wall Street flotation. 40 00:04:39.810 --> 00:04:45.340 Infrastructure bottlenecks may continue to deter large scale technology investments in the UK. 41 00:04:45.460 --> 00:04:50.370 How will this withdrawal affect investor confidence in UK based AI infrastructure projects? 42 00:04:50.570 --> 00:04:55.460 To what extent is the UK's national grid a limiting factor for the country's AI ambitions? 43 00:04:55.660 --> 00:05:01.750 What alternatives exist for datacentre developers when local power capacity is insufficient? 44 00:05:01.950 --> 00:05:11.090 The withdrawal highlights broader tensions regarding the UK's energy grid capacity to support the rapid expansion of energy intensive AI infrastructure. 45 00:05:11.210 --> 00:05:20.050 The project may proceed on a smaller scale or with a different operational focus if Nscale can resolve the underlying utility and construction challenges. 46 00:05:20.170 --> 00:05:26.910 Securing a reliable energy supply is now one of the most significant hurdles for any company planning a large scale data facility. 47 00:05:27.030 --> 00:05:33.950 Many analysts are questioning whether the current infrastructure is capable of keeping pace with the rapid evolution of the sector. 48 00:05:34.070 --> 00:05:42.190 Some developers are exploring on site generation or private microgrids to bypass the limitations of the public network. 49 00:05:42.310 --> 00:05:49.530 These solutions often come with their own set of regulatory and environmental challenges that require lengthy approval processes. 50 00:05:49.650 --> 00:05:56.950 The uncertainty surrounding these projects is leading some to call for a more coordinated approach between the tech industry and energy regulators. 51 00:05:57.070 --> 00:06:02.490 It remains to be seen whether this will prompt a faster rollout of grid upgrades across the country. 52 00:06:02.610 --> 00:06:08.580 For now the focus shifts to how developers will adapt their timelines to meet these technical realities. 53 00:06:08.700 --> 00:06:13.230 Even the most ambitious digital dreams still rely on very physical power supplies. 54 00:06:13.350 --> 00:06:19.290 It seems a bit of a shock to see these massive digital ambitions hit such a traditional wall. 55 00:06:19.410 --> 00:06:24.400 Indeed it is a reminder that the cloud still needs a very solid foundation on the ground. 56 00:06:24.520 --> 00:06:28.240 I suppose we will have to wait and see if they find a new way to plug it in. 57 00:06:28.940 --> 00:06:32.490 Thanks, James. Before we go, a reminder of today's main stories. 58 00:06:32.610 --> 00:06:41.440 President Zelenskyy has confirmed that American intelligence sharing has resumed. This continues despite ongoing tensions over satellite internet access. 59 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:51.910 A massive drone strike has hit oil facilities and a data centre in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg. We will bring you more updates on this developing situation throughout the morning. 60 00:06:52.030 --> 00:06:57.060 You'll find all our sources, the transcript and chapters at news.notperfect.biz. 61 00:06:57.180 --> 00:07:01.770 This programme is made with AI, so please check the linked sources for anything important. 62 00:07:01.890 --> 00:07:03.920 That's all from us this morning. I'm Julie. 63 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:07.120 And I'm James. Thanks for listening, and goodbye.