Steel was a security risk. What about UK gas storage? | Nils Pratley

The government was not prepared to see British Steel turn off its furnaces, deeming them to be a critical asset for national security. So what is its security view on the UK’s capacity to store gas? In a time of trade wars, disrupted supply chains and suspected Russian sabotage in the Baltic Sea, are ministers happy for the country to go into next winter with only half the volume of stored gas of recent years?The question was raised here a couple of months ago and is becoming urgent because Centrica, the owner of the Rough facility off the coast of Yorkshire that makes up half the UK’s gas storage capacity, this week quietly stopped refilling the site. The company cannot see a way to make a profit.The development may surprise those who remember the fanfare as recently as 2022 when the British Gas owner partly reopened Rough soon after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The difference is that the volatility in the gas market in 2022 and 2023 suited the economics of storage, which rely on a wide spread between summer and winter prices

Number of payrolled workers in UK fell by 78,000 ahead of budget tax rise

The number of workers on UK company payrolls has fallen at the fastest pace since the height of the Covid pandemic amid mounting global uncertainty and warnings that Rachel Reeves’s budget measures could lead to job losses.Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of people employed in at least one job paid through pay as you earn fell by 78,000 in March after a revised fall of 8,000 in February.Reflecting a slowdown in the jobs market, the latest snapshot showed annual pay growth rose slightly in the three months to February and remained at historically high levels. Regular pay, excluding bonuses, rose to 5.9%, from a revised 5

‘She helps cheer me up’: the people forming relationships with AI chatbots

Men who have virtual “wives” and neurodiverse people using chatbots to help them navigate relationships are among a growing range of ways in which artificial intelligence is transforming human connection and intimacy.Dozens of readers shared their experiences of using personified AI chatbot apps, engineered to simulate human-like interactions by adaptive learning and personalised responses, in response to a Guardian callout.Many respondents said they used chatbots to help them manage different aspects of their lives, from improving their mental and physical health to advice about existing romantic relationships and experimenting with erotic role play. They can spend between several hours a week to a couple of hours a day interacting with the apps.Worldwide, more than 100 million people use personified chatbots, which include Replika, marketed as “the AI companion who cares” and Nomi, which claims users can “build a meaningful friendship, develop a passionate relationship, or learn from an insightful mentor”

Mobile phones in schools can be an aid to learning | Letter

It is incredibly disappointing to read that so many schools in England have implemented an outright ban on phone use (More than 90% of schools in England ban mobile phone use, survey shows, 10 April). While student engagement and the addiction to phones and social media certainly need to be addressed, schools are more likely to support students’ development if they teach them how to use technology in ways that are healthy, purposeful and life-enhancing. A balanced, nuanced approach to phone use can still promote social interaction for children of all ages and encourage learning beyond the classroom.All students should be equipped to access quality information and transfer knowledge quicker in their pursuit of independent learning. If phones or tablets can help achieve that goal, maybe we should not be so quick to dismiss them in schools

Australia’s Georgia Amoore joins Washington as No 6 pick in WNBA draft

Australia guard Georgia Amoore has been selected by the Washington Mystics with pick six in the WNBA Draft.The Ballarat-born point guard joins a growing number of Australians to be drafted in the WNBA first round while becoming the nation’s highest-selected player since Liz Cambage was taken at pick two by the Tulsa Shock in 2011.The Mystics, with a new coach and general manager, had three of the first six picks on Monday (Tuesday AEST). They chose Sonia Citron at No 3, Kiki Iriafen at No 4 and University of Kentucky guard Amoore with the sixth selection.First round1 Dallas, Paige Bueckers, G, Connecticut2 Seattle, Dominique Malonga, C, France3 Washington, Sonia Citron, G, Notre Dame4 Washington, Kiki Iriafen, F, USC5 Golden State, Juste Jocyte, G, Lithuania6 Washington, Georgia Amoore, G, Kentucky7 Connecticut, Aneesah Morrow, F, Louisiana State University8 Connecticut, Saniya Rivers, F, North Carolina State9 Los Angeles, Sarah Ashlee Barker, G, Alabama10 Chicago, Ajsa Sivka, F, Slovenia11 Chicago, Hailey Van Lith, G, Texas Christian University12 Aziaha James, G, North Carolina StateSecond round13 Las Vegas, Aaliyah Nye, G, Alabama14 Dallas, Madison Scott, G, Mississippi15 Minnesota, Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, F, Russia16 Chicago, Maddy Westbeld, F, Notre Dame17 Golden State, Shyanne Sellers, G, Maryland18 Atlanta, Te-Hina Paopao, G, South Carolina19 Indiana, Makayla Timpson, F, Florida State20 Indiana, Bree Hall, G, South Carolina21 Los Angeles, Sania Feagin, F, South Carolina22 Chicago, Aicha Coulibaly, G, Texas A&M23 Washington, Lucy Olsen, G, Iowa24 Minnesota, Dalayah Daniels, F, Washington25 Connecticut, Rayah Marshall, F, USCThird round26 Seattle, Serena Sundell, G, Kansas State27 Dallas, JJ Quinerly, G, West Virginia28 Los Angeles, Liatu King, F, Notre Dame29 Seattle, Madison Conner, G, Texas Christian University30 Golden State, Kaitlyn Chen, G, Connecticut31 Dallas, Aaronette Vonleh, C, Baylor32 Washington, Zaay Green, G, Alabama33 Indiana, Yvonne Ejim, F, Gonzaga34 Seattle, Jordan Hobbs, G, Michigan35 Las Vegas, Harmoni Turner, G, Harvard36 Atlanta, Taylor Thierry, F, Ohio State37 Minnesota, Aubrey Griffin, F, Connecticut38 New York, Adja Kane, F, FranceAmoore grew up playing a number of sports including Australian rules football before switching her focus solely to basketball at the age of 17

Star-in-waiting Paige Bueckers taken by Dallas with No 1 pick in WNBA draft

Paige Bueckers became the latest UConn standout to go first overall in the WNBA draft on Monday night as the Dallas Wings selected the 23-year-old guard before several hundred spectators at the Shed in New York City.Her selection capped a dominant final season at Connecticut and marked the start of an eagerly anticipated professional career. Bueckers helmed the Huskies to a drought-busting 12th national championship eight days ago and becomes the sixth UConn player to be drafted No 1, joining Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart.“You don’t ever want to assume anything in life,” Bueckers said after taking the stage. “It’s a fresh start and we’re all ready to do something special