The head of global ports operator DP World resigned Friday following mounting pressure over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while an AI safety researcher quit US firm Anthropic with a cryptic warning that the "world is in peril." In other news, a popular AI coding platform was found to have significant security flaws, and a porn site was fined £800,000 for failing to implement proper age verification measures. Additionally, travel agents reported a rise in February half-term holiday bookings due to the recent gloomy weather.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem's departure from DP World, effective immediately, came after newly-released files revealed he exchanged hundreds of emails with Epstein over a decade, according to Reuters. The BBC approached Sulayem for comment, but did not receive a response. Essa Kazim was named chairman and Yuvraj Narayan as chief executive.
Meanwhile, Mrinank Sharma, an AI safety researcher, shared his resignation letter on X, stating he was leaving Anthropic amid concerns about AI, bioweapons, and the state of the wider world. He announced he would pursue writing and studying poetry and move back to the UK. This resignation followed a similar departure from OpenAI, where a researcher cited concerns about the company's decision to deploy adverts in its chatbot.
In the technology sector, a BBC reporter was able to hack the AI coding platform Orchids, a "vibe-coding" tool, demonstrating a significant cyber-security risk. The platform, which allows users to build apps and games by typing text prompts, was easily compromised, according to a BBC technology report. Experts have expressed concerns about the risks of allowing AI bots deep access to computers.
Ofcom fined porn company Kick Online Entertainment SA £800,000 for failing to introduce proper age verification measures, according to a BBC technology report. The media regulator stated the company did not have "highly effective" methods to check UK visitors were over 18. Kick Online Entertainment has since implemented age checks, but was not complying with the law between July and December 2025. Suzanne Cater, director of enforcement at Ofcom, said it was "non-negotiable" for adult sites to have highly effective age verification.
Finally, travel agents reported a 9% increase in February half-term holiday bookings compared to last year, attributing the rise to weeks of rain and the political environment, which created a "powerful psychological need for escape," according to The Advantage Travel Partnerships. Manchester Airport is expecting almost 50,000 passengers on Friday, its busiest February half term on record. Travellers heading to Europe are warned of potential security delays due to the rollout of the European Entry Exit System.
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