WeekDay AM: 10 Things you need to know this morning
A Kremlin shake-up, TV 'in turmoil', and why deepfakes of the dead are big business

 
today's international story

Putin replaces defence minister

What happened 
Russian President Vladimir Putin replaced his long-standing ally Sergei Shoigu as defence minister in what The New York Times called a "rare cabinet shake-up".

Who said what
Putin replaced Shoigu with Andrei Belousov, a former deputy prime minister who specialises in economics, in a "surprise move"  that signals his "determination to put Russia's war effort on an economically sustainable footing", said The New York Times. A former defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Guardian: "The Kremlin wants the ministry to be led by an economist who knows how to streamline its operations."

Shoigu has "close links" with Putin, said the BBC, "often taking him on fishing trips in his native Siberia". He became defence minister despite not having a military background, which "rankled with some of his top brass", and he "often looked out of his depth", said the broadcaster, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday the defence portfolio had now been given to a civilian because the ministry should be "open to innovation and cutting-edge ideas".

What next? 
Having an economist as defence minister reflects the "changing priorities of the Kremlin", said the BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg. The Russian economy is now on a "war footing" so it is "vital that the defence ministry has enough money to fund the war". This is not the end of Shoigu's career, however. Russian government papers show Putin wants Shoigu to join the powerful security council.

 
 
today’s health story

Obese people more likely to be off work

What happened
Obese people are up to twice as likely to take time off work, according to a Europe-wide study.

Who said what
The economic consequences of obesity are "massive", said academics from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice – and Britain is "among the worst" of the 28 countries examined by the study.

Obesity is "fuelling a crisis that is ­stifling Britain's economic growth", said The Times. Severely obese adults were two-and-a-half times more likely to have had at least one week off with poor health in the past year compared with "those of a healthy weight". The findings have "sparked concern in the UK", said The Guardian, given about two-thirds of British adults are now overweight or obese.

What next?
Researchers have urged policymakers to "take more action" on obesity. Dr Thomas Czypionka, a co-author of the study, said governments across Europe should consider anti-obesity measures, including restrictions on ultra-processed foods.

 
 
Today’s entertainment story

TV industry in 'turmoil' says Bafta winner

What happened
The television industry is "in turmoil" and needs further intervention from the UK government, said TV presenter Floella Benjamin at last night's Bafta television awards.

Who said what
The TV industry is facing "new technology, cuts and unemployment", said Benjamin as she accepted her Bafta fellowship last night. "So government must provide creative survival solutions as we navigate this rapidly changing landscape."

Benjamin's comments chime with research conducted for Sky News in February by the broadcasting union BECTU that painted a "bleak picture" of what life is like for ordinary workers within the British TV and film industry. Of the 4,160 people who responded to the poll, many reported a "dire shortage of paid work", which left them stressed and "some even suicidal", the broadcaster said.

What next?
People working within the TV industry "all hoped 2023 was a bit of a blip", the head of BECTU, Philippa Childs, told Sky News. "But unfortunately that hasn't proven to be the case … people are really getting very desperate." The union has called on culture secretary Lucy Frazer to convene an "urgent industry summit to discuss the crisis".

 
 

It's not all bad

A powerful solar storm produced stunning light displays around the world over the weekend. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning, but there were no reports of disruptions to power or communications. Instead the Earth was lit up by both the aurora borealis in the northern hemisphere and aurora australis in the southern hemisphere. The Northern Lights were strongest in the UK last night, but the latest NOAA forecast suggests the colourful displays could continue tonight and possibly into Tuesday.

 
 
under the radar

Why deepfakes of the dead are big business in China

"Last year was tough for everyone," said a Chinese AI boss as he addressed a recent annual general meeting – and 2023 had indeed been tough for him. He died.

A growing number of people in China are buying AI-generated avatars of loved ones to help process their grief, raising a number of ethical and legal questions.

SenseTime founder Tang Xiao'ou spoke from beyond the grave as a digital clone that had been trained by the company's engineers using a large language model machine learning programme trained on video and audio clips of Tang.

A "new way of remembering, and reviving" beloved relatives is "being born", said The Guardian. For only 20 yuan (£2.20) Chinese people can "create a moving digital avatar of their loved one".

The technology "isn't perfect", said MIT Technology Review, because "avatars can still be stiff and robotic", but it's "maturing, and more tools are becoming available through more companies".

It's already big business. The market for "digital humans" was worth 12 billion yuan (£1.3 billion) in 2022 and is expected to quadruple by next year.

This has led to some moral quandaries. Some have questioned whether "interacting with AI replicas of the dead" is "a healthy way to process grief", said MIT Technology Review. "It's not entirely clear what the legal and ethical implications of this technology may be."

The market is "particularly strong in China", said MIT Technology Review. During the annual Qingming festival in April "Chinese people sweep the tombs of their ancestors, burn joss sticks and fake paper money, and tell them what has happened in the past year".

This festival "provides a particular opportunity for this kind of technology", said The Guardian, and China's "digital natives are likely to experiment with digital afterlives faster than living policymakers can regulate them".

 
 
on this day

13 May 1909

The first edition of the Giro d'Italia begins in Milan. The inaugural long-distance cycling race was won by Italian Luigi Ganna. Today the 107th edition's 176 cyclists will enjoy a rest before tackling the race's 10th stage tomorrow, travelling the 142km route from Pompei to Cusano Mutri.

 
 
Today’s newspapers

The Mirror leads with a headline admonishing Rishi Sunak, as it reports that four Conservative MPs have "declined to reveal whether they paid tax on a total £5m from the sale of public-funded homes". The i paper reports that more than a million people have taken out mortgages in the past three years that will "last into their last 60s". The Guardian leads on an interview with the president of the Trades Union Congress, Matt Wrack, who says new Labour MP Natalie Elphicke's support for anti-strike laws should be "incompatible" with the party whip.

► See the newspaper front pages

 
 
tall tale

What's on the plate of fashion?

Anna Wintour's taste is notorious – and not only when it comes to fashion. Vogue's editor-in-chief, who is also the lead chairperson of the Met Gala, is also very particular about the high-profile event's dinner menu. The New York Post reported last week that three ingredients will never be served at the event: garlic, onions and chives. While some speculate the choice may come down to guests' dietary requirements, the newspaper suggested it had more to do with keeping their breath fresh and teeth free of green for the duration of the event.

 
 

Morning Report was written and edited by Arion McNicoll, Julia O'Driscoll and Chas Newkey-Burden, with illustrations by Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: Contributor / Getty Images; Fahroni / Getty Images; Shane Anthony Sinclair / BAFTA / Getty Images for BAFTA.