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Updated 2026-01-08 15:32
China calls for global AI cooperation days after Trump administration unveils low-regulation strategy
Chinese premier warns at global conference AI development must be weighed against security risks, urges further consensus from the entire society'Chinese premier Li Qiang has proposed establishing an organisation to foster global cooperation on artificial intelligence, calling on countries to coordinate on the development and security of the fast-evolving technology, days after the US unveiled plans to deregulate the industry.Speaking at the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Li called AI a new engine for growth, adding that governance is fragmented and emphasising the need for more coordination between countries to form a globally recognised framework for AI. Continue reading...
Operation Dark Phone: Murder By Text – this jaw-dropping tale of how police hacked gangs is like The Wire
This docu-drama is cleverly built around the messages intercepted by the National Crime Agency when they penetrated a chat network between criminal organisations. It's hugely revealingPolice work rarely resembles The Shield or Line of Duty. It's mostly paperwork, online training and referring people to driver offender courses. But sometimes life imitates art. In 2020, international police hacked the encrypted phone network EncroChat, used by organised crime gangs across the globe. For 74 days, they had access to every message and picture used to coordinate drug trafficking, money laundering, kidnap and murder. It was the LinkedIn of organised crime," explains Matt Horne, a former gold commander at the UK's National Crime Agency (not the actor from Gavin & Stacey).Operation Dark Phone: Murder By Text (Sunday, 9pm, Channel 4) is a documentary-drama cleverly built around these messages, which appear like screenplay dialogue across scenes. It's an arresting insight into how criminal gangs work - and just as revealing, how they talk. Sweets" are bullets, while a pineapple" is a grenade. A violent British criminal known as Live-long, lying low in Spain, organises an acid attack on a rival, in between sending pictures of his breakfast. Cucumber slices on labneh with paprika - nice. The trick, he instructs, is to stop the victim getting to a sink. Hold them down a few minutes, so the acid can do its job. Less nice. Continue reading...
The real winners from Trump’s ‘AI action plan’? Tech companies
Millions spent by Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and others appear to have paid off as president vows to cut red tapeDonald Trump's AI summit in Washington this week was a fanfare-filled event catered to the tech elite. The president took the stage on Wednesday evening, as the song God Bless the USA piped over the loudspeakers, and then he decreed: America must once again be a country where innovators are rewarded with a green light, not strangled with red tape, so they can't move, so they can't breathe."The message was clear - the tech regulatory environment that was once the focus of federal lawmakers is no longer. Continue reading...
Khruangbin, again? I quit Spotify for a month to escape samey algorithms – this is what I learned
After being served the same artists again and again, my tastes were narrowing - so I tried vinyl, iPods and radio to see if I could rediscover the joy of finding new music
What are the new UK online safety rules and how will age checks on adult content be enforced?
From 25 July websites and apps will be required to protect children by filtering out harmful content and verifying agesChildren's online safety in the UK is having its seatbelt moment. On Friday social media and other internet platforms will be required to implement safety measures protecting children or face large fines.It is a significant test for the Online Safety Act, a landmark piece of legislation that covers the likes of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Google. Here is a guide to the new rules. Continue reading...
UK student jailed for selling phishing kits linked to £100m of fraud
Ollie Holman created kits that mimicked charity and bank webpages so criminals could harvest victims' personal detailsA 21-year-old student who designed and distributed online kits linked to 100m worth of fraud has been jailed for seven years.Ollie Holman created phishing kits that mimicked government, bank and charity websites so that criminals could harvest victims' personal information to defraud them. Continue reading...
AI summaries cause ‘devastating’ drop in audiences, online news media told
Exclusive: Study claims sites previously ranked first can lose 79% of traffic if results appear below Google OverviewNews companies have been warned of a devastating impact" on online audiences as search results are replaced by AI summaries, after a new study claimed it caused up to 80% fewer clickthroughs.The threat posed by Google's AI Overviews, which summarise a search result with a block of text, has rapidly risen to the top of the concerns among media owners. Some regard it as an existential threat to outlets reliant on search result traffic. Continue reading...
‘The only thing that gets me out of my tent’: the camping essentials you need (and what you don’t)
From foam wash to hammocks, these are the non-negotiables seasoned campers swear by - and the kit they'd happily skip The best camping mattresses for every type of adventure, testedPacking for a camping trip isn't easy, especially if you're not an experienced adventurer. Newbie campers often overpack while simultaneously leaving more useful items at home.As a lifelong city dweller, my lack of knowhow has been exposed on trips with my camping-savvy family in the US. It turns out that House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski and a medium-sized Bluetooth speaker aren't must-haves on a four-day wilderness hike. Who knew? An extra water bottle would have been a better use of that space, something I learned through a series of hardships. Continue reading...
How video games are keeping romance alive – one level at a time
Some are using Final Fantasy and GTA Online as dating sites and long-time lovers are finding comfort and connection through Resident Evil. Could video games be the ultimate relationship tool?Last week, Radio 4's Woman's Hour talked about the role of women in the video games industry. It featured interviews with gaming insiders, from esports presenter Frankie Ward to members of the inclusive online community Black Girl Gamers. It was wonderful to hear so many disparate, expert views on games culture being given so much time on the show.One of my favourite moments was when presenter Nuala McGovern read out some listener responses to the question: why do you play video games? I don't think there's enough recognition of gaming as an activity for couples," one replied. My husband and I bonded over our shared love of gaming. Our honeymoon was playing Borderlands 2 while we saved for a flat deposit, and now, with a young child, we explore stories, we visit new worlds, we solve mysteries ... There is an underappreciated romance to gaming - we communicate, encourage, collaborate and celebrate together. It's a joy." Continue reading...
‘Pretty revolutionary’: a Brooklyn exhibit interrogates white-dominated AI to make it more inclusive
Stephanie Dinkins challenges the racialized AI space by highlighting Black ethos and cultural cornerstonesAt the Plaza at 300 Ashland Place in downtown Brooklyn, patrons mill around a large yellow shipping container with black triangles painted on its side. A nod to the flying geese quilt pattern, which may have served as a coded message for enslaved people escaping to freedom along the Underground Railroad, the design and container serve as a bridge between the past and the future of the African diaspora. At the center of the art project by the Brooklyn-based transmedia artist Stephanie Dinkins, a large screen displays artificial intelligence (AI) generated images that showcase the diversity of the city.Commissioned by the New York-based art non-profit More Art and designed in collaboration with the architects LOT-EK, the AI laboratory If We Don't, Who Will? will be on display until 28 September. It seeks to challenge a white-dominated generative-AI space by highlighting Black ethos and cultural cornerstones. Continue reading...
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review: the thinner, lighter and better folding Android
Super-slim frame, improved display, enhanced camera and plenty of power give the pricey phone-tablet hybrid a major upgradeSamsung's latest flagship folding phone looks like it has been put on a diet. The result is a transformation into one of the thinnest and lightest devices available and radically changes how it handles, for the better.The Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 8.9mm thick when shut - well within the realms of a standard smartphone if you ignore the camera bump on the back. It easily fits in a pocket but opens up to turn into a folding tablet just 4.2mm thick. Continue reading...
OpenAI CEO tells Federal Reserve confab that entire job categories will disappear due to AI
Sam Altman also said AI could already diagnose better than doctors, as his company expands into WashingtonDuring his latest trip to Washington, OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman, painted a sweeping vision of an AI-dominated future in which entire job categories disappear, presidents follow ChatGPT's recommendations and hostile nations wield artificial intelligence as a weapon of mass destruction, all while positioning his company as the indispensable architect of humanity's technological destiny.Speaking at the Capital Framework for Large Banks conference at the Federal Reserve board of governors, Altman told the crowd that certain job categories would be completely eliminated by AI advancement. Continue reading...
UK government urged to offer more transparency over OpenAI deal
Select committee chair says public need to be reassured about the use of their data after major failures' in the pastMinisters are facing calls for greater transparency about public data that may be shared with the US tech company OpenAI after the government signed a wide-ranging agreement with the $300bn (222bn) company that critics compared to letting a fox into a henhouse.Chi Onwurah, the chair of the House of Commons select committee on science, innovation and technology, warned that Monday's sweeping memorandum of understanding between OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman, and the technology secretary, Peter Kyle, was very thin on detail" and called for guarantees that public data would remain in the UK and clarity about how much of it OpenAI would have access to. Continue reading...
Could my power bank start a fire on board a plane? Here are the rules and the risks
Rules around lithium-ion batteries in spotlight after a portable charger caught fire on an Australian flight - but experts say risk is no higher in mid-air
UK border officials to use AI to verify ages of child asylum seekers
Trial of technology comes as official report warns existing system has been failing for at least a decadeOfficials are to start using artificial intelligence to help estimate the age of asylum seekers who say they are children.Angela Eagle, the immigration minister, said on Tuesday the government would test technology that judges a person's age based on their facial features. Continue reading...
The best kettles to save energy and speed up your cuppa, tested
Not all electric kettles are created equal. We boiled litres of water to find the best, from hard-water heroes to vintage-style, repairable and wi-fi connected models The best air fryers, tried and tested for crisp and crunchDespite the march of progress, the humble kettle remains a kitchen staple. It's what we turn to in times of strife, when spirits are flagging, or to start our day. And when a visitor calls, one of the first things we do is put the kettle on.While many small appliances have evolved beyond their original form, the kettle's basic principles remain largely unchanged. Water goes in and heats up until a thermostat switches it off; the water then pours out, and we enjoy a cuppa. However, the technology that goes into a kettle has been slowly improving: better insulation to keep water hotter for longer and reduce reboils; different temperature settings to suit every drink from green tea to herbal brews; and more features such as filters and concealed elements to keep scale out of our cups.Best kettle overall:
Silicon Valley trades researchers like football teams poach players
Big tech is offering athlete-level pay to lure AI researchers in a high-stakes race for dominanceThe tech industry is in a high-flying war over who can dole out more millions to attract artificial intelligence specialists. Individual researchers, most equipped with PhDs in computer science, are commanding giant salaries and mammoth signing bonuses in hiring negotiations. You might call them talent. The Washington Post called them Olympians in a recent headline: Why AI superathletes could be winning $100 million bonuses in Silicon Valley." These are the most sought-after employees in the world.Tech companies are tasking the star players of their AI squads with developing technology that can outperform humans in any task, a goal known as artificial general intelligence", or with creating AI models that surpass human intelligence overall, an objective known as superintelligence". Continue reading...
Smoking avatars and online games: how big tobacco targets young people in the metaverse
Cigarettes and vapes are being smuggled into virtual spaces beyond the reach of regulation, creating a new battleground for health campaignersIn the image, a group of friends is standing in a bar, smoke winding upwards from the cigarettes in their hands. More lie in an open packet on the table between them. This is not a photograph taken before smoking bans, but a picture shared on social media of a gathering in the metaverse.Virtual online spaces are becoming a new marketing battleground as tobacco and alcohol promoters target young people without any legislative consequences. Continue reading...
Nine households control 15% of wealth in Silicon Valley as inequality widens
Report finds that wealth divide widened in Silicon Valley at double the rate of the whole US over the past decadeEconomic inequality has reached a staggering milestone in Silicon Valley: just nine households hold 15% of the region's wealth, according to new research from San Jose State University. A mere 0.1% of residents hold 71% of the tech hub's wealth.The findings come from the 2025 Silicon Valley Pain Index", a report published by SJSU's Human Rights Institute each year since 2020. The report aims to quantify structured inequalities" in Silicon Valley, and measures pain" as both personal and community distress or suffering". Continue reading...
OpenAI signs deal with UK to find government uses for its models
Wide-ranging agreement with artificial intelligence firm behind ChatGPT comes after similar UK deal with GoogleSam Altman, leader of one of the world's biggest artificial intelligence companies, has signed a deal with the British government to explore the deployment of advanced AI models in areas including justice, security and education.The chief executive of OpenAI, which has been valued at $300bn (220bn) and provides the ChatGPT suite of large language models, agreed the memorandum of understanding with the science and technology secretary, Peter Kyle, on Monday. Continue reading...
Tea in the microwave? Why gen Z are giving up on kettles to make a brew
Two-thirds of UK under-30s have used a microwave to make a cuppa, and one in six say they do it every day ...Name: Kettles.Age: 132. First featured in a catalogue in 1893. Continue reading...
Human-level AI is not inevitable. We have the power to change course | Garrison Lovely
Technology happens because people make it happen. We can choose otherwiseTechnology happens because it is possible," OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, told the New York Times in 2019, consciously paraphrasing Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb.Altman captures a Silicon Valley mantra: technology marches forward inexorably. Continue reading...
Meta allows ads crowdfunding for IDF drones, consumer watchdog finds
Paid ads hosted on Facebook, Instagram and Threads seem to violate Meta's stated policies yet remain activeMeta is hosting ads on Facebook, Instagram and Threads from pro-Israel entities that are raising money for military equipment including drones and tactical gear for Israeli Defense Force battalions, seemingly a violation of the company's stated advertising policies, new research shows.We are the sniper team of Unit Shaked, stationed in Gaza, and we urgently need shooting tripods to complete our mission in Jabalia," one ad on Facebook read, first published on 11 June and still active on 17 July. Continue reading...
Leftists are determined to date each other - and not settle for liberals: ‘Politics are the new religion’
Progressives are seeking ideologically aligned matches as hot commie summer' heats up, but the apps aren't helpingZohran Mamdani gave Hinge an unofficial boost last month when the New York mayoral candidate revealed that he met his wife, Rama Duwaji, through swiping. There is still hope on those dating apps," he said on the Bulwark podcast a week before his stunning victory in the Democratic primary. The tidbit spread over social media, cementing the 33-year-old democratic socialist's status as a millennial everyman. A subsequent Cosmopolitan headline read: Zohran Mamdani could make history (as the first NYC mayor to meet his wife on Hinge)."Representatives for Hinge would not comment, but plenty of eligible New Yorkers did, claiming they would redownload the app due to Mamdani's success, in spite of their dating fatigue. Now I'm clocking in like it's a full-time job," one user posted on TikTok. If he can find love on that app maybe I can," another wrote in a caption. Continue reading...
UK may back down on demand for backdoor access to Apple users’ encrypted data
Government sources say pressure from Washington, including JD Vance, could lead to Home Office climbdown, according to reportsPressure from Washington could lead the UK government to climb down on its demand that Apple provide British law enforcement agencies with backdoor access to encrypted customer data, it has been reported.In January, the UK Home Office formally asked Apple to provide law enforcement agencies access to heavily encrypted data held on behalf of its customers. But the US company resisted and withdrew its advanced data protection service from the UK market. It argues privacy is one of its core values". Continue reading...
Has Elon Musk built a Nazi chatbot? – podcast
Is the extreme output of X's AI chatbot Grok shifting the political dial? Chris Stokel-Walker reportsIn 2023 Elon Musk launched Grok, an AI chatbot marketed as providing unfiltered answers" on X. In part, it was reportedly created to counter other machines that Musk saw as being trained to be politically correct".Fast forward to 2025 and Grok is no stranger to controversy - sharing antisemitic content and white genocide conspiracy theories, and referring to itself as MechaHitler. One X user, Will Stancil, has even been the subject of extreme, violent, and individually tailored assault fantasies created by Grok, as he tells Nosheen Iqbal. Continue reading...
‘You can make really good stuff – fast’: new AI tools a gamechanger for film-makers
Instead of spending millions and taking years to complete, creative directors are producing high-grade work using the latest software, but critics voice copyright concernsA US stealth bomber flies across a darkening sky towards Iran. Meanwhile, in Tehran a solitary woman feeds stray cats amid rubble from recent Israeli airstrikes.To the uninitiated viewer, this could be a cinematic retelling of a geopolitical crisis that unfolded barely weeks ago - hastily shot on location, somewhere in the Middle East. Continue reading...
Face age and ID checks? Using the internet in Australia is about to fundamentally change
New codes developed by the tech sector and eSafety commissioner come into effect in December, with major ramifications for internet users
Silicon Valley-backed California city project pitches plan for manufacturing hub
Chief executive of California Forever' says proposal to develop site would represent new home for frontier tech'The chief executive of California Forever", a Silicon Valley billionaire-backed project to build a new city on tens of thousands of acres of California farmland, has announced plans to develop a manufacturing site within the future town for defense, energy, robotics, aerospace and transportation companies.Speaking at the Reindustrialize summit in Detroit, Jan Sramek called the proposal the Solano Foundry". The 2,100-acre site would be located on the more than 65,000 acres in Solano county that the tech billionaires began purchasing in 2017 but have yet to develop. Continue reading...
Netflix uses generative AI in one of its shows for first time
Firm says technology used in El Eternauta is chance to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper'Netflix has used artificial intelligence in one of its TV shows for the first time, in a move the streaming company's boss said would make films and programmes cheaper and of better quality.Ted Sarandos, a co-chief executive of Netflix, said the Argentinian science fiction series El Eternauta (The Eternaut) was the first it had made that involved using generative AI footage. Continue reading...
OpenAI launches personal assistant capable of controlling files and web browsers
AI agent can find restaurant reservations and go shopping for users, but OpenAI acknowledges there are more risks'Users of ChatGPT will be able to ask an AI agent to find restaurant reservations, go shopping for them and even draw up lists of candidates for job vacancies, as the chatbot gains the powers of a personal assistant from Thursday.ChatGPT agent, launched by Open AI everywhere apart from the EU, not only thinks" but also acts, the US company said. The agent combines the powers of AI research tools with the ability to take control of web browsers, computer files and software such as spreadsheets and slide decks. Continue reading...
Royal Society suggested to Elon Musk he consider resigning science fellowship
Exclusive: Fellows called on academy to act over Tesla owner's role in Trump administration's attacks on researchThe Royal Society suggested to Elon Musk he should consider resigning his fellowship if he felt unable to help mitigate the Trump administration's attacks on research, the Guardian has learned.The owner of X, who is also CEO of Tesla and Space X, was elected a fellow of the UK's national academy of sciences in 2018 for his contribution to the space and electric vehicle industries. Continue reading...
Risk of undersea cable attacks backed by Russia and China likely to rise, report warns
Spate of incidents in Baltic Sea and around Taiwan are harbinger for further disruptive activity, cybersecurity firm saysThe risk of Russia- and China-backed attacks on undersea cables carrying international internet traffic is likely to rise amid a spate of incidents in the Baltic Sea and around Taiwan, according to a report.Submarine cables account for 99% of the world's intercontinental data traffic and have been affected by incidents with suspected state support over the past 18 months. Continue reading...
Inside Elon Musk’s plan to rain SpaceX’s rocket debris over Hawaii’s pristine waters
Texas has long been under threat from the launches and explosions of SpaceX rockets. Now Hawaii is emerging as another possible victimThe north-west Hawaiian island of Mokumanamana is said to be touched by the gods. Bisected by the Tropic of Cancer latitude line, it is deep in the Pacific Ocean, about 400 miles from Honolulu. The island's steep rocky cliffs give way to indigo blue waters dotted with monk seals and stony coral. No humans have lived on Mokumanamana, but it has the world's highest density of ancient Hawaiian religious sites.It sits as a boundary between what Native Hawaiians refer to as p', the darkness, and au', the light," said William Aila, the former chair of Hawaii's department of land and natural resources. When a Hawaiian passes, their soul makes its way from wherever it is in the main Hawaiian Islands, up to the North-western Hawaiian Islands. And at that juncture, at p, they're met by their ancestors." As Aila tells it, if a person has been good, they can pass into p and be with their ancestors, who inhabit the Pacific waters west of Mokumanamana. Continue reading...
Sage iPhone for children review: ‘Would it make me want to divorce my parents?’
As a 16-year-old I can tell you that teenagers will feel disconnected using this internet-safe smartphone Internet-safe iPhone for children goes on sale for 99 a monthI was intrigued to find out how this would work but a bit freaked out too. I use my iPhone non-stop: four hours each day during school terms; eight during holidays. Snapchat matters most, but I'm often following friends on TikTok and Instagram.The prospect of not having access to any apps or the internet was just ugh". Part of me wanted to scream at the thought of being cut off by this Sage phone. Would it make me want to divorce my parents? Continue reading...
Donkey Kong Bananza review - delirious destruction derby takes hammer to platforming conventions
Nintendo Switch 2; Nintendo
Nothing Phone 3 review: a quirky, slick Android alternative
Novel design and cool software proves phones can still be fun, but this one struggles to beat flagship rivalsThe Phone 3 is London-based Nothing's latest attempt to get people to ditch Samsung or Apple phones for something a bit different, a little quirky and more fun.As the firm's first high-end Android in several years, it has most of what you'd expect a flagship phone to have. But where it tries to set itself apart is with slick, dot-matrix-inspired software and a design on the back that includes a small, unique LED screen. Continue reading...
AI chatbot ‘MechaHitler’ could be making content considered violent extremism, expert witness tells X v eSafety case
Tribunal hearing comes days after Elon Musk's xAI apologised for antisemitic comments made by its Grok bot
Elmo’s X account posts racist and antisemitic messages after being hacked
Hackers also demanded the US government release more information on the sex trafficker Jeffrey EpsteinHackers gained access to the X account of the puppet Elmo over the weekend and used it to post racist and antisemitic threats as well as make profane references to Jeffrey Epstein. Sesame Workshop was still trying to regain full control on Monday over the red character's account.Elmo's X account was compromised by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts. We are working to restore full control of the account," a Sesame Workshop spokesperson said on Monday. Sesame Workshop is the non-profit behind Sesame Street and Elmo. Continue reading...
Tangy kimchi, bad ice-cream and good eggs: my tests for the food filter have changed how I shop
Tasting the good and the bad for the Filter; summer spritzes for aperitivo hour; and the perfect fans for keeping cool Don't get the Filter delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereMy favourite scene in the film Ratatouille is when Remy the rat tastes strawberries and cheese. Closing his eyes, he takes a bite ... and it's fireworks. Like Remy, I'm a food lover: I'm a chef and recipe developer, writer and campaigner for a better food system, and have worked on farms and in kitchens, from River Cottage to Noma, for 25 years.Recently, I've been testing different supermarket staples for the food filter. Tasting 10 of each, I've rated everything from kimchi (as an avid fermenter, my favourite so far) to mayonnaise - 70 products in all. Vanilla ice-cream (coming up next week) was my least favourite: at least 50% of it was ultra-processed rubbish not even worthy of the name. It gave me stomach ache.The best men's suits under 400: 14 favourites for every occasion (and how to style them)The best period pants, tried and tested for comfort, style and absorbencyPanda Hybrid Bamboo mattress review: a stylish, supportive hybrid that keeps cool on balmy nightsThe best camping stoves for cooking like a pro in the wild, tested Continue reading...
Musk’s giant Tesla factory casts shadow on lives in a quiet corner of Germany
Politics of carmaker's owner has soured sentiments in Grunheide, south-east of Berlin, where the factory promised jobs and revitalisationWhen Elon Musk advised Germans to vote for the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) in elections last year, Manu Hoyer - who lives in the small town where the billionaire had built Tesla's European production hub - wrote to the state premier to complain.How can you do business with someone who supports rightwing extremism?" she asked Dietmar Woidke, the Social Democrat leader of the eastern state of Brandenburg, who had backed the setting up of the Tesla Giga factory in Grunheide. Continue reading...
‘Scamazon’ – how fake emails are targeting Prime subscribers
A surge in messages from fraudsters about automatic renewal at a higher price has prompted Amazon to email 200m users to warn themAs a frequent Amazon shopper you pay 95 for an annual Prime subscription, so when an email arrives warning the price is going up you are quick to react.But the email, which includes a button to click on to cancel" the subscription, is a scam and sent by fraudsters trying to steal your account login and payment details. Continue reading...
‘Workforce crisis’: key takeaways for graduates battling AI in the jobs market
Recruitment is powered increasingly by artificial intelligence but employers still want big (human) brains
Doge wants to replace our institutions with a tech utopia. It won’t work | Mike Pepi
Silicon Valley's final dream is a world without institutions. But what works for a startup doesn't work for democracyElon Musk has stepped away from Doge with very little efficiency" to show for it. While it may have been more of a showpiece than real policy, this brutal and short experiment in Silicon Valley governance reveals a long-simmering battle between digital utopians and the institutional infrastructures critical to functioning democracies.Doge's website dubiously claims $190bn in savings. The receipts show that they are less about efficiency than they are aimed at effective dissolution, a fate met by USAID, the federal agency responsible for distributing foreign assistance. Continue reading...
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 review – a gnarly skating time capsule
PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch/Switch 2; Iron Galaxy Studios/Activision
‘It fully altered my taste in music’: bands reflect on the awesome power of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtracks
The games' runaway success introduced a whole generation to hopped up US punk and metal. Bands including Less Than Jake, the Ataris and AFI pay tribute to a gaming megastar who loves them backWhen millions of parents bought their kids a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater game in the late 90s and early 00s, they couldn't have understood the profound effect it would have on their children's music taste. With bands from Bad Religion to Papa Roach and Millencolin accompanying every failed spin and grind, these trick-tastic games slyly doubled up as the ultimate compilation CD.While the Fifa games have an equally storied history with licensed music, those soundtracks feel impersonal - a who's who of whichever artists EA's associated record labels wanted to push at the time. Pro Skater's soundtrack, by contrast, felt like being handed a grubby and slightly dog-eared handmade mixtape, still battered from its last tumble at the local skate park. Continue reading...
Cosy video games are on an unstoppable rise. Will they unleash a darker side?
Non-violent games about cooking, farming or tidying now rival the more traditional video game pursuits of shooting and fighting in popularity. So what will the #cozy genre tackle next?In 2017, a game design thinktank called Project Horseshoe gathered a group of developers together to define the concept of cosiness in video games. Games, of course, have had non-violent elements since the medium was invented. Early life simulators such as 1985's Little Computer People, a low-stakes game in which the player interacts with a man living his unremarkable life in a house, could fit the bill; then there was the proliferation of social farming simulations after 1996's chibi-adorable Harvest Moon.But the resulting report, Coziness in Games: An Exploration of Safety, Softness, and Satisfied Needs, is probably the first organised effort to define a then-emerging genre. The group zeroed in on three core things: safety, abundance, and softness. Cosy games (cozy in US spelling) don't have high-risk scenarios: There is no impending loss of threat," they wrote. They must have a sense of abundance: Nothing is lacking, pressing or imminent." And a soft aesthetic wraps everything up like a warm hug. Continue reading...
The CEO who never was: how Linda Yaccarino was set up to fail at Elon Musk’s X
Ex-NBC executive was tasked with building an everything app', but billionaire owner was biggest obstacle in her pathIn May 2023, when Linda Yaccarino, an NBC advertising executive, joined what was then still known as Twitter, she was given a tall order: repair the company's relationship with advertisers after a chaotic year of being owned by Elon Musk. But just weeks after she became CEO, Musk posted an antisemitic tweet that drove away major brands such as Disney, Paramount, NBCUniversal, Comcast, Lionsgate and Warner Bros Discovery to pause their advertising on the platform. Musk delivered an apology for the tweet later at a conference - which he called the worst post he's ever done - but it came with a message to advertisers, specifically the Disney CEO Bob Iger: Go fuck yourselves." Yaccarino was in the audience of the conference.I don't want them to advertise," he said. If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising or money, go fuck yourself. Go. Fuck. Yourself," he said. Is that clear? Hey Bob, if you're in the audience, that's how I feel." Continue reading...
Children limiting own smartphone use to manage mental health, survey finds
Teenagers increasingly taking breaks as they control own use of devices rather than relying on parents to enforce limits, experts sayChildren are increasingly taking breaks from their smartphones to better manage their mental health, personal safety and concentration spans, research has revealed.They are reacting to growing concerns that spending too much time online can be harmful by taking control of their own social media and smartphone use rather than relying on parents to enforce limits, according to experts. Continue reading...
Linda Yaccarino stepping down as CEO of Elon Musk’s X
Yaccarino announces she is leaving company after two years as chief executive officerThe CEO of X, Elon Musk's social network, announced on Wednesday she would resign.After two incredible years, I've decided to step down as CEO of ," Linda Yaccarino wrote. Continue reading...
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