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Wealthy residents of homes on once-quiet Virginia cul-de-sac now only hear distressing hum from multiple data centers plopped feet from their backyards
Residents of Statesboro Place in Loudoun County, Virginia, say the constant hum from nearby Amazon and Microsoft data centres has disrupted their once-quiet neighbourhood. Their complaints highlight the local impact of rapid data-centre expansion, driven in part by demand for artificial intelligence computing, even as the facilities bring…
Google announces Gemini 4 and says it’s so capable that only ‘trusted cyber defenders’ can have it right now
Google has announced Gemini 4 Argon, a new AI model it says performs strongly on complex software engineering, business and cybersecurity tasks. Access is initially limited to a group of “trusted cyber defenders” while Google strengthens safeguards, making the announcement notable for its cautious, staged release. Google says…
Fury as Minnesota city’s downtown looks worse than ever four years after ex-mayor unveiled $100m to revive it
St Cloud’s downtown revival has stalled, leaving some business owners frustrated and doubtful about the area’s future. Former mayor Dave Kleis proposed a $100 million redevelopment package in 2023, including a skyway, hundreds of homes and a riverfront plaza, but it was not funded. Minnesota lawmakers approved $6.4…
Stewart expects Schumer, Jeffries to disappoint if the Dems win back the House and Senate
Jon Stewart argued that if Democrats regain control of Congress in the midterm elections, Senate leader Chuck Schumer and House leader Hakeem Jeffries will face pressure to deliver tangible results. He said opposing Donald Trump would not be enough: they would need an urgent plan to address the…
Two Decades Ago Today, We Said Goodbye to the Hall of Fame Multi-Instrumentalist Who Transformed Bluegrass Forever
Josh Graves, a pioneering bluegrass musician and member of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Boys band, died on 30 September 2006 at the age of 79. Graves transformed bluegrass music by establishing the Dobro (resonator guitar) as a central instrument to the genre's sound. His innovative…
Florida toddler dies after being found in pond on family property
A 23-month-old boy, Pablo Mendoza-Arrojo, died after being found in a pond on his family’s property in Port Salerno, Florida, on Tuesday evening. His mother and aunt noticed he was missing after no more than ten minutes, and relatives found him in the pond and took him to…
The “astonishing” 1970s band Chris Cornell crowned America’s answer to Led Zeppelin
Chris Cornell called Heart an “American version of Led Zeppelin”, praising the band’s musical range and its place in hard rock. His comparison highlights Heart’s importance as trailblazers in a genre often dominated by men, and the influence their powerful sound had on later musicians, including Cornell. Led…
35 Years Later, Eddie Vedder Recreates His Iconic Chris Cornell Duet With Stephen Wilson Jr.—and Cornell’s Widow Responds
Eddie Vedder and Stephen Wilson Jr. performed Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike” together at Ohana Festival 2026. The performance brought together artists with links to the song and was praised by Vicky Cornell, who said it honoured her late husband’s voice, artistry and legacy. Chris Cornell formed…
Pete Davidson Defends Ex-Fiancée Ariana Grande Against Online Body Shaming
Pete Davidson has condemned the online body shaming and speculation about Ariana Grande’s appearance, saying the criticism is “not cool” and “f–ked up”. In a Variety interview, he called Grande strong and talented, and said he believed she would manage the attention; the scrutiny had intensified after her…
Reddit Restricts Old Reddit Access to Curb AI Scraping
Reddit is tightening access to Old Reddit: once the change rolls out in the next few months, users will need to be logged in and to have used the classic interface within the previous six months. The company says the rule is intended to curb scraping and automated…
Rival clubs clash over timeline and severity of Manchester City punishment for 100+ financial breaches
Newly released findings have intensified calls from several Premier League clubs for Manchester City to face a severe punishment and for the case to be resolved before the season ends. The clubs argue that relegation for one season would not reflect the scale of the breaches; City say…
Enes Kanter Freedom speaks out on A’ja Wilson playoff incident with Fever fan, after Natasha Cloud encounter
Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson received a technical foul during the Indiana Fever's 99-89 playoff victory on Tuesday after confronting a Fever fan who had stood and pointed at her following a foul call against the Fever. Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom called for Wilson to…
David Fincher Ends Six-Year Exclusive Deal With Netflix After Three Films
David Fincher will not renew his exclusive Netflix deal, which expires next year, though he could work with the streamer again. His decision adds to a run of high-profile departures and marks a change in the relationship after six years. Fincher joined Netflix early on, directing and executive…
Should you pick Elyos or Asmodian in Aion 2
Choosing Elyos or Asmodian in Aion 2 has little effect on gameplay: both factions have access to the same classes and content. The main difference is cosmetic, so the choice matters chiefly if you prefer one faction’s appearance. Players can still fight members of the opposing faction in…
Alice Cooper Says Crack Cocaine “Almost Killed” Him Back in the Day
Alice Cooper has revealed in his forthcoming memoir, Devil on My Shoulder (releasing 6 October), that crack cocaine nearly destroyed his life in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The legendary shock rocker was initially deceived into believing the drug was not addictive and used it heavily after…
‘Big Brother’ Ratings Average 5.1 Million Multiplatform Viewers This Summer, Up 8% From Last Year (EXCLUSIVE)
‘Big Brother’ averaged 5.1 million multiplatform viewers in live-plus-seven-day ratings this summer, an 8% rise on last year. CBS said the audience was 46% larger than that of ‘Love Island USA’, while the figures point to continued growth for the long-running reality show across broadcast and streaming. The…
The 1980s grunge band that could never work with Kurt Cobain: “Fucking insane”
Buzz Osborne of the Melvins dismissed Kurt Cobain from his production role on the band’s 1993 album *Houdini*, prompting rumours that the two had fallen out. Osborne’s account suggests the split was a practical decision, significant because the Melvins had been an early influence on Cobain and helped…
Reddit is putting more limits on Old.Reddit.com
Reddit will soon restrict Old Reddit to logged-in users who have used it within the previous six months, saying the change is intended to curb scraping and other automated abuse. The move matters to longtime users who prefer Old Reddit’s familiar design, and has renewed concerns that the…
Scotland’s public workforce growth puts frontline services at risk amid budget gap
Scotland's Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has acknowledged that the Scottish National Party's plans to reduce public sector staffing have stalled, admitting the strategy is currently "off course". Rather than shrinking the workforce as planned, Scotland's public sector actually grew by 6,640 employees in the year to June…
Pension triple lock axed, billionaires’ wealth soars amid crisis
Burnham has announced significant pension reforms replacing the triple lock with a double lock from 2030. New analysis reveals billionaires' wealth has soared during the cost of living crisis, whilst young people face reduced employment opportunities.