-
India cockroach protests: Videos show officers firing ‘pellet guns’
Thousands of people have protested in Delhi, demanding education reforms and the resignation of a government minister. Videos analysed by BBC Verify appear to show security officers firing pellet guns towards demonstrators, raising concerns about the response to the protests and possible injuries. The Central Reserve Police Force did not answer BBC Verify’s questions about…
-
ROZZZQWEEN Rises Above Heartbreak On New Single ‘Praise Me’
Birmingham singer-songwriter ROZZZQWEEN has released ‘Praise Me’, a new single about a relationship nearing breaking point. The song pairs emotionally direct storytelling with an empowered, clear-eyed performance, presenting heartbreak without losing a sense of self-possession. The track serves as an introduction to ROZZZQWEEN’s forthcoming EP, due in October 2026. She describes it as being for…
-
Sam Altman’s biometric startup World raises $52.5 million via crypto sale
World, the biometric identity startup co-founded by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, has raised $52.5 million by selling its WLD cryptocurrency token to strategic investors under a 12-month lock-up. The funding matters because it supports World’s attempt to build widely used online “proof of human” verification as AI-generated content and automated accounts become more prevalent. The funds…
-
Blizzard fire World Of Warcraft developer over use of forbidden magicks to insta-kill bosses for regular players during dungeon run
Blizzard has dismissed a World of Warcraft developer after they used development-only abilities on live servers to instantly kill Mythic+ dungeon bosses for a group of ordinary players. The incident mattered because it gave the group an unfair advantage in a competitive game mode where completion times and achievements are closely monitored, prompting community scrutiny…
-
George R.R. Martin’s New ‘Game of Thrones’ Project Officially Hit With Cancellation
Four preview performances of George R.R. Martin’s new Game of Thrones stage prequel, The Mad King, have been cancelled shortly before its planned debut at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The Royal Shakespeare Company gave no reason for the cancellations, but said the July 25 performance would proceed and the production would officially open…
-
The 1969 Beatles song George Martin struggled to play: “I would make more mistakes”
George Martin, the Beatles’ longtime producer, found the piano part on ‘The Long and Winding Road’ difficult to play during the band’s 1969 recording sessions. His admission highlights the demanding nature of the song’s arrangement despite its slow, restrained sound, and reflects Martin’s important hands-on role in shaping the Beatles’ recordings. The song was recorded…
-
Scoff at cheaper bus fares and No 10 North if you like, but Andy Burnham knows what he’s doing | Jonathan Freedland
Andy Burnham’s new government has announced a £2 cap on single bus fares across England from January, presenting it as an immediate measure to ease pressure on household budgets. Jonathan Freedland argues that such practical, easily understood policies can build lasting public support, drawing a comparison with Ken Livingstone’s popular 1981 “Fares Fair” reductions in…
-
Owl Screenwriting Workshop Taking Submissions For 2027 Program Via The Black List & Athens Film Office
The Black List and Athens Film Office have opened submissions for the 2027 Owl Screenwriting Workshop, an intensive residential programme in Athens for early-career writers with professional credits. The initiative aims to help writers develop feature-film and television projects for international audiences by connecting them with producers, executives and other industry decision-makers. The workshop will…