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Hugging Face’s new robot is an adorable rollerskating duck
Hugging Face’s Pollen Robotics has opened preorders for Microduck, a one-eyed biped robot standing just under 10 inches tall. The robot can rollerskate, pick up small objects, play with a ball and react to nearby activity, while its open-source software allows owners to adapt and retrain it for new behaviours. Microduck costs $399 and will…
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What does the Meta settlement mean for the UK? Five things we learned
Meta’s $18bn (£13.3bn) settlement with US states could influence child-safety rules beyond America, despite applying initially only to Facebook and Instagram users there. – Meta will introduce overnight access limits, screen-time prompts and stronger parental controls for US children, without admitting wrongdoing. – The measures may encourage the UK to seek similar safeguards, alongside its…
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Olivia Rodrigo Exhibit Coming to Grammy Museum, With Launch Including an On-Stage Cameron Crowe Q&A (EXCLUSIVE)
Olivia Rodrigo will open a Grammy Museum exhibition in Los Angeles with an on-stage conversation with filmmaker Cameron Crowe and a live performance on 1 September, before the show opens to the public the following day. Titled “Olivia Rodrigo: The Cure Unravelled”, it explores the craft behind her recent “The Cure” music video and reflects…
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I’m president of one of America’s most reliable allies. Here’s how we stand up to Russia
Romanian President Nicușor Dan argues that Russia’s actions near NATO territory, including repeated drone incursions into Romanian airspace, require a stronger and faster allied response. He says Romania’s position on the Black Sea and its long border with Ukraine make it a key part of NATO’s south-eastern defences, and that the country intends to contribute…
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Kesha on Her First Lingerie Campaign as an Independent Artist: ‘My Whole Body Is Finally All Mine’
Kesha has launched her first lingerie campaign as an independent artist, partnering with Adore Me while on her Freedom Tour. She says the collaboration reflects a new sense of autonomy after gaining greater control over her music and career, linking personal freedom with confidence in her body. The campaign features six items from Adore Me’s…
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James Cameron’s ‘Terminator 2,’ Michael Mann’s ‘Manhunter’ and Jacques Tati Retrospective Anchor Studiocanal’s New Classics Label
Studiocanal has launched Studiocanal Classics, a global label intended to restore, curate and reissue films from its catalogue of more than 18,000 titles. The initiative matters because it expands the company’s effort to preserve classic cinema in 4K while bringing major older films back to cinemas and home formats for new audiences. The launch slate…
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Northern Ireland Troubles Bill only serves the IRA up what they want – the British state in the dock, former Armed Forces minister warns
A former Armed Forces minister, Al Carns, has criticised Labour’s proposed Troubles Bill, arguing that it could expose former British soldiers to renewed legal action while allowing republicans to portray the state as responsible for violence during the Northern Ireland conflict. The dispute matters because the Bill would replace the Conservative-era Legacy Act and reshape…
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What is a Neet? The term behind Britain’s growing youth unemployment crisis
The number of 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training has remained close to one million, highlighting a persistent youth economic inactivity problem in the UK. Although the total fell slightly in the latest quarter, Alan Milburn warned that many young people are being denied opportunities to learn or work, with his government-commissioned…
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With All3Media Deal Closed, Patrick Holland to Run Combined Banijay U.K. as CEO and Executive Chair
Patrick Holland has been confirmed as chief executive and executive chairman of the enlarged Banijay U.K. business following Banijay Entertainment’s merger with All3Media. The appointment places him in charge of integrating a major British production portfolio, with Banijay aiming to sustain growth amid shifts in commissioning demand, technology and funding. Holland will report to Banijay…
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Number of homeless refugees housed by UK council surges 400 per cent as authority faces accusations of ‘prioritising illegal migrants’
Edinburgh City Council has reported a sharp rise in homelessness applications from people granted refugee status, while its suspension of normal social-housing allocations has prompted political criticism. The council says it paused allocations in April 2024 to meet its legal duties towards emergency homeless households during a declared housing emergency, but Reform UK has accused…