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A biological male’s bid to join a women’s pole dance studio is about more than just hurt feelings and a $30,000 payout: Defiant owner tells JULIE BINDEL how this Gold Coast battle could change female-only spaces forever
A Gold Coast pole dance studio owner is challenging a discrimination claim after refusing a biological male’s request to join women-only classes. The dispute is presented as a test of whether businesses can maintain female-only spaces, particularly where customers may expect privacy and single-sex participation. The claimant is reportedly seeking up to $30,000 through the…
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Robot snakes searched for Venezuela earthquake survivors in collapsed buildings
Robot “snakebots” from Carnegie Mellon University were deployed to Venezuela after two earthquakes on 24 June killed more than 5,000 people and injured 16,740. Their ability to move through narrow gaps in collapsed buildings gave rescuers a way to inspect dangerous areas beyond the reach of people and larger equipment. Each four-foot modular robot carries…
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10 Perfect Anime Series You Should Watch in 2026
Collider recommends a mix of classic and modern anime for viewers in 2026, judging series by factors including writing, animation, influence, popularity and critical acclaim. – Death Note: A high-stakes psychological thriller about a pupil using a lethal notebook to reshape society while evading a brilliant detective; praised for its ethical questions and early plot…
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UK defence spending ‘not enough to protect the country’, BAE boss warns
BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn has warned that UK defence spending remains insufficient despite an additional £15 billion announced in June. He said the security environment was the most threatening he had experienced, citing Russia’s military activity, cyber attacks and the closer prospect of war in Europe as reasons for greater investment. Woodburn said…
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Video: Scientists watch orcas ram a sunfish so hard it explodes
Researchers have documented two cases in which orcas cooperatively rammed dead sharp-tail sunfish, breaking the carcasses into clouds of fragments. The newly described behaviour matters because it may represent a previously unrecorded way for orcas to process large prey and make it easier for younger animals to eat. The incidents occurred in the Gulf of…
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European researchers want to study social media’s harms but can’t get the data
European researchers say they are struggling to obtain social-media data needed to investigate disinformation, platform harms and political influence, despite EU rules intended to grant vetted academics access. The issue matters because limited access can prevent independent scrutiny of how platforms recommend, monetise or moderate content during major events such as elections. The article highlights…
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Google meets the neighbors and gets both barrels over its new UK datacenter
Google faced strong criticism from residents at a meeting about its Waltham Cross datacentre, with complaints focused on inadequate consultation, persistent noise and intrusive lighting. The dispute matters because the site is Google’s first UK-owned and operated facility and is expected to expand significantly, intensifying concerns about its effect on neighbouring homes and the local…
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France orders evacuation of peninsula as hundreds flee wildfires by boat
French authorities have ordered the full evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula on the south-west coast as a major wildfire continues to spread in the Gironde region. Hundreds of holidaymakers have left by boat, while others are being directed towards Bordeaux by road; the situation matters because the fires have already caused deaths, displaced tens…
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UK defence spending ‘not enough to protect the country’, BAE boss warns
BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn has warned that UK defence spending remains insufficient to protect the country, despite the Government announcing an extra £15 billion in June. He said the security environment was the most threatening he had experienced, citing Russian submarine activity, cyber attacks and the proximity of war in Europe following Russia’s…