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Phones are the new cigarettes: why restaurants are discouraging and even banning them
Restaurants and bars are increasingly treating smartphones the way venues once treated cigarettes, encouraging or outright banning their use at the table in an effort to boost genuine conversation and restore focus on food and company. The trend marks a reversal from a decade ago, when many fine-dining establishments relaxed phone rules because customers wanted…
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Historic synagogue ‘attacked with fireworks’ during Jewish New Year, just days after Miliband unveils Israel sanctions
A group of five youths reportedly set off fireworks towards the Lauderdale Road Synagogue in Maida Vale, north-west London, on Sunday afternoon as the Jewish community celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Security footage is said to show the youths, described as wearing hoodies, with one keeping watch as two others threw the fireworks,…
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Rocket Lab calls foul on Blue Origin’s $700M Mars comms contract
Rocket Lab has filed a formal protest with the US Government Accountability Office challenging NASA’s decision to award Blue Origin a contract worth up to roughly $700 million to build the agency’s Mars Telecommunications Network. The move is notable as it flips the usual script, since Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, has itself repeatedly…
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Volkswagen’s slippery new EV breaks a bunch of efficiency records
Volkswagen has unveiled the Mission Efficiency, a near-production electric coupe prototype it claims is the world’s most aerodynamic road-legal vehicle, as carmakers race to improve EV efficiency and reduce charging anxiety. Rather than relying on exotic new battery or motor technology, VW achieved the breakthrough largely through design, reshaping components shared with its upcoming ID.…
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Google’s Pixel 11 is cheaper ahead of iPhone 18 Pro launch
Google has cut prices across its current Pixel phone lineup, with the discounts landing just days before Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro launches on 18 September. The timing suggests a deliberate move to make Pixel devices more attractive to shoppers who might otherwise be drawn to Apple’s new flagship, and it lowers the barrier to entry…
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Trump claims HE’S the only guardrail that AI needs and slams ‘sick conspiracy’ pushing for more regulation
Donald Trump has escalated his rejection of AI regulation, declaring that only he, thanks to his “high IQ”, provides the “guardrails” that American artificial intelligence needs. He singled out Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei by name, accusing him of posing as a “perfect little angel” while claiming his administration has already stopped AI firms from…
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Stream the 78th Emmy Awards live on Peacock Monday evening
The 78th Emmy Awards will air live on Monday, 14 September at 8pm ET/5pm PT from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, broadcast on NBC and streamed via Peacock. “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay hosts, becoming the first woman to solo-host the Emmys since Jane Lynch in 2011, while shows including “The Pitt”,…
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Australia’s outdated technology is vulnerable to AI hacking attacks, signals chief says
Australia’s top intelligence agency has warned that the country’s ageing technology infrastructure leaves it vulnerable to attacks exploiting artificial intelligence, as the government works on new AI regulations. Abigail Bradshaw, director general of the Australian Signals Directorate, told the Sydney Dialogue summit in Canberra that governments and businesses would need to spend “enormous” sums updating…
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Phone audio quality hinges on conversion location rather than port type
As smartphone makers have largely abandoned the 3.5mm headphone jack in favour of USB-C, listeners are left wondering which connection actually delivers better sound. The distinction matters because audio quality depends on where the digital-to-analogue conversion happens rather than on the connector itself, meaning neither port is automatically superior. This affects anyone buying wired headphones…
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AI startup strategies upended by rapid provider feature releases
TechCrunch has previewed a panel session for its Disrupt 2026 conference addressing a growing anxiety among AI startup founders: that rapid feature releases from foundation model providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google can suddenly absorb the very capabilities a startup has spent months building, eroding its competitive edge. The session, titled “What Happens When…