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Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin has updated his blog for the first time in almost 6 months, but there’s still no Winds of Winter news
George R.R. Martin, author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series that inspired Game of Thrones, has posted on his personal blog for the first time in almost six months. The update will interest fans who have been anxiously monitoring his site for any sign of progress on The Winds of Winter, the…
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The Best Cordless Vacuums (2026): My Brand-New Top Pick
WIRED has updated its guide to the best cordless vacuums for 2026, naming the Shark PowerDetect Speed as its new top overall pick after testing nearly two dozen stick vacuums. The choice matters for shoppers weighing convenience against price, as cordless models have become popular for their light, mobile design that suits multi-storey homes and…
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US water facilities targeted by ‘malicious cyber actors’ – who’s to blame?
Federal cybersecurity officials warned that “malicious cyber actors” had targeted water and wastewater facilities across at least seven US states, with Minnesota the worst affected after 30 of its water systems were hit. The disruptions caused low water pressure and prompted some utilities to issue boil-water notices, though there have been no reports of contamination.…
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Is This Poker Player Bluffing? The AI Thinks So
ESPN’s use of a new “AI tells detection” tool during its broadcast of the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event has sparked debate within the poker community. The overlay, which displays live metrics on players’ movements alongside a “hand strength model” predicting what type of hand they might hold, raises questions about whether it…
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Assassins Creed Black Flag Resynced’s Kraken wheel will no longer be “wheely expensive” following the latest update, which will also teach you how to throw cash
Ubisoft has released title update 1.0.6 for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, rolling out on 4 August at 3pm BST. The patch adds the ability to hide protagonist Edward Kenway’s blowpipe for cosmetic purposes, fixes a previously incorrect price display on the Kraken ship wheel, and finally activates a tutorial explaining how to throw money…
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Big Walk review – larking around with mates elevated to an artform
Big Walk is a new online co-op puzzle game from House House, the Melbourne studio behind the 2019 hit Untitled Goose Game, and this review finds it a whimsical, often ingenious success. Rather than a mischievous goose, players control gangly bird-like characters exploring a photorealistic Australian wilderness, working together and communicating verbally to solve puzzles…
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British AI chip start-up founded by 25-year-old sixth form dropout valued at £2.5billion
A British start-up developing artificial intelligence chips has been valued at £2.5 billion, despite being founded by a 25-year-old entrepreneur who left school before completing his A-levels. The valuation underlines the intense investor appetite for firms building specialist hardware for AI applications, and highlights how young, non-traditional founders are increasingly able to build significant technology…
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AI skills more valuable than MBA, new survey suggests
Among the executives surveyed, 91% said they’re increasing compensation for employees with AI skills.
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‘Everyone Is Doing It’: The Truth About AI in Hollywood
Wired’s Katie Drummond interviewed Matt Belloni, a veteran Hollywood journalist and founding partner at media outlet Puck, to cut through conflicting narratives about artificial intelligence’s role in the entertainment industry. Belloni, who hosts the podcast “The Town” and writes the newsletter “What I’m Hearing…”, argues that opinion in Hollywood is sharply divided: some professionals reject…
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Apple issues new challenge against UK order for access to private user data
Apple has launched a fresh legal complaint against the UK government at the tribunal that hears challenges to covert surveillance powers, escalating its dispute over Home Office demands for access to encrypted user data. Although Apple has not detailed the complaint, it is reported to relate to a Home Office order for “backdoor” access to…