-
BFI Boss Ben Roberts, Picturehouse’s Clare Binns on Gen Z’s Cinema Renaissance, AI Slop and British Indie Film: “We’re Not Great at Comedy”
BFI chief executive Ben Roberts and Picturehouse creative director Clare Binns discussed the future of British independent film at the Edinburgh Film Festival, focusing on funding, audiences and cinema’s role in local communities. Roberts argued that publicly and Lottery-funded films can create value beyond box-office returns by helping launch careers, while warning that the UK…
-
Secondhand book sales are booming. Is it because of AI?
Independent second-hand booksellers are reporting unusually large bulk orders, prompting suspicion that the books are being bought to train artificial intelligence systems rather than for readers. The trend matters because some books may be digitised through “destructive scanning”, where their spines are removed and pages scanned before the remains are recycled. The speculation follows a…
-
Paul McCartney lets it be! Ex-Beatle lets grass on his 160-acre Sussex estate turn yellow as he respects hosepipe ban
Sir Paul McCartney’s 160-acre East Sussex estate has been pictured with yellowing lawns during a local hosepipe ban, suggesting he is allowing the grass to dry rather than watering it. The contrast with greener grounds at other celebrity homes has drawn attention because parts of the UK have experienced record-breaking heatwaves and water restrictions. McCartney,…
-
Courtney Love reveals she “almost died” in 2019 amid promising album update
“They told me I was going to die.” The post Courtney Love reveals she “almost died” in 2019 amid promising album update first appeared on Far Out Magazine.
-
Retrospec Joe Rev 2 Review (2026): Putting the ‘Joy’ in Joyride
WIRED finds Retrospec’s Joe Rev 2 to be a fun, affordable electric bike that captures the appeal of a large BMX-style cruiser for teenagers and adults. Its retro looks, simple controls and relatively low weight make it distinctive, but the review stresses that comfort, practicality and real-world range are compromises. Priced at $1,400, the 56-pound…
-
Stalker 2’s imminent free update aims to make the sequel more atmospheric and less relentlessly hostile: ‘The Zone isn’t one constant gunfight’
PC Gamer reports that Stalker 2 will soon receive a free update intended to make its world feel more atmospheric and less dominated by continuous combat. The change matters because it responds to concerns that the game’s setting, the Zone, has felt relentlessly hostile rather than varied and immersive. The update is described as imminent,…
-
Channel children at risk as Stourbridge wildfire forces evacuations
A baby was photographed before a Channel crossing and homes were evacuated amid a fast-spreading grass fire. Zuckerberg set out his AI vision, while a Texas child death investigation and Latin earthquake relief efforts continue.
-
ChainDrop worm crawls into npm supply chain, evades standard defenses
A new variant of the Shai-Hulud npm worm, dubbed ChainDrop, has compromised hundreds of software packages and introduced stealthier ways to spread. It matters because it can infect developers’ projects and automated build systems without leaving obvious malicious changes in source-code repositories, making routine reviews less effective. Researchers identified the attack on 4 August, finding…
-
What to Expect in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 and its Gaming Theme
Fortnite’s Chapter 7 Season 4, titled Fortnite Override, is due to launch on 20 August after downtime, with a hacking and gaming theme. It matters because Epic Games appears to be building one of the game’s largest video-game crossover seasons yet, combining confirmed franchises with new gameplay features and potential Battle Pass content. Confirmed collaborations…
-
6 Best Apple Watch Accessories to Upgrade Your Watch (2026)
WIRED recommends accessories intended to improve the comfort, charging and protection of an Apple Watch. – Nike Sport Loop (£49): a soft, adjustable, reflective textile band that the reviewer finds comfortable for everyday wear and sleep tracking. – Nomad Stand One Max (£159): a compact premium stand offering fast Apple Watch charging and 25W Qi2…