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Rail bosses pocket millions as Russia tears Kyiv apart
Railway executives took home £3.5m in salaries last year as their firms distributed £400m in dividends. Russia’s intensified attacks are devastating Kyiv, with further crises mounting globally.
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Amazon pledges $1bn to support communities near new datacentres
Amazon has pledged $1 billion over five years to support communities affected by its datacentre expansion, addressing growing public opposition and over 100 moratoriums being considered across the United States. The investment will fund education, job training, infrastructure improvements, and sustainability initiatives in areas hosting the facilities. Amazon argues that datacentre development is strategically important…
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Arizona killer faces resentencing after court rejects AI victim video
An Arizona appeals court has ruled that Gabriel Paul Horcasitas must be resentenced for the 2021 road rage killing of Christopher Pelkey, 37. The decision comes because the trial court improperly allowed an AI-generated video message from the deceased victim to be shown during sentencing. The ruling raises important questions about the admissibility of AI-created…
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India’s street magicians struggle to preserve a fading family tradition
India’s traditional street performers are struggling to sustain their livelihoods as audiences and opportunities to perform in public spaces dwindle. The decline threatens skills passed down through generations, including the Madari community’s street magic, and reflects changing entertainment habits and tighter restrictions on public performance. Delhi magician Ishamuddin Khan, 55, learnt his craft from family…
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School strikes paralyse France; Spain braces for torrential storms
Nationwide school protests have forced hundreds of French schools to close and spread to universities, alarming Macron’s government, whilst Spain’s east coast faces its highest weather alert as torrential storms approach.
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Developer recreates Doom in SQL with full-colour graphics at playable speeds
Developer Lukas Vogel has created SQLDoom, a version of Doom whose game logic and graphics are generated largely through SQL queries. The project shows that a relational database can render a recognisable, full-colour version of the classic game at playable speeds, while also exploring how database features could help manage multiplayer game state. A small…
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Meta releases code for custom Muse AI gadgets with household controls
Meta has released open-source code enabling users to build their own Muse AI gadgets tailored to their specific needs. The move democratises access to Meta’s new AI assistant by allowing hobbyists and developers to create customised hardware implementations using readily available components like ESP32 boards or Raspberry Pi units. The company has also manufactured a…
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Meta wants people to build their own Muse gadgets, too
Meta is opening up its Muse AI agent to third-party developers through a new open-source project called Muse Gadgets, providing them with the firmware and tools needed to build custom hardware. This move could accelerate innovation around the Muse platform beyond Meta’s own devices, allowing hobbyists and developers to create diverse hardware implementations for interacting…
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Manchester City warned; Celebrity Traitors opens to acclaim
The FA warns Manchester City over integrity findings. Celebrity Traitors opens with 21 celebrities, a new heart valve is approved and violence erupts in France over education.
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Samsung and Google are raising prices on their budget phones
Samsung and Google have significantly increased prices on their budget smartphones, with the Galaxy A17 5G rising by $70 and the Pixel 10a by $100. Both companies are raising costs across their affordable ranges, primarily due to a global RAM shortage affecting the entire technology industry. This matters because budget phones have traditionally been the…