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Prince William to announce electric tuk tuks as finalists for his Earthshot prize: Makers of eco-powered autorickshaws could win £1million
Prince William is set to name Mahindra, India’s largest maker of electric autorickshaws, as the first-announced finalist for this year’s Earthshot Prize, his environmental award. Electric tuk tuks are seen as a significant opportunity to cut pollution across Asia, since the vehicles are ubiquitous in cities but conventional petrol-powered versions contribute heavily to smog; their…
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New safety tech risks drivers’ own cars wrongly SNITCHING on them
A viral video showing an Asian driver being wrongly flagged as drowsy by a Lexus safety camera has fuelled accusations that in-car driver-monitoring systems discriminate against Asian drivers, even as US regulators push to make such technology mandatory. The footage showed a man driving safely at 63mph who received an alert claiming his eyes were…
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I spent $4,000 on a robot dog from China
An Ars Technica writer bought a $4,017 quadruped robot from Chinese manufacturer Unitree and used it to walk to work in Washington, DC, testing its practicality and drawing curious crowds along the way. The article argues that Unitree’s significance lies not in inventing new robotics technology but in making quadruped and humanoid robots dramatically cheaper,…
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What we’ve been playing – “I don’t think this is this game’s biggest problem”
Eurogamer’s regular “What We’ve Been Playing” feature shares brief personal reflections from staff writers on the games occupying their time this week, spanning both blockbuster releases and old favourites. The piece highlights how staff use games for comfort, nostalgia and social connection, while also offering a more considered take on criticism levelled at a major…
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American women arrested after smuggling $1 MILLION worth of cannabis to Japan in suitcases
Two 25-year-old American women have been arrested in Japan after allegedly attempting to smuggle roughly $1 million worth of cannabis into the country hidden inside suitcases. The case highlights Japan’s exceptionally strict drug laws, under which even minor cannabis possession can lead to arrest, prosecution and deportation, regardless of the substance’s legal status elsewhere. The…
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Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? – Issue 649
This Push Square Talking Point piece invites readers to share what they’re playing this weekend, with the author focusing on an unnamed cat-themed roguelike role-playing game they’ve been engrossed in for weeks. The piece is a casual, opinion-driven feature rather than hard news, but it highlights an indie title praised for its depth, humour and…
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Arrest made over the death of black woman found hanged from tree
Police in Jackson, Mississippi, have arrested a man over the death of Tasia Fortune, a black woman whose body was found hanged from a tree in August. The case has drawn national attention amid concern about a wider pattern of black Americans being found hanged, with more than 50 members of the US Congress writing…
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‘Beef’ Creator Lee Sung Jin Pitched Charles Melton on the Show Over Dinner: ‘By the Third Appetizer He Said Yes’
Gold House hosted its third annual One House Toast to the Emmys, honouring “Beef” showrunner Lee Sung Jin, whose Netflix anthology series earned 16 nominations for its second season, the most of any limited or anthology series this year, and has already won three Creative Arts Emmys. The recognition made Lee the first Asian television…
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Netflix’s Best Genre-Blending Series Finally Gives Fans What They Want in Season 2
Netflix’s anime adaptation of Kouji Miura’s manga Blue Box is set to finally advance its central romance in season 2, according to new series director Daisuke Sakō. After 25 episodes of slow-burn tension between badminton player Taiki Inomata and his basketball-star housemate and crush Chinatsu Kano, Sakō tells Polygon that “their relationship begins to move…
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Executive Turntable: Columbia Records Names Corey ‘C-Notes’ Calder Head of Urban Music Marketing
Columbia Records has named Corey “C-Notes” Calder as senior vice president of marketing and head of urban music marketing, part of Billboard’s regular round-up of music industry executive moves. The appointment brings an experienced marketing figure with a track record in R&B and hip-hop into a senior role at one of the major labels, reflecting…