UK cement production drops to lowest levels since 1950s
The Mineral Products Association says the decline threatens to impact the government's housing plans.
What you can't say in online posts
The arrest of Father Ted's co-creator over social media posts has reignited arguments over what you should and shouldn't be allowed to say online.
GNOME Foundation boss exits after just four months

Board calls move a mutual decision but offers no details on what went wrong

The GNOME Foundation is once again hunting for a new boss after executive director Steven Deobald departed less than four months into the role, a move the board described as mutual.…

Elderly woman conned by romance scammer posing as stranded astronaut
An 80-year-old woman in Japan sent money to an online fraudster who told her he was an astronaut stranded on a spaceship - and needed the cash to buy oxygen.
Hundreds of jobs at risk as retailer Bodycare braces for administration
More than a thousand high street jobs will be put at risk this week when Bodycare, the health and beauty retailer, is forced to call in administrators.
Trump says 11 killed in US strike on drug-carrying vessel from Venezuela
The Trump administration has signalled a willingness to use military force against drug cartels.
What new weapons on show at huge parade say about China's military strength
Beyond the hype and shiny new weapons, here are our five takeaways from China's military parade.
The PartyBox 720 is JBL’s largest battery-powered party speaker
JBL has expanded its lineup of flashy Bluetooth speakers with three new models that let you blast tunes without being tied to a power source. The launch includes the new $1,099 PartyBox 720, which is JBL’s largest battery-powered speaker to date, weighing 7 pounds (3kg) more than the visually similar PartyBox 710 that was released […]
Acer gives its 18-inch Predator Helios gaming laptop a 4K screen and top GPU
Acer is refreshing some of its gaming laptops for IFA 2025, with a big new Predator Helios 18P AI at the high end and pair of more affordable Nitro V 16 models. The Predator Helios 18P will have up to an RTX 5090 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor, though in any configuration […]
Acer’s new Amadana and CE270 monitors are unusually, strikingly stylish
Did you know Acer acquired a Japanese design firm called Amadana late last year that makes classy coffee gear, retro calculators, air purifiers, and all manner of minimalist low-fi tech? Neither did I till today — but it goes a long way to explaining why a few of Acer’s new monitors at IFA 2025 are […]
Acer’s 16-inch Air weighs even less than a 13-inch MacBook Air
Acer is announcing a new Swift Air 16 at IFA 2025, and it’s an absolute featherweight of a 16-inch laptop. Weighing in at 2.18 pounds / 0.99kg with an IPS display or 2.43 pounds / 1.1kg with its optional OLED, the Swift Air is lighter than even a 13-inch MacBook Air. It also packs more […]
My brief hands-on with Acer’s new convertible Chromebook has me cautiously optimistic
Acer's new Chromebook Plus Spin 514, announced at IFA 2025 in Berlin, is the company's first laptop to use the Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor. That chip was used in the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 that launched earlier this summer, and it was key to delivering excellent performance and marathon battery life in that […]
Google will reveal its Gemini smart home plans (and hardware) next month
Google is overdue an update to its smart home setup, and now we know when it’ll come: October 1st. The company has teased some sort of launch or announcement for that day, promising that “Gemini is coming to Google Home.” The company announced Gemini for Home at last month’s Made by Google event, promising early […]
Asylum protests putting police under chronic pressure, chief says
Chief Constable Gavin Stephens says police were notified about over 3,000 summer protests and warns against an "increase in tension and polarity".
UK Home Office hikes tech consultant spend to £350M despite pledge to cut costs

Warnings of internal skills shortages fail to quell appetite for hand-holding

The UK Home Office has upped its planned spending on external data and tech consultants by £100 million to a maximum of £350 million.…

Wes Streeting pushes forward with ban on high caffeine energy drinks for under-16s
The health secretary insists that high caffeine energy drinks should be banned for under-16s in England, saying they impact children's health and learning.
Energy drinks to be banned for under-16s in England
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said he was acting on concerns for children's health.
'Ketamine Queen' pleads guilty to supplying fatal dose that killed Matthew Perry
A woman known as the "Ketamine Queen" has officially pleaded guilty to selling Matthew Perry the drug that killed him.
Cost of long term UK government borrowing hits fresh 27-year high
After hitting the highest level this century on Tuesday, the cost of long term UK government borrowing has now hit a fresh 27-year high.
Ooni’s newest pizza oven adds AI to your slice
Have you ever looked at your pizza oven and wished it was just a little bit smarter? Ooni has, and so its new Volt 2 comes loaded with “Pizza Intelligence,” an adaptive heating system designed to deliver a more even and consistent cooking temperature. The Volt 2 is an indoor oven, able to cook pizzas […]
A let off or tougher than it looks? What the Google monopoly ruling means
The search giant is not being broken up -so how much will it be affected by the remedies a judge has instead ordered?
Supermarket giant Tesco sues VMware, warns lack of support could disrupt food supply

Goes after Computacenter too, seeks £100 million damages

UK supermarket giant Tesco has sued Broadcom for breach of contracts pertaining to its VMware licenses, named Computacenter as a co-defendant, and warned it may not be able to put food on the shelves if the situation goes pear-shaped.…

The art of the free transfer - and why Real Madrid are the masters of it
When it comes to acquiring world-class free transfers, Real Madrid are in a league of their own.
'People assume you're not trying' - James on England criticism
Chelsea and England forward Lauren James has criticised fans as "too quick to judge" during her struggles at Euro 2025.
Nuclear power, cyber troops and robot wolves - China's army of the future on full display
China's status as a military superpower was on full display as Beijing marked the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Floods kill 30 and submerge 1,400 villages in Indian state
More than 354,000 people have been affected by the worst floods since 1988, as rescue efforts continue.
'Trump's out, Xi's in': BBC correspondents react to China's military parade
The display of might comes as Beijing positions itself as a global counterweight to the United States.
Graham Linehan arrest: Govt 'needs to look at whether police getting balance right', says Streeting
The government needs to look at whether police are "getting the balance right", Wes Streeting has said, after the arrest of the co-writer of Father Ted over social media posts.
Why Sheffield Wednesday are stuck in takeover limbo
BBC Sport examines the state of play at troubled Sheffield Wednesday, and what is preventing a takeover from being finalised.
Internet mapping and research outfit Censys reveals state-based abuse, harassment

‘Universities are being used to proxy offensive government operations, turning research access decisions political’

Censys Inc, vendor of the popular Censys internet-mapping tool, has revealed that state-based actors are trying to abuse its services by hiding behind academic researchers.…

From a coma to a World Cup in three years - Burton savours comeback
Abi Burton's Rugby World Cup debut against Samoa last weekend marked an extraordinary return to the top after a rare illness almost cost her her life.
Electric New York energy reignites etiquette debate
Is apologising for a net cord courteous or meaningless? BBC Sport looks at why tennis etiquette is back on the agenda at the US Open.
Toddler murdered by grandparents 'failed' by system
Ethan Ives-Griffiths was murdered by his grandparents Michael and Kerry Ives at their home.
Uncovering new secrets of the Neanderthals
The secrets of the Neanderthal discoveries in the Mandrin Cave in France are revealed.
Hundreds of Parliament security staff go on strike
Hundreds of security staff are set to take action in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Xi presents his vision of the future - and the company by his side was no accident
Whatever you might think of the politics, the performance was nothing short of perfect.
'Lucky' Djokovic to face Alcaraz after battling past Fritz
Novak Djokovic sets up a blockbuster US Open semi-final encounter with Carlos Alcaraz after battling past American Taylor Fritz.
'Fury' over Father Ted creator arrest and 'nervy bond markets'
Father Ted creator Graham Linehan's arrest and skyrocketing borrowing costs dominate Wednesday's papers.
Trump accuses Xi of conspiring against US with Putin and Kim
Donald Trump's comments came as China held a massive military parade attended by the Russian and North Korean leaders.
Watch: Key moments from China's military parade
The military parade was attended by world leaders including Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un and showcased China’s new weapons.
India hails 'first' home-grown chip as a milestone despite very modest specs

It’s been to space. It likely won’t launch India as a semiconductor superpower

India’s government yesterday celebrated an “important milestone” in the development of its semiconductor industry, and therefore the nation’s ambition to become a global contender, but the celebrations seem premature because the chip that was the star of the show is nothing special.…

Watch: New ICBM missile on display at China's military parade
During the parade, China unveiled an intercontinental strategic nuclear missile known as the DF-5C.
Partial release of Epstein files feeds view the whole truth is being covered up
"Don't let this fool you."  
Trump suffers setback in bid to act as national police chief after chaos on streets of LA
The deployment of National Guard soldiers on to the streets of LA by Donald Trump was always deeply controversial - and now it has been deemed illegal, too, by a federal judge.
9 Short Stories That Deserve More Love
The Best of Glen Cook (Night Shade Books, November 24, 2020) Cover by Raymond Swanland It’s no exaggeration to call short stories the bedrock of sci-fi and fantasy. Over the years, short fiction has been the proving ground for many of our favorite authors.
Moment Xi, Putin and Kim pose with world leaders at China's military parade
It's the first time the three world leaders have been seen together in public.
Watch: China's military parade begins with gun salute
Troops marched in Tiananmen Square to showcase China's military strength in an event marking 80 years since Japan surrendered in WW2.
Disney will pay $10 million to settle FTC claim it used cartoons to collect YouTube data on kids
Disney has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations from the Federal Trade Commission that it violated federal law by misleadingly labeling cartoons on YouTube so it could illegally collect children’s personal data. The FTC alleges that Disney failed to label some videos of its popular kids cartoons it uploaded to YouTube as “Made […]
Putin, Kim and Xi are meeting in China: BBC correspondents explain why
The three leaders will meet in public for the first time during China's military parade - this is why it matters.
Xi hails 'great regeneration of China' with dramatic show of military might
Xi Jinping hailed the "great regeneration of China" as he hosted Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un for Beijing's biggest ever military parade.
US House panel releases 33,000 pages of Epstein files
But Republicans and Democrats alike say the files, including jail CCTV, contain little new information.
Judge who ruled Google is a monopoly decides to do hardly anything to break it up

Ad giant won't be broken up, forced to offload Chrome or Android, thanks to AI

Champagne will be flowing at Google HQ after US District Judge Amit Mehta decided to do very little to rein in the monopolistic web giant.…

Sue Gray questions class-based civil service scheme
The PM's former chief of staff says she "learned a lot from being around people from different walks of life" in the civil service.
Jury clears Cardi B of assault on security guard in Los Angeles
A number of viral moments thrust the civil case into the spotlight.
Google critics think the search remedies ruling is a total whiff
The remedies ruling in the Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Google finally landed on Tuesday. Last year, Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google was a monopolist in the search and advertising markets, but while today’s ruling says that Google will have to share some search data with competitors, Google doesn’t have to spin off […]
Government unable to calculate Afghan data breach cost, watchdog says
The National Audit Office says it has not been given enough information to have "confidence" a relocation scheme cost £850m.
Google avoids break-up but must share data with rivals
A case over the US tech giant's dominance in search allows it to hang on to its Chrome web browser.
US filmmaker in legal battle over 'Downton Shabby'
Hopwood DePree takes Rochdale council to the High Court over control of his ancestral stately home.
Seven claims made in new royal book from Brexit to Coronation
A new book on the connections between the royals and politics has revealed some eye-catching stories.
Trump says 11 dead in strike on Venezuelan drugs boat
A strike on what the US called a Venezuelan gang's drug-carrying vessel killed 11 people, Donald Trump has said.
A scheme helped prevent sex offenders committing more crimes - then it closed. Why?
The case raises difficult questions about how best to protect potential victims.
Don't pay a fake parking fine – four ways to protect yourself from scams
Four simple tips to make sure you don't fall victim to fake texts or payment demands from BBC expert Nick Stapleton.
Thames Water bidders ready to clear out top managers
Sources close to the deal accept that the government needs to be seen to be tough with the company.
Watch: Captain Scott’s famous polar shipwreck as never seen before
The Terra Nova carried Captain Scott and his men on their doomed expedition to the South Pole.
Ousted Democratic FTC commissioner can return (again) for now
Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, the Democratic Federal Trade Commissioner fired by President Donald Trump without cause, can at least temporarily return to work while her legal case plays out. This happened once before when Slaughter briefly returned to her office months after Trump claimed to fire her, when US District Court Judge Loren AliKhan found her dismissal […]
Hepatitis B vaccine linked with a lower risk of developing diabetes
Being vaccinated against hepatitis B may reduce chronic inflammation levels in the body, which could help ward off diabetes
Matthew Perry and the Hollywood drug network exposed by his death
Before he died alone in his jacuzzi, Matthew Perry had received three injections of ketamine in the space of just six hours. "Shoot me up with a big one," he told his personal assistant, ahead of the final, fatal dose.
Why is Trump targeting America's most powerful bank?
Can he take control of the Federal Reserve?
Cardi B cleared of assaulting security guard
Cardi B has been cleared of assault by a California jury in a civil trial brought by a former security guard.
Chris Mason: How Polanski's Green leadership could impact UK politics
Zack Polanski's landslide victory is the latest example of a shake up in the country's politics.
Sabalenka to face Pegula after Vondrousova withdraws
Aryna Sabalenka moves into the US Open semi-finals after Marketa Vondrousova withdraws injured - setting up a repeat of last year's final against Jessica Pegula.
Australia-Israel relations have hit a low point. Behind the scenes, it's business as usual
The two democratic allies have had a spectacular falling out - but what has actually changed?
Watch: Timelapse shows Northern Lights display over North Sea
Monday night's dazzling sight was filmed from Flamborough in East Yorkshire, over three hours and 40 minutes.
Google ordered to make search engine changes - but avoids dramatic break-up
A US federal judge has ordered a major makeover of Google's search engine in a crackdown aimed at addressing the damaging effects of monopolistic practices.
US v. Google: all the news from the search antitrust showdown
On August 5th, 2024, Judge Amit Mehta ruled in the case of United States of America v. Google, saying, “…the court reaches the following conclusion: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly. It has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.” Nearly a year later, the judge has […]
The best deals on MacBooks right now
Apple currently sells MacBooks equipped with its own M-series chips in a wide range of sizes and price points. It discontinued the M1 MacBook Air to make room for newer models, but some retailers are still selling the 2020 laptop starting at $599 ($50 off) at Walmart — a far cry from the $2,499 starting […]
Google and Apple’s $20 billion search deal survives
Google will be able to keep making search deals like its $20 billion agreement to be the default option in Apple’s Safari browser, a federal district court judge ruled in the US v. Google antitrust case on Tuesday. Executives from both Apple and Firefox-made Mozilla have defended their search deals with Google, with Mozilla’s CFO […]
Amazon’s Lens Live AI shops for anything you can see
Amazon will now let you shop for products by pointing your camera at them. On Thursday, the company announced Lens Live, a new feature that uses your camera to scan things in the environment around you, while surfacing matching product listings. This feature, which is only rolling out to the Amazon Shopping app on iOS […]
Google gets to keep Chrome, judge rules in search antitrust case
Google will not have to sell its Chrome browser in order to address its illegal monopoly in online search, DC District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled on Tuesday. Over a year ago, Judge Mehta found that the search giant had violated the Sherman Antitrust Act; his ruling now determines what Google must do in response. […]
How big will this Drift get? Cloudflare cops to Salesloft Drift breach

Show of hands: who WASN'T targeted?

The list of victims keeps growing, as yet another company — Cloudflare — today disclosed that some of its customers' data was also compromised in the Salesloft Drift breach.…

Disallowing Fulham goal was 'misjudgement' - Webb
PGMOL chief Howard Webb says the decision to disallow Josh King's goal for Fulham in their defeat by Chelsea was a "misjudgement".
Who watches the watchmen? Surveillanceware firms make bank, avoid oversight

Enough governments love it and it's highly lucrative

Governments can't get enough of hacking services to use against their citizens, despite their protestations that elements of the trade need sanctioning.…

Silksong: all of the updates about the Hollow Knight sequel
After years of development and pent-up anticipation from fans, Hollow Knight: Silksong, the full sequel to the indie classic Hollow Knight, will finally be released on September 4th. It will cost $19.99 and include new zones, more than 200 enemies, over 40 bosses, and an orchestral score from the composer of the first game. Silksong […]
Council loses bid to go to Supreme Court over asylum hotel
Epping's council is considering applying directly to a higher court to get migrants out of a hotel.
How the Democrats keep copying the MAGA influencer playbook (and failing)
Hello and welcome to Regulator. Today, I will attempt to regulate my own apoplexy. Recently, Wired published an article revealing the existence of a secret Democrat influencer incubator that trained liberal and progressive content creators to push coordinated messaging across their shared social media platforms and paid them handsomely to do so. The fallout has […]
The Big Putin, Xi and Kim Jong Un meeting
Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un head to Beijing.
'Undercooked and overcooked' - frazzled England humbled
England's lack of one-day preparation and a weariness from The Hundred threatens to derail Harry Brook's ODI team, writes Matthew Henry.
Biden stopped ICE from buying Israeli spyware, but Trump admin allows it to proceed

Privacy advocates don't care if Paragon is based in the US now - they still don't want ICE armed with spyware

ICE may soon have a new weapon in its arsenal. The White House has reversed a Biden-era decision to suspend the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)'s purchase of software from commercial spyware maker Paragon Solutions.…

Trump is moving Space Command to Alabama
President Donald Trump is moving US Space Command’s headquarters from Colorado to Alabama, he announced during a press conference on Tuesday. The change reverses former President Joe Biden’s 2023 decision to leave it in Colorado Springs, where its temporary headquarters have been established. During the press conference, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chair of the House […]
The tariff apocalypse is here
As President Donald Trump's August 29th deadline for new tariffs rolled around, the first thing that I thought of was 2026 planners. In July, Trump signed an executive order essentially killing a little-known but highly consequential trade rule, which meant that purchases coming from abroad - like $100 in planners and accessories - could enter […]
Watch: Trump addresses online health rumours in Oval Office
In response to a reporter's question, the president said he was ‘very active’ over the Labor Day weekend.
Clegg accuses Vance of 'hypocrisy' over free speech criticism
Many senior right-wing US figures attack UK free speech laws while "intimidating and bullying" critics, Sir Nick says.
Truss calls for Trump-style 'revolution' in the UK
Liz Truss has defended her record as prime minister and called for "institutional change" in Britain in the same way she claims Donald Trump delivered "revolution in the US".
Here are the best AirPods deals you can get right now
If you know where to look, you can often score discounts on Apple’s ever-expanding AirPods lineup. Both the newer AirPods Max and AirPods 4 (with and without ANC) now consistently receive discounts, as do the latest AirPods Pro with USB-C. Events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday often bring the steepest discounts, though […]
Microsoft gave Perfect Dark’s developers a chance to save the game — after it was already canceled
In July, Microsoft’s sweeping layoffs hit Xbox hard, and shuttered the entire game studio that was building Perfect Dark. Officially, the game was canceled. But unofficially, reports Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Microsoft gave Perfect Dark’s other set of developers — Tomb Raider studio Crystal Dynamics — a chance to revive the game. Here’s where it gets […]
Afghan quake victims buried on mountain top as aftershocks continue
The BBC's Yama Bariz travelled to a region devastated by the 6.0 magnitude earthquake.
Total recall: Mistral AI's Le Chat can now remember your conversations

A host of plugins also make it a better business tool

Mistral AI can now remember personal details about you and use them to offer better prompts. It also has new MCP connectors that businesses can deploy to connect their users to third-party tech services.…

Driver charged with failing to stop at crash that killed children on e-scooter
A driver has appeared in court charged with failing to stop at the scene of a crash that killed a brother and sister who were riding an e-scooter.
Jaguar Land Rover production severely hit by cyber-attack
Staff were sent home and the company shut down its IT systems in an effort to minimise the damage done.
Thousands of Israeli reservists report for duty ahead of Gaza City offensive
Ground forces are already pushing into the city, where hospitals say more than 50 people were killed by Israeli strikes on Tuesday.
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