Author: staff

Starmer stood down from the House of Commons this week, saying he wanted to devote more attention to international affairs. He quit as prime minister earlier this year after losing support in his own party, and has been succeeded by Andy Burnham. No date has yet been set for the contest. Polanski will still need to be selected by local Green Party members. That selection is expected to take place next week. In a taste of his campaign pitch, Polanski said “voters will have someone who will always fight their corner — never scared of big donors or the party…

In a civil defence shelter cut into rock, behind doors designed to withstand a nuclear or biological attack, two Finnish conscripts wearing hazmat suits and breathing masks are measuring radiation levels as they take part in an exercise to turn a cave into a place of safety for thousands of people. Inside, in what is normally a sports hall, hundreds of people are sleeping overnight on camp beds. More than 2,000 people including volunteers and students are taking part in the biggest civil defence exercise in Europe since the end of World War II. In the scenario, critical infrastructure in…

Humanoid robots wave, carry out household tasks and demonstrate different ways of moving at a robotics showcase in Brussels. The event at the European Parliament highlights growing interest in robotics as Europe faces an ageing population and a shrinking workforce. Researchers say humanoid machines could eventually take on factory tasks without major changes to existing infrastructure, although the technology remains largely experimental. Developers say AI is improving robots’ ability to perceive their surroundings and handle objects, allowing them to work alongside people and adapt to changing environments.

Javelins are about to get smart. TDK Corporation will fit throws with sensor technology at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, recording and analysing the physics behind every throw in real time. As an official global supporter of the event, running in the Hungarian capital from 11 to 13 September, TDK will fit javelins with its sensors for a special demonstration featuring leading athletes. The technology captures data invisible in a conventional result, where distance remains the only metric that counts. TDK’s sensors track the javelin’s release angle, rotation, speed, height and flight path. TDK’s software analyses that data…

American jazz singer and songwriter Cassandra Wilson has died in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, aged 70. The two-time Grammy winning vocalist was named TIME magazine’s “America’s Best Singer” in 2001 and was best known for her distinctive and genre-bending contralto. She redefined the boundaries of traditional blues-jazz and folk sounds, and worked across various genres including pop, country, and R&B. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy Award-winning and legendary jazz artist,” her manager Robert Torre wrote in a statement (via jazz radio station WBGO). “Cassandra Wilson transitioned peacefully at home,…

As Reform UK kicks off conference season in Birmingham, Nigel Farage appears to have some work to do. The party has gone from dominating the political conversation to facing a fall in polling numbers, mounting scandals and fresh questions over Farage’s leadership. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy preview a crucial three days for Reform, with major announcements expected on migration and the economy – while a French connection could be significant. Elsewhere, the Conservatives are ramping up the pressure on Andy Burnham over defence spending, unveiling their own plan on how they would cut welfare to fund more money for…

The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, is appearing in the Congress of Deputies, at his own request, to report on the government’s handling of the events in Ceuta and on the current situation in the autonomous city. His appearance comes amid strong criticism of the Socialist government over its response to the migration crisis triggered after thousands of people entered from Morocco at the end of July. The situation has also sparked an intense political debate over border control, the reception of migrants and Morocco’s role in the crisis. The opposition has demanded that the government explain the decisions taken…

Flood survivors in Nepal cross the swollen Trishuli River in Nuwakot district on a makeshift cable, with Nepali soldiers and local residents pulling them to safety. The footage shows people boarding the temporary device and gripping the cable as they are carried high above the fast-flowing river. More than a week after devastating floods swept through the area, the crossing has become a vital link for communities cut off after roads and bridges were destroyed. The Nepal Army installed the roughly 250-metre cable crossing in Bidur to help people move between the riverbanks. The footage shows the difficult conditions facing…

Boomers claiming young people nowadays do not want to work may sadly have a point, according to recent studies by institutes like the Chartered Management Institute highlighting that Gen Z could not actually be ready for the workplace after all. Several industry leaders from major companies like Booking Holdings and Whole Foods have highlighted this underpreparedness already. Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking Holdings said in 2024 that younger employees may be in need of more training and guidance on how workplaces today are structured and what is expected from them. Similarly, a report by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) released…

Die zunehmende Leistungsfähigkeit von KI-Modellen bereitet Wildberger Sorge. „Es verstärkt die Dringlichkeit, hier in ganz besonderem Maße mehr Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu treffen“, sagte er. Die Entwicklung sei „so rasant“, dass Unternehmen vor möglichen Angriffen „nie ganz sicher“ seien. „Funktioniert nur mit Amerika und China“ Die Idee einer internationalen KI-Aufsicht nach dem Vorbild der Atomaufsicht wird seit mehreren Jahren diskutiert. Auch OpenAI-Chef Sam Altman hatte sich dafür bereits mehrfach ausgesprochen. Nach Ansicht des Ministers können Staaten die Risiken fortschrittlicher KI nicht im Alleingang kontrollieren. „Das erfordert aber auch, dass der Dialog grundsätzlich zu diesem Thema global aufgenommen wird – und das funktioniert…