Tech Tent: Alexa speaks louder
BBC Stream or download the latest Tech Tent podcast Listen to previous episodes on the BBC website Listen live every Friday at 15:00 BST on the BBC World Service We were promised jetpacks, we ended up with 140 characters. That’s the cynical take on how Silicon Valley’s dreams of life-changing innovations ended up producing something […]
China’s VPN developers face crackdown
EPA China recently launched a crackdown on the use of software which allows users to get around its heavy internet censorship. And now app developers are finding themselves under growing pressure. The three plain-clothes policemen tracked him down using a web address. They came to his house and demanded to see his computer. They told […]
The food and fuel of the future?
Adrienne Murray The cold water around the Faroe Islands is good for seaweed cultivation Sunshine has given way to wind and rain, as the motorboat chugs through a fjord in the Faroe Islands. “Its a bit windy here,” says Olavur Gregarsen. “We’ll see how far we can get to the harvesting boat.” We soon reach […]
Wales women: Jess Fishlock under-appreciated – boss Jayne Ludlow
Asked about Neville and the controversy surrounding his appointment as England coach, Ludlow said she “didn’t think about it too much” and preferred to concentrate on her own players and staff. She also refused to be drawn into commenting on the situation surrounding Neville’s predecessor, Mark Sampson. The Welshman was sacked following evidence of “inappropriate […]
Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek in Disney+ reboot
Fox Malcolm in the Middle characters from left to right: Reese (Justin Berfield), Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan), mom Lois (Jane Kaczmarek), dad Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Francis (Christopher Kennedy Masterson) Life might be unfair but for Malcolm in the Middle fans things are looking up – the TV sitcom is making a […]
US bans Malaysian palm oil producer over forced labour
Getty Images US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has blocked the import of palm oil made by a Malaysian producer over forced labour concerns. CBP cited physical and sexual abuse, debt bondage and abusive conditions as reasons for blocking FGV Holdings. Shipments from the company and its subsidiaries will be held at US entry ports. […]
EuroHockey Championships 2017: Success ‘can transform’ Wales hockey
The Wales men will join the likes of Germany, England and the Netherlands in the EuroHockey A Division in 2019. But before that both the men and women’s teams hope to qualify for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Clements says he hopes competing at these big tournaments will help earn more Welsh players call-ups for Great […]
Cosworth in Northampton marks 60 years of powering champions
Cosworth Cosworth founders Keith Duckworth (second left) and Mike Costin (third left) are pictured in the 1950s with colleagues Bill Brown and Ben Rood A motorsport firm whose engines have powered the cars of champions including Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve, is marking 60 years in business. Cosworth was set up on 28 […]
South Korea parliament votes to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol over martial law attempt
South Korea has voted to impeach President Yoon – now what? South Korea’s lawmakers have voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated attempt to impose martial law, which sparked massive protests across the country. A total of 204 MPs supported the motion, including some from Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) – though […]
Haggis producer Macsween plans for Brexit fallout
PA There is huge demand for haggis in January, with demand driven by Burns Night The boss of Scotland’s largest haggis maker has plans to make sure the world-famous dish continues to be made in the event of a catastrophic Brexit. James Macsween, of Macsween, said the biggest risk was access to spare machinery parts. […]