Festival in brother’s memory raises awareness of suicide prevention app
BBC Alice Hendy launched the R;pple tool after the death of her 21-year-old brother Josh An IT expert whose brother took his own life is raising awareness of an online suicide prevention tool. Alice Hendy launched the R;pple tool three years ago after the death of her 21-year-old brother Josh. The technology attaches to browsers […]
Restoration work to begin in January
A date has been set for renovation work to begin on the Museum of Farnham in Surrey. Waverley Borough Council said scaffolding and a temporary roof would be erected around Willmer House from 6 January 2025. The work will include the restoration of the brickwork and windows, and is due to finish in early 2026. […]
Alibaba reveals Echo-like smart speaker
Alibaba The Tmall Genie has six microphones to help it hear orders from up to 5m (16.4ft) away Alibaba is the latest technology giant to unveil a smart speaker. The voice-controlled Tmall Genie can be used to play music, run third-party apps and buy goods from the Chinese retail giant’s online stores. Like many such […]
Strictly winner says blind people don’t need inspiring
BBC Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland were crowned Strictly champions on Saturday Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland has said he doesn’t think blind people “need inspiring”, after he made history as the first blind contestant to take part in the show. “The biggest benefit to everybody you can make is changing people’s attitudes towards […]
Social media must be made less addictive, says watchdog
James Reevell looks at the tricks technology companies use to keep you hooked on your phone Social media firms need to limit features that hook youngsters on devices, Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, has said. She also pinpointed autoplay videos and algorithms that identify interests to serve youngsters with more content. Snapchat said its […]
‘Coventry fans can help me get Christmas number one’
BBC Tom Grennan said it would “mean everything” if he scored a Christmas number one Singer Tom Grennan has called on fans of his beloved Coventry City to help him in his bid for Christmas number one. The Sky Blues supporter’s track It Can’t Be Christmas is currently in a three-way battle with Wham’s Last […]
Relaxed Covid rules and Black Lives Matter march
Victoria Jones Medical staff have urged the government for a thorough plan on how to tackle a potential second wave of infections “Dump the rhetoric and plan for a new Covid wave,” is the message from some senior health figures to the prime minister in the Observer. The paper says medical groups including NHS Providers […]
Grenfell test failures and Russian sanctions
Hello. Here’s your morning briefing: Reuters The BBC understands that cladding and insulation used in at least 60 tower blocks have failed a new fire safety test ordered by the government. The test is intended to be more thorough than previous checks after the Grenfell Tower fire, which just examined the cladding from high-rise buildings. […]
Philip Hammond pledges ‘proper support’ for Welsh economy
Technocamps After-school computer clubs are organised at universities across Wales with EU funding The UK government will ensure industry and research in Wales is “properly supported” after Brexit, Chancellor Philip Hammond has pledged. On a visit to Swansea, he said a shared prosperity fund – replacing EU grants – would be consulted on later this […]
The 20 best TV shows of 2024
Ludovic Robert/ Netflix, Nick Strasburg/ HBO, Peacock (Credit: Ludovic Robert/ Netflix, Nick Strasburg/ HBO, Peacock) From an electrifying action thriller with Keira Knightley to Ted Danson’s latest sitcom and a brutal Japanese period epic, we pick the year’s greatest programmes to stream right now. HBO 1. Industry The third season of this show set in […]