Softbank buys robot-maker Boston Dynamics from Alphabet
Google has unveiled a revamped version of its Atlas robot Shares of Japan’s Softbank have surged to their highest in nearly two decades after the firm bought robot-maker Boston Dynamics from Google’s Alphabet. Boston Dynamics, known for its robots such as Atlas and BigDog, has struggled to commercialise its inventions and was put up for […]
Europeans’ data shared 376 times daily in advertising sales, report says
Getty Data about every internet user is shared hundreds of times each day as companies bid for online advertising slots, a report suggests. The figure rises to 747 times daily for US-based users, the report claims. The revenue from digital adverts is what keeps most internet services free to use. The ICCL is currently engaged […]
Harry and Meghan share photo of their children on Christmas card
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared a rare photo of their two children on their official Christmas card. It is among a series of six photos on the card, which features the message: “We wish you a very happy holiday season”. Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, can be seen in one […]
UK teacher wins global best teacher prize
Andria Zafirakou: “I want to share this honour with my fellow teachers and wonderful students” A teacher from north London has been announced as winner of a competition to find the world’s best teacher. Andria Zafirakou, who teaches art and textiles in a Brent secondary school, has won a prize worth $1m (£720,000). She has […]
Gender equality topic for Urdd Gobaith Cymru annual message
‘We can’t save the world until the world is equal’ Young people in Wales have said equality for women and girls is “more than a hashtag” in an annual message. Members of the youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru and students at Swansea University chose equality as this year’s theme. The Urdd’s 2021 message of peace […]
Tom Cruise honoured with US Navy’s highest civilian award
Tom Cruise has been awarded the US Navy’s highest civilian honour for “outstanding contributions” to the military with his screen roles. Cruise’s lead role in the 1986 smash hit Top Gun shot him into celebrity status, and the film’s record-breaking success spiked military enlistment. The Distinguished Public Service Award was presented to Cruise during a […]
Samsung Galaxy S9 focuses on the camera
WATCH: Spencer Kelly gets hands on with the Galaxy S9 New and improved camera capabilities are the main thrust of Samsung’s pitch for its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S9 and larger S9+. The handsets gain a super-slow-motion facility designed to make it easy to extend key moments of action. They also gain a type […]
Notre-Dame blaze ‘déjà vu’ for Glasgow School of Art
AFP/Getty Inspectors on the roof of Notre-Dame following the devastating fire The woman behind the restoration of Glasgow School of Art’s fire-ravaged Mackintosh building has described the Notre-Dame blaze as “déjà vu”. Liz Davidson described firefighters as “heroes” for saving priceless artefacts from both the iconic French cathedral and the Glasgow art school. She said […]
Satellite boom attracts technology giants
Virgin Orbit Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne lofts satellites into space Sir Richard Branson’s rocket company Virgin Orbit has joined a growing list of private companies that can launch satellites into orbit. Earlier this month, 10 payloads were lofted on the Virgin Orbit rocket, which was launched from under the wing of one of the entrepreneur’s old […]
‘Ducking hell’ to disappear from Apple autocorrect
Getty Images Apple has said it will no longer automatically change one of the most common swear words to ‘ducking’. The autocorrect feature, which has long frustrated users, will soon be able to use AI to detect when you really mean to use that expletive. “In those moments where you just want to type a […]