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News from October 21, 2025

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Old Hollywood-inspired baby names that are making a comeback
Technology

Old Hollywood-inspired baby names that are making a comeback

Frankly, my dear, there’s never been a better time to bring a little Old Hollywood glamour into the nursery. As baby name trends continue to lean nostalgic, parents are turning to the stars – the silver screen stars, that is – to pick a timeless and effortlessly charming moniker for their newborn. From suave leading men to effervescent starlets, Old Hollywood-inspired names have just enough classical gravitas to sound distinctly old-fashioned, while still feeling fresh and stylish today. These names strike the perfect balance: debonair without being stuffy, romantic without being overdone, and always carrying that irresistible touch of vintage glamour. If you’re after a baby name with real star power, we’re breaking down the stylish retro gems that are well and truly ready for their encore.

Romy Journee
Telangana govt faces heat over ‘arbitrary’ liquor tender extension; applicants likely to move court
Technology

Telangana govt faces heat over ‘arbitrary’ liquor tender extension; applicants likely to move court

Hyderabad: The State government's extension of deadline for filing of applications for liquor shop licenses, from October 18 to October 23, is raising many eyebrows, because it was not long ago that the High Court of Andhra Pradesh had struck a similar extension of deadline in the neighbouring State, calling it 'arbitrary', 'contrary to rules' and 'against public interest'. It had also cancelled the orders extending the last date. This legal precedent obviously has escaped the notice of, or was ignored by, the Congress government here in its desperate attempt to rake in more money after hiking the application fee. However, the illegal nature of the extension has not gone unnoticed by applicants, who submitted their applications in time and are now likely to lose their chances when there will be more applicants in the fray after the deadline extension. Raising objections, they are now likely to move the court against the Prohibition and Excise Department’s decision to extend the deadline. According to the original schedule issued by the department, October 18 was the last day for submission. However, the deadline was extended to October 23 following what the government claimed were 'requests from officials'. The move has drawn sharp criticism from applicants, who allege that the decision is arbitrary and contrary to procedure. They argue that similar objections were raised in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh in 2019 when the last date for bar licence applications was extended. In that instance, the AP government had issued a notification on November 29, 2019, inviting online applications for bar licences, each with a non-refundable fee of Rs 10 lakh. The deadline, originally set for December 6, was extended to December 9 citing technical issues and a poor response. The applicants there then approached the court, stating that the extension was unfair to those who had applied within the original timeframe. They cited examples such as Rajampeta and Hindupur, where valid applications matched the number of bars notified. The extension, they argued, increased competition unnecessarily and reduced the guaranteed chances of timely applicants. After hearing the arguments, the court in 2020 observed that the State government had driven the petitioners to the court due to its own fault and set aside the orders extending the last date. “Such extension of time is nothing but arbitrary. The extension of time is contrary to the rules and against public interest. The procedure adopted by the respondents is irrational and without any basis or statutory power,” the court had said while cancelling the extension. Similar objections are now being raised in Telangana by applicants, who contend that filing applications before the original deadline involved significant time, effort and expense. By extending the deadline, the department has encouraged unfair practices, they allege. Despite the increase in the application fee from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh this time, the department appears focused on generating more revenue, they claimed, adding that they would explore all legal options to challenge the move. Other sections have also questioned the government’s intent. “Scam alert. Extending the liquor tender application deadline in Telangana raises serious concerns. Many applicants had already submitted their forms for the lottery, but now, at the last minute, the Revanth Reddy government has extended the last date,” an X user, Uttam, posted. “When the authorities already know how many applications each shop received, this sudden move gives room for political manipulation, allowing certain groups to enter the lottery strategically. Transparency and fairness in the tender process must be protected,” he added. In its order, the department claimed that Deputy Commissioners of Rangareddy, Warangal, Nizamabad, Mahabubnagar and Medak districts sought an extension, citing disruption of public transport and banking services during the BC bandh on Saturday. They argued that the extension would give a fair opportunity to all applicants. However, speculation persists over possible vested interests behind the move. In the previous term, around 1.30 lakh applications were received for 2,620 shops across the State. This time, till Sunday, nearly 89,000 applications were filed. Officials said though the total number of applications was lower this time, revenue from application fees had increased.

Telangana Today
'Will Be Met With Force': Pakistan Army Chief On Border Violations Amid Afghanistan Tensions
Technology

'Will Be Met With Force': Pakistan Army Chief On Border Violations Amid Afghanistan Tensions

Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on Tuesday issued a warning, saying any violation of the country’s borders will be met with a “firm and decisive response”. His remarks come amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following recent clashes along their shared frontier. Speaking at the 17th National Workshop on Balochistan held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Munir said Pakistan is committed to regional peace and stability. However, he stressed that any breach of the country’s territorial integrity, whether direct or indirect, will not be tolerated. “While Pakistan seeks regional peace and stability, any violation of its territorial integrity, direct or indirect, will be met with a firm and decisive response to safeguard the lives and well-being of its citizens,” Munir was quoted as saying in an official army statement. The Army Chief also addressed ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in Balochistan, a province he described as the pride of Pakistan, with resilient and patriotic people. He highlighted the development projects being implemented by federal and provincial governments to improve the socio-economic conditions of the region through a people-centred approach. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, both sharing porous borders with Afghanistan, have suffered the majority of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, accounting for more than 96% of the violence nationwide. The Army Chief’s comments follow a recent flare-up in violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan. On October 9, explosions in Kabul sparked a series of cross-border clashes — the worst since the Taliban took control in 2021. The Taliban government blamed Pakistan for the blasts, while Pakistan accused Taliban forces of harbouring militant groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. After days of fighting that resulted in casualties on both sides, the two neighbours agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire on Wednesday, which was later extended on Sunday. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the ceasefire and said further talks are scheduled for October 25 in Istanbul. Since the Taliban’s return to power, Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant activity, especially near the 2,600-kilometre border. Islamabad accuses armed groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of operating from safe havens inside Afghanistan — allegations consistently denied by the Taliban authorities. (With inputs from agencies)

News18,Yimkumla Longkumer
Taliban Says Ties With India 'Independent', Dubs Pakistan's 'Proxy War' Claims Illogical
Technology

Taliban Says Ties With India 'Independent', Dubs Pakistan's 'Proxy War' Claims Illogical

Afghanistan Defence Minister, from the ruling Taliban regime, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, dismissed Pakistan’s claims that India was involved in recent tensions as “groundless” and “illogical.” He said Kabul’s policy will never allow its territory to be used against other countries and stressed that ties with India are independent, guided solely by Afghanistan’s national interests. Mujahid added that while Afghanistan seeks to maintain good-neighbourly relations with Pakistan, the country aims to expand cooperation, not fuel conflicts. Mujahid made the comments in Doha in an interview with Qatar-run broadcaster Al Jazeera. “These accusations are groundless. Our policy will never involve using our territory against other countries. We maintain relations with India as an independent nation and will strengthen those ties within the framework of our national interests,” Mujahid said. “At the same time, we will preserve our relations with Pakistan based on good neighborliness. Our aim is to expand relations, not create tensions. Pakistan’s accusations are unfounded, illogical, and unacceptable,” he further added. Fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan broke out after explosions in Kabul on October 9. The Taliban government blamed the blasts on its neighbour and launched a retaliatory border offensive, prompting Islamabad to vow a strong response. After further clashes left soldiers and civilians dead, the two sides declared an initial 48-hour ceasefire on Wednesday. New Pakistani strikes hit Afghanistan on Friday, with Islamabad saying it was targeting armed groups that the Taliban harbours and allows to launch attacks on Pakistani territory — a claim that Kabul denies. Taliban alleges that Pakistan also harbours and provides support to Islamic State’s local wing, the Khorasan group. The two sides approved a second ceasefire on Sunday, to the relief of many along the border. After the peace talks in Doha, Qatar’s foreign ministry said the ceasefire deal provides for “the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace”, but their details have not been disclosed.

News18,Shankhyaneel Sarkar
Woman allegedly stabs fiancée following argument over insufficient funds for banku and okro stew.
Technology

Woman allegedly stabs fiancée following argument over insufficient funds for banku and okro stew.

A 21-year-old woman, Maafia, reportedly stabbed her 29-year-old fiancé, Kofi, during an intense dispute concerning a meal change in Mamanso, Eastern Region. The altercation began after Kofi, the victim, returned home from work. He had reportedly provided Maafia with funds to prepare banku and okro stew. However, Maafia stated that the allotted money was insufficient for the requested dish, prompting her to prepare light soup instead. Upon realising the change in the meal, Kofi confronted his fiancée, accusing her of disobeying his request. Maafia is said to have defended her decision by explaining the financial constraints and adding that she had even reserved a portion of the funds for later use. The verbal dispute quickly escalated into a physical altercation. During the struggle, Kofi reportedly picked up a knife. Maafia allegedly managed to disarm him, subsequently using the weapon to stab Kofi. Reporting the story on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, journalist Abrewa Nana noted conflicting accounts of the incident. Maafia maintains that she did not intend to stab her fiancé. An eyewitness, however, provided a different narrative, alleging that Maafia intentionally inflicted the wound. Kofi is currently receiving medical attention for his injuries. Abrewa Nana further reported that as of the time of the broadcast, no official police report had been filed, as family members were reportedly attempting to resolve the matter privately. By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana

Rashid Obodai
What can Fabio Wardley learn from his mentor Dillian Whyte to beat Joseph Parker?
Technology

What can Fabio Wardley learn from his mentor Dillian Whyte to beat Joseph Parker?

Fabio Wardley becomes the latest Briton to face Joseph Parker this weekend live on DAZN PPV, with the unbeaten 30-year-old pitting his WBA interim title against the former world champion’s WBO interim belt. British heavyweights have enjoyed mixed fortunes against Parker over the years, but luckily for Wardley, he can call one man who defeated the Kiwi a trusted advisor. Dillian Whyte outmuscled Parker en route to victory in 2018 - a few years before he started to mentor and guide Wardley. Now, ahead of the biggest fight of Wardley’s career, the 19-0-1 (18 KOs) heavyweight can turn to someone who has been there and done it all before. Subscribe to DAZN now to watch over 185 fights a year Throughout his professional career Wardley has had the chance to turn to fellow heavyweight Whyte for advice, the ‘Bodysnatcher’ playing the role of mentor and at times, manager. Both fighters are managed by Michael Ofo, whilst Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions currently represents them as a promoter. In the past, when Whyte was signed to Matchroom Boxing, he would arrange for Wardley to fight on his undercard. For the best part of five years, Whyte has been guiding Wardley - especially when it comes to avoiding the same mistakes Whyte made earlier in his career. Speaking back in 2021, Whyte told Sky Sports: "He has an air of invincibility. "That's the best place to be in your career because you think no one can defeat you. No one can touch you. I was there at one point, we all were. It's great! I was knocking guys out left, right and centre. "The bad thing? I didn't train properly or take it seriously enough because I had steel hands and was knocking everybody out. I thought: 'I don't need to train properly because all I need to do is land one punch'. "That was my downfall, in the end. Fabio seems smarter than that. He's got people like me around him. I never had that." The respect and admiration goes both ways, with Wardley eternally grateful for the opportunities afforded to him by Whyte. Asked if he would consider fighting his mentor, Wardley told The Sun back in June: “From the second it would be announced, everybody who knows the sport and who knows us, would know it would be fake and not something I would ever do, because of the amount of love, respect and admiration I have for Dills. “People go on about my story, white-collar, coming from nowhere, sparring Usyk. But none of that is possible without Dillian at the beginning, giving me all of these opportunities. So I would never spit in his face and fight him. “Even if all the sanctioning bodies called for the fight and somebody was silly enough to put all the money up, I would take a knee in the first round and give him the win.” Whyte vs Parker was a tale of two heavyweights looking to enter world title contention after losses to Anthony Joshua. Parker had already been a world champion by the time he took on Whyte; in fact it was his comeback fight after losing his WBO belt to AJ. Whyte was four years older but viewed as an outsider when it came to the world title picture - his loss against Joshua in 2015 counting heavily against him. Early on in the fight Parker boxed well, but it quickly became a battle of attrition. A controversial knockdown in the second - where Whyte appeared to connect with his elbow rather than fist - marked a turn in momentum, with Whyte starting to use his frame to good effect. In round four Whyte leaped into a clinch, bending Parker over the ropes. On top of the dark arts, there was a concentrated effort from Whyte to mix up his punches, working the body before picking off the tired guard of Parker by aiming at the head. The antics of Whyte led to Parker’s trainer at the time, Kevin Barry, suggesting that points should have been deducted. “I thought he should have had several points deducted. I’m a little p***ed (off) actually. I talked to Ian (John-Lewis, referee on the night) before the fight. I said ‘Look, we’re not after any favours, we’ve had a rough time with officials, but let’s make it a fair fight’.” Parker was more magnanimous in defeat stating: “I wouldn’t say dirty, but he roughed me up. He did everything he could to get the victory. He showed heart.” Whyte will be the first to tell his protege that simply getting physical with Parker is not enough to defeat the Kiwi. It can also prove tiring work for the fighter chucking his weight around, as Whyte found out. In the latter stages of his 2018 clash with Parker, Whyte was clearly struggling, even before he was knocked down to the canvas near the end of the 12th round. It is no surprise that Whyte decided to clinch his opponent and see out the final seconds while he was unsteady on his feet. A more experienced and tactically-aware Parker will quickly detect if Wardley attempts to roughhouse; the WBA interim champ must show respect to his WBO equivalent’s punching power on the counter. Whilst we will not know the exact shape either man will be in for fight night before the weigh-ins on Friday, we can look to recent bouts for a rough idea of the weights both Wardley and Parker will fight at. Back in June Wardley came in at 243lbs ahead of his win over Justis Huni, and he has weighed around the 240lb-mark for his last five fights. Parker’s weight has fluctuated a bit more over a similar time span - back in February he weighed a career-heaviest of 267lbs to face Martin Bakole, but in his bouts against Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder, he tipped the scales at 247.5lbs and 250lbs respectively. Since working with strength and conditioning coach George Lockhart, Parker has developed into a more physically capable boxer, complimenting his natural skillset of fast feet and a canny knack for positioning. However, no matter the weight Wardley will have the height advantage, and perhaps the Briton should look to impose his size on his rival. Not only does this have the benefit of tiring out Parker, but it would also slow the fight down. Against Huni, Wardley frequently struggled with the pace of the contest, allowing his Aussie opponent to set the tone and produce more consistent combinations. Stopping Parker from gaining an early foothold could be key. One of the biggest lessons Whyte can teach Wardley has arguably already been completed. Simply, it has been instilled in Wardley to take on the biggest challenges possible, which explains why the WBA interim champion is risking his lofty perch by taking on fellow top contender Parker. Rather than wait his turn, Wardley knows that a win will see him jump the queue formed to face undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. Explaining the mentality, Wardley told The Ring back in August: “He has never been shy of anything and neither have I. That’s the school of thought that he brought me up in. It’s about believing in yourself and if the opportunity is in front of you, take it, jump at it. “There has never been an opponent I’ve said no to and it’s largely down to me being side-by-side with him and him saying, 'You take these opportunities when you’re part of this team'. We don’t say no. That word is not in our vocabulary. We push, we fight, we move, we crack on and we get stuck in.” DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts. For pricing in your country, more information and to sign up, click here.

Jack Tanner
Police investigate shooting, killing of four people in Garu 
Technology

Police investigate shooting, killing of four people in Garu 

The Upper East Regional Police Command has launched an investigation into the sporadic shooting incident that occurred in the Garu township on Monday morning, October 20, 2025. The shooting incident resulted in the death of four, including a staff member of the Garu District office of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and that of the Garu D/A Primary School. Five others also sustained varying degrees of injuries. A statement signed and issued by Chief Inspector Abdul Rahman Sumaila of the Public Affairs Unit of the Police Command said the incident occurred at the Garu District office of the NHIS. “Preliminary investigations indicate that four unidentified gunmen on two motorbikes shot people in Garu Township at the NHIS office and also fired indiscriminately resulting in the deaths and injuries,” the statement said. The statement indicated that some spent cartridges were retrieved from the scene for forensic examination. The statement added that the bodies of the deceased had since been released to their families for burial whiles investigation continued to track down and arrest the perpetrators to face justice. Source: GNA

Emmakd
Boris Johnson tells Covid inquiry his job ‘wasn’t easy’
Technology

Boris Johnson tells Covid inquiry his job ‘wasn’t easy’

Boris Johnson appeared annoyed during his evidence to the Covid inquiry on Tuesday, saying that his job during the pandemic "wasn't easy". He was questioned on the pandemic's impact on young people and children, specifically the system for adjudicating exam results in England. Mr Johnson challenged the panel, remarking: "You try coming up with a system to give a fair exam result for people when they can’t sit exams. It’s not easy." This was Mr Johnson's second appearance at the inquiry, which he initiated in 2022, with the current eighth module focusing on youth. Watch the video in full above.

Holly Bishop
Chamisa wins US$21k lawsuit against council police
Technology

Chamisa wins US$21k lawsuit against council police

A Harare vendor, James Chamisa, has won a High Court case against the Harare Municipal Police, securing US$21 830 in damages following a brutal assault that left him with multiple injuries. Chamisa, represented by Kudzayi Kadzere of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, was attacked in October 2018 during an operation targeting vendors and touts along First Street Mall in Harare. Court papers revealed that he was assaulted with batons, fists, booted feet, and palms while being verbally insulted over his political choices in full view of the public. The assault left Chamisa with a fractured right hand, two broken ribs on the right side of his rib cage, laceration of the lower lip, and extensive bruising and abrasions across his torso, limbs, and face. He also suffered psychological trauma, including shock, depression, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, loss of concentration, hallucinations, and mobility challenges. Chamisa had initially sought compensation totaling US$31 830, covering medical expenses, pain and suffering, and contumelia — an amount reflecting insult, humiliation, and indignity. High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube Banda ruled in Chamisa’s favour, describing the assault as unprovoked, vicious, and inhuman. “No doubt the plaintiff experienced extreme pain and was hospitalised for long periods. He suffered psychological injury, shock, failure to sleep, fatigue, loss of energy, difficulty in concentration, hallucinations, poor orientation, difficulty in walking, and depression,” the judge noted. Justice Dube Banda emphasised that Chamisa had not provoked the attackers, making the assault deserving of exemplary damages. He ordered the Harare Municipal Police to pay US$15 000 for shock and suffering, US$5 000 for contumelia, and US$1 830 for medical expenses, with interest on the total amount from the date of judgment until full payment. The ruling marks a significant legal victory for victims of unlawful police conduct and underscores the judiciary’s stance against excessive use of force by law enforcement officers. Source – NewsDay

Kudzayi Kadzere,Staff Reporter
Two accused of posing as dentists and wrongly operating on patients
Technology

Two accused of posing as dentists and wrongly operating on patients

Police in Spain have arrested two people in Madrid who were allegedly posing as dentists and performing procedures without proper qualifications. The suspects allegedly administered anaesthetic and carried out dental treatments, offering services on social media at prices significantly below market value. One patient suffered a serious oral infection requiring urgent medical care after undergoing an extraction performed by the unqualified individuals. The clinic owner is also under investigation for fraud and collaboration, while the arrested individuals face charges including professional intrusion, public health violation, and immigration law violation. Watch the video in full above.

Holly Bishop
RF Shielding History: When the FCC Cracked Down on Computers
Technology

RF Shielding History: When the FCC Cracked Down on Computers

When computers hit homes, the FCC’s RF interference concerns kicked into overdrive At first, computers largely appeared in businesses and universities. They hadn’t quite hit the home just yet, though electronics that had computing elements—think Pong consoles and the like—were starting to make their presence known. That meant that these devices, like every other type of electric device (even light bulbs), could be a new source of RF interference, and as the personal computer started to gain attention and popular uptake, the industry had to adapt. Stuff like the Altair’s accidental musicianship would not fly. And so too, did the Federal Communications Commission, which asked the public in 1978 to help determine a plan of action for better managing RF interference, after getting flooded with complaints for years on end. An inquiry document implied that the FCC was considering its options for about regulating this technology. The organization implied that it may not be cost-effective or even necessary, and even floated a voluntary approach. “Greater immunity will require more sophisticated design, additional components, and increased testing, all of which will increase equipment production cost. The magnitude of this increase will depend upon the immunity standards prescribed,” the commission wrote, adding that the public may still choose the cheaper, unshielded option if given the choice. After spending time digging in, however, it’s clear the agency decided that they needed to take a harder line than the voluntary one posed. After all, computers were taking over the household, and so too were VCRs, video games, walkie-talkies, and all matter of electronic devices. Of course, the computer industry was still very immature at this time, with devices like the Commodore PET, TRS-80, and Apple II still quite new, each representing early attempts at bringing personal computers to a large home market. We were a step beyond the pure hobbyist nerdery of the Altair but far from maturity. The FCC wanted to head off issues with these new devices before things went too far—and saw the dynamic around consumer devices as being distinctly different from commercial platforms. By September 1979, the FCC was ready to weigh in, and it was worried about your neighbor’s TV experience above all else. “We are most interested in protecting an individual who is receiving interference from his neighbor’s computer. To a lesser extent, we are concerned about devices in the same household,” the agency wrote in its rulemaking document, FCC 79-555. (The goal? To prevent interference so bad that it harmed the experience for someone in a completely different home.) The document, which applied Part 15 regulations to computers for the first time, made clear that CB radio played a decisive factor in the final result. (Especially given the timing, which came mere months after the FCC highlighted the sheer scale of complaints it received.) The commission learned a lot from its more laissez-faire approach, which ultimately damaged the consumer experience. “Unless the Commission acts expediously to head off the problem, we may be faced with an intolerable interference problem similar to CB interference problems of several years ago,” the commission continued. This was not good news for all these technology startups in the budding computer industry. Suddenly, companies large and small had to share their new products—and presumably, their trade secrets—with the FCC in an attempt to ensure that the electronics were safe to sell. This created major headaches, especially for companies that already had products on the market, which now had to stop producing RF interference on TV and radio frequencies altogether. As the magazine Kilobaud put it in 1981: “After three years of study, the FCC handed the microcomputer industry a mandate: Get rid of the RFI by January 1981, or close up shop.” These standards meant additional testing—including the use of a spectrum analyzer and a dedicated testing site to ensure that equipment meets respectable radiation standards. And these standards could be quite confusing for manufacturers, even affecting things like upgradeability. Per Kilobaud’s Chris Brown and Eric Maloney, “As far as the FCC is concerned, an 8K CPU that has the potential of being upgraded to 16K is actually two different computers.” Put simply, this put a huge testing onus on manufacturers, likely raising prices in the short term and leading to additional metal shielding as a band-aid to retrofit existing designs to fit the FCC’s regulations. Large manufacturers likely were already doing a lot of this on their own. The problem was that this put a lot of additional pressure on the makeshift startups that made the sector viable in the first place. Manufacturers had to adapt. For example, Apple released newer iterations of the Apple II, such as the Apple II Plus and Apple IIe, to help improve the electromagnetic noise that the original created. (Which means, if you want a computer with no RF shielding because you desire to make music via radio interference, get the original Apple II.) Apple had to take this stuff seriously, because the FCC was paying special attention to them. The company was specifically cited in the commission’s rulemaking as being aware of the problem as far back as 1976. And it got nailed at least once for noncompliance: On top of all the other challenges that the ill-fated Apple III faced, the machine had to be recalled and replaced with a new model because its RF shielding wasn’t good enough. Ironically, the rules were way less strict for computers in office or industrial environments, which received a Class A regulation, than for consumer tech, which required the stricter Class B designation. After all, if the goal is to prevent radio interference, your Facts of Life-watching neighbor is going to have bigger issues than your spreadsheet-embracing co-worker. All of this was a pain to manage, but you’ll be surprised to learn that, in the end, all this added regulation probably ended up making the computer industry better.

La Machine
Company Churning Out AI Podcasts Filled With Bizarre Glitches They Didn’t Even Catch
Technology

Company Churning Out AI Podcasts Filled With Bizarre Glitches They Didn’t Even Catch

It’s no secret that generative AI has been an amazing weapon for spammers, but the scale of some of these operations may make you wince. A new piece from The Telegraph explores the bizarre new world of AI-generated podcasts — and specifically, a single podcast network called “Quiet Please” that has dreams of online domination. It boasts nearly one hundred separate podcast series, with over 10 million downloads since September 2023. And it’s just getting started. The company behind “Quiet Please,” Inception Point AI, aims to churn out 5,000 podcasts with more than 3,000 episodes per week, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This would be an extraordinarily expensive venture if the podcasts were human hosted. But using AI, it purportedly costs just $1 per episode, each taking no more than an hour to make. If just 20 people listen to each episode, it’s enough to turn a profit. Obviously, the podcasts aren’t any good. The network covers a wide breadth of topics, ranging from AI startups, to celebrity biographies, to politics. Many are focused on a single topic, with unintentionally hilarious one-word titles like “Anime,” “Animal,” “Bunkers,” and “Tsunami.” One spotlighted by The Telegraph is simply called “Lawn,” which is about “the secret world of lawns.” It’s hosted by an AI-generated English gentleman with the ridiculous name of “Nigel Thistledown,” who waxes panegyrical about lawns while telling you little actual information about them. Besides shoveling you ads, it seems mostly a vehicle for the AI to try invent new figures of speeches for the word “lawn.” “They have attempted to give their presenters personalities, but that seems to mainly boil down to a string of hoary old metaphors and clichés,” writes Chris Bennion for The Telegraph. “Every ‘host,’ whatever accent or tone they are using, speaks in the same monotonous rhythm throughout.” Even worse, sometimes the AI podcasts are interrupted by glitches so bad that even the most checked out listener might sit up. We return to “Lawn,” per The Telegraph: “At one point, Thistledown described using technology in your garden as ‘like having a particularly observant but-lutter who anticipates every need,'” writes Bennion. “Presumably to illustrate the sort of help this ‘but-lutter’ gives, a female voice, a posh-sounding, elderly lady, pipes in with, ‘I would never have found my pome!'” “Thistledown never references this woman and she is never heard from again,” he reports. “We are not told what a pome is.” In another podcast on the Metaverse, called “Metaverse,” the AI host Leo Finch suffers a verbal breakdown that if produced by a human might be interpreted as a symptom of a stroke. “That. That sees some. You’re. That sees some. Your. That sees some. That’s not pie conservative point,” intones the AI Finch. “McKinn’s pie. 101’s pie, estimate to make McKinn’s be a challenging. To a two and their critical skills, to home early age.” It goes to show that nothing’s safe from the rising tide of AI slop. YouTube is overrun with AI generated music playlists, “sleepy” informational videos, and “boring history” pablum. Spotify is a breeding ground for entirely AI-faked musical artists. And let’s be real: since most of us are just zoning out to podcasts anyways, it’s the perfect medium to inject AI into. Unless platforms starting crack down hard on what is clearly just spam with an LLM-veneer, expect to hear more about slop operations like these. More on AI: President Trump Posts AI Video of Himself Spraying Explosive Diarrhea on Peaceful Protestors

Frank Landymore
Trump claims allies in Middle East will send troops into Gaza and ‘straighten out Hamas’ if ceasefire fails
Technology

Trump claims allies in Middle East will send troops into Gaza and ‘straighten out Hamas’ if ceasefire fails

Donald Trump has claimed that US allies in the Middle East have offered to send “heavy force” into Gaza to “straighten out Hamas”. In a post on Truth Social, the US president wrote that leaders in the region had told him “explicitly and strongly” that they would act against the militant group “if they continue to act badly”. “There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right. If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL! I would like to thank all of those countries that called to help,” he wrote. Trump did not clarify which of the Middle Eastern countries had offered to fight Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and the US have all been involved in diplomatic negotiations but it is unclear whether they will provide military help. During a press conference in Israel on Tuesday, vice president JD Vance reiterated Mr Trump’s warning on Monday that Hamas must “behave” or face “severe repercussions”. He threatened that Hamas would be “obliterated” if they did not play ball, although he confirmed that there would be no US boots on the ground in Gaza. Mr Vance also downplayed the significance of recent violence, with Israel killing scores of people in Gaza after accusing Hamas of breaching the ceasefire, and said the implementation of the ceasefire was going “better than expected” and that the Israeli government had been “remarkably helpful”. He said that the location of some of the dead hostages’ bodies in Gaza remains unknown and described the situation as “difficult”, supporting claims by Hamas that they had not located all the bodies - despite Israeli claims to the contrary. Hamas’ military wing said on Tuesday that it would hand over the bodies of two more deceased hostages at 9pm local time on Tuesday (7pm UK time). If the handover is carried out successfully, this will bring the number of deceased captives and hostages remaining in Gaza down to 13. Mr Vance also said Hamas must disarm or “very bad things are going to happen”, although he declined to place a deadline on the group, saying: “I don’t think it’s actually advisable to say this has to be done in a week.” President Trump wants Hamas and other factions to disarm and Gaza to be demilitarised as part of his peace deal. But the group has never accepted this and says mediators have not yet officially started discussing the issue with it. During a meeting with Mr Albanese on Monday, Mr Trump said: “They’re going to be nice, and if they’re not, we’re going to go and we’re going to eradicate them. “Hamas has been very violent, but they don’t have the backing of Iran any more. They don’t have the backing of really anybody any more. They have to be good, and if they’re not good, they’ll be eradicated.” At least 97 Palestinians have been killed by Israel, according to Gaza’s health authorities, since a ceasefire was announced on 11 October. The Israeli military said it fired at “terrorists” who crossed an invisible “yellow line” in Rafah on Sunday, which marked a withdrawal point for Israeli troops who remain occupying 53 per cent of the Gaza Strip. Two Israeli soldiers were killed in the exchange, according to the Israeli military. Israel temporarily cut off aid in response. Hamas said it had no knowledge of individuals operating in the Rafah region and had not been in touch with groups there since March. Israel demands that the body of every hostage be returned. Hamas has requested specialist equipment to find the remains. The militant group has drawn increased criticism after it executed seven Palestinians last week for “collaborating with Israel”. Following the announcement of a ceasefire, Israel-backed militias, armed clans and Hamas factions have began fighting each other amid a power vacuum in the Strip. Two of the groups The Independent spoke to denied accusations that they were backed or supported by Israel. Hossam al-Astal, running an armed faction called the Counter-Terrorism Strike Force, also behind Israeli lines, told The Independent he is already in touch with the Trump administration about the plan for a post-war Gaza, and wants to work with Tony Blair. “Today, we’re the ones who are there with credibility,” he says. “We are determined and capable. In the near future, it will be us, not Hamas.” US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Mr Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, landed in Tel Aviv Monday to work on the second phase of a 20-point ceasefire agreement. Kushner, a businessman, boasted about his strong relationships with countries in the Middle East, stating that his strong cultural awareness created a relationship of trust. “We have trusted relationships in the Arab world and even in Israel, where we’ve both done business in the past. But that means they trust us,” he told 60 Minutes. “We understand their cultures. We understand how they work. And we’re able to use that knowledge and skill set to try to do things that advance the world.” The pair met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss “developments and updates in the region”, having played a leading role in the first phase of negotiations.

Maira Butt
Covid vaccine could be used to fight lung or skin cancer
Technology

Covid vaccine could be used to fight lung or skin cancer

New research indicates that Covid mRNA vaccines may significantly extend the lives of patients with advanced lung or skin cancer when given around the start of immunotherapy. The analysis of 1,000 patients’ records found that those who received an mRNA jab within 100 days of starting immunotherapy saw a near doubling of median survival for lung cancer and an increase for metastatic melanoma. Researchers from the University of Florida and MD Anderson Cancer Center suggest the vaccine acts as a “flare”, mobilising immune cells to more effectively target cancer. This discovery is hailed as a “significant step” towards creating a universal, off-the-shelf cancer vaccine, potentially transforming oncologic treatment. These findings are preliminary, but a randomised clinical trial is now being designed to validate the results, with scientists stressing the importance of further confirmatory work.

Harry Cockburn
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