Goto

Collaborating Authors

 Oceania


'Cool and quirky is part of our brand': how New Zealand became a hothouse for indie games

The Guardian

Standing out in a crowded market: many of the best titles at Pax Australia in Melbourne came from New Zealand game developers. Standing out in a crowded market: many of the best titles at Pax Australia in Melbourne came from New Zealand game developers. 'Cool and quirky is part of our brand': how New Zealand became a hothouse for indie games T hose not immersed in the world of gaming might not be familiar with Pax Australia: the enormous gaming conference and exhibition that takes over the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre every October. My favourite section is always Pax Rising, a showcase of indie video games and tabletop, the majority Australian - but there has been a recent shift that was particularly notable this year: many of the standout titles had crossed the Tasman, arriving from New Zealand . At the booth run by Code - New Zealand's government-funded Centre for Digital Excellence - 18 Kiwi developers demoed their forthcoming games in a showcase of the vibrant local scene that was buzzing with crowds.


ChatGPT-5 offers dangerous advice to mentally ill people, psychologists warn

The Guardian

ChatGPT-5 was found to give some good advice when presented with milder mental health conditions. ChatGPT-5 was found to give some good advice when presented with milder mental health conditions. Research finds OpenAI's free chatbot fails to identify risky behaviour or challenge delusional beliefs ChatGPT-5 is offering dangerous and unhelpful advice to people experiencing mental health crises, some of the UK's leading psychologists have warned. Research conducted by King's College London (KCL) and the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK (ACP) in partnership with the Guardian suggested that the AI chatbotfailed to identify risky behaviour when communicating with mentally ill people. A psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist interacted with ChatGPT-5 as if they had a number of mental health conditions.


It's time to lock in and let your winter arc begin

BBC News

It's time to lock in and let your winter arc begin Have you ever locked in? No, not finding yourself locked in a lift or a bathroom. We're talking about locking IN - the phrase you might have seen on social media or heard people saying lately. To lock in is to focus; to endure short-term pain for long-term gain - whether that be building your body or your business. Do it today - not tomorrow.


More than 70,000 killed in Gaza since Israel offensive began, Hamas-run health ministry says

BBC News

More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. The death toll has continued to rise since a ceasefire took effect on 10 October, with Israel carrying out air strikes for what it says are violations of the truce - while bodies continue to be recovered from under the rubble. Among those reportedly killed in an Israeli drone strike on Saturday were two young brothers, Fadi and Juma Abu Assi, whose family said they had been gathering firewood when they were killed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC they had struck two suspects who had crossed the so-called yellow line. The line marks where the Israeli military agreed to withdraw to under a ceasefire brokered by the United States more than seven weeks ago.


Is tracking your adult children OK or should parents learn to let go?

BBC News

Is tracking your adult children OK or should parents learn to let go? Is it caring or overbearing? Many parents are turning to their phones to keep tabs on their adult children - but is this OK (if they agree to it) or is it a sign of mums and dads struggling to let go? Dad-of-two Steven Medway, 53, has his whole family set up on a tracking app and couldn't understand why it was such a divisive subject among fellow parents. He said it became particularly useful when his daughter Martha moved 100 miles away from home for university.


Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?

BBC News

Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour? Any big red box moment is risky. Now the chancellor's big choices are out there, what's the best-case scenario for Reeves and Starmer, and what's the worst that could happen next? On the positive side of the ledger, Labour MPs have gone off to their constituencies in a better mood this week. That is in large part down to the chancellor's decision to scrap the limit on bigger families getting some extra benefits.


Cleveland's beloved ancient sea monster was more turtle than shark

Popular Science

Science Biology Evolution Cleveland's beloved ancient sea monster was more turtle than shark Paleontologists revised the anatomy of Dunkleosteus terrelli-and it's still terrifying. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. About 360 million years ago, present-day Cleveland was home to a fearsome predator . But this giant did not stalk prey on land. Covered in armor plates and featuring scalpel-sharp, bone blades for teeth, was an undisputed, ancient apex predator.


Flights returning to normal after Airbus warning grounded planes

BBC News

Thousands of Airbus planes are being returned to normal service after being grounded for hours due to a warning that solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight control computers. The aerospace giant - based in France - said around 6,000 of its A320 planes had been affected with most requiring a quick software update. Some 900 older planes need a replacement computer. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the updates went very smoothly for more than 5,000 planes. Fewer than 100 aircraft still needed the update, Airbus had told him, according to local media.


Russian drone and missile strikes hit residential buildings in several Kyiv districts

BBC News

A Russian drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv has killed at least one person and injured seven others, city officials say. Early on Saturday morning residential buildings in several districts were hit and loud explosions could be heard across the city. Kyiv's mayor Vitaly Klitschko said a 13-year-old child was among the injured and four people had been taken to hospital. Earlier this week a similar attack on Kyiv killed seven people, Ukrainian officials said. The latest bombardment came as Ukrainian negotiators were preparing for talks with US officials this weekend on an amended US peace plan.


No, your favourite influencer hasn't got a dozen dachshund dogs. It's just AI

BBC News

No, your favourite influencer hasn't got a dozen dachshund dogs. When scrolling through social media recently, you might have noticed posts which seem a bit off. It's all AI generated and due to its low quality and its inauthenticity, it's being branded AI slop. Both social media users and content creators say they're worried that AI slop flooding feeds is leading to a less authentic online experience - and is drowning out real posts. But a new trend, which sees people adding AI-generated animals to original photographs, has encouraged some content creators to embrace AI.