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Rental searches for pet friendly properties drop after law change

BBC News

Rightmove searches for rental properties that allow pets have plummeted since law changes gave renters more rights. Following the introduction of the new rules, pet searches dropped by more than 50% in May and June compared with a year earlier. Landlords in England cannot unreasonably refuse pets in their properties under changes made in May in the Renters' Rights Act. But agents say some renters wrongly believe permission to have a pet is guaranteed, and landlords say some homes remain unsuitable for multiple pets or large dogs. Landlords must consider requests fairly and cannot unreasonably refuse them, but they can still decline where there is a valid reason, said Megan Eighteen, immediate past president of lettings agents trade body ARLA Propertymark. She said there was plenty of potential for misunderstanding, among tenants about pet-friendly properties.


Students tell us how to keep graduation outfit costs down

BBC News

From the beginning of my course, I've been thinking about what my graduation dress was going to be, says Keerthana Krishnadas. I had to make sure I looked 10 out of 10, I couldn't compromise on that. She is one of hundreds of thousands of university students graduating this summer and, like many, has been figuring out what to wear for a photo marking one of life's milestones - without breaking the bank. You can save some bucks if you thrift your outfit because you're only going to wear it once, says Keerthana. She bought hers second hand.


Paramount and Warner Bros pause 110bn merger amid legal challenge

BBC News

Paramount Skydance and rival Warner Bros Discovery have agreed to pause their $110bn (ยฃ82.8bn) The pause follows lawsuits from 12 US states and the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who argue the deal would harm competition and lead to higher prices for consumers. The decision comes just days after European regulators approved the deal, on the condition Paramount would end a major film distribution partnership with Universal Pictures in the region. With the deal on hold in the US, emergency court hearings have now been cancelled. Despite the court freeze, Paramount and Warner Bros insist that combining their operations is essential to compete with digital streaming giants and tech conglomerates.


Ten killed in Russian attack near Kyiv

BBC News

At least 15 people have been killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine, with 10 dead in ballistic missile strikes just outside Kyiv, according to a national official. Writing on social media, Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed about 100 people had been injured in Kyiv, where emergency services are still at the scene, with five other people killed in the eastern city of Sloviansk. Meanwhile, an overnight Ukrainian strike killed six people and wounded 26 near the Russian city of Kirov, more than 1,000 km (600 miles) behind the front line. Ukraine also attacked the warehouses of Wildberries - Russia's biggest online retailer - in St Petersburg and the surrounding area, setting off huge fires. In the attacks near Kyiv, Russia also appeared to have targeted Defence Ministry adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov, aka Flash, and Lyuba Shypovych, who has been involved in developing technology for the Ukrainian army.


EA's bestselling football video game gets 16 age rating due to loot boxes

BBC News

EA FC is one of the most popular video game series in the world, and reliably tops the UK charts each year. And as the trailer for the latest instalment of the annual football simulator dropped this week, one new addition drew a lot of attention. Previously, the game had been marked as 3+, meaning its content was considered suitable for most players. But last month the scope of those age ratings expanded to cover elements of the online experience including in-game purchases and mechanisms designed to encourage repeat play. In the case of EA FC, one of its most popular features has come under the new rules.


Novel analysis reveals playful side of Alan Turing

BBC News

Image caption, Prof Sarah Dillon studied Alan Turing's short story, Pryce's Buoy A story written by World War Two codebreaker Alan Turing suggests he was a man with playful humour embracing his homosexuality, according to new analysis. The six-page hand-written short story, Pryce's Buoy, has been transcribed in full for the first time and studied by Sarah Dillon, professor of literature at the University of Cambridge. Dillon said the story offered fresh insights that challenge the view of Turing as an isolated, lonely genius. We've distilled a version of Turing that is a two-dimensional stereotype, she added. Turing played a crucial role in the Allies' victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two by helping to crack codes and deciphering the infamous Enigma machine at Bletchley Park.


'It feels as if I've made a new best friend': my experiment with AI journalling

The Guardian

This adds another way for your inner life to be read by prying eyes, though you can opt out. A lifelong diary writer himself, Reinberg launched the app because he was fascinated by journalling, psychology and tech. He has no professional background or education in therapy. "We are not a clinical or a therapy tool," he says. "We're focused on self-reflection and finding connections between entries, holding up a mirror that helps you to make progress in your life." One feature I don't like is that it analyses each entry and gives a percentage score for your dominant emotions.


Help! My Best Friend's Husband Has a Very Strange Set of "Rules." And Now He's Turning Them on Me.

Slate

My Best Friend's Husband Has a Very Strange Set of "Rules." Prudie chats with Lizzie O'Leary, host of What Next: TBD, about a man whose "quirky" demands are getting concerning. I'm struggling with the behavior of my close friend's husband, and I'm worried about how it's affecting her. He is the most indecisive person I have ever encountered. Any time we visit, he has to plan our schedule down to the minute, but even then, he constantly changes his mind.


Lamar wants to have children with his girlfriend. The problem? She's entirely AI

The Guardian

Lamar wants to have children with his girlfriend. L amar remembered the moment of betrayal like it was yesterday. He'd gone to the party with his girlfriend but hadn't seen her for over an hour, and it wasn't like her to disappear. He slipped down the hallway to check his phone. At that point, he heard murmurs coming from one of the bedrooms and thought he recognised his best friend Jason's low voice. As he pushed the door ajar, they were both still scrambling to throw their clothes on; her shirt was unbuttoned, while Jason struggled to cover himself. The image of his girlfriend and best friend together hit Lamar like a blow to the chest. He left without saying a word. Two years on, when he spoke to me, the memory remained raw. He was still seething with anger, as if telling the story for the first time.


Would my dog or cat really eat me if I died alone?

Popular Science

Would my dog or cat really eat me if I died alone? As grim as it sounds, it's often expected--and biology explains why. Is man's best friend also a dead man's best friend? Case studies say maybe not. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday.