US accused of meddling in British politics with $500,000 grant for ‘public education’ courses

The US embassy in London is offering grants of up to half a million dollars for new “public education” programmes in what has been criticised as interference in British domestic politics.

Spanish mountain village braces for astrotourists lured by total solar eclipse

Little stirs in the mountains above Somosierra beyond the wind that lashes the flat peaks, the cows that graze on parched grass and the sun that beats down on the abandoned aerodrome where generations of glider pilots learned to ride air currents alongside squadrons of vultures and red kites.

How Artificial Curiosity Changed The Question Humans Need To Ask

How Artificial Curiosity Changed The Question Humans Need To Ask

How Artificial Curiosity Changed The Question Humans Need To Ask

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Years ago, I had the opportunity to interview some of the world's leading artificial intelligence researchers about artificial curiosity. At the time, many people wanted to know whether machines could become curious. I remember thinking it was one of the most interesting questions in AI. A lot has changed since then. AI has become remarkably good at exploring, testing, predicting, and learning from errors, while answers have become available almost instantly to anyone with an internet connection. Looking back, I can see the questions changing right along with the technology. In 2018, the conversation centered on whether AI could become curious. By 2020, business leaders wanted to know how to apply it. Today, I find myself asking something completely different. As answers become easier to get, are people becoming less willing to wonder, investigate, and stay with uncertainty long enough to discover something new? That may be the curiosity question worth paying attention to now.

Farage and Tice sue NCA over alleged leaks of financial information

Richard Tice has said he and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage are suing the National Crime Agency (NCA) over the alleged leaking of confidential financial information.

The Boston and Skegness MP and Reform deputy leader told Talk TV they believed the NCA had committed "multiple criminal offences" and said they would be seeking an apology and damages.

Vintage childhood toys passion inspires Newport dolls' house museum

The 101-year-old who created a dolls' house museum with her childhood toys

Figure caption,

Finding a doll's house lost in WWII

ByLucy Owen

BBC Wales

Updated 8 August 2026

Val Ripley may be 101 but she still enjoys playing with dolls' houses.

Carabao Cup: Goals galore - the most astonishing scorelines in competition's history

Goals galore - the wildest scores in EFL Cup history

Composite of EFL Cup gamesImage source, Getty Images

Image caption,

The EFL Cup has provided some of the highest-scoring games in English football history

UFC Vegas 120 Final Card — Gamrot Vs. Salkilld Weigh-In Results

UFC Fight Night: Gamrot v Salkilld Weigh-in

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 07: (L-R) Mateusz Gamrot of Poland and Quillan Salkilld of Australia face off during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on August 07, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Grand Theft Auto 6 Details Emerge Before Netflix Reveal

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GTA 6

Credit: Rockstar Games

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Grand Theft Auto 6's major reveal is going to be streamed on Netflix on August 27. The power move is impressive and I'll be watching with much of the rest of the world when it drops. On Friday, details about the highly anticipated Netflix stream and more emerged. Let's talk video games.

NBA star Brandon Clarke died from heroin, cocaine effects, examiner rules

Memphis Grizzlies ⁠forward Brandon Clarke’s ⁠May 11 death ruled accidental, with effects of heroin and cocaine cited.

The Los Angeles County ‌Department of Medical Examiner reported on Friday ⁠that Memphis Grizzlies ⁠forward Brandon Clarke died due to the effects of heroin and cocaine.

Bangladesh say Shakib will not play cricket again after Hasina event

Shakib Al Hasan says he will return home to face trial if safety assured, but Bangladesh rule out cricket comeback.

Bangladesh have said former star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan had no prospect of returning to play after he joined a media event with ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a convicted fugitive.