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  • Equity threatens mass direct action over use of actors’ images in AI content | Artificial intelligence (AI)

    Equity threatens mass direct action over use of actors’ images in AI content | Artificial intelligence (AI)

    The performing arts union Equity has threatened mass direct action over tech and entertainment companies’ use of its members’ likenesses, images and voices in AI content without permission.

    The warning came as the union said growing numbers of…

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  • Just a moment…

    Just a moment…

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  • Thousands of UK customers report broadband issues

    Thousands of UK customers report broadband issues

    Thousands of Vodafone customers across the UK have reported its services are down.

    Downdetector, which monitors web outages, showed more than 130,000 people had flagged problems affecting their Vodafone broadband or mobile network on Monday afternoon.

    According to its website, the firm has more than 18 million customers in the UK, including nearly 700,000 home broadband customers.

    Vodafone said in a statement it was aware of a “major issue on our network affecting broadband, 4G and 5G services”.

    “We appreciate our customers’ patience while we work to resolve this as soon as possible,” the company said.

    It comes as people on social media say they are struggling to access Vodafone customer service operators amid ongoing issues affecting mobile data and broadband.

    Many have also said they are having difficulty accessing the company’s website and app, which typically allow people to view the status of its network services.

    Customers have also taken to social media to complain of “complete outages” in their area.

    The issues appear to have begun for customers shortly after 15:00 BST.

    Internet monitor Netblocks said in a post on X, live network data showed Vodafone was experiencing “a national outage” impacting both broadband and mobile data.

    Some customers have expressed being doubly frustrated by not being able to access their Wi-Fi or mobile data.

    “Sort it out soon please,” wrote one frustrated X user – who said they were having to use a coffee shop’s Wi-Fi to access online services without the means to do so using their mobile data or broadband.

    Another said they were self-employed and could not work because of the outage, adding: “Never regretted more having my mobile and broadband on the same network.”

    The issues affecting Vodafone services are also impacting customers of other telecoms firms that use its network.

    Downdetector saw a similar spike in reports on Monday afternoon from users of the mobile network Voxi, which is owned by Vodafone.

    Lebara, which piggy-backs off Vodafone’s network, has also been affected by the company’s outage.

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  • Laphroaig® Capsule Sells for a Record-Breaking £125,000 at Distillers One of One Auction

    Laphroaig® Capsule Sells for a Record-Breaking £125,000 at Distillers One of One Auction

    Laphroaig ® Capsule 40-Year-Old Tasting Notes
    Bottled at 46.5% ABV

     

    Nose: Soft peach, baked apple, rich and viscous manuka honey, charred citrus fruit notes of orange rind intertwined with charred tropical fruit notes of pineapple. Underneath this there are notes of soft fig, milk chocolate orange, sweet star anise spice along with hints of demerara cane sugar, crisp pastry and creamy vanilla ice cream.

     

    Taste: Sweet and voluptuous on the mouthfeel, with floral spice initially, this dissipates to characters of aniseed, liquorice root, blackcurrant, stewed cranberries, honeycomb biscuits and homemade orange marmalade.

     

    Finish: Sweet, slight peppery yet soft leading to a long, signature smoke with a nod to Lapsang Souchong tea leaves.

     

     

    About Laphroaig® Whisky 
    Laphroaig is the number one selling Islay single malt globally* and is synonymous with this famous whisky island. Established in 1815 by the Johnston brothers, Laphroaig has stayed true to its bold and unforgettable character for over 200 years.

     

    Today, Laphroaig is one of only a handful of distilleries that continues to make whisky using traditional techniques like floor malting barley. From hand turning the barley and burning the peat at low temperatures to flavour the malt with cool smoke to slow distillation to maintain quality, this is what truly makes Laphroaig.  Our single malt whisky embodies the character of Islay in every drop of Laphroaig. From the distinctive peat which gives us our unique smoky character to the steadfast confidence and passion of our people, making Laphroaig unmistakable. The gives us our distinctive taste of Islay, salt and smoke with a surprising sweetness.  

     

    Laphroaig’s commitment to bold character has earned us a dedicated following of brand fans, the Friends of Laphroaig.

     

    Launched in 1994, the same year HM King Charles granted the brand a Royal Warrant, this global community has since grown to over 700,000 whisky lovers representing over 170 countries.

     

    *By volume and value in 2024. Source: IWSR Global Database 2025.

     

    For more information visit www.laphroaig.com

     

     

    About Suntory Global Spirits
    As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196™ (minus one-nine-six) and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.

     

    A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.

     

    For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com and www.drinksmart.com

     

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  • Plume Joins prpl Foundation to Drive Ecosystem Collaboration and Openness

    Plume Joins prpl Foundation to Drive Ecosystem Collaboration and Openness

    Committed to providing solutions based on open standards that create business value through consumer experience innovation

    PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Plume today announced its membership in the prpl…

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  • Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Review: A Wonderful Blend of the Old and New – PCMag

    1. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Review: A Wonderful Blend of the Old and New  PCMag
    2. Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles – The Best Support Abilities for Max Physical Damage  Wccftech
    3. You Need These Early-Game Abilities…

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  • Targeted Combos and ADCs Show Benefit After CDK4/6 in HR+/HER2− mBC

    Targeted Combos and ADCs Show Benefit After CDK4/6 in HR+/HER2− mBC

    The meta-analysis included 28 randomized trials (n=6544). The strongest PFS benefit was observed with sapanisertib plus fulvestrant (HR, 0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.82), though this regimen was associated with a discontinuation…

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  • Genkit Extension for Gemini CLI Brings Framework-Aware AI Assistance to the Terminal

    Genkit Extension for Gemini CLI Brings Framework-Aware AI Assistance to the Terminal

    Google has released the Genkit Extension for Gemini CLI, a specialized plugin that brings deep, framework-aware AI assistance directly to the terminal, aiming to streamline the development and debugging of Genkit-based applications. The…

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  • Just a moment…

    Just a moment…

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  • ‘Complicated’ EPR packaging tax criticised by South West firms

    ‘Complicated’ EPR packaging tax criticised by South West firms

    George ThorpeSouth West and

    Seb NobleCornwall political reporter

    BBC A person places a bottle of win in a cardboard box in a warehouse. A grey machine with "siat" written on it in blue letters is next to the box. A grey Stanley knife is on top of the machine.BBC

    Business owners think Extended Producer Responsibility would force prices raises for customers

    Businesses in the South West have raised concerns a new tax on packaging could force them to raise prices.

    The government introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) this month which required firms to cover the cost for collecting, recycling and disposing of packaging it produces, with the money going to councils which collected the waste.

    Owners of businesses have criticised the tax which some described as “complicated” and could lead to customers having to pay more.

    The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said EPR would move the cost of dealing with the waste away from taxpayers and generate more then £1bn for councils to improve recycling collections.

    Sam Lindo from Camel Valley Vineyard, based near Bodmin, said the winemaker could process up to 4,000 bottles a day.

    He said his main issue with EPR was the additional “bureaucracy” it brought.

    “It’s incredibly complicated because it’s not just the different types of packaging, it’s whether it goes to household, non-household, branded, unbranded,” Mr Lindo said.

    “My spreadsheet matrix is enormous.”

    Sam Lindo from Camel Valley Vineyard stands inside a warehouse where boxes of wine made at the vineyard are stored. He is stood next to two metal poles. His is gesturing with his hands out stretched. He is wearing a grey jumper with the company's logo on it.

    Sam Lindo from Camel Valley Vineyard said the tax would create more bureaucracy

    Joe Healey, managing director for trading at Healey’s Cyder near Truro, said he was concerned about the impact EPR could have on prices for customers.

    “It is a new tax on manufacturing which is directly linked, in my view, to the currently high inflation on food and drink at supermarkets,” he said.

    Caroline Voaden, Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, said a businesses in her constituency were also worried about EPR.

    “The New Inn, a historic pub in my constituency, has been informed by the brewery that supplies it that prices will increase by 7p per bottle of beer and cider and by 21p per bottle of wine,” she said.

    “But the brewery won’t deal with the bottles afterwards, so they also have to pay for the disposal of the glassware.”

    Defra said EPR underpinned “major investment” in the UK economy and would help create 25,000 jobs.

    It said it had worked with businesses to ensure they were prepared for EPR’s introduction and would continue to listen to trade and industry bodies.

    “Extended Producer Responsibility moves the cost of dealing with waste away from taxpayers and generate over a £1bn annually that must be spent by councils to improve recycling collections and thereby benefit every household across England,” a spokesperson said.

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