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The Chisenhale Gallery in London greets visitors with an unsettling aroma that oscillates between sweet butter and a harsh, chemical perfume, immediately signalling that the exhibition is designed to disturb both mind and nostrils.At the heart of the show stands a massive mobile health unit – a former US‑British field ambulance acquired at a military auction. Its presence transforms the pastel‑painted gallery into a simulated triage zone, complete with faded chemical warnings, triage forms and evacuation maps. Among the discarded paperwork, a single sheet reveals that the vehicle participated in decontamination after the 2018 Novichok attack on double‑agent Sergei Skripal, adding a chilling historical layer to the installation.The surrounding walls are coated in Baker‑Miller pink, the hue once tested in US jails to calm aggressive inmates. This “drunk‑tank pink” juxtaposes the sterile pink of the health unit, blurring the line between soothing and coercive environments.Beyond visual cues, the exhibition assaults the senses with a bespoke scent concoction. Crowther blends substances derived from powdered milk – a symbol of industrialised sustenance – with hexadecanal, a naturally occurring skin compound known to dampen aggression in men while provoking it in women, and famously emitted by newborns. The result is a “sweetly putrid” odor that feels both familiar and alien, prompting visitors to question whether they are inhaling rubber, milk, or something more sinister.Through this multisensory tableau, Crowther frames colour and smell as potential psy‑ops, probing how basic human experiences can be industrialised and militarised. She asks: What does health mean when it is administered by the state or corporate entities? Who truly benefits when care becomes a tool of surveillance and control?Visitors navigate a space that oscillates between comfort and exploitation, leaving them to wonder whether they are being nurtured or manipulated. The exhibition runs at Chisenhale Gallery until 14 June 2026, inviting the public to confront the uneasy overlap of medical aid, military apparatus and sensory manipulation.

The App Store Removal Apple is taking a tough stance on vibe-coding apps, blocking updates or removing those apps from the App Store. Affected apps include Replit, Vibecode, and Anything. While Replit and Vibecode's updates were paused, Anything's app was removed twice. Anything's Struggle with Apple Anything's co-founder, Dhruv Amin, said in a conversation with TechCrunch that Apple removed its app on March 26. Since then, the company has been unable to get its app approved, despite a period where there was a brief reinstatement. Apple cited developer agreement clause 2.5.2, which prevents apps from downloading, installing, or executing code. The app markets itself as a mobile app builder for iPhone and advertises making native iOS apps with features like 1-tap App Store submissions, code export, and full source code editing. The Impact on Anything Amin noted that when the company managed to get on a call with Apple, the iPhone maker told them that the vibe-coding app was removed because of the potential it could be used to download malicious code. The Future of Anything Following the battle with Apple, Anything's maker is looking for other ways to allow people to build mobile apps. Earlier this month, the company launched a feature that let users build apps using the iMessage platform. The company said it will also build a desktop companion app that lets users vibe code mobile apps on their computer. The company may instead look at Google's Android operating system for building its apps, as the platform is more open than iOS. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has been vocal about Apple's tactics, saying that Apple needs to "stop blocking development tools apps ASAP." The Broader Implications Earlier this month, The Information reported that thanks to AI-powered coding tools, Apple saw an 84% jump in app submissions in a single quarter. This could force Apple to change its human-led review processes. As AI-powered coding takes off, consumers might demand that platforms like Apple allow them to create apps for themselves.

Amazon’s $11.57 B Deal to Secure Globalstar’s Satellite AssetsOn April 14, 2026, Amazon disclosed a cash transaction of **$11.57 billion** (about **$90 per share**) to acquire Globalstar, the satellite operator that powers Apple’s Emergency SOS feature. The purchase gives Amazon full control of Globalstar’s satellite constellation, ground infrastructure, and mobile‑satellite‑service spectrum licenses, bolstering the company’s nascent satellite business, Amazon Leo.Deal Structure and What Amazon GainsThe agreement transfers:All of Globalstar’s existing low‑Earth‑orbit satellites (currently **24** operational, with agreements for **50+** new units).Ground stations, network operations, and spectrum licenses needed for direct‑to‑device services.Ongoing contracts with customers such as Delta Airlines, AT&T;, Vodafone, Australia’s NBN, and NASA.Alongside the acquisition, Amazon signed a continuation agreement with Apple to keep providing satellite connectivity for iPhone and Apple Watch users.Financial Scale and Satellite Fleet NumbersThe transaction’s headline figures illustrate the market’s valuation of satellite connectivity:Deal value: **$11.57 billion** in cash.Share price: **$90** per Globalstar share.Amazon Leo’s planned constellation: **>3,200** satellites, though only **~200** have launched to date.FCC deadline: Amazon must have **~1,600** satellites in orbit by **July 2026**.Starlink comparison: **>10,000** satellites serving 150+ countries.Strategic Implications for Amazon Leo vs. StarlinkAcquiring Globalstar gives Amazon immediate access to:Established spectrum in the 1.6 GHz band, critical for low‑latency, direct‑to‑device links.A ready‑made customer base in aviation, telecom, and government sectors.Technical expertise and launch contracts (including a SpaceX agreement for replacement satellites).Combined with the recent showcase of a high‑speed antenna for commercial jets, Amazon is positioning Leo to compete directly with Starlink in the high‑value aviation and enterprise markets, while leveraging Apple’s ecosystem for consumer‑grade emergency services.Outlook: Timeline for Amazon Leo and Market ShiftsKey milestones ahead:Late 2026 – Initial commercial rollout of Amazon Leo’s direct‑to‑device services using Globalstar’s existing constellation.2028 – Deployment of Amazon’s own “thousands of advanced satellites” to enable a global, low‑latency network supporting “hundreds of millions of customer endpoints.”Mid‑2027 – Expected FCC approval of the extended satellite count deadline.If Amazon meets these targets, the satellite‑internet market could see a three‑way split among Starlink, Amazon Leo, and emerging regional players, driving down prices and expanding coverage for aviation, maritime, and remote‑area users.

A heartfelt tribute has been paid to Dame Jenni Murray, a renowned figure in British radio, known for her exceptional broadcasting skills and generosity of spirit. The author recalls her kindness and guidance when they appeared as a guest on Woman's Hour in the 1990s, discussing their novels on topics such as motherhood and dieting. Dame Jenni shared valuable insights into the art of radio broadcasting, including the importance of not discussing the main topic in the green room to save the best lines for the show. She also emphasized the need to turn off mobile phones before entering the studio, a lesson she occasionally forgot herself, much to the frustration of her producers. Her warm and approachable nature made her a beloved figure, both on and off the air. The author fondly remembers her staying on for a glass of wine in the BBC canteen after shows and her remarkable charity work, particularly with the Young Oncology Unit at the Christie hospital in Manchester. Dame Jenni's infectious humor and big-heartedness inspired others to get involved in charitable initiatives, leading to successful fundraising dinners and a significant impact on the community.

Since the outbreak of the Iran conflict in February, European car shoppers have turned sharply toward electric vehicles (EVs), spurred by a rapid climb in petrol costs that has made plug‑in power appear markedly cheaper. Major online marketplaces report a pronounced uptick in EV interest. Germany’s leading platform, Mobile.de, recorded a greater‑than‑50% increase in electric‑car inquiries in March compared with February, while demand for petrol and diesel models fell during the same period. Hybrid queries edged up only 4%. In the United Kingdom, Spain and Germany, the buyer‑matching service Carwow logged 20%‑30% growth in EV inquiries between February and March, with the UK alone seeing a 23% rise in electric demand and a 19% jump for hybrids. French marketplace La Centrale observed a staggering 160% surge in EV searches from early March to early April, underscoring how sensitive drivers are to energy‑price volatility. AutoScout24, operating across Germany, Austria and Italy, noted that demand for electric cars climbed by roughly 40%, while interest in petrol and diesel vehicles remained flat or declined. Official registration data reinforce the trend. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that March battery‑electric registrations hit 86,120 units—a 24.2% year‑on‑year increase** and a record high for the month. Industry insiders attribute the shift to a combination of soaring fuel costs and supportive policy measures. In Germany, diesel prices have reached **€2.50 per litre**, and the government’s **€6,000 purchase subsidy** for electric cars further narrows the cost gap. "What the German energy transition couldn’t achieve, the economic reality has delivered," said Ajay Bhatia, CEO of Mobile.de, highlighting how market forces are now driving the zero‑emission push. Volkswagen’s ID.3 emerged as the most popular battery model, benefitting from both the subsidy and heightened consumer awareness. Nevertheless, experts caution that the surge may be partly transitory. Mobile.de’s Bhatia predicts the spike will settle at "a new, higher normal," while Autotrader’s Ian Plummer notes that previous fuel‑price spikes did not translate into lasting EV adoption, emphasizing the need for continued confidence in vehicle range and charging infrastructure. Guillaume‑Henri Blanchet of La Centrale added that the crisis has given many drivers their first real sense of total‑cost‑of‑ownership, making them more willing to accept higher upfront prices for lower long‑term operating costs. As Europe grapples with the dual pressures of geopolitical tension and energy inflation, the automotive market appears poised for a structural shift toward electrification, though the durability of this momentum remains to be fully seen.

The unveiling of Ichiro Suzuki's statue outside T-Mobile Park took an unexpected turn on Friday when the bronze bat snapped off during the ceremony. The incident occurred as broadcaster Rick Rizzs counted down from 51, a nod to Suzuki's jersey number which was retired by the Seattle Mariners.A snapping noise could be heard as the bronze bat flopped down, and confetti sprouted up. Despite the mishap, Suzuki appeared to find it hilarious, joking through an interpreter that Mariano Rivera had 'gotten the best of him again.' The statue depicts Suzuki in his batting stance and was sculpted by Chicago-based Lou Cella.The Mariners quickly fixed the statue, reconnecting the bat at the handle. Suzuki was inducted into the Hall of Fame last summer and became the third Mariners player to have his jersey retired. The ceremony was attended by fellow Mariners greats Ken Griffey Jr and Edgar Martinez.Suzuki made history as the first Japanese-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame, earning a near-unanimous 99.7% of the vote from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He humorously noted that the broken bat was fitting, saying 'In the Hall of Fame, I was short one vote. Today, the bat was broke. It kind of lets me know that I'm still not there, that I still need to keep going.'

Barney Ronay set out to test whether a disciplined betting strategy could turn a modest £10 stake into a sizeable profit. Over five days he managed to grow the amount to £120, a return that sounded impressive but left him emotionally flat. His experiment underscores a broader truth: sport betting is engineered to disturb and addict. The personal journey is set against a looming financial shock for English football. Nine Premier League clubs have warned they cannot replace the cash flow previously supplied by gambling sponsors, which will be barred from shirt‑front advertising next season under a voluntary industry agreement. One club executive summed up the anxiety: “Nearly everyone is losing money.” The shortfall is estimated at around £4 million for the affected clubs. These concerns arrive at a time when the gambling sector itself faces scrutiny. Recent data show that up to 1.4 million UK adults may have a gambling problem, a figure that has risen alongside the proliferation of mobile betting apps. The Guardian previously reported that the world‑champion club could incur losses of £335 million in a single season, illustrating the massive financial stakes involved. Ronay’s betting log reads like a sports‑fan’s diary. He began with a £10 wager on a Florida horse race, which paid out modestly. Subsequent bets on high‑profile matches – Manchester City versus Liverpool, Southampton beating Arsenal in the FA Cup – produced a rapid climb to £120. Yet each win felt hollow, prompting him to chase larger, riskier bets such as a four‑way accumulator on the Champions League semi‑finalists, a gamble that ultimately fell short. Beyond the numbers, the piece highlights how gambling permeates the football experience: logos dominate club kits, betting terminology infiltrates fan conversation, and promotional offers tempt even casual viewers. Ronay argues that this saturation turns a simple pastime into a “highly available, stimulating activity designed to hook” users, exploiting the brain’s natural reward pathways. In concluding, Ronay stresses two take‑aways. First, the industry’s promise of “extra money” for clubs is a façade – the money only comes out of fans’ pockets. Second, the impending £4 million sponsorship gap may actually serve as a catalyst for sensible self‑regulation, forcing clubs to reconsider reliance on gambling revenue.

Amazon announced that, effective 20 May 2026, it will stop delivering software updates to Kindle and Kindle Fire devices launched in 2012 or earlier. The decision targets a range of models, from the original 2007 Kindle to the first‑generation Kindle Paperwhite and early Kindle Fire tablets. According to the company, owners will retain the ability to read books already stored on their devices, and their Amazon accounts will remain usable through mobile and desktop applications. However, a factory reset on the affected units will render them inoperable for new purchases, borrowing, or downloads. Amazon is offering discounts to encourage users to upgrade to newer hardware, acknowledging that many of the devices have been supported for 14‑18 years. The move has ignited a wave of criticism online, with users describing their still‑functional e‑readers as being reduced to "paperweights" and accusing the retailer of fostering large‑scale waste. Ugo Vallauri of the Restart Project—a UK‑based repair advocacy group—told the BBC that manufacturers often cite performance improvements when ending support, but this does not justify "soft‑bricking" millions of functional devices. He estimates the impact could affect roughly 2 million e‑readers, representing about 3 % of Kindle users, potentially creating more than 624 tons of e‑waste. Tech analyst Paolo Pescatore described the decision as "understandable from a security and support perspective," noting that the hardware of these older models was not designed for today's data‑intensive services. In summary, Amazon's phase‑out underscores the tension between extending product lifespans and keeping pace with rapid technological advancement, while raising environmental questions about the fate of legacy devices.

Ian Cheshire steps into the helm of Ofcom with a comprehensive 2026‑27 plan that spans telecoms, broadband, postal services, broadcast media and the digital sphere. While the breadth of responsibilities is vast, the regulator’s work on the Online Safety Act (OSA) is set to dominate his tenure.The OSA, the UK’s flagship legislation governing social‑media, search and video platforms, has become a flashpoint between internet‑safety advocates and free‑speech proponents. Campaigners such as Ian Russell – father of Molly Russell, whose tragic suicide highlighted online harms – and filmmaker Beeban Kidron are urging a tougher regulatory stance.Last year, Russell publicly called for a change in Ofcom’s leadership, citing the watchdog’s failure to block an online suicide forum accessible to UK users. At the same time, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall wrote to Ofcom expressing “deep concern” over delays in rolling out key OSA provisions.Although updating the act is a parliamentary responsibility, Cheshire’s close ties to government could accelerate ministerial action. The OSA, passed in 2023, only began substantive implementation under chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes, with the introduction of rigorous age‑gating measures last year marking the first tangible impact on users.Beyond online safety, Ofcom must continue its core duties established in 2003: supervising public‑service broadcasting, ensuring impartial news, maintaining universal postal delivery six days a week, and monitoring broadband and mobile‑phone coverage across the UK. The government’s expectation is clear – the regulator must move faster on digital safety without neglecting these legacy functions.A looming test of the OSA’s strength is the investigation into the partial nudification of women and girls by Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok. The outcome will signal how effectively Ofcom can enforce the act against emerging AI‑driven harms.The 2026‑27 plan lists projects such as preventing illegal content from going viral, measuring harmful material encountered by children, and assessing the effectiveness of age‑gating. Additional measures targeting major platforms like Google and Instagram remain stalled due to ongoing court proceedings.Recent incidents – from misinformation spikes following the Southport killings to AI‑generated misogyny on X – underscore the urgency. While the legislation provides Cheshire with a framework, the patience of campaigners and policymakers is wearing thin.