Is it possible to build a plastic-free home?
Using plastic in construction is cheap and easy, but some are trying to radically cut back its use.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: its huge screen blocks shoulder surfers from spying on you
Latest Android superphone packs great cameras, fast chips, long battery, a stylus and first-of-its-kind privacy displaySamsung’s latest Ultra superphone promises to keep shoulder surfers out of your business with a first-of-its-kind privacy display built into its huge 6.9in screen.The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung’s top-of-the-line phone costing £1,279 (€1,449/$1,299/A$2,199) and is one of the most feature-packed handsets you can get, with four cameras on the back, an integrated stylus and AI assistance in every corner. Continue reading...
Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.
Tech Now
Paul Carter checks out the newest phones, gadgets and trends from MWC Barcelona.
Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.
Dharshini David: Economy on shaky ground even before Iran war
The government's hopes that 2026 would be the year when growth picks up are at risk of being scuppered.
Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
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Apple iPad Air M4 review: still the premium tablet to beat
Faster laptop-level power, rapid wifi and 5G, plus much-improved multitasking make the middle iPad highly capable beyond just watching TVThe latest iPad Air is faster in almost all facets, packing not just a processor upgrade but improvements to most of the internal bits that make the tablet work, providing laptop-grade power in a skinny, adaptable touchscreen device.The new iPad Air M4 costs from the same £599 (€649/$599/A$999) as the outgoing M3 model from last year and again comes in two sizes. One with an 11in screen, which is the best size for most people and a more expensive 13in screen version, which is ideal if you want a second TV or a laptop replacement.Screen: 11in or 13in Liquid Retina display (264ppi)Processor: Apple M4 (8-core CPU/9-core GPU)RAM: 12GBStorage: 128, 256, 512GB or 1TBOperating system: iPadOS 26.3Camera: 12MP rear, 12MP centre stageConnectivity: Wifi 7, 5G (eSim-only), Bluetooth 6, USB-C (USB3), Touch ID, Smart ConnecterDimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm or 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1mmWeight: 464g or 616g Continue reading...
Tech Life
We speak to a “chatter” on OnlyFans, who sends explicit messages on behalf of models.
Google Pixel 10a review: cheaper Android is great, but no real advance
Quality camera, good software and long battery life, but you should just buy the Pixel 9a insteadThe latest smartphone in the lower-cost A-series Pixel line shows what makes Google phones so good, while undercutting the competition on price. The problem is that it differs little from its predecessor, which is still on sale.Priced from £499 (€549/$499/A$849), the Pixel 10a is more like a second edition of last year’s excellent Pixel 9a. The two phones share the same Tensor G4 chip, not the newer G5 in the rest of the £799 and up Pixel 10 line; the same memory, storage and cameras; the same size 6.3in OLED screen, though the Pixel 10a reaches a higher peak brightness making it slightly easier to read outside. Continue reading...
Watch: Moment wolf rescued from canal in northern Italy
Video released by the Italian fire brigade shows the wolf being rescued from under a bridge.
Tech Life
The machines will be much more powerful than the ordinary computers we use today
How safe is bare-knuckle boxing as it fights for mainstream appeal?
A new BBC documentary looks at the rise of bare-knuckle boxing as fighter Liam 'Rocky' Rees tells BBC Sport why he loves the adrenaline.
The dart frog toxin allegedly used to kill Alexei Navalny
The toxin, epibatidine, can be found in frogs in the wild in South America or manufactured in a lab.
Flying oranges: Italian town celebrates carnival with historic street battle
A town in northern Italy has started celebrating carnival with its annual Battle of the Oranges where people hurl the fruit at each other for fun.
Tech Now
Alasdair Keane climbs aboard an electric boat in Norway.
Frank's downfall: Inside his struggle to get players and fans onboard
Thomas Frank has been sacked as Tottenham manager after just eight months in charge. BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel takes a closer look at his tenure.
Beats Powerbeats Fit review: Apple’s compact workout earbuds revamped
Secure, noise-cancelling Bluetooth earbuds that shine for exercise and everyday use on Android and iPhoneApple’s revamped compact workout Beats earbuds stick to a winning formula, while slimming down and improving comfort.The new Powerbeats Fit are the direct successors to 2022’s popular Beats Fit Pro, costing £200 (€230/$200/A$330). They sit alongside the recently redesigned Powerbeats Pro 2 as Apple’s fitness alternatives of the AirPods. Continue reading...
Logitech MX Master 4 review: the best work mouse you can buy
Ergonomic shape, quality materials and satisfying clicks, now with novel haptic feedback and repairable designLogitech’s latest productivity power-house updates one of the greatest mice of all time with smoother materials, a repair-friendly design and a haptic motor for phone-like vibrations on your desktop.The MX Master 4 is the latest evolution in a line of pioneering mice that dates back more than 20 years and has long been the mouse to beat for everything but hardcore PC gaming. Having given it a magnetic free-spinning scroll wheel, plenty of buttons and precise tracking, now Logitech is trying something different for its seven-generation: the ability to tap back at you. Continue reading...
Google Pixel Buds 2a review: great Bluetooth earbuds at a good price
Compact and comfortable Pixel Buds have noise cancelling, decent battery life and good everyday soundGoogle’s latest budget Pixel earbuds are smaller, lighter, more comfortable and have noise cancelling, plus a case that allows you to replace the battery at home.The Pixel Buds 2a uses the design of the excellent Pixel Buds Pro 2 with a few high-end features at a more palatable £109 (€129/$129/A$239) price, undercutting rivals in the process.Water resistance: IP54 (splash resistant)Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4 (SBC, AAC)Battery life: 7h with ANC (20h with case)Earbud dimensions: 23.1 x 16 x 17.8mmEarbud weight: 4.7g eachDriver size: 11mmCharging case dimensions: 50 x 57.2 x 24.5mmCharging case weight: 47.6gCase charging: USB-C Continue reading...
'I've been flying through the air without skis on - that is a weird feeling'
What do you do if you fall 40 feet on to hard-packed snow? If you're a Winter Olympics athlete, you pick yourself up and try again.
Fairphone 6 review: cheaper, repairable and longer-lasting Android
Sustainable smartphone takes a step forward with modular accessories, a good screen and mid-range performanceThe Dutch ethical smartphone brand Fairphone is back with its six-generation Android, aiming to make its repairable phone more modern, modular, affordable and desirable, with screw-in accessories and a user-replaceable battery.The Fairphone 6 costs £499 (€599), making it cheaper than previous models and pitting it squarely against budget champs such as the Google Pixel 9a and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, while being repairable at home with long-term software support and a five-year warranty. On paper it sounds like the ideal phone to see out the decade. Continue reading...