Latest Stories from Charlie
New gonorrhoea vaccine to roll out in UK as cases rise
A new vaccine for gonorrhoea will be rolled out in England as part of a world-first project. Described as a ‘landmark moment for sexual health,’ it’s hoped this initiative will lower rising levels of STI cases. A world-first vaccine for gonorrhoea is to be distributed in the UK amidst record-level case numbers. In 2023 there were over 85,000 cases in England alone. This is the highest number since records first...
Spain to block 65,000 properties on Airbnb in tourism crackdown
Following intense public pressure to regulate the short-term rental market, the Spanish government says it will remove over 65,000 holiday rental listings from Airbnb for breaching regulations. The Spanish government is cracking down on short-term property renting and says it will remove 65,000 holiday listings from Airbnb. It comes amidst growing public pressure to provide more regulation and rules over holiday renting. The consumer rights ministry said missing licence numbers, unclear...
Union files charge against Fortnite for AI Darth Vader
SAG-AFTRA, a large union representing over 160,000 actors and media employees, has filed a charge against Fortnite for its use of an AI Darth Vader character. Fortnite and Epic Games are facing legal trouble after the game’s latest update. As part of its recent Star Wars collaboration, Fortnite added an AI-powered Darth Vader character that has prompted the actor and media union SAG-AFTRA to file an unfair labour practice charge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELosLTCjoKk The...
Sidemen launch venture capital firm called Upside VC
The UK’s biggest YouTube group The Sidemen have launched a new venture capital firm called Upside VC that will reportedly support tech startups. The YouTube collective The Sidemen have announced that they are launching a venture capital firm that will support consumer tech startups. Called Upside VC, this new firm will have an £18 million fund to invest in different businesses. So far, it has made twelve investments ranging between...
Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer
Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his representatives have said. The cancer has reportedly spread to his bones. Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his personal office has announced. He visited doctors last week for urinary symptoms when a prostate nodule was discovered. Biden’s representatives say that various different options...
hung-up on a hangover
A booze up can be a great time, but the hangover and anxiety seems to become more intense with age. Is there ever an obvious time to pack it in and call it a day? Before I start this week’s wildcard, let me quickly acknowledge how contradictory this looks. Last Sunday I was celebrating all the joys that come with pub culture, whether it be the socialising, the music, or just...
European firms reportedly improving climate action lobbying
New research has found that European companies are increasingly engaging with climate change, with a sharp rise in firms lobbying for climate action since 2019. New research suggests that European companies may be more engaged with climate change policies and action than first thought. Analysts say that the share of companies whose corporate lobbying is ‘aligned’ with plans for global climate goals increased from 3% in 2019 to an impressive 23%...
TikTok found to be breaching EU advertising rules
The short-form video platform TikTok has been cautioned over its EU digital ads by the European Commission, after failing to provide sufficient details on their content. TikTok has breached EU rules by not disclosing enough information about its advertising, the European Commission (EC) has said. According to a statement, the EC believes that the platform ‘does not fulfil the Digital Services Act’s obligation to publish an advertisement repository.’ This...
Amazon boss says UK needs more nuclear power for AI
If the UK wants to keep up with the demands of AI services, it will need to invest in nuclear power to run its data centres, says Amazon boss Matt Garman. The UK needs to invest in nuclear power if it wants to build AI infrastructure, Amazon Web Services boss Matt Garman has said to the BBC. In order to operate AI, large data centres that require hefty amount of energy...
Gen Z and the rise of ‘bed rotting’ escapism
More young people than ever are spending excessive amounts of time in bed on their phones. It’s become known as ‘bed rotting’ and is a uniquely Gen Z and millennial phenomena. What’s causing this behaviour? We’re sure that you’ve likely heard of ‘bed rotting’ by now, the infamous lifestyle habit that many of us are guilty of indulging in every now and then. Gaining mainstream traction in late 2023, ‘bed...
