Netflix is developing Bat Boy, a young adult horror-comedy live-action TV series about the infamous 1990s tabloid fictional character. The show will be spearheaded by Chilling Adventures of Sabrina showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and live-action One Piece co-showrunner Joe Tracz. The half-bat/half-boy character made headline news in the Weekly World News and became a pop culture icon. In the series, teenager Bobby Bates navigates mainstream society while uncovering mysteries from the Florida swamps. Executive producers include Jimmy Gibbons and Greg D’Alessandro.
Multiple Police Injured in UK Street Violence Following False Information Spread on Social Media
Headline: Renewed Violence Erupts in UK Amid Anti-Immigration Unrest
In a fourth day of unrest following the tragic murder of three young girls in northwest England, British cities saw renewed street violence that left several police officers injured. The riots, sparked by false information on social media regarding the suspect’s identity, have led to violent clashes, arrests, and injuries in various towns and cities across the country. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, particularly targeting far-right groups for instigating the unrest.
This was not a protest. This was unforgivable violence and disorder, said Mark Hall, chief police superintendent of the Sunderland area, following a night of chaos in which anti-immigration demonstrators clashed with police, threw stones, and set vehicles alight.
The violence, which echoes past instances of civil unrest in the country, poses a significant challenge for law enforcement and political leadership as they strive to maintain order and protect communities amidst escalating tensions. Despite the government’s condemnation of the violence, clashes and protests continue to erupt in various cities, raising concerns about public safety and community cohesion.
Convicted Child Rapist Booed at Olympics in Norway Defeat, Netherlands
Child rapist booed as Dutch team crash to defeat in the Olympic beach volleyball
Convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde faced loud boos as the Netherlands lost to Norway in the Olympic beach volleyball on Friday evening. Van de Velde, now 29, previously sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for admitting three counts of rape against a 12-year-old British girl, was harshly received by the crowd at the Eiffel Tower Stadium.
Despite the result, the Dutch team secured a spot in the last 16, with one win and two losses in the matches so far. The inclusion of Van de Velde in the Dutch squad has been met with criticism from women’s and safeguarding groups, leading to a petition with over 135,000 signatures calling for his removal.
Child abuse campaigner Emma Jane Taylor expressed deep concerns about Van de Velde’s participation in the Olympics, pointing out the negative impact on survivors and the dangerous message it sends. While Van de Velde has expressed remorse for his actions in the past, the decision to allow him to compete in the Games has sparked controversy.
Amidst the backlash, Van de Velde is not staying in the Olympic village and will not engage in post-match media activities. He admitted that his actions were a grave mistake but emphasized the need to face the consequences.
The strong reaction from the crowd during the match underscores the public’s divided opinions on Van de Velde’s presence at an international sporting event of this magnitude. As the Dutch team progresses in the tournament, the spotlight on Van de Velde’s past continues to raise questions about accountability and the role of offenders in competitive sports.
Worker Fatality at QCoal’s Byerwen Mine in Queensland Triggers Investigation, Australia
Australia’s QCoal said on Saturday a worker had died at its Byerwen coking coal mine in the northeastern state of Queensland, but gave no further details.
Brisbane-based QCoal runs the open-cut mine in the Bowen Basin, of which it owns 85%, in a joint venture with Japan’s JFE Steel Corp.
QCoal sadly confirms there has been a fatality … this morning, it said in a statement. It was unclear if the mine, which produces up to 10 million tonnes of coking coal a year, was still operating.
A fire in June at Anglo American’s Moranbah coal mine in the region helped underpin prices for the steel-making ingredient.
(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Walthamstow to Unveil Major Cultural Revamps in £17M Transformation, UK
Walthamstow is already a pretty cultured place. Home to delights such as Walthamstow Village, the William Morris Museum and God’s Own Junkyard, the northeast London borough was even named Time Out’s coolest neighbourhood in the capital as recently as 2022.
And soon ‘Stow could get a whole load more cultured. Waltham Forest Council has just given the go-ahead to two major renovations, which together make up the next phase of a planned £17 million ‘cultural quarter’. Plans were approved on July 16 for a significant revamp of both Vestry House and Chestnuts House.
The plans for Vestry House have been previously covered on Time Out and involve a general refurb, improved accessibility and a new café and restaurant. According to the Waltham Forest Echo, the council wants to increase footfall at Vestry House from 20,000 per year to 60,000.
Chestnuts House, meanwhile, will be repurposed as a ‘creative workshop and café’. The Grade II-listed manor, which is on Historic England’s ‘heritage at-risk’ register, will get new doors, repairs to its windows and an outdoor building demolished, as well as generally spruced-up.
The two schemes will be paid for using ‘levelling up’ funding from the national government. Work on Chestnuts House is expected to be finished by early 2025, while Vestry House’s makeover will be complete by 2026.
We’re big fans of ‘Stow over here at Time Out – for proof, see our individual guides to Blackhorse Lane, Orford Road and Hoe Street, as well as our overall Walthamstow area guide.
New Study Reveals Complex DNA DSB Repair Mechanisms
The repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) through alternative non-homologous end-joining (alt-NHEJ) pathway significantly contributes to genetic instability. However, the mechanism governing alt-NHEJ pathway choice, particularly its association with DSB complexity, remains elusive due to the absence of a suitable reporter system. In this study, we established a unique Escherichia coli reporter system for detecting complex DSB-initiated alternative end-joining (A-EJ), an alt-NHEJ-like pathway. By utilizing various types of ionizing radiation to generate DSBs with varying degrees of complexity, we discovered that high complexity of DSBs might be a determinant for A-EJ choice. To facilitate efficient repair of high-complexity DSBs, A-EJ employs distinct molecular patterns such as longer micro-homologous junctions and non-templated nucleotide addition. Furthermore, the A-EJ choice is modulated by the degree of homology near DSB loc This research enhances the current understanding of A-EJ/alt-NHEJ pathway choice.
Exogenous and endogenous stresses cause various types of DNA damage, with DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) being the most severe. The existence of two general pathways for repairing DSBs—homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ)—is crucial. Among the NHEJ pathways is alternative end-joining (alt-NHEJ), known for contributing to genetic instability through microhomology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ). To shed light on alt-NHEJ pathway choice, particularly its link to DSB complexity, researchers have developed a specialized Escherichia coli reporter system. Through this system, it was revealed that high complexity in DSBs may play a key role in determining the A-EJ selection process, offering new insights into the repair mechanisms of challenging DNA damage.
Overall, the study’s findings highlight the significance of understanding the repair mechanisms of complex DSBs and the intricate pathways involved in DNA repair. By uncovering the relationship between DSB complexity and alternative end-joining choice, researchers have taken a step forward in deciphering the molecular intricacies of genetic stability and instability. This knowledge not only deepens our understanding of cellular repair processes but also lays the groundwork for potential future advancements in therapeutic interventions targeting DNA damage and genome stability.
Transgender Locker Room Controversy Sparks Protests in Missouri, US
A transgender woman’s use of the women’s locker room at a suburban St. Louis gym has sparked a protest, a plan for a boycott, and calls for a state investigation. The Missouri Attorney General promptly responded to these demands, leading to a contentious situation unfolding in Columbia, Missouri. The woman’s membership at the gym, her identification, and subsequent encounters have ignited a debate around gender rights and discrimination. The situation has escalated to involve law enforcement and potential legal repercussions, making it a focal point of political and social contention in the state.
Australia Braces for Unseasonable Rain and Subzero Temperatures
One side of Australia is expected to be hit by unseasonable rainfall while residents on the other side shiver through subzero temperatures. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned residents in Western Australia to prepare for unseasonable rainfall over the weekend. It’s not very typical for this time of year to see rainfall, it’s normally their dry season, senior meteorologist Jonathan How said. The system is set to move east into Central Australia over the weekend, bringing heavier rain to southern parts of the Northern Territory and northern parts of South Australia. Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines earlier said the rainfall would be widespread with some areas receiving 20, 30 or 40mm of rain. When that amount of rain falls in normally dry areas in Central Australia, it can certainly have some impact, particularly on travel and transportation, he said. A lot of these outback roads in these parts of the country are dirt roads, so it doesn’t take that much wet weather before they become muddy and in some cases impassable. We could see road closures over the weekend but there is still a little bit of uncertainty, there is not complete clarity as to how this will play out. But we do expect to see rain through this part of the country on Saturday and in particular on Sunday. The rain is expected to amplify as it moves east across Central Australia over the weekend, and will potentially intensify when it hits the eastern states next week. Temperatures dipped as low as -8C across Australia on Saturday morning. We had another cold start this morning particularly across Eastern Australia, Mr Hines said. Canberra got down to -5.6C, while Cooma in the Snowy Mountains dropped to -8.4C, taking out the spot for the coldest place in the country on Saturday morning. We have seen very cold temperatures right up through northern NSW and into south east Queensland again this morning, and have seen a bit of fog around the Adelaide metro, Mr How said. Generally quite cold, you can kind of continuation on from what we’ve seen through the week with those cold mornings. The good thing about cold mornings today does mean sunny days. Much of NSW, Queensland, northern Victoria and Canberra are set to see sunny skies on Saturday. In terms of sort of the rest of the weekend, we are expecting pretty settled conditions for Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, Mr How said. A high pressure system over Australia is generating quite calm and dry conditions — plenty of sunshine if you’re living on the coast, so a pretty good day to get out. Sydney is in for a mostly sunny weekend with a top of 19C across Saturday and Sunday. Melbourne is set to be partly cloudy with a chance of showers, with a top of 15 across the weekend. Brisbane will also see some sun with a top of 23C and light winds. Perth will be mostly sunny with a max of 19C, and is also set to get some light winds. Adelaide is expected to hit a top of 16C with some sun on Saturday, however while Sunday is set for a top of 17C there is a chance of showers. Hobart is set to have a chance of showers across the weekend and a top of 14C, while Canberra is also set for some sun and tops of 14C. The territory is expected to drop to minimum temperatures of -3C on Sunday. Darwin is set to be mostly sunny with a top of 32C this weekend.
Dropbox Co-Founder Seeks Arbitration for $225M JPMorgan Damages
A billionaire co-founder of the file-sharing platform Dropbox has requested a California federal court to allow him to take a JPMorgan wealth management unit to arbitration for over $225 million in damages he claims he suffered due to an investment adviser who previously worked for units of First Republic Bank that JPMorgan acquired last year…
Donald Trump Slams Google Over Censorship Allegations: Latest Updates, US
Former US president Donald Trump has lashed out at Google over reports that it was censoring news and photos of the Republican presidential candidate.
Google has been very bad. They’ve been very irresponsible and I have a feeling that Google is going to be close to shut down because I don’t think Congress is going to take it. I really don’t think so. Google has to be careful, Trump told Fox News in an interview.
Early this week, Trump alleged that it was virtually impossible to find pictures or anything about the failed assassination bid on him on July 13 on Google. Google, however, denied those allegations.
Over the past few days, some people on X have posted claims that search is ‘censoring’ or ‘banning’ particular terms. That’s not happening, and we want to set the record straight. The posts relate to our Autocomplete feature, which predicts queries to save you time. Autocomplete, it said in a social media post.
Google said autocomplete wasn’t providing predictions for queries about the assassination attempt against former President Trump. That’s because it has built-in protections related to political violence — and those systems were out of date. After the horrific events in Butler, Pennsylvania, those predicted queries should have appeared but didn’t, it said.
Once the issue was flagged, we started working on improvements, and they’re already rolling out, it said.
Secondly, people posted about how Autocomplete wasn’t showing relevant predictions for ‘President Donald’. This particular issue was a bug that spanned the political spectrum, also affecting queries for several past presidents, such as former President Obama, as you can see in the attached image. Typing ‘vice president k’ was also showing no predictions. We’ve made an update that has improved these predictions across the board, it said.
Some people, it said, also posted that searches for Donald Trump returned news stories related to Kamala Harris. These labels are automatically generated based on related news topics, and they change over time.
They span the political spectrum as well: For example, a search for ‘Kamala Harris’ showed Top Stories labelled with ‘Donald Trump’, because many articles cover the two of them together. You can see this happening across a range of topics, like the Olympics, other public figures, companies, and more. Our goal is to help people get relevant results for their query, Google said.
Overall, these types of prediction and labelling systems are algorithmic, it said.
While our systems work very well most of the time, you can find predictions that may be unexpected or imperfect, and bugs will occur. Many platforms, including the one we’re posting on now, will show strange or incomplete predictions at various times. For our part, when issues come up, we will make improvements so you can find what you’re looking for, quickly and easily. We appreciate the feedback, it explained.
