Amazon’s Alexa has become pro-active and switched off lights without being asked, the online retail giant has said. Dave Limp, senior vice president of devices and services, told The Telegraph the virtual assistant was learning to pre-empt its customers’ needs. For instance, if you turn off your lights 10 days in a row then you go on holiday and forget to do it, Alexa will switch them off for you.
Puppy digs up £6k of coins
A family’s new puppy is “already worth its weight in gold” after it dug up sovereign coins worth thousands of pounds on his first walk, The Times reported. Adam Clark and his partner Kim Mcguire bought Ollie, a lagotto romagnolo, last month. He dug up 15 gold sovereign pieces, thought to date back to the 19th century, during the walk near Blackpool. They have been valued at £5,943.96.
Wrexham owner gives urinal as present
Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds has gifted a commemorative urinal to his Wrexham FC co-owner Rob McElhenney, reported Sky News. Reynolds posted a video on Twitter of himself in the toilet as he wished McElhenney a happy 45th birthday. He said: “Today we commemorate a man, not just any man, Mr Co-Chairman Robert Lucinda McElhenney, with this memorial urinal.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Delhi's dogs earn Supreme Court reprieveIN THE SPOTLIGHT After an outcry from the public and animal rights activists, India's Supreme Court walks back a controversial plan to round the city's stray dog population into shelters
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
