Aggregator

Three high security prisons have gifted animals (pictured, file photo) to inmates as a reward for good behaviour, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed.

It was the end of GCSEs, and Amy Clark was celebrating with friends when she tumbled off a fence she had been sitting on and landed badly on her back.

Colleagues were shocked after it emerged Mr Lowe - now sitting as an independent MP - asked his gamekeeper to shoot 17-year-old Cromwell in the back of the head at his Gloucestershire estate.

NATHAN SALT AT STADION ANTONA MALATINSKEHO: A large mass came together as tempers flared but team-mates and officials worked to keep any handbags to a minimum.

The singer, 40, who surprised fans by appearing in a TikTok in March, has reportedly reunited with ex-Suede musician Bernard Butler, who was the producer of her debut album in 2008.

It's not as busy as some of the more well-known Essex beaches

The Prime Minister said that Tehran's atomic programme was 'a grave threat to international security' after bombers dropped 30,000-pound 'bunker buster' bombs on the Fordow nuclear facility.

Police are growing 'increasingly concerned' about her welfare as she remains missing

The education-news site EdSurge published "sponsored content" from Minecraft Education this month. "Students light up when they create something meaningful," the article begins. "Self-expression fuels learning, and creativity lies at the heart of the human experience." But they also argue that "As AI rapidly reshapes software development, computer science education must move beyond syntax drills and algorithmic repetition." Students "must also learn to think systemically..." As AI automates many of the mechanical aspects of programming, the value of CS education is shifting, from writing perfect code to shaping systems, telling stories through logic and designing ethical, human-centered solutions... [I]t's critical to offer computer science experiences that foster invention, expression and design. This isn't just an education issue — it's a workforce one. Creativity now ranks among the top skills employers seek, alongside analytical thinking and AI literacy. As automation reshapes the job market, McKinsey estimates up to 375 million workers may need to change occupations by 2030. The takeaway? We need more adaptable, creative thinkers. Creative coding, where programming becomes a medium for self-expression and innovation, offers a promising solution to this disconnect. By positioning code as a creative tool, educators can tap into students' intrinsic motivation while simultaneously building computational thinking skills. This approach helps students see themselves as creators, not just consumers, of technology. It aligns with digital literacy frameworks that emphasize critical evaluation, meaningful contribution and not just technical skills. One example of creative coding comes from a curriculum that introduces computer science through game design and storytelling in Minecraft... Developed by Urban Arts in collaboration with Minecraft Education, the program offers middle school teachers professional development, ongoing coaching and a 72-session curriculum built around game-based instruction. Designed for grades 6-8, the project-based program is beginner-friendly; no prior programming experience is required for teachers or students. It blends storytelling, collaborative design and foundational programming skills with a focus on creativity and equity.... Students use Minecraft to build interactive narratives and simulations, developing computational thinking and creative design... Early results are promising: 93 percent of surveyed teachers found the Creative Coders program engaging and effective, noting gains in problem-solving, storytelling and coding, as well as growth in critical thinking, creativity and resilience. As AI tools like GitHub Copilot become standard in development workflows, the definition of programming proficiency is evolving. Skills like prompt engineering, systems thinking and ethical oversight are rising in importance, precisely what creative coding develops... As AI continues to automate routine tasks, students must be able to guide systems, understand logic and collaborate with intelligent tools. Creative coding introduces these capabilities in ways that are accessible, culturally relevant and engaging for today's learners. Some background from long-time Slashdot reader theodp: The Urban Arts and Microsoft Creative Coders program touted by EdSurge in its advertorial was funded by a $4 million Education Innovation and Research grant that was awarded to Urban Arts in 2023 by the U.S. Education Department "to create an engaging, game-based, middle school CS course using Minecraft tools" for 3,450 middle schoolers (6th-8th grades)" in New York and California (Urban Arts credited Minecraft for helping craft the winning proposal)... New York City is a Minecraft Education believer — the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment recently kicked off summer with the inaugural NYC Video Game Festival, which included the annual citywide Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs Esports Competition in partnership with NYC Public Schools.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The dog unit were deployed and tracked suspects from Thurrock to Tilbury

George and his girlfriend, Lolly, could not contain how much they loved the place

It struggles to imagine women as investors. When asked to create images of investors, artificial intelligence tools overwhelmingly depicted men.

There are two very different faces to Roksana Lecka. Photos posted by her family on social media portray her as a loving, caring young woman who helped raise her siblings.

Others say they are 'obsessed' with it

In the wake on America's attack on Iranian nuclear sites Saturday, US military leaders are telling their troops to prepare for potential retaliatory attacks.

The US raked in astonishing figures from import duties in April and May as Donald Trump's tariffs began to kick in. 

"A single infusion of a stem cell-based treatment may have cured 10 out of 12 people with the most severe form of Type 1 diabetes," reports the New York Times. "One year later, these 10 patients no longer need insulin. The other two patients need much lower doses." The experimental treatment, called zimislecel and made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals of Boston, involves stem cells that scientists prodded to turn into pancreatic islet cells, which regulate blood glucose levels. The new islet cells were infused and reached the pancreas, where they took up residence. The study was presented Friday evening at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association and published online by The New England Journal of Medicine... Patients in the study began to need less insulin within a few months of being infused with new islet cells, and most stopped needing the hormone altogether at about six months [said Dr. Trevor Reichman, director of the pancreas and islet transplant program at University Health Network, a hospital in Toronto, and first author of the study]. He added that patients' episodes of hypoglycemia went away within the first 90 days of treatment. If the study continues to show positive results, the company expects to submit an application to the FDA next year. "For the short term, this looks promising" for severely affected patients like those in the study," said Dr. Irl B. Hirsch, a diabetes expert at the University of Washington who was not involved in the study. But patients in the trial had to stay on drugs to prevent the immune system from destroying the new cells. Suppressing the immune system, he said, increases the risk of infections and, over the long term, can increase the risk of cancer... Patients may have to take the immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives, the Vertex spokesperson said.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The Gazette took to the streets to ask residents what they thought of the controversial move of skirt ban in Essex schools.

As Wivenhoe continues to shine on national lists of the best places to live, residents shared what they love most about the town they call home.

On Saturday morning six of the B-2 stealth bombers docked at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri were on the move to Andersen Air Force Base.