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All-New ROG XBOX Ally X20 Bundle Raises the Bar for Gaming Handhelds
Discover the all-new ROG XBOX Ally X20 Bundle with a stunning 7.4" OLED Nebula HDR display, AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, and ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 AR Glasses. Celebrate 20 years of ROG with the ultimate portable gaming setup.
All-New ROG XBOX Ally X20 Bundle Raises the Bar for Gaming Handhelds
Discover the all-new ROG XBOX Ally X20 Bundle with a stunning 7.4" OLED Nebula HDR display, AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, and ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 AR Glasses. Celebrate 20 years of ROG with the ultimate portable gaming setup.
Asus gives the ROX Xbox Ally the OLED screen it deserves
But the hardware refresh is tethered to a bundle with pricey AR glasses.
Latest Apple Glasses leak has me way more excited for the product
Apple’s planned strategy for Apple Glasses was detailed in a new report, and it has me way more excited for the product.
Apple's Smart Glasses Reportedly Delayed Until Late 2027
Still, the glasses are regarded by company leadership as a top priority, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writes.
ASUS' ROG Xbox Ally X20 bundle includes a limited-edition OLED Ally X handheld PC and AR gaming glasses
ASUS' new ROG Xbox Ally X20 has mostly the same hardware as last year's handheld, but now comes with a new OLED panel.
Businesses boost Braddock with relocation in Free Press Building
A glass-restoration business and a pay-what-you-can gym are taking over space vacated by long-term tenant Studebaker Metals.
This strange crystal acts like metal and glass at the same time
A remarkable crystal called molybdenum oxychloride could help make futuristic technologies like smart contact lenses and ultrathin AR glasses a reality. Scientists have created the first detailed experimental map of its optical properties, revealing the strongest light-bending effect ever measured in a natural material. The crystal can act either like a reflective metal or transparent glass, allowing it to manipulate light with extraordinary efficiency while being thousands of times thinner than a human hair.
Apple's Smart Glasses Reportedly Delayed Until Late 2027
Still, the glasses are regarded by company leadership as a top priority, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writes.
Apple Is Officially Coming for Meta’s Privacy-Invading Lunch With Its Own Smart Glasses in Late 2027
Look forward to the tech giant's long-rumored wearables to be recording you without your knowledge or consent some time later next year.
Apple Glasses Reportedly Launching in 'Late 2027' With These Features
Apple is now aiming to release its first smart glasses in "late 2027," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Meta Ray-Bans He previously said that Apple planned to begin shipping the glasses by early 2027, but he said the product has faced development delays. The glasses will feature "oval-shaped cameras, unique colors, and multiple frame styles," according to Gurman.
Apple destroyed the mid-tier watch market. Now it’s coming for the $200 billion eyewear industry.
Swatch revenue fell 28% and Fossil's dropped 70% after the Apple Watch launched. Apple is planning the same playbook for glasses, targeting a late 2027 launch.
Apple Seeks to Disrupt the Glasses Market the Way It Did With Watches
Also: The latest on iOS 27, iOS 28, new Apple TV and HomePod mini.
Meet Google's New Screenless Gemini Smart Glasses
Discover Google's new audio-only smart glasses, offering all-day battery life, cross-platform compatibility, and advanced Gemini AI features.
Houston Rockets Reveal Ambitious Toyota Center Transformation
A $180 million renovation will modernize the franchise's home with upscale suites and a glass atrium, aligning the arena’s evolution with the team’s aggressive championship pursuit.
Red Wing business owner facing drug charges
A search warranted carried out at Red Wing Glass Friday morning resulted in police finding nearly five pounds of suspected methamphetamine and a large amount of cash.
"We're determined to win justice for the 31 fired workers" - Rockstar Games workers publicly launch union, as legal battle with the GTA 6 maker rages on
Developers at GTA 6 maker Rockstar Games have announced a union known as the Rockstar Game Workers Union, a subsidiary of the IWGB.
Apple Seeds First Public Betas of iOS 26.6, macOS Tahoe 26.6 and More
Apple today provided public beta testers with the first betas of iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, macOS Tahoe 26.6, watchOS 26.6, and tvOS 26.6, with the software coming two days after Apple seeded the betas to developers. After signing up to beta test the software updates on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the new software using the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device.
Google is bringing Gemini to smart glasses, and they come with one big advantage
During the Google I/O 2026 keynote, the company announced a major expansion of the Android XR platform, unveiling a new line of "Intelligent Eyewear." Built in collaboration with Samsung and...
Xreal launches a cheaper AR glasses brand, starting with the $299 a01
Called X by Xreal (or XBX), its first product are the $299 a01 display glasses.
Apple working on iPhone anti-snatching feature that locks the device automatically
Apple is working on a new iPhone security feature that can automatically lock the device when it detects that it has been snatched from the user’s hand.
Apple Seeds First iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 Betas to Developers
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after Apple released iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. With the debut of iOS 27 approaching in early June, Apple is wrapping up work on iOS 26.
The Lotus Emira 420 Sport Adds Power And Cuts Weight
It also gains a removable glass roof panel.
Raise a glass: Ohio debuts Hard Cider Trail
Those 21 and older can pick up the Ohio Hard Cider Trail passport at more than a dozen participating cideries.
Why Some Phone Manufacturers Stopped Using Gorilla Glass
Not every phone manufacturer is sticking with Gorilla Glass. Some are developing in-house alternatives, and their explanations vary by brand.
Xreal, Google's smartglasses partner, thinks it has finally mastered this notoriously tricky industry
Chi Xu, the founder and CEO of XREAL, thinks the smart glasses business has finally reached a turning point.
AOC tells New Yorkers to ‘pull up’ to Alabama during rally speech behind bulletproof glass
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sparks controversy with fiery Alabama rally speech urging northern progressives to "pull up" to southern red states.
Apple registers new 'gen AI' subdomain ahead of next month's WWDC keynote
Apple has just registered a new subdomain record ahead of WWDC: genai.apple.com. All signs point to WWDC 2026 being Apple’s...
The Asian workers keeping Greenland in business
Marinel Garciano dislikes winter, and that's tough when it lasts nine months in Ilulissat, Greenland.But behind the glass there was no greenery -- just the pristine white of a blizzard enveloping the ...
We tried Google’s AI glasses and they’re almost there
Google demoed prototype Android XR glasses that overlay Gemini-powered translation, navigation, and other information directly into your field of view.
Snap's AR Glasses May Launch Soon With a Jaw-Dropping Pricing
Making full-fledged AR glasses isn't cheap, nor will they be cheap to purchase.
Glenny Glass Company celebrates 175 years of business
The company has come a long way since the horse and carriage.
Editorial: Glass City fund spurs business
The latest rollout of the Kapszukiewicz administration’s Vibrancy Initiative grants is a hopeful sign for small-business development in the older areas of ...
Ancient chemistry trick unlocks new type of glass that traps CO2 and hydrogen
Researchers have discovered how to fine-tune a futuristic type of porous glass that can trap gases like CO2 and hydrogen. Inspired by centuries-old glassmaking techniques, the team added sodium and lithium compounds to make the material easier to process and shape. The breakthrough could accelerate the development of high-performance materials for clean energy, gas storage, and advanced manufacturing.
Snap Specs True AR Glasses Reportedly Launch This Fall For Around $2500
The Snap Specs standalone true AR glasses will launch this fall, veteran tech journalist Alex Heath reports, priced around $2500.
Google's Smart Glasses Plan To One-Up Meta's Ray-Bans With These 4 New Features
Google's new smart glasses will have screens, more capable AI features, better audio, and the smart glasses will also connect to a smartwatch, not just a phone.
Xreal Project Aura crams a whole VR headset into a pair of smart glasses, and it's exactly what Android XR was made for
With a phone-sized pocket puck and a sleek appearance, these are the Android XR smart glasses we've been waiting for.
Philip Glass, turning 90, gets tribute from Taylor Mac, Lucinda Childs
Taylor Mac and Lucinda Childs honored Philip Glass and his work with poets during a special performance, one of several celebrations ahead of the composer's upcoming 90th birthday.
It Feels Like Google Is Downplaying Smart Glasses With a Screen in Them
Probably for the best if it's trying to avoid comparisons to Google Glass.
Xreal's Project Aura smartglasses are a maximalist take on Android XR
At Google I/O 2026, we took a closer look at Xreal's Project Aura, one of the first Android XR smart glasses.
Google, Samsung Offer First Look at Android XR Smart Glasses. Here's What You Get, and What's Missing
In partnership with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, Samsung will launch Google-based 'audio glasses' this fall. At I/O, XReal also offered a first public look at its Aura glasses.
Omni, Pics, and a Big Search Overhaul: Everything You Missed at Google I/O 2026
Google's Tuesday I/O keynote was jam-packed with news about AI, AI, and more AI, from agentic AI in search and Gemini enhancements to details about the Google-Samsung smart glasses.
Students win statewide Frederick Douglass debate tournament
Slippery Rock University is championing multicultural education through competition. Four SRU students earned first place in the statewide Frederick Douglass Institute Collaborative conference and debate…
Google and Samsung launch AI-powered Intelligent Eyewear
Google and Samsung have entered the smart glasses market with Intelligent Eyewear, made with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.
Allison Melganton of Penske Entertainment and Indiana Sports Corp. through the years
Allison Melganton of Penske Entertainment and Indiana Sports Corp. through the years
Allison Melganton of Penske Entertainment and Indiana Sports Corp. through the years
Allison Melganton of Penske Entertainment and Indiana Sports Corp. through the years
Start of Elland Road redevelopment 'unbelievably exciting'
No sooner had the empty beer bottles and wine glasses been swept up by the catering staff after ushering the corporate ticket holders from the Norman Hunter, Lucas Radebe and Billy Bremner Suites after heartily celebrating Dominic Calvert-Lewin's late winner against Brighton on Sunday, work began on Elland Road's John Charles Stand. It served as a reminder that Leeds are already a competitive force in a Premier League in which they are assured of another campaign. Vital to the project is the provision of either a light rail or tram from Leeds city centre with a stop at Elland Road and then on to the White Rose area.
Google announces glasses are back and search is getting an AI makeover
At annual I/O conference, company debuts a product for everyday consumers to create autonomous AI agents
Google and Xreal's 'Project Aura' XR Smart Glasses Are Legit
The spatial computing experience isn't as immersive as an XR headset, but maybe it doesn't need to be.
Alleged unsafe conditions | Lancaster County woman suing Hershey Entertainment and Resorts
A Lancaster County woman is suing Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, claiming she was injured when a glass panel fell on her during a Hershey Bears game.
One of America’s oldest beer brands discontinued after 177 years in US
Schlitz Premium, the Milwaukee-born lager that once dominated the U.S. brewing industry, is being discontinued after more than 175 years.
Google's First AI Smart Glasses Launching This Fall With iPhone Support
Google today said that its first "intelligent eyewear" product is set to launch this fall. It is teaming up with Samsung and eyewear manufacturers Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to launch new AI audio glasses. The glasses will run Android XR, which is Google's platform for smart glasses and AR/VR headsets. There are cameras, speakers, and microphones in the glasses, but there is no display in the lenses.
Google to release smart glasses and add AI ‘agents’ to search engine
CEO Sundar Pichai says features powered by new Gemini model will close gap with Anthropic and OpenAI
Everything Announced at Google I/O 2026: Gemini, Search, Smart Glasses
Google is sprucing up its Gemini models, revamping search, and enabling AI agents in everything. There are also some spiffy new smart glasses coming this fall.
Google and Samsung’s Android XR glasses will have multiple ‘disruptive’ and ‘timeless’ styles
Google and Samsung have officially teased their first pair of Android XR glasses, with the first batch of styles launch in Fall 2026.
Google takes a page out of Meta's book, announces new audio-powered smart glasses
Google is back in the glasses game with "audio glasses" out this fall.
Google, Samsung unveil Android XR smart glasses at Google I/O 2026
Billed as "intelligent eyewear," the upcoming smart glasses are expected to arrive later this year.
XREAL’s Android XR glasses will launch before the end of 2026, early access for devs
Alongside other Android XR announcements at Google I/O 2026, XREAL has confirmed that its Project Aura glasses will be launching...
First AR Glasses Running Android XR Confirmed for 2026 Launch
XREAL today confirmed it’s launching Project Aura sometime this year, making them the first pair of AR glasses running Google’s Android XR operating system. Xreal and Google showcased Project Aura at Google I/O today, further confirming the wired AR glasses are set to launch globally in 2026. On stage, Project Aura was shown off running […]
Google and Samsung Reveal Designs of Upcoming Smart Glasses
The companies are collaborating with eyewear makers Warby Parker and Gentle Monster
First Batch of Android XR Smart Glasses Launch This Fall
Exactly one year ago today, Google announced that it was building Android XR smart glasses with the help of Samsung, in partnership with brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The same thing is...
A first (and second) look at the Android XR glasses launching this year
Three!! Android XR!!! glasses!!! this year!!!
John Travolta Explains His New Look at the Cannes Film Festival: ‘I’m Going to Play the Part’
John Travolta was in costume at the Cannes Film Festival. The Hollywood icon, 72, raised eyebrows wearing round glasses and a series of jaunty berets while in France to promote his directorial debut, ...
The art of science on display at Analog Wine Bar
The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology’s Art of Science program has a new show up at Analog Wine Bar, and it’s one of those quiet, sneaky-smart exhibits that rewards a second glass and ...
From ‘ghost sharks’ to ‘death ball’ sponges: Scientists find more than 1,100 wild and unusual ocean species
The Ocean Census project says scientists have discovered 1,121 previously unknown species in a single year. The rush is on to save them as risks to the world’s oceans multiply
I wear Meta Glasses so I don't have to think — You won't either with this smart deal
I was skeptical at first, now these glasses turned into my everyday personal assistant.
This Week In Main Street Technology: Meta’s New AI Glasses, Google Introduces The Googlebook And Claude Has A Small Business Offering
Meta Ray-Bans, Google's Googlebook, Claude For Small Business and other news impacting your small business this week.
Why Teams Don’t Just Lose—They Change
Today’s guest column is from professors John Cairney and Rick Burton. With spring here, we thought we’d look at what sports leaders can learn from fishing—or more accurately, from a particular fish, a glass wall and what happens when the environment thwarts an organization’s best attempts to reach a goal To borrow from behavioral science, …
Meta’s Ray-Ban Display gets typing through air gestures in latest update
Perhaps more important still, Meta is opening up the device to third-party app development. The Ray-Ban Display – Meta’s flagship smart wearable glasses –...
Meta braces for Android XR, opens Ray-Ban Display glasses to third-party apps
Meta is opening the door to third-party apps on Ray-Ban Display glasses as the debut of Android XR is right around the corner.
The ROG Xreal R1 AR Gaming Glasses Are Now Available To Pre-Order For $849
They offer a 240Hz refresh rate and a bundled connectivity dock.
Chartbook 449: Voldemort on Threadneedle street. The Bank of England and the "haunted house" of English politics.
Imagine the scene: In some Harry Potter version of 21st-century London, a group of deathless UK Treasury officials gathered from across the last century huddle over warm pints and glasses of Chardonnay. Around the table there are officials from the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s, 2022 and today. Inevitably, in May 2026, the subject of conversation is the disintegration of the current Labour government. Despite its huge majority in parliament, it has been reduced to tatters by catastrophic local election result. These exposed the fact that rather than having a government with a clear popular majority, the UK is like most other modern societies divided into 5 segments each of which commands between 26 and 16 percent of the vote. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leadership at Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street - where the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (Treasury Secretary) work - seem paralyzed. They are caught between mounting discontent over unfairness and the cost of living, and tough fiscal strictures that push them into making unpopular spending decisions. In the London pub, the Treasury officials from across the ages, can barely hide their satisfaction at the latest display of democratic politics caught in the vice-grip of financial logic. “Remember the mur d’argent and the banker’s ramp?” “Just like yesterday!” There are smirks around the table. Then the representative of 2026 pipes up: “One thing you have to say about the current lot (referring to the latest hapless Labour government), you don’t have to teach them about the bond market!” There is a murmur of ascent from the Treasury Mandarins. The trauma of the fiscal crisis of September-October 2022 sits deep. Back then, in the final stages of Tory decay, a ‘mini budget’ that challenged fiscal orthodoxy led to a brief but fierce panic in one of the oldest government bond markets in the world (aka gilt market). Now all you have to do is to mention the “bond market” to hush debate. [ Paul Mason@paulmasonnews In the name of public service, and as ex-economics editor of BBC Newsnight, I offer to do a zoom call, tonight, with any Labour MP who wants to understand why bond markets do not "fall into line" with governments. 1/ 3:57 PM · May 12, 2026 · 466K Views 224 Replies · 674 Reposts · 3.93K Likes ](https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2054229532404519082?s=20) “And the funny thing is”, the young man in the huddle continues, “they don’t even want to talk about … ”. There is a sudden hush. Significant looks are exchanged around the table. About? One of the senior figures puts down his glass with a decisive “clink”. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has entered their thoughts. Meanwhile, a few miles away in a grubby pub in Bloomsbury, two conspirators from the camp of Critical Macrofinance huddle over cans of low-alcohol IPA. They look at each other and blurt out loud: “The Bank!” “Everyone in the bloody Labour party is talking about the bond market. But why aren’t they even mentioning … the Bank of England!?” “Why is no one talking about Voldemort?” In Paul Mason’s blogpost, after much chest-thumping about basic fiscal logic, the basic point about the Bank of England is buried in the fine print at #3 in his list of suggestions as to what a radical Labour government might actually be able to do! [ Conflict & Democracy Down with the bond market! Down with gravity! It may seem unfair to focus on Labour MP Paula Barker for her off-the-cuff assertion that the bond market would have to “fall in line” with Andy Burnham, should he replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. But Burnham himself told the New Statesman that Labour had to “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets… Read more 2 days ago · 100 likes · 3 comments · Paul Mason ](https://htsf.substack.com/p/down-with-the-bond-market-down-with?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Back in Bloomsbury they shake their heads and ask: “Didn’t we learn anything from the Eurozone crisis?” Meanwhile, as if summoned to the conversation by some higher force, the “pink pages” announce: “The days of ultra-cheap government borrowing have come to an end” and Martin “Whizzard” Wolf publishes the graph of the season Look at the UK in 2026, perilously positioned on the upper edge of the pack. No wonder no one in London needs any lessons about the “bond market”. But, look again. Imagine how they feel in Rome. What is London’s nightmare in 2026? The nightmare is that you end up like Italy in the early 2010s during the Eurozone crisis. Once comfortably situated in the middle of the pack, watching with horror as your ten-year yields explode to 7 percent and “spreads” become a national nightmare. One of the largest economies in Europe, a founding member of the euro, stigmatized. But the message of the Italian experience is ambiguous. After all, the stigma didn’t last. In 2026, Italy borrows at rates lower not only than the UK but the US. The US, which, as everyone knows, enjoys the “exorbitant privilege” of being the issuer of reserve, safe asets. What kind of magic is this? How did Italy, in the space of fifteen years, go from being good, to bad and back again? Which brings us back to our dissident friends in their Bloombury boozer and their memories of the Eurozone crisis. Italy never was Britain - with its ongoing fiscal deficits. Without interest payments, on primary balance, from 2000 to 2020 Italy ran a tight fiscal ship. Even in 2008 it barely went into deficit and when it was being put on the rack in the early 20210s its primary surplus matched that of austere Germany. So, what happened? How did it end up stigmatized? Of course Italian politics didn’t help. Berlusconi was at the helm and he had legal issues. But amongst friends in the Bloomsbury pub, Berlusconi is a sideshow, the name we whisper to each other is “Trichet”. From 2004 to 2011 the ECB was headed by Jean-Claude Trichet, ex of the French Treasury, more German than the Germans. After 2009 as the news of the Greek fiscal disaster broke, the European bond markets wento into panic mode and Trichet began a brutal game of cat and mouse. Between 2009 and 2011, Trichet intervened in the bond market to help, only when he thought he had compliance with austerity. When he thought they were uncooperative, he withdrew. In the summer of 2011, he even made direct suggestions to his Italian counterparts in Rome, as to how Italy should be governed. It was this cat and mouse game that drove the bond markets crazy and exposed Italy to a violent squeeze. When Mario Draghi took over the ECB at the end of 2011 and declared “whatever it takes”, the pressure on Italy, gradually eased. It is that starring role that has made Draghi into the towering figure in European politics that he remains today. So now you see why voices in London hush when it comes to the Bank of England. “The bond market” isn’t an irresistible objective force like the weather or an avalanche. It can appear like that. But that depends on the way it is being handled, or not handled by the central bank. Which is why the silence about the Bank of England in London right now is so significant. If you think this all sounds a bit fishy, coming from a left-liberal Keynesian like myself, well, let me introduce you to Robin Brooks, who, to put it mildly, plays on a different quidditch team to me. Here, from the position of a fiscal hawk is Robin’s celebratory account of the Bank of England’s role since 2022; In October 2022, at the height of the bond market blow-up in the UK, something incredible happened. Governor Andrew Bailey told British pension funds the Bank of England would end its support program for the country’s fragile gilt market, drawing a line under how much help the central bank was willing to give to exposed pension funds and - implicitly - the government. By the end of that week, Kwasi Kwarteng - the finance minister - had resigned. Prime Minister Liz Truss would soon follow. This episode is so incredible because it contrasts with what happened in the Euro zone earlier that year. Bond markets in Spain and Italy were under pressure amid high inflation and rising interest rates. In the middle of this, Mario Draghi - Italy’s Prime Minister - resigned, compounding pressure on bond markets of high-debt countries on the Euro periphery. Unlike the Bank of England, the ECB caved. It bought Italian and Spanish government bonds in an effort to cap yields and introduced a new tool that signaled to markets it might do such caps more frequently going forward. Faced with pressure on bond markets, the ECB capitulated to political pressure from high-debt countries like Italy and Spain. The Bank of England stood its ground and toppled the Truss government. This kind of thing has long-lasting consequences. It means markets price a higher probability of yield caps in the Euro zone, which keeps Italian and Spanish yields artificially low, while markets feel free to push up UK yields without fear of central bank intervention. As I flagged in yesterday’s post, this means you really can’t compare UK yields to those of other high-debt countries. The UK looks worse, but only because its central bank isn’t interfering with markets. There’s more to this than just that 2022 episode. The Bank of England has also been much more aggressive in its quantitative tightening (QT) than other central banks. If one motivation for quantitative easing (QE) is to lower bond yields - especially longer-dated ones - then it stands to reason QT pushes yields up. The left chart above shows a four-quarter moving average of UK government debt issuance (black line) in percent of GDP and which sectors absorb this issuance, including the Bank of England (blue bars). The right chart above compares the Bank of England’s accumulation or run-off of government bonds (blue line) with that of other central banks, where this blue line is the same as the blue bars in the left chart. The Bank of England was quicker and more aggressive than other central banks in downsizing its bond holdings, so UK yields will have risen more than elsewhere also for this reason, not just because of Governor Andrew Bailey’s remarks in October 2022. Back in October 2025, after a conversation in New York with friends in British politics, my sense of dysphoria was such that I raised the issue of the Bank of England openly in the FT Since 2008, the UK has slid into a deep economic and political predicament. Growth has stagnated to a degree far worse even than in the 1970s. The Tory leadership’s wager on the Brexit referendum spectacularly backfired, leaving the UK isolated from Europe and at the mercy of its special relationship with the US, many of whose political class regard the UK as a basket case. After years of austerity, the Labour party lurched to the left and then back to the centre. The Tory party has been eclipsed by the populist nationalism of Reform. Any British government should be worrying first and foremost about how to restart growth. Instead, Keir Starmer is beset by shades of the gilt market panic triggered by the Liz Truss government in 2022. The debt level is higher than in recent years, but there is no cause for panic. UK debt is at far from critical levels and of long duration. Whether you want to “take back control” or launch progressive economic policy, a democracy dogged by fear of bond market vigilantes is unhealthy. In a country that is a monetary sovereign, this climate points to one thing: a disconnect between the government and the central bank. Since 1997, the independence of the Bank of England has become a sacred cow. But independence is what you make of it. And in the wake of the gilt market crisis of September 2022, relations between the Bank of England and the UK government need a reset. In normal times, there is no doubt that an inflation-targeting independent central bank can serve a country well. But since 2008, the UK and other advanced economies have not had the luxury of such simple problems. To their credit, central bankers around the world have not stood on orthodoxy. After 2008, the US Federal Reserve rescued the global banking system and, through quantitative easing, it stabilised the Treasury market in the face of huge deficits. In Europe, things were trickier. Both the Bank of England under Mervyn King and Jean-Claude Trichet’s European Central Bank played cat and mouse with national governments. This was a high stakes wager that between 2010 and 2012 escalated bond market tension and triggered a disastrous turn to austerity. Shaken by the impact of those shocks, their successors, Mark Carney and Mario Draghi adopted a more protective stance (assuming you were not the government of Greece). Recall that Draghi’s legendary slogan, “Whatever it takes”, was uttered to face down the City of London’s bond vigilantes. In 2015, Draghi launched QE — financial repression by another name. In 2016, Carney used the authority of the Bank of England to stabilise markets following the vote for Brexit, an exemplary demonstration of how central banks can underpin democratic choice, even when those choices are wrong headed. All these were independent central bankers steeped in the best practice of the 1990s, who recognised that historic crises demanded radical action. It was the price surge of 2021-2023 that poisoned the atmosphere. Though the shock came mainly from the supply side, central banks ended up in the dock. Nowhere more so than in the UK. The Bank of England reacted with aggressive normalisation. Faced with a cost of living crisis, the governor called for workers to accept real wage cuts. In early 2022, as gas prices were at record levels and Russia’s army was poised to invade Ukraine, the Bank adopted a stringent programme of quantitative tightening, elevating interest rates. When the Truss government got itself in trouble, the Bank took almost a week to come to the rescue. Rather than enacting a charade of normality, it is time to recognise that in 2025 the UK faces a period of historic transition. To meet this challenge, what is needed is a new concordat with the Bank. This should not ignore inflationary pressures or the long-run trajectory of debt, but should affirm the priority of reviving investment-led growth. One could follow Donald Trump in demanding interest rate cuts. The Bank could shadow the ECB in its commitment to capping Eurozone yields. But the top priority should be to lay the ghost of September 2022. The Bank’s slowing of QT last month was a concession. An immediate and complete end would send the right signal. Such a concordat will not by itself restore sanity to politics, solve the housing problem or rebuild the NHS. But it would help to lift the fear of bond market crisis, which is paralysing the effort by democratic politicians to answer the fundamental questions facing the nation. Now, that call for a new concordat between government and Bank of Englands seems more urgent than ever. The problem is that in October 2025, Starmer still had some authority. Today the government is in tatters. And when you are the “under the harrow” - to echo a phrase of Montagu Norman’s from the 1920s - it is the worst possible time to consider institutional change. To make general arguments at a time of crisis can only seem like special pleading rather than a general argument for long-term change. The same, unfortunately, is also true for the other basic institutional reform that Britain urgently needs i.e. the abolition of the out-dated first past the post electoral system and its replacement by a moderated form of proportional representation. And thirdly - whilst we are saying the quiet parts out loud - Britain needs to reopen the question of EU membership. What the local election results of 2026 show is that this remains a key issue. And what they also show is that there is a clear majority that would favor a return. Until these basic features of Britain’s political economy are addressed the country will carry on its politics as though in a haunted house, governed by governments that lack actual majorities, conjuring up false constraints whilst ignoring the real ones. This one is for DG and MI. I love writing the newsletter. If you enjoy it too and fancy buying me a coffee once a month, you know what to do. Click below! Subscribe
Meta brings virtual writing to everyone with Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses
After launching in early access, the feature is rolling out widely.
Scientists Revive Ancient Chemistry Trick To Engineer Next-Generation Glass
A centuries-old glassmaking strategy has helped researchers unlock new ways to engineer futuristic MOF glasses with promising applications in gas storage and advanced materials.
Smart glasses are 'an invasion of privacy' - Meta's are selling better than ever
The biggest tech firms are set to sell millions of smart glasses despite growing privacy concerns.
Samsung reportedly bringing Galaxy Glasses, Galaxy Watch 9 to Fold 8’s July event
A new report reveals that Samsung's Galaxy Glasses and new Galaxy Watch 9 series will share the same launch date as Galaxy Z Fold 8.
iOS 27 to Bring Customizable Camera App, Tweaks to Weather, Safari and Liquid Glass
Apple plans to make the Camera app more customizable in iOS 27, reports Bloomberg. Users will be able to select the features they want to see in the Camera app, like flash, exposure, timer, depth of field, photo styles, and resolution. Camera controls, labeled as widgets, will be able to be placed at the top of the Camera interface in any order. Users will be able to select widgets from a transparent widget tray that comes up from the bottom of the app.
WhatsApp beta previews Liquid Glass changes for message reactions, more
WhatsApp is continuing its Liquid Glass redesign on iOS, with the latest TestFlight build revealing work on updated message reactions and context menus.
iOS 26.5 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.5
Apple released iOS 26.5 after a few months of beta testing, and while it doesn't have the Siri features we were hoping for since those are being held until iOS 27, there are a handful of useful changes worth knowing about.
Apple Releases iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 With End-to-End Encrypted RCS, New Wallpaper, and Maps Updates
Apple today released iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, the newest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems. The software comes nearly two months after Apple released iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 16.7.16 and iOS 18.7.9 for older devices unable to run iOS 26.
Yes, Apple Is Reportedly Retooling Some Liquid Glass Problems for macOS 27
But no, they’re not killing Liquid Glass.
Woman turns COVID hobby into business, transforming broken car windows into jewelry
"I had a lot of people trying to offer me certain glass, and I had to learn a lot about how specific glass was made."
Liquid Glass Tweaks Are Reportedly Coming In The Next macOS
The changes are meant to improve legibility issues with lists and text-heavy areas.
macOS 27: Two More Changes Leaked Ahead of WWDC Next Month
macOS 27 will have a "slight redesign" compared to macOS Tahoe, along with an option to automatically group tabs in Safari, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the design changes will help to address some of the criticism surrounding macOS Tahoe's new Liquid Glass interface. In particular, the changes should improve overall readability. "Apple aims to address the shadows and transparency quirks," he said.
Man Wearing Smart Glasses Secretly Records Woman, Demands Money to Delete Video From His Socials
A man who recorded a woman without her knowledge for a viral video said he would only remove the clip as a "paid service."
The new AirPods prove Apple is still the king of design
AirPods with cameras to take on display-free smart glasses. Apple, you've done it again.
Beware: Smart Glasses Are the New Tool for Extortion
One woman was recently told to pay up if she wanted clandestine footage removed from social media.
Apple Seeds Second iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Release Candidates to Developers
Apple today seeded new release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming five days after the first RC. It's not clear what's changed in the second RC, but Apple typically sends out another candidate if there are bugs that need to be addressed. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.
New York Is Working on a Blueprint for Greener Buildings
The city is investigating just how much carbon it takes to build its famous skyline, from the concrete foundations all the way up to the glass that frames skyscrapers.
Watch every World Cup game and get paid $50K for it? Fox One has a job for that
The candidate selected for the job will have to create content for all 104 World Cup matches from a glass cube in Times Square.
Extortion Using Smart Glasses Is a Thing Now
A woman in London was asked to pay up if she wanted a video of her removed from social media.
Google accused of copying Apple's Liquid Glass look – Android head denies it
Apple’s Liquid Glass user interface has met with what can best be described as mixed reactions by the company’s own...
The smartglasses privacy situation just keeps getting worse
Privacy worries, now with added blackmail
'Man in smart glasses filmed me in London then told me to pay'
Alice says the video was posted on social media and viewed about 40,000 times.
Pixel’s Tensor Chips Can Easily Handle Liquid Glass, But Google’s Approach Promises One Benefit, Preventing This UI Transition
The Pixel’s Tensor SoCs might be slower than the competition, but they can easily handle the Liquid Glass UI, but Google may never adopt it for one reason
Google Says Pixel Phones Won't Get Apple's Liquid Glass Design
The Android operating system for Pixel smartphones is not going to take design cues from Apple and adopt a Liquid Glass aesthetic, Google Android president Sameer Samat said recently (via 9to5Google). In response to a social media mockup of an Android device with a Liquid Glass design, Samat said, "Not happening! Y'all are wild". The mockup was in response to a teaser video for The Android Show: I/O, which depicted the Android mascot pulling a light switch and turning translucent.
Liquid Glass for Android is ‘not happening,’ at least not for Pixels
Apple’s Liquid Glass redesign of its platforms, especially iOS, has been divisive to say the least but, thankfully, Google’s President...
Thank goodness: Google says it's not about to reveal a Liquid Glass makeover for Android
Android boss Sameer Samat recently posted a teaser video for The Android Show, with some users thinking a Liquid Glass overhaul was coming.
Apple Says iOS 26.5 Adds Three New Features to Your iPhone
iOS 26.5 includes three new features for iPhones, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week. As discovered during beta testing, iOS 26.5 enables end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iOS and Android devices. Apple says this security upgrade is limited to supported carriers around the world and will continue to roll out.
Scientists unlock new way to engineer next-generation glass
Scientists have adapted a centuries-old principle of chemistry to fine-tune a new type of glass made from metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)—metal atoms connected by organic molecules—that efficiently trap ...