THE BBC is to launch a “streaming box” aimed at simplifying watching TV in the digital age.
The new box is designed specifically for people who find modern streaming technology overwhelming.
It comes after the corporation unveiled the new Freely box last week, which is due to replace the traditional Freeview and Freesat services.
Rather than relying on aerials or satellite dishes, Freely streams live channels and catch-up content directly to a TV.
The switch is being overseen by Everyone TV, formerly Digital UK, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of free TV platforms – Freely, Freeview and Freesat – as well as leading free TV’s evolution for a digital age.
Everyone TV is owned and supported by the UK’s leading public service broadcasters – the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5.
Since its launch last year, Freely has been gradually building up its channel lineup.
It now offers BBC, ITV, Channel 4, 5 and around 40 other broadcasters.
However, the biggest barrier to switching from Freeview to Freely has always been availability as the latter only worked on brand-new smart TVs from select manufacturers.
Those who purchased a TV several years ago would be unable to upgrade.
That has now been solved with the new standalone Freely device, made by French firm Netgem.
The new device has no aerial port.
Unlike current Freely TVs that allow users to “top up” with traditional Freeview channels through an aerial connection, this device is streaming-only.
But while the new Freely Box is designed to allow greater access to Freeview and Freesat, this week the BBC revealed it plans to make ANOTHER streaming box, as first reported by Cord Busters.
This will be a much simpler device and is unlikely to have some of the key features of Freeview – including access to dozens of streaming apps and channels.
Where the Netgem device offers streaming apps and dozens of additional channels, the BBC’s accessibility box is expected to focus purely on the essential UK broadcasters with minimal distractions.
Instead of navigating through multiple apps and complex menus, there is likely to be a straightforward channel guide.
This will allow quick access to catch-up services, and an interface that prioritises simplicity over features.
It comes after a BBC report identified three groups who risk being left behind as broadcasting adapts to the change from aerials to internet connections.
These are unemployed people, who the BBC believe are often held back by affordability, people with disabilities (facing accessibility barriers), and over-75s (many lacking confidence with digital technology).
Observers say the emergence of two different Freely approaches suggests the streaming transition will not be as simple as first thought.
Rather than an easy switch from aerials to internet connections the process is likely to be much more nuanced, with different options available for those who feel more confident – or less so – adapting to new technologies.
Viewers comfortable with technology and wanting the full streaming experience would likely choose the feature-rich Netgem box. This would allow access to dozens more apps and channels.
However, those who find modern streaming overwhelming or just want something that works like traditional TV would have the simplified BBC option.
It’s a recognition that not everyone wants their television to be a computer with endless apps, features, bells and whistles.
Sometimes, people just want to turn on the telly and watch EastEnders or Coronation Street.
When all this takes place, however, is still unclear,
The Netgem box is launching later this year, but the BBC is still “exploring” their accessibility device, according to Cord Busters.
THIS is the moment a Chinese navy warship crashed into its own coast guard vessel while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea.
Dramatic footage released by Manila showed a China Coast Guard ship and a much larger vessel bearing the number 164 on its hull colliding with a loud crash.
More footage and photos released later by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the stricken Chinese vessel still afloat but with its entire bow crumpled inward.
The vessel sustained major damage to its hull after crashing into its own coast guard ship.
The collision took place near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard were escorting boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area when the Chinese Navy vessels began chasing it, spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
He added: “The [China Coast Guard vessel] CCG 3104, which was chasing the [Filipino coast guard vessel] BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the [Philippine] vessel’s starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA’s Navy warship.
“This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel’s forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy.”
At a later press briefing, Tarriella said that crew members aboard the smaller Chinese vessel had been visible in its front section just before the collision.
“We’re not sure whether they were able to rescue those personnel who were in front prior to the collision.
“But we are hoping that these personnel are in good condition,” he told reporters.
Tarriela said the Chinese crew “never responded” to the Philippine ship’s offer of assistance.
Gan Yu, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson, confirmed that a confrontation had taken place without mentioning the collision.
“The China Coast Guard took necessary measures in accordance with the law, including monitoring, pressing from the outside, blocking and controlling the Philippine vessels to drive them away,” he said.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm or deny the collision when asked about it.
Monday’s incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis.
More than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes through the disputed waterway.
Speaking at a morning news conference, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said the country’s patrol vessels would “continue to be present” in the area to defend, as well as exercise Manila’s sovereign rights over the region.
The Scarborough Shoal – a triangular chain of reefs and rocks – has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.
Earlier in the confrontation, the BRP Suluan was “targeted with a water cannon” by the Chinese but “successfully” evaded it, Tarriela’s statement said.
THE South China Sea is an arena for a power struggle between different powers.
Several countries claim the rights to large portions of its territory based on historical rights.
The problem is, some of these claims overlap.
China’s claim is based on a vague “nine-dash line” on some maps, which is not generally recognised in international law.
Many countries argue that China’s claims violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Other countries, like Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, are eager not the concede the territory, because it is known to hold valuable natural assets like natural resources.
One major point of tension is the Spratly Islands, with multiple countries claiming ownership of various islets and reefs.
China has been criticized for constructing artificial islands in the South China Sea and deploying military equipment there.
The latest announcements for a seabed research centre will further inflame this anger.
THE couple randomly knifed to death in front of their kids in Devil’s Den State Park shared a tragic final message before they were savaged.
Clinton Brink, 43, and Cristin Brink, 41, were murdered during a remote family hike, sparking a huge manhunt in northwest Arkansas which ended with the arrest of former teacher Andrew James McGann, 28.
Mary Hinebauch, a fellow choir member at the pair’s former church in Miles City, Montana, told Fox News Digital about her memories of them and revealed their last conversation.
She said: “They were outdoorsy people. They loved to take the girls and go do outdoor things and go hiking. They loved every minute of it.
“That wasn’t an unnatural place for them to be. They did tons of stuff like that.”
The family had recently moved to Arkansas in order to be closer to Clinton’s mother.
Mary said: “I went back to look at the very last message we had between each other, and it was like they had just gotten there [Arkansas] and were unpacking.
“And I just had said, ‘Keep in touch.’ And that was the last little conversation we had.”
The friend remembered that Cristen always had “an extra hand for somebody else if they needed anything,” despite having little herself.
She was also remembered as an incredibly talented singer.
Arkansas State Police said McGann first attacked Clinton, who attempted to fight off the aggressor as his wife Cristen desperately led their two daughters, aged 7 and 9, to safety away from danger.
Cristen, 41, returned to help her husband but was also fatally stabbed by McGann, who suffered injuries during the scuffle.
The four-day hunt for McGann ended on July 30 when he suddenly walked into Lupita’s Beauty Salon in Springdale, about 35 miles north of Devil’s Den State Park, dishevelled, looking for a haircut.
Minutes after he sat on the barber’s chair, detectives swooped into the beauty salon, handcuffing McGann, who still had the dark-colored cape attached to his neck.
Amy, who also knew the Brinks from their old Montana church, described the family as “wonderful people”.
She marvelled at Cristin, who got A’s in nursing school while raising babies and playing volleyball.
Amy said: “I loved her so much, and it just doesn’t seem real.
“Just seems there should be something I could do to take all this terrible tragedy back. Sadly, they are gone.”
In the days following his arrest, troubling claims about McGann’s life have come to light, including allegations concerning his behavior as a public school teacher in Texas and Oklahoma.
Between 2022 and 2023, McGann worked as a fourth-grade teacher at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, northwest of Dallas.
However, in spring 2023 he was placed on administrative leave over concerns related to classroom management, professional judgement, and favoritism, the Lewisville Independent School District, which includes Donald Elementary, said in a statement.
Parents of students at Donald Elementary School have come forward with allegations that McGann behaved inappropriately with young girls.
One dad, whose son was in the suspect‘s fourth-grade class in Donald Elementary, told the New York Post that McGann would “usually be surrounded by kids, especially little girls,” would “tickle and ask girls to sit on his lap.”
Sierra Marcum, whose son was also one of McGann’s students, told CBS News that her child also expressed discomfort with how the teacher treated female students, including that he allegedly kept some in his classroom alone during recess.
The Lewisville Independent School District said an internal investigation into McGann found “no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students.”
McGann was allowed to resign in May 2023 and then moved to Oklahoma where he got a job as a fifth grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary School in Broken Arrow for the 2023-2024 school year.
A former after-school assistant, who asked to remain anonymous, told The U.S. Sun that she worked with McGann at Spring Creek Elementary in August 2023, and also witnessed his alleged favoritism with girl students.
“Always noticed that he hung out with the female kids more than the male kids,” the former co-worker, who was 16 years old when she began working with McGann in after school child care programs, said.
“I was fully unaware while working with him what happened in Texas. I always thought he was weird and something was up. I didn’t really pay no mind to it.
“Whenever he did speak, it was quiet and very short responses. I was only 16 when I worked with him, but he just had something up.
“Most of the time, when I tried to talk to him he wouldn’t answer.”
The woman added, “But he’d leave at the same time I did, so, we’d walk out the building together.
“He was always distant when parents came to pick up their kids. He never talked to the parents.”
Clinton Brink, 43, and Cristen Brink, 43, were killed while hiking at Devil's Den State Park with their daughters. Below is a timeline of the case:
July 16 – The Brink family has their water service turned on after recently moving to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, according to Mayor David Falk.
July 26 – Clinton and Cristen are found dead on Devil’s Den trail at around 2:30 pm after their two daughters ran to the visitor’s center and said their parents were attacked.
July 27 – Police release the identities of the slain couple. Cops ask park visitors to check their pictures and footage from Saturday for possible images of the suspect.
July 28 – Arkansas State Police releases a sketch of a person of interest in the case.
July 29 – ASP releases a picture from a witness of the person of interest in the case.
July 30 – Andrew James McGann is arrested mid-haircut at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop just before 5 pm.
WALMART is to lose its entire fleet of Claire’s shop-in-shops after the iconic brand’s bankruptcy filing, according to reports.
Bosses at the jewellery chain last week submitted the relevant financial papers for the second time in seven years.
Now, it’s emerged that their 300 mini stores in Walmarts across the US are under threat.
Claire’s had announced a partnership with Walmart in 2018.
That meant the ear piercing experts set up shop inside the retail giant’s stores around the US.
But with news of the bankruptcy filing, The Retail Dive reports their shops in shops deal with Walmart is over unless a buyer comes forward.
Their products are also on sale at 2,500 Walmart stores across the country. It is not clear what will happen to those items.
The US Sun has gone to Walmart and Claire’s for comment.
Claire’s – which has approximately 1,300 Claire’s outlets across the US – has already said it plans to close 700 stores to stay in business.
The global brand currently boasts more than 2,750 outlets in 17 countries in North America and Europe.
It also has 190 Icing stores as part of its portfolio.
But a dip in sales has meant it has struggled to pay rent on some of its stores, according to Bloomberg.
Rent payments were reportedly skipped on some locations in June and July.
Bankruptcy is a specific legal process that helps companies eliminate debt they can't repay.
The process allows businesses to start fresh and gain access to new credit.
Supervised by federal courts, bankruptcies allow a company to sell off its assets more easily to pay off creditors, according to Investopedia.
Chapter 11, a common process for companies, is used to restructure a business with the goal of remaining open – even if it means selling off most of the company’s properties.
Chapter 7, on the other hand, sells all of a company’s assets, putting it out of business.
Chapter 15, alternatively, allows for collaboration between American and foreign courts to conduct bankruptcy proceedings with “parties of interest involving more than one country,” per the United States Courts.
Claire’s Chief Executive Officer Chris Cramer told a court: “The majority of the Company’s customers are young individuals who do not themselves have access to funds, credit cards, or the ability to shop online.
“These customers rely on their parents or caretakers to bring them to the Company’s stores so that they can see and touch the Company’s products.
“Accordingly, the Company struggled to create an online website that could compare to the tactile shopping experience that is so vital for its young customers.”
In 2022, Claire’s also opened mini stores inside 21 Macy’s stores.
Claire’s previously filed for bankruptcy in 2018. At the time, bosses scrambled around $2 billion worth of debt.
SUMMER offers many health benefits – from better mood to more chances to get active and improved sleep.
But some blokes say there’s another perk of warmer weather: the so-called ‘summer penis’.
As the heat rises, they believe it has a flattering effect on their length and girth down below.
But is it actually a thing? Dr Chun Tang, GP at private healthcare clinic Pall Mall Medical, weighed in as temperatures across the UK are set to soar to a balmy 31C today.
After weeks of grey weather and showers, Brits will finally be treated to some more summer-y weather, according to the Met Office.
Temperatures are expected to be highest in central and southern England, particularly in London.
Some areas will even experience balmy heats of 31C, before the temperature rockets up to the mid-30s.
Dr Chun said: “So ‘summer penis’ is a term people use to describe when a male’s penis seems a bit bigger or fuller during hot weather.
“It’s not an official medical thing, just something people have noticed and talked about.
“The idea is that in warmer months, especially when it’s hot and humid, the heat causes your blood vessels to expand a bit, which can make things down there look a bit different.”
In terms of symptoms, males who experience summer penis may see a bit more size or fullness than normal.
Dr Tang added: “Some men notice that their penis looks a little larger, especially when it’s flaccid.
“Because of the increased blood flow, it might feel a bit softer or more relaxed than usual.”
In a world of ‘showers and growers’, this could be considered a way of bringing about some equality.
But Dr Tang did note that if you’re someone who’s particularly sensitive to temperature changes, you might be more likely to notice the effect.
There’s no exact temperature where ‘summer penis’ kicks in, according to Dr Tang.
But any situation when it’s quite warm outside – like during a summer heatwave – is most likely.
He said: “When it’s hot, your body naturally tries to cool down by widening the blood vessels, which can make more blood flow to places like your hands, feet, and even your penis.”
So if you want a ‘summer penis’, it might be an idea to wear loose breathable clothing, like a nice pair of cotton boxers or shorts.
From evolutionary explanations about why penises can look like mushrooms, to whether they can get smaller, Dr Philippa Kaye answers questions you're too afraid to ask.
1. What is the average penis size?
The average size of a penis is approximately 9cm when flaccid/soft and about 13cm when erect.
A micropenis is defined as a penis measuring less than 7cm. You can get treatment for this on the NHS.
But this is just the length of the penis on the outside – you might not know it, but there is around the same length of penile tissue inside as on the outside, extending into the pelvis.
2. Does your shoe size reflect your penis size?
No. A study looking at the penises of over 100 men of varying ages looked at shoe size and penis length and found no correlation between the two.
3. Why is the penis shaped like a mushroom?
From an evolutionary point of view, it’s perhaps obvious that the shaft of the penis is cylindrical or tube-like in shape so that it can fit inside the muscular tube of the vagina.
But there is a ridge between the top of the shaft of the penis and the glans, which is shaped rather like a mushroom.
One theory as to why this is is known as the ‘semen displacement theory’, which suggests that the shape of this ridge essentially scoops out and removes any sperm left behind in the vagina by a previous partner, who might be a genetic rival evolution-wise.
4. Can you break your penis?
There are no bones in the penis, but you can still break it.
During an erection, there are spongy tissues called corpus cavernosum, which fill with blood to make the penis erect.
If there is a trauma, often a violent twisting or bending motion when the penis is erect, then part of the covering of the corpus cavernosum called the tunica albuginea can burst, leading to bleeding into the penis and a very painful swelling.
It is rare and tends to occur during sex, often when a partner is on top.
5. Can penises point in any direction?
Yes. When the penis is erect it can point in any direction, from directly up to forward-pointing, to downwards, as was found in a study involving almost 1,500 men.
It is normal for penises to have a slight curve, in either direction. A curve between 5 and 30 degrees is considered healthy and normal.
6. Can your penis get smaller?
Yes, your penis can shrink. There are lots of causes of this, including high blood pressure and peripheral vascular disease, which may lead to decreased blood flow to the penis.
Low testosterone levels and ageing may also affect the size of the penis, as can having a significant curve due to Peyronie’s disease.
Some types of treatment for prostate cancer, such as radical prostatectomy, can affect the size of the penis.
7. Are multiple erections during the night normal?
You may think of wet dreams as being associated with puberty, but actually, the average healthy male has three to five erections each night, with the ‘morning glory’ being the last of these.
They seem most likely to occur in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, but the cause is not known.
8. ‘Showers’ or ‘growers’?
The size of your penis when flaccid does not necessarily predict the size when erect, as small penises are more likely to increase proportionally more in length than longer ones.
A study from the 1980s showed that, on average, longer penises increased by just under 50 per cent from flaccid to erect, while shorter penises increased by almost 90 per cent.
And when penises are erect there is less variation in length – flaccid penises vary in length by about 3cm, but only by about 1.7cm when erect.
9. Creams and oils can make your penis bigger?
No, they can’t. The only proven way to increase the size of your penis is by surgery, which can increase length and girth.
Surgery to increase the length of your penis involves cutting a ligament which attaches the penis to the pelvis, but this only affects the length of the penis when it is flaccid.
Surgical treatments to increase girth can involve a fat transplant or the use of an implant.
This might make your penis more noticeable because there’s nothing restricting blood flow, experts say.
On the flip side, wearing something tight, like skinny jeans or snug briefs, might prevent the effect because it can limit circulation.
Unfortunately, either way, it’s not going to have any impact on your sexual performance.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical director of Patient.info, previously told The Sun: “Technically when you’re hot, as well as when you are excited, then your blood vessels may expand.
“When blood vessels on the surface are a bit bigger, then things are going to look a bit bigger.
“But your penis is not growing, it’s just your blood vessels growing slightly larger as a way to reduce heat.
“It’s not going to make you perform better either – when you are erect your penis is swollen to the max anyway.”
On its own, ‘summer penis’ isn’t a sign of anything serious, but there are some scenarios when it’s a good idea to get checked out by a doctor
Dr Chun Tang
Once the weather cools down, you can expect things to go back to normal.
But if ‘summer penis’ makes you uncomfortable, Dr Tang advises keeping cool.
“Avoid too much heat, wear loose clothes, and stay well-hydrated,” he said.
“This can help minimise the effect.”
Dr Tang added: “On its own, ‘summer penis’ isn’t a sign of anything serious.
“But, if you notice any sudden or unusual changes in your penis – like significant swelling, pain, or discomfort – then it’s definitely a good idea to get it checked out by a doctor.
“Those could be signs of something that does need attention, like an infection or an injury.”
ARE you looking after your penis correctly?
Here are all the ‘dos and don’ts’ when it comes to penis health:
But it’s not just the penis that reacts to hot weather; the rest of the body suffers (or benefits) too.
You might notice your ankles get a little bigger due to fluid retention, or perhaps your thighs start chafing.
People with eczema might find their skin condition worsens when the weather warms up, and asthma sufferers can also find themselves coughing and short of breath.
You may feel happier, more relaxed and sleep better due to increased exposure to sunlight, which can boost the production of melatonin and serotonin, and regulate the body’s internal clock, the NHS says.
And of course, there’s no escaping the additional sweat.
When the temperatures climb, or you spend a long time in them, you might get heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
Heat exhaustion does not usually need emergency medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes.
Try things like moving to a cooler area, using a fan, taking off extra layers, drinking cool fluids, and using a cool flannel or sponge.
But heatstroke needs to be treated as soon as possible as it can be fatal, so call 999.
This is because the body’s systems which it uses to try to keep you cool have become overwhelmed and stop working, so your temperature may rise to over 40C and you stop sweating.
