Approved: Technology + Teamwork

Every Tuesday and Thursday in the CMU Daily we highlight great new artists who we think are deserving of your attention in the CMU Approved column.That’s a whole lot of new music to get your teeth into. As the year has progressed, many of those artists have gone on to wider acclaim, while others are on the verge of bigger things.With the year drawing to a close, and CMU Approved on its festive break, now is a good time to reacquaint ourselves with all of those artists.

Retailer H&M has insisted that it got all the approvals it needed for some Justin Bieber related products that it is currently selling. The insistence came after Bieber himself took to Instagram earlier this week to diss those products and urge fans not to buy them.Bieber told his fans on Instagram on Monday: “I didn’t approve any of the merch collection that they put up at H&M”, adding that the products up for sale are “all without my permission and approval” and “I wouldn’t buy [them] if I were you”.And just in case any of that wasn’t clear, he stated in a subsequent post: “The H&M merch they made of me is trash and I didn’t approve it – don’t buy it”.Bieber didn’t clarify which specific products being sold by H&M he was objecting to.

Something different! Khloé Kardashian hopped on the fringe bandwagon and surprised her fans with a new look.

The Austrian Parliament passed a package of laws on Thursday paving the way for a 30% film and TV production incentive, which also includes Europe’s first Green bonus as well as extra cash for productions with a high percentage of female heads of department.

Not playing by the same rules? In Harry & Meghan, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a series of claims about how they were treated differently than Prince William — and dropped a bombshell allegation about the heir to the throne in relation to a lawsuit filed by the Duchess of Sussex.

The Tory government has approved the UK's first coal mine in 30 years in Cumbria against widespread anger from green campaigners. UK Government minister Michael Gove gave the green light to the controversial scheme which will dig up coking coal for steel production in the UK and across the world.

We’re dreaming of a star-studded holiday season! Us Weekly’s Buzzzz-o-Meter is breaking down something for everyone on your list this year with gifts that are so good, even celebs love them. From a Victoria Beckham-inspired lipstick to Taylor Swift’s cell phone case, even the hardest-to-shop-for friends and family will be pleased. Watch the video gift guide above to see how to shop like a star. 

Kanye West is no longer buying Parler. The company that operates the often controversial social media platform confirmed that the deal is off last night.That company, Parlement Technologies, previously announced in October that it had agreed a deal that would see West take ownership of the platform.

She was ready to Plead the Fifth! Meghan Markle revealed that she wanted to be on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen during her Suits days — but she wasn’t approved as a guest.

Rounding off a prolific second half of this year, Teri Gender Bender will next month release her twelfth EP since June. Prior to that rapid burst of solo activity, she was the frontwoman of Le Butcherettes, and has also collaborated with the likes of Iggy Pop, Melvins and The Mars Volta’s Omar Rodríguez-López.Despite the quick succession in which they have arrived, the quality of each of this year’s EP releases has been exceptionally high.And she maintains that on new EP ‘State of Fear’, which is set for release on 16 Dec.

EXCLUSIVE: Longtime Laika executive Jeff Stringer has been upped to the post of Chief Technology Officer at the Portland, Oregon-based animation studio.

The holiday season is here — and with it comes gifts, goodies and getaways!

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The Armadale school cluster are celebrating after being recognised for their use of digital technology.

BadBadNotGood’s Leland Whitty is set to release his debut solo album next month.Titled ‘Anyhow’, it features Whitty himself playing the vast majority of the instruments – including saxophone, guitar, synthesiser, woodwinds and strings – although he’s also joined by current and former members of BBND, Matthew Tavares, Alex Sowinski and Chester Hansen, as well as his older brother, Lowell Whitty.New single ‘Glass Moon’ should get you hankering for that release date to arrive as fast as possible.

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Experimental electronic producers Camilla Sparksss and Dälek’s Mike Mare have teamed up for a new double A-side single, ‘Sparksss & Mare’, featuring new tracks ‘Goo’ and ‘Drifting’.Their respective distinct styles complement each other perfectly on the two dark tracks, which are both topped off with Sparksss’ vocals. It’s so successful, in fact, that we’re left hoping that this is the start of a longer term collaboration, rather than simply a one-off.Sparksss is busy elsewhere too though.