荷蘭警拘15人 涉用TikTok宣揚伊斯蘭國 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】荷蘭警方拘捕15人，涉嫌利用TikTok宣揚極端組織伊斯蘭國。 檢察部門稱，發現一個TikTok帳號發布大量關於伊斯蘭國的訊息，配上荷蘭語字幕，鼓勵網民加入和發動恐怖襲擊，並美化成員為烈士，部分帖文瀏覽次數逾10萬。警方突襲行動拘捕十多人，介乎16至53歲，大部分是敘利亞人，亦有人是荷蘭公民。他們被控煽動實施恐怖主義，宣揚伊斯蘭國和參與恐怖組織。

Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO David Solomon on Tuesday called last week's sharp sell-off in software industry stocks "a little bit too broad," joining Wall Street's chorus of voices urging patience as investor nerves frayed over the potential impacts of AI across the investing landscape. "The narrative over the last week has been a little bit too broad," Solomon said at a UBS financial services conference in Key Biscayne, Fla. "There'll be winners and losers, and, you know, plenty of companies will pivot and do just fine," he added. Solomon’s comments on Tuesday followed attempts by executives from the alternative investment industry to downplay these fears during earnings calls last week. Shares of some of Wall Street's biggest private money managers, including Apollo Global Management (APO), Ares Management (ARES), Blackstone (BX), and KKR (KKR), came under pressure last week, given their known exposure to software companies threatened by recent AI advancements. (Disclosure: Yahoo Finance is owned by Apollo Global Management.) More acute pressure was felt in the stocks of smaller, alternative asset players like Blue Owl (OWL), whose CEO, Marc Lipschultz, offered some of the most strident criticism of the selling on the company's earnings call on Feb. 5. "For those on the call that are thinking Fortune 500 companies are going to take all their software and just rip it out and just say, 'I'll just ask ChatGPT,' that's simply not the way it works," Lipschultz said. "Don't take my word for it again. We're not technologists. Take [Nvidia CEO] Jensen Huang's words for it." At Goldman, AI-related disruptions to software businesses are "something that we're monitoring," Solomon added Tuesday, but he said the bank's exposure to the industry is "insignificant" to its overall platform. For the balance of 2026, Solomon remains bullish on the outlook for dealmaking, particularly within M&A. “The likely outcome in 2026 is we're going to have a pretty constructive year for capital mark...

Mercuria moves closer to buying troubled Raizen's Argentine assets for over $1 billion, sources say Reuters

Earnings Call Insights: Xylem Inc. (XYL) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Matthew Pine stated the company delivered an "outstanding fourth quarter to close a record year for Xylem," highlighting strong Q4 performance across all major metrics and emphasizing execution of Phase 1 of the operating model transformation. He emphasized the company's simplified structure and increased speed and accountability, signaling continued transformation in 2026. Pine outlined entry into Phase 2, which will "strengthen our growth engine by leveraging improvements in our operating model, focusing on sales force effectiveness, product management and innovation." He also noted that 2026 will be the "peak of purposeful walkaways from lower quality revenue," creating a near-term top-line headwind but driving higher quality earnings. CFO William Grogan reported "record revenue, EBITDA and earnings per share for the fourth quarter and the full year." Grogan cited a backlog of $4.6 billion and book-to-bill near 1 both in the quarter and for the year. He noted orders up 7% in the quarter, led by over 20% growth in MCS, with full-year orders up 2%. Grogan stated, "Full year EBITDA margin expanded 160 basis points to 22.2%," with quarterly EBITDA margin at 23.2%. He reported a "record quarterly EPS of $1.42, a 20% increase over the prior year" and a net debt to adjusted EBITDA of 0.2x. Grogan highlighted segment results, including a 10% revenue increase in Measurement & Control Solutions (MCS) and a 510 basis point margin expansion in Water Infrastructure. He also noted a 22% increase in MCS orders, driven by smart metering demand, although some projects pushed into 2026. Outlook Management provided 2026 full-year revenue guidance of $9.1 billion to $9.2 billion, representing 1% to 3% reported growth and 2% to 4% organic growth. Grogan stated, "EBITDA margin is expected to be 22.9% to 23.3%. This represents 70 to 110 basis points of expansion versus the prior year." He forecast an EPS range of $5.3...

Earnings Call Insights: DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DD) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Lori Koch reported that "we finished the year strong, delivering full year organic sales growth of 2%, operating EBITDA growth of 6% and 100 basis points of margin expansion." Koch highlighted that these results led to "an adjusted EPS of $1.68 per share, up 16% year-over-year." She emphasized the completion of the separation of Qnity Electronics and the Aramids business divestiture, as well as the build-out of the executive leadership team with a mix of external and internal talent. Strategic direction for New DuPont was set, focusing on growth and continuous improvement, including a refreshed set of management standards and KPIs. She noted that "our new products generated greater than $2 billion in sales this past year, and our vitality index remained strong at about 30%." Koch also pointed to a $2 billion share repurchase authorization with a $500 million ASR completed in Q4 2025. Koch outlined 2026 priorities to "drive above-market organic growth; continue to build out a robust business system; deploy a balanced capital allocation model, all while consistently delivering financial results." She stated, "we saw 2% organic growth for full year 2025 and expect it to accelerate to about 3% in 2026." CFO Antonella Franzen stated, "the fourth quarter marked a strong operational finish to the year. We exceeded our financial guidance on better-than-expected top line mix and productivity, resulting in strong EBITDA and margin improvement in the quarter." Outlook Koch provided 2026 guidance with expectations of "organic sales to grow about 3% year-over-year, operating margins to expand 60 to 80 basis points and adjusted EPS of $2.25 to $2.30 per share." On a pro forma basis, EPS is expected to grow 10% to 12% year-over-year. Free cash flow conversion is expected at greater than 90%. For Q1 2026, Franzen guided for "net sales of about $1.67 billion, operating EBITDA of about $395 million and a...

D-Wave is once again making efforts to expand into the defense space with a promising partnership with Davidson and Anduril, but can it yield new sales?

Gigabyte partners with AMD to enhance game value through Crimson Desert bundle marketscreener.com

据新华社，中共中央政治局常委、国务院总理李强2月9日至10日在江西赣州调研并看望慰问基层干部群众，向大家致以新春祝福。他强调，要深入贯彻习近平总书记关于加快革命老区振兴发展的重要指示精神，全面落实党中央关于支持老区建设的各项决策部署，大力发展特色优势产业，扎实做好保障和改善民生工作，让人民群众更加幸福安康、生活蒸蒸日上。

特朗普：若未能與伊朗達協議 華府將強硬回應 或增派航母赴中東 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】美國總統特朗普再次警告若未能與伊朗達成協議，華府將強硬回應。 特朗普：「我們一支龐大艦隊正前往伊朗，看看情況如何發展，我認為他們想達成協議，否則就太愚蠢了。上次我們摧毀他們的核設施，這次看看能否摧毀更多。」 特朗普接受以色列傳媒訪問時，指考慮派遣另一艘航空母艦到中東。路透社引述官員消息，美國可能調派目前在亞洲的喬治華盛頓號或美國東岸的布殊號，最快一周才抵達中東。

Speaking to broadcasters during his visit, Sir Keir said the "turmoil in politics" from the last few days would not distract him from "the most important issue to focus on" – the cost of living – which he said is "what I'm fighting for, who I'm fighting for".

Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET Call participants Chief Executive Officer — Deanna Strable Chief Financial Officer — Joel Pitz President, Benefits and Protection — Amy Friedrich President, Principal Asset Management — Kamal Bhatia President, U.S. Insurance Solutions — Christopher Littlefield Vice President, Investor Relations — Humphrey Lee Executive Vice President — Francis Matten Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Takeaways Adjusted non-GAAP EPS growth -- 12% for 2025, at the high end of the company’s 9%-12% target range, driven by favorable market conditions and margin expansion. -- 12% for 2025, at the high end of the company’s 9%-12% target range, driven by favorable market conditions and margin expansion. Reported EPS growth -- Approximately 20% for 2025, outpacing adjusted non-GAAP results due to additional positive factors. -- Approximately 20% for 2025, outpacing adjusted non-GAAP results due to additional positive factors. Return on equity (ROE) -- 15.7% on a non-GAAP basis in 2025, reflecting a 120-basis-point increase and at the top of the 14%-16% target range. -- 15.7% on a non-GAAP basis in 2025, reflecting a 120-basis-point increase and at the top of the 14%-16% target range. Operating margin expansion -- Increased 80 basis points to 31% company-wide in 2025, supported by disciplined expense management and top-line growth. -- Increased 80 basis points to 31% company-wide in 2025, supported by disciplined expense management and top-line growth. Total capital returned to shareholders -- $1.5 billion in 2025 ($850 million in share repurchases and $685 million in dividends), comfortably within targets. -- $1.5 billion in 2025 ($850 million in share repurchases and $685 million in dividends), comfortably within targets. Excess available capital -- $1.6 billion at year-end, including $800 million at the holding company, $300 million in subsidiaries, and $480 million above the targeted risk...

Insurance Brokers Extend Monday's Plunge On Fears AI Is Coming For Them Next The rolling AI disruption wave, which most recently crushed the software sector, slammed insurance brokers on Monday with losses extending on Tuesday, as most names in the space slumped following reports from Reinsurance News and others that OpenAI approved the first AI insurance app on ChatGPT, built by Spanish digital insurer Tuio. The insurance brokerage space dived 9% on average on Monday in reaction to the news: among the worst performers were Willis Towers Watson which experienced the steepest decline, its shares falling 13%. Arthur J. Gallagher dropped 9.4%, while Aon shed 8.5%. Ryan Specialty and Brown & Brown fell 8% and 7% respectively, with Marsh & McLennan also down 7%. Insurer AIG saw a more modest decline of 2%. The market reaction came after OpenAI announced that Tuio’s app, powered by WaniWani’s AI distribution infrastructure, allows ChatGPT users to receive personalized home insurance quotes directly through conversation, with purchasing capabilities coming soon. This marks the first time an insurance provider can distribute products and offer quotes directly within an AI platform. According to OpenAI, the new capability removes traditional friction points in insurance purchasing by eliminating forms, calls, and intermediaries. Tuio’s AI app collects relevant information through natural conversation and returns personalized quotes from regulated carriers in real time, Investing.com reported. Some investors expressed confusion about the market reaction, questioning why commercial insurance brokers were so heavily impacted when the current application focuses on home insurance. Some argued that insurance brokers dealing with specialty products might be better insulated due to the complexity of those offerings. Banks promptly came to the sector's defense with Goldman underscoring the investor confusion, and writing that “the immediate feedback still is a degree on confusion & ...

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Google is expanding its tools for removing your sensitive information and nonconsensual images from its search results. The company announced on Tuesday that you can now use its “results about you” tool to remove your driver’s license, passport, and Social Security number from search, in addition to your phone number and address. Once you add your information to Google’s “results about you” tool, Google will show search results containing your data, while giving you the option to request removal. Google says it protects the information entered into the tool with “advanced encryption.” You can sign up to receive notifications when it detects new search results containing your personal data, though the company notes the tool doesn’t remove your information “from the web entirely.” Google is bringing this update to the US in the coming days, with plans to expand it to other regions. Google will let you set up notifications for results containing your personal data. Image: Google Google is building on efforts to help stop the spread of nonconsensual explicit images in its results, too. You can now ask that Google remove an image by selecting the three dots at the top of a picture, choosing “remove results,” and clicking on the option that says, “It shows a sexual image of me.” Google’s updated tool also lets you ask the company to remove multiple images at once, as well as opt-into protections that will “proactively filter out” similar explicit results in the future. This feature is rolling out to “most countries” in the coming days.

Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at 10 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President & Chief Executive Officer — Zachary C. Parker Chief Financial Officer — Kathryn M. Johnbull Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] TAKEAWAYS Revenue -- $68.9 million, down from $90.8 million, primarily due to program conversions to small business set-aside contracts and government efficiency initiatives. -- $68.9 million, down from $90.8 million, primarily due to program conversions to small business set-aside contracts and government efficiency initiatives. Adjusted EBITDA -- $6.5 million, compared to $9.9 million, reflecting lower revenue partially offset by effective cost management. -- $6.5 million, compared to $9.9 million, reflecting lower revenue partially offset by effective cost management. Sequential EBITDA Margin -- 9.5%, improved from the fourth quarter, signaling initial benefits from cost-scaling actions. -- 9.5%, improved from the fourth quarter, signaling initial benefits from cost-scaling actions. Free Cash Flow -- Negative $4.8 million, a considerable improvement from negative $12.1 million in the same period last year, attributed to improved receivables collection. -- Negative $4.8 million, a considerable improvement from negative $12.1 million in the same period last year, attributed to improved receivables collection. Quarter-End Debt -- $136.6 million, an increase due to working capital needs and government shutdown timing, yet still ahead of mandatory repayment schedule and in covenant compliance. -- $136.6 million, an increase due to working capital needs and government shutdown timing, yet still ahead of mandatory repayment schedule and in covenant compliance. Small Business Set‑Aside Impact -- Revenue decline included an approximately $18 million reduction related to CMOP and Head Start contract transitions, with a further $4 million from other smaller wrap-up initiatives. -- Revenue decline included an approximately $18...

Tesla Taps Europe Executive to Oversee EV Maker’s Global Sales Bloomberg.com

Tesla Taps Europe Executive to Oversee EV Maker’s Global Sales Bloomberg

Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 10 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Steven Roth President and Chief Financial Officer — Michael J. Franco Executive Vice President of Office Leasing & Co-Head of Real Estate — Glen J. Weiss Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] TAKEAWAYS Stock Performance -- Shares rose 42% over the trailing 12 months, nearly double the S&P 500 return, outpacing all other office REITs cited by management. -- Shares rose 42% over the trailing 12 months, nearly double the S&P 500 return, outpacing all other office REITs cited by management. Geographic Concentration -- The company is 90% focused on Prime Pitch Manhattan, with single major properties in Chicago and San Francisco possibly for sale "for the right deal at the right time." -- The company is 90% focused on Prime Pitch Manhattan, with single major properties in Chicago and San Francisco possibly for sale "for the right deal at the right time." First Half Leasing -- 2.7 million square feet leased, including 2.2 million square feet in Manhattan office; the figure includes a 1.1 million square foot master lease with NYU at 770 Broadway, the largest New York office transaction since 2019. -- 2.7 million square feet leased, including 2.2 million square feet in Manhattan office; the figure includes a 1.1 million square foot master lease with NYU at 770 Broadway, the largest New York office transaction since 2019. Average Starting Rents -- Non-NYU Manhattan office leasing averaged $97 per square foot for the first half, with GAAP mark-to-markets of +10.7% and cash mark-to-markets of +7.7%. -- Non-NYU Manhattan office leasing averaged $97 per square foot for the first half, with GAAP mark-to-markets of +10.7% and cash mark-to-markets of +7.7%. Q2 Manhattan Office Leasing -- 1.5 million square feet leased in Manhattan during the quarter, including NYU; excluding NYU, 400,000 square feet leased at $101 per square foot st...

貝森特：不希望與中國脫鈎 但要降低風險 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】美國財長貝森特重申不希望與中國脫鈎，但要降低風險。 貝森特：「美中關係正處於非常舒適狀態，我們將成為競爭對手，但期望是公平競爭，我們不希望與中國脫鈎，但亦需降低風險。」 貝森特在巴西聖保羅出席會議，稱歡迎北京成為競爭對手，華府正致力在關鍵礦產、半導體及醫藥等戰略產業，由中國手上奪回主權。貝森特未來數周內將與副總理何立峰會晤，為總統特朗普四月訪華準備，美方未公布會面詳情。

Image source: The Motley Fool. Aug. 6, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President & Chief Executive Officer — Robert G. Painter Chief Financial Officer — Phillip Sawarynski TAKEAWAYS Revenue -- $876 million, up 9% organically, with all three segments outperforming internal outlook. -- $876 million, up 9% organically, with all three segments outperforming internal outlook. Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) -- $2.21 billion, up 14% organically, representing 63% of total revenue. -- $2.21 billion, up 14% organically, representing 63% of total revenue. Non-GAAP EPS -- $0.71, up 15% year over year, exceeding original guidance by $0.09. -- $0.71, up 15% year over year, exceeding original guidance by $0.09. Software and Services Revenue Mix -- Accounted for 79% of total revenue. -- Accounted for 79% of total revenue. Gross Margin -- Expanded by 210 basis points to 70.6% on continued business model progression. -- Expanded by 210 basis points to 70.6% on continued business model progression. EBITDA Margin -- 27.4%, marking a 170 basis point increase from the prior year. -- 27.4%, marking a 170 basis point increase from the prior year. Free Cash Flow -- $90 million year-to-date, after a $277 million agriculture divestiture tax payment. -- $90 million year-to-date, after a $277 million agriculture divestiture tax payment. Leverage Ratio -- 1.4x, well below the long-term target of 2.5x. -- 1.4x, well below the long-term target of 2.5x. AECO Segment Performance -- $1.36 billion ARR and $350 million revenue, both up 16%; operating income reached 30.4%, a 400 basis point improvement. -- $1.36 billion ARR and $350 million revenue, both up 16%; operating income reached 30.4%, a 400 basis point improvement. Field Systems Segment Performance -- $393 million revenue, up 3% despite a 200 basis point model conversion headwind; ARR up 17% to $358 million; operating income 30.8%, a 190 basis point gain. -- $393 million revenue, up 3% despite a 200 basis point model conversion headw...

Tuesday’s flat reading on December retail sales was translating into concerns that U.S. growth may not be as strong as previously presumed — resulting in what will likely be a lower path for both interest rates and inflation this year.

is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Nostalgia’s getting expensive. When Razer announced last December it would be relaunching the world’s first gaming mouse with a few modern upgrades, it didn’t reveal how much the Razer Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition would cost or when it would be released. The company will officially open preorders for the mouse on February 10th at 8AM PT for those in the US. In Europe, preorders will start on February 11th at 8AM CET, while in Asia it will be February 11th at 8AM SGT. The production run is still being limited to just 1,337 units in total, but with a matching $1,337 price tag, they might not fly off shelves. The original version of the mouse, called the Kärna Razer Boomslang, launched before gaming-specific peripherals were even a thing. It distinguished itself from other mice on the market at the time with an upgraded encoding wheel that offered more accurate mouse tracking, giving gamers a potential competitive advantage. The 20th Anniversary Edition of the Razer Boomslang replaces those mechanical components with a 45,000 DPI optical sensor. The original mouse’s symmetrical ambidextrous design has been carried forward, but the new Boomslang is now wireless with an 8,000Hz polling rate and comes with a Razer Mouse Dock Pro wireless charging stand. You’ll also find 9-zone customizable RGB lighting on the underside of the new Boomslang that can be synced to over 300 games; a feature the Razer brand has become known for. Razer is also including an LED display frame featuring a deconstructed look at the mouse’s internals. Image: Razer A quarter century ago the Kärna Razer Boomslang was priced at $69.99 to $99.99, according to Eurogamer. The new version’s $1,337 price far outpaces inflation, but Razer is sweetening the pot by incl...

紅磡燒臘店凌晨疑電線短路起火 50人疏散 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】紅磡有燒臘店起火，無人受傷。 濃煙不斷從店內冒出，飄向附近大廈。凌晨兩時許，庇利街地下一間燒臘店冒煙起火，消防用工具破開鐵閘進入店舖開喉灌救，迅速將火勢救熄。五十多名住客疏散至街上，消防初步調查，懷疑電線短路起火。

Taiwan Says it Won’t Move 40% Chipmaking or Advanced Tech to US Asia Financial

tupungato/iStock Editorial via Getty Images I've still rated KT Corporation ( KT ) as 'Hold.' KT's telecom division may continue to underperform, considering the negative read-across from its below-consensus 4Q2025 “Operating Profit/OP.” On the other hand, I am optimistic about the outlook for its non-telecom businesses and capital return. Quarterly Results Were A Disappointment My previous November 17, 2025 article predicted that “USIM card reissuance costs relating to a recent cybersecurity incident” will weigh on “4Q25 earnings.” I was proven right. KT's latest financials were released on Tuesday, Feb 10. Its Oct-Dec '25 OP of ₩227B missed the sell-side's projection by 3% based on S&P Capital IQ data. The firm also witnessed a 58% sequential drop in operating income for the recent three-month period. A year-on-year comparison isn't appropriate, as it was loss-making in 4Q24. The Cyberattack Fallout Investor Slides KT didn't specify how the security intrusion affected its Q4 numbers. But I infer from the comprehensive “appreciation package” that the company incurred substantial costs to compensate its clients. This explains why the quarterly OP didn't meet expectations. Looking ahead, its core telecommunications business might still be under pressure. At the analyst briefing , KT noted it will discuss with its “auditor” to determine the “accounting treatment” for “additional incurrence of (cyberattack-related) costs come 2026.” The group disclosed during the 4Q call that it lost 230k customers in the first two weeks of Jan. '26. This was the remediation period when termination charges were exempted. KT also intends to spend more money on cyber-related matters as outlined below. This could involve expanding headcount and investing in AI-related technologies. Plans To Strengthen Cyber-Protection Corporate Presentation My take is that the enterprise's future profitability is at risk because of ongoing security-related outlays. But You Shouldn't Ignore Bright Spots In...

Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at 10 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Michael Collins Group Chief Financial Officer — Michael Schrum Group Chief Risk Officer — Bri Hidalgo General Counsel and Corporate Secretary — Noah Fields Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] TAKEAWAYS Core Net Income Per Share -- Increased 17.4% year over year to $5.60, highlighting improved profitability. -- Increased 17.4% year over year to $5.60, highlighting improved profitability. 2025 Net Income -- Reported at $231.9 million; core net income reached $237.5 million. -- Reported at $231.9 million; core net income reached $237.5 million. Core Return on Average Tangible Common Equity -- Reached 24.2% for the year and 24.6% in the fourth quarter. -- Reached 24.2% for the year and 24.6% in the fourth quarter. Net Interest Margin -- Rose 5 basis points year over year to 2.69%, but decreased 4 basis points sequentially from Q3 (2.73%) to Q4 (2.69%). -- Rose 5 basis points year over year to 2.69%, but decreased 4 basis points sequentially from Q3 (2.73%) to Q4 (2.69%). Average Cost of Deposits -- Fell to 150 basis points in 2025 from 183 basis points in 2024; declined by 10 basis points to 137 basis points in Q4 quarter over quarter. -- Fell to 150 basis points in 2025 from 183 basis points in 2024; declined by 10 basis points to 137 basis points in Q4 quarter over quarter. Tangible Book Value Per Share -- Increased 21.7% in 2025, ending at $26.41; up 5.4% sequentially in Q4 due to improved unrealized losses. -- Increased 21.7% in 2025, ending at $26.41; up 5.4% sequentially in Q4 due to improved unrealized losses. Share Repurchases -- Repurchased 3.5 million shares for $146.7 million in 2025, including 600,000 shares for $29.6 million in Q4. -- Repurchased 3.5 million shares for $146.7 million in 2025, including 600,000 shares for $29.6 million in Q4. 2026 Share Repurchase Authorization -- New program approved for u...

As one of the longest-running battles in British heritage comes to an end, the listing of the London arts complex vindicates the audacity of this sensational droogs’ paradise Britain’s battle of brutalism has finally reached an exhausted conclusion with the listing of London’s Southbank Centre . The so-called “concrete monstrosities” of the Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall and its skatepark undercroft have finally been Grade II-listed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Traditionalists may be spitting feathers, but as football pundits are apt to assert: “It was the right result.” However, it turned out to be a very long and very tetchy game. Constructed between 1949 and 1968 in an uncompromisingly brutalist style, the Southbank Centre was once voted Britain’s ugliest building. Since 1991, the Twentieth Century Society (C20), champions of all things modern, and Historic England had recommended listing on six separate occasions, yet their advice was rejected by successive secretaries of state. Until now. The decision brings to an end an unprecedented 35-year-long impasse, one of the longest-running battles in British architectural heritage. Continue reading...