Violent drug barons, brutal monarchs, interdimensional murderers … television has no shortage of horrifying baddies. Here’s our pick of the worst Javier Bardem biting off toes in Cape Fear. Richard Gadd stomping on heads in Half Man. Nightmare neighbour David Morrissey whipping up mob violence in Tip Toe. Yes, TV villainy is everywhere. Which got us thinking about the biggest baddies in small-scre...
Violent drug barons, brutal monarchs, interdimensional murderers … television has no shortage of horrifying baddies. Here’s our pick of the worst Javier Bardem biting off toes in Cape Fear. Richard Gadd stomping on heads in Half Man. Nightmare neighbour David Morrissey whipping up mob violence in Tip Toe. Yes, TV villainy is everywhere. Which got us thinking about the biggest baddies in small-screen history. When compiling our list, we discounted children’s TV, which is a whole separate category . We also omitted reality TV pariahs, from Nasty Nick to Lisa Vanderpump, as well as talent show judges such as Simon Cowell and Craig Revel Horwood. Instead, we concentrated on comedy or drama, where villainy is at its fictional worst. Continue reading...
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is often seen as a benchmark for strong businesses, but that doesn’t mean every stock is worth owning. Some companies face significant challenges, whether it’s stagnating growth, heavy debt, or disruptive new competitors.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is often seen as a benchmark for strong businesses, but that doesn’t mean every stock is worth owning. Some companies face significant challenges, whether it’s stagnating growth, heavy debt, or disruptive new competitors.
Billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is considering a deal to become the largest shareholder in the London football team West Ham United, according to people familiar with the situation. Kretinsky has held initial discussions over buying shares from Vanessa Gold, who inherited them from her father after his death in early 2023, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private conversation. The d...
Billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is considering a deal to become the largest shareholder in the London football team West Ham United, according to people familiar with the situation. Kretinsky has held initial discussions over buying shares from Vanessa Gold, who inherited them from her father after his death in early 2023, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private conversation. The discussions with Gold are one of a number of options being considered by Kretinsky, one of the people said, adding that talks are ongoing and nothing has been decided. Kretinsky’s potential move comes amid uncertainty over the continuing involvement in the club of David Sullivan , the largest shareholder with 38.8%, following allegations of historic sex abuse. Sullivan denies the allegations. British businessman Sullivan, 77, bought control of West Ham in 2010 alongside David Gold. The pair made their fortunes in the adult industry. A spokesperson for Kretinsky declined to comment, as did an adviser for Gold. Kretinsky owns 27% of West Ham, which was recently relegated from the Premier League. He first bought into the team in 2021, buying part of Sullivan’s and Gold’s stake for £150 million ($200 million). The new independent football regulator could force Sullivan to sell the rest of his stake. Sullivan resigned as a director and co-chair of West Ham on Saturday, ahead of the publication of a joint investigation by the BBC and the Times. The regulator has begun preliminary questioning about the allegations before deciding whether to begin an official investigation, according to a statement. Kretinsky manages a business empire spans energy, retail and media. In 2024 he led a £3.6 billion takeover of Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distribution Services Plc. Kretinsky controls a share in the British supermarket chain J Sainsbury Plc , French media assets and led process of taking German wholesaler Metro AG private. He’s also an avid football fan, including a stake ...
As Meta Platforms, Inc. accelerates its AI infrastructure buildout, CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the U.S. will need a massive, skilled workforce to support the next phase of artificial intelligence development. Meta Launches Workforce Academy On Monday, Meta announced that it...
As Meta Platforms, Inc. accelerates its AI infrastructure buildout, CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the U.S. will need a massive, skilled workforce to support the next phase of artificial intelligence development. Meta Launches Workforce Academy On Monday, Meta announced that it...
An upgraded border crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is expected to open next month, allowing travellers to complete immigration in just five minutes, according to authorities. The redeveloped Huanggang Port Building will be the first link between the two cities to adopt the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” model. The South China Morning Post looks at the details of the checkpo...
An upgraded border crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is expected to open next month, allowing travellers to complete immigration in just five minutes, according to authorities. The redeveloped Huanggang Port Building will be the first link between the two cities to adopt the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” model. The South China Morning Post looks at the details of the checkpoint and what travellers can expect from the streamlined process. 1. How does it differ from the Lok...
The rapid escalation in hostilities between Iran and the US-Israel alliance since Sunday is being driven by Tehran’s growing confidence that it can arise like a mythical phoenix from the ashes of war, strategically stronger than ever in the Middle East. To achieve this objective, Tehran has enacted a tactical shift in its “unity of the theatres” strategy involving its Axis of Resistance allies in ...
The rapid escalation in hostilities between Iran and the US-Israel alliance since Sunday is being driven by Tehran’s growing confidence that it can arise like a mythical phoenix from the ashes of war, strategically stronger than ever in the Middle East. To achieve this objective, Tehran has enacted a tactical shift in its “unity of the theatres” strategy involving its Axis of Resistance allies in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq: Israeli and US attempts to decapitate one head of this hydra-like monster,...
Chinese memory module maker Biwin has signed a two-year agreement worth US$1.86 billion to secure flash memory chips, a deal larger than its annual revenue, as demand from artificial intelligence servers and data centres squeezes supply. Under the locked-volume, locked-price arrangement, Biwin would buy enterprise-grade chips in batches from the third quarter of 2026 through the second quarter of ...
Chinese memory module maker Biwin has signed a two-year agreement worth US$1.86 billion to secure flash memory chips, a deal larger than its annual revenue, as demand from artificial intelligence servers and data centres squeezes supply. Under the locked-volume, locked-price arrangement, Biwin would buy enterprise-grade chips in batches from the third quarter of 2026 through the second quarter of 2028, according to a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Tuesday. The supplier was not...
Supporters come way below sponsors in the stadium-seat pecking order. No wonder some fans plan to binge-watch matches on a Spanish package holiday There is nothing wonderful in the world that men in suits can’t find a way of spoiling. Football World Cups used to be great: massive events to which the world’s eyes were glued. Not one of us watched, or went to, West Germany, Argentina, Spain, Mexico ...
Supporters come way below sponsors in the stadium-seat pecking order. No wonder some fans plan to binge-watch matches on a Spanish package holiday There is nothing wonderful in the world that men in suits can’t find a way of spoiling. Football World Cups used to be great: massive events to which the world’s eyes were glued. Not one of us watched, or went to, West Germany, Argentina, Spain, Mexico or Italy and thought: “You know what? This is all very well – but if only it was all a bit bigger.” It was plenty big enough, but not big enough for the men in suits, for they had willies to wave, and so the tournament had to grow, because growth is good and bigger is always better . So now we have 48 teams competing not in one country but over a whole continent. Continue reading...
Most fathers would shield their children from death. Mine, a psychologist, did the opposite My dad and I kept a running list of ways we didn’t want to die. Being buried alive was always No 1. Whenever we learned about unusual deaths – accidents involving farm machinery, medieval torture, mobsters encasing victims’ feet in cement before throwing them in the ocean – we added them to our shared catal...
Most fathers would shield their children from death. Mine, a psychologist, did the opposite My dad and I kept a running list of ways we didn’t want to die. Being buried alive was always No 1. Whenever we learned about unusual deaths – accidents involving farm machinery, medieval torture, mobsters encasing victims’ feet in cement before throwing them in the ocean – we added them to our shared catalogue. Most fathers would shield their children from such morbid fascinations. Mine, a psychologist, did the opposite. He saw death as life’s most honest teacher and ensured I wouldn’t meet it as a stranger. Amanda Sloat is professor of practice in international relations at IE University in Madrid, Spain Continue reading...
With a whip-smart drag queen cast and celebrity cameos, Adam Shankman’s film is a refreshingly kooky twist on the summer movie caper Given the grip it exerts on the drag world in the US and beyond, it’s almost quaint to remember the janky beginnings of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which debuted in 2009 with cheap plywood sets, a “lounge” sponsored by Absolut Vodka and special guests including Michelle Will...
With a whip-smart drag queen cast and celebrity cameos, Adam Shankman’s film is a refreshingly kooky twist on the summer movie caper Given the grip it exerts on the drag world in the US and beyond, it’s almost quaint to remember the janky beginnings of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which debuted in 2009 with cheap plywood sets, a “lounge” sponsored by Absolut Vodka and special guests including Michelle Williams (the less famous one). Now, it’s a high-gloss spectacle that has won 14 Emmy awards, is credited for bringing pageant-style drag fully into the mainstream and is a magnet for star guest judges including Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga . There’s a sense that latter-day Drag Race is running on fumes, with 29 seasons including All Stars spinoffs and finale viewing figures that peaked in 2016. But the cottage industry that has grown up around it has never been bigger: former contestants like Trixie Mattel and Katya host a wildly popular podcast, while Bob the Drag Queen toured with Madonna and Jinkx Monsoon is the toast of Broadway with roles in Oh, Mary! and Chicago. Meanwhile, the show’s production company World of Wonder cannily keeps access to Drag Race’s 14 current international spin-offs exclusive to their own streaming platform, Wow Presents Plus. Continue reading...
Solar supplied 12.8% of US electricity in May even as Trump boosts coal over clean energy Even as Donald Trump boosts coal over clean energy, solar power is hitting new milestones in the US and remains the leading source of new power. Data released Wednesday by global energy thinktank Ember, along with a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (Seia) and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie, sh...
Solar supplied 12.8% of US electricity in May even as Trump boosts coal over clean energy Even as Donald Trump boosts coal over clean energy, solar power is hitting new milestones in the US and remains the leading source of new power. Data released Wednesday by global energy thinktank Ember, along with a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (Seia) and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie, show the continued growth of solar and decline of coal in the United States despite federal policy. In May, for the first time, solar supplied more of the nation’s electricity than coal, or 12.8%, Ember said. Coal supplied 12.2%, its fourth-lowest monthly share ever. Continue reading...
Former intelligence officers sound alarm over ‘devastating’ impact of president’s bid to overhaul US security agency For generations they have borne the mantle of strength and authority inherited from J Edgar Hoover’s Depression-era G-men, a label supposedly affixed after the arrest of Machine Gun Kelly in 1933. Now hardened veterans of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are projecting a di...
Former intelligence officers sound alarm over ‘devastating’ impact of president’s bid to overhaul US security agency For generations they have borne the mantle of strength and authority inherited from J Edgar Hoover’s Depression-era G-men, a label supposedly affixed after the arrest of Machine Gun Kelly in 1933. Now hardened veterans of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are projecting a different face as they seek to fight back against what many say is the systematic undermining of the bureau’s values under a drive by Donald Trump to turn it into an instrument of retribution. Continue reading...
(Dirty Hit) Aided by Jack Antonoff, Kim Gordon, Sampha and more, the cello-playing singer-songwriter’s abstracted yet tuneful second album is worth the seven year wait Seven years separate the release of cello-playing singer-songwriter Kelsey Lu’s debut album, Blood , from its follow-up. Lu has suggested the long gap was an act of artistic rebellion against a music industry obsessed with providing...
(Dirty Hit) Aided by Jack Antonoff, Kim Gordon, Sampha and more, the cello-playing singer-songwriter’s abstracted yet tuneful second album is worth the seven year wait Seven years separate the release of cello-playing singer-songwriter Kelsey Lu’s debut album, Blood , from its follow-up. Lu has suggested the long gap was an act of artistic rebellion against a music industry obsessed with providing a constant stream of new product – “tuning into my intuition, trusting myself and building a team to support that”, as they put it. Perhaps they wanted to carve their own path after a cover version – of 10cc’s I’m Not in Love, used in HBO drama Euphoria – became their most successful song, or perhaps they simply didn’t have the time to make an album amid their plethora of other interests. They have scored two movies: the Bafta-winning Earth Mama and the Netflix documentary feature Daughters . They have collaborated with Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Yves Tumor, Mykki Blanco, Jamie xx, Boys Noize and visual artist Kevin Beasley and contributed a version of Manchild to a Neneh Cherry tribute compilation and more. They have been photographed by Nan Goldin for a Gucci campaign and staged a performance art piece at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. They have also appeared on stage with Debbie Harry, while dressed as Kermit the Frog, recreating the Blondie vocalist’s famed 1981 appearance on The Muppet Show. Continue reading...
Sabine Nkusi, who fled Kigali during the genocide, leads initiative aimed at challenging stigma of sexual violence As a 14-year-old, Sabine Nkusi witnessed the horrors of the genocide against the Tutsi in her home country of Rwanda. Fleeing Kigali with her parents, brother and sister, she saw women lying dead by the road, many who had been the victim of sexual abuse. She vowed to God that if she s...
Sabine Nkusi, who fled Kigali during the genocide, leads initiative aimed at challenging stigma of sexual violence As a 14-year-old, Sabine Nkusi witnessed the horrors of the genocide against the Tutsi in her home country of Rwanda. Fleeing Kigali with her parents, brother and sister, she saw women lying dead by the road, many who had been the victim of sexual abuse. She vowed to God that if she survived, she would dedicate her life to trying to give dignity to women who suffered this unspeakable brutality. “I said to God … if I’m ever going to make it out of here … I want to be part of something … a vehicle to end that sort of violence.” Continue reading...
There’s a downside to too much convenience: it harms our bodies There is a seductive fantasy being floated by AI executives that all the efficiency their products will bring us will lead to humans finally returning to their essential, best selves. Picture it: when this day arrives, we’ll spring from our chairs, push aside our keyboards and, supposedly, do all things we’ve been meaning to do: hike,...
There’s a downside to too much convenience: it harms our bodies There is a seductive fantasy being floated by AI executives that all the efficiency their products will bring us will lead to humans finally returning to their essential, best selves. Picture it: when this day arrives, we’ll spring from our chairs, push aside our keyboards and, supposedly, do all things we’ve been meaning to do: hike, cook and finally take a pilates class. It’s true – AI has already taken some workday drudgery, such as reading and writing contracts, presentations and quarterly reports, off some people’s plates. Within a few years, we’re told, a team of invisible digital assistants will take over mundane domestic chores too: making medical appointments, renewing our car insurance and planning. The vision is enticing: finally, the moment when we can stop switching-switching-switching between screens and devices, put our health first and flourish . Unfortunately, if the history of innovation teaches us anything, it’s that labor-saving technology has rarely, if ever, triggered healthier habits. Drive-throughs and microwaves did not lead to more time spent walking in nature. When escalators replaced stairs, email took over from walking over to talk to a colleague, and wandering through the video store was swapped out for streaming from the couch, few of us considered how these tiny conveniences would chip away at our physical health, year after more efficient year. A task that took almost no effort used to be described with the saying: “You hardly need to lift a finger.” Now, we literally lift a finger and – tap – the chore is done. Continue reading...
The ‘fraud’ he sees is in the very concept of democracy, in the idea that people who don’t agree with or fawn over him might have a say, too By now, it is an event as regular and predictable as the tides: a Democrat wins an election, and Donald Trump says that that election was rigged. There does not need to be any evidence for this; indeed, there never is. Trump will say it anyway. He rallies the...
The ‘fraud’ he sees is in the very concept of democracy, in the idea that people who don’t agree with or fawn over him might have a say, too By now, it is an event as regular and predictable as the tides: a Democrat wins an election, and Donald Trump says that that election was rigged. There does not need to be any evidence for this; indeed, there never is. Trump will say it anyway. He rallies the rightwing media ecosystem to spread the lie; he convinces his followers to believe it. That this, by now, a repetitive spectacle, devoid of suspense, does not mean that it is not dangerous. Continue reading...
Police who arrested Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira say she admitted that she had lied to obtain financial support A 38-year-old woman has been arrested in Brazil, accused of pretending to be a 12-year-old girl, allegedly to deceive a couple who took her into their home for more than a year. Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was charged in the southern state of Santa Catarina with fraud and false iden...
Police who arrested Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira say she admitted that she had lied to obtain financial support A 38-year-old woman has been arrested in Brazil, accused of pretending to be a 12-year-old girl, allegedly to deceive a couple who took her into their home for more than a year. Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was charged in the southern state of Santa Catarina with fraud and false identity offences. Continue reading...
A dog slaughterhouse owner in southern China has closed his facility and begun transitioning to a new livelihood with support from animal advocates, just days before the start of the annual controversial Yulin dog meat festival. Launched by local traders in 2010, the Yulin festival, held annually around late June in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is widely regarded as a commercial campaign to b...
A dog slaughterhouse owner in southern China has closed his facility and begun transitioning to a new livelihood with support from animal advocates, just days before the start of the annual controversial Yulin dog meat festival. Launched by local traders in 2010, the Yulin festival, held annually around late June in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is widely regarded as a commercial campaign to boost sales rather than a long-standing tradition. It has long been condemned for animal cruelty, the...
The reclusive figure spent decades filling every surface of her apartment at the legendary New York hotel with artworks that rose in teetering piles. Some are now on display for the first time in Glasgow When the artist Yto Barrada stepped through the door of room 503, up on the fifth floor of New York’s Chelsea Hotel , she was overwhelmed by what she saw. Every inch of the walls was plastered wit...
The reclusive figure spent decades filling every surface of her apartment at the legendary New York hotel with artworks that rose in teetering piles. Some are now on display for the first time in Glasgow When the artist Yto Barrada stepped through the door of room 503, up on the fifth floor of New York’s Chelsea Hotel , she was overwhelmed by what she saw. Every inch of the walls was plastered with Xeroxed word art, graphic reproductions of geometric sculptures, hundreds of photographs of passersby in the street below and collections of leaves laid out in grids. Piles of cardboard boxes and crates, full of yet more artworks, prints, books and maquettes, created teetering canyons through which Barrada had to turn sideways to navigate. Every visible surface was covered with sculptural forms in brass, marble and wood. In the midst of it all, on a small daybed surrounded by this aggregation of 40 years of fervent work, was Bettina, as the resident artist of the famous New York landmark was simply known. “One sees Bettina and understands that some disaster has taken place, long ago,” writes Barrada in Bettina, the book she edited with the designer Gregor Huber, published by Aperture in 2022. Barrada was one of only a handful of people the reclusive artist had permitted to enter 503 since she moved into the Chelsea in 1972. Despite the bohemian buzz around the hotel, with neighbours including Patti Smith, Bob Dylan and many of Andy Warhol’s entourage, Bettina chose to lock herself away, devoting her life to conceptual works that seemed to flow unstoppably from deep within, a creative impulse she likened to a divine energy. Continue reading...