A Russian oil-laden tanker that was bound for China has U-turned in the South China Sea, and is now hurrying to India after New Delhi began doubling down on imports from Moscow. The Aqua Titan is set to arrive in New Mangalore on March 21 with its Urals cargo that it loaded from a Baltic Sea port in late January, according to ship-tracking data. The Aframax vessel originally signaled the Chinese p...
A Russian oil-laden tanker that was bound for China has U-turned in the South China Sea, and is now hurrying to India after New Delhi began doubling down on imports from Moscow. The Aqua Titan is set to arrive in New Mangalore on March 21 with its Urals cargo that it loaded from a Baltic Sea port in late January, according to ship-tracking data. The Aframax vessel originally signaled the Chinese port of Rizhao as its destination before making an about-face in Southeast Asian waters in mid-March, days after the US gave the green light for India to temporarily increase Russian purchases. Indian refiners snapped up a whopping 30 million barrels of Russian oil in the week that followed the concession, a move aimed to help the nation cope with lost Middle Eastern supplies due to the war in Iran. Since then, more countries have been allowed to resume purchases from Russia. That paves the way for further diversions from China, which has served as Moscow’s importer of last resort in recent months after India reduced purchases . The return of buyers, including those in Japan and South Korea, is likely to push prices higher. At least seven tankers carrying Russian oil have switched their destinations mid-voyage from China to India, according to Vortexa Ltd., with all of India’s major refiners now in the market for the country’s crude. Separately, the Suezmax Zouzou N. is signaling India’s Sikka as its next destination, with an estimated arrival date of March 25, ship-tracking data show. The tanker is carrying Kazakh CPC Blend crude, according to Kpler. It had sailed from Novorossiysk on Russia’s Black Sea to the waters off Rizhao, before turning around in early March to make its way to India.
Apple Inc. (ISIN: US0378331005) shares advanced on NASDAQ amid CEO Tim Cook quashing retirement speculation, highlighting leadership stability for long-term investors. German-speaking investors gain from strong European demand and currency-hedged exposure to US tech growth. Apple Inc. stock rose on Tuesday as CEO Tim Cook dismissed retirement speculation during an appearance on Good Morning Americ...
Apple Inc. (ISIN: US0378331005) shares advanced on NASDAQ amid CEO Tim Cook quashing retirement speculation, highlighting leadership stability for long-term investors. German-speaking investors gain from strong European demand and currency-hedged exposure to US tech growth. Apple Inc. stock rose on Tuesday as CEO Tim Cook dismissed retirement speculation during an appearance on Good Morning America. This reassurance quelled investor concerns over leadership transition at the world's most valuable company. For DACH investors, the move underscores Apple's resilience in a volatile tech sector, with Europe representing a key growth market amid stabilizing eurozone demand. As of: 18.03.2026 By Dr. Elena Voss, Senior Tech Equity Analyst – Focusing on sustainable innovation cycles in consumer hardware and their impact on European portfolios. Leadership Stability Fuels Immediate Rally Tim Cook's public dismissal of retirement rumors provided the spark for Apple Inc. stock's uptick. Shares traded 0.60% higher at $254.34 USD on NASDAQ, reflecting renewed confidence in executive continuity. This development arrives as analysts debate succession planning at mature tech giants. The statement counters months of speculation intensified by Cook's age and the company's shifting growth dynamics. Investors view his continued tenure as a vote for steady execution on AI integration and services expansion. Short-term momentum indicators, like RSI at 38.17, suggest cooling but not oversold conditions. Market reaction was swift, with volume supporting the modest gain. This stability signal matters now because Apple's ecosystem relies on long-term vision, from hardware refreshes to software services. DACH portfolios, often heavy in US tech, benefit from reduced key-man risk. Official source The investor-relations page or official company announcement offers the clearest direct view of the current situation around Apple Inc.. Go to the official company announcement MacBook Neo Launch Adds St...
Despite this, she does not want to compromise her goal of working in her chosen career, saying there would be "no progression" in other entry level jobs in retail or hospitality.
Despite this, she does not want to compromise her goal of working in her chosen career, saying there would be "no progression" in other entry level jobs in retail or hospitality.
If you want upside from the AI boom but don't want direct exposure to tech stocks, energy looks like the next best option. But not all opportunities are created equal. Constellation Energy (CEG +0.69%) has become Wall Street's favorite AI power story, riding a narrative that nuclear energy will fuel the next wave of data center growth. But the fundamentals tell a more complicated story. CEG is pri...
If you want upside from the AI boom but don't want direct exposure to tech stocks, energy looks like the next best option. But not all opportunities are created equal. Constellation Energy (CEG +0.69%) has become Wall Street's favorite AI power story, riding a narrative that nuclear energy will fuel the next wave of data center growth. But the fundamentals tell a more complicated story. CEG is priced for a future that hasn't arrived yet. The stock trades at 41x trailing earnings on a ~$109 billion market cap, while full-year net income fell 38% year-over-year to $2.3 billion. While the company did have a Q4 revenue beat, it was a 13% increase from the prior year quarter. Decent growth, but not worth a 41x multiple on its' own. Meanwhile, the stock is already down 18% year-to-date from its January peak. It's simply a crowded trade losing altitude before the fundamentals have caught up to the hype. Expand NASDAQ : CEG Constellation Energy Today's Change ( 0.69 %) $ 2.11 Current Price $ 307.69 Key Data Points Market Cap $111B Day's Range $ 305.55 - $ 311.01 52wk Range $ 161.35 - $ 412.70 Volume 2M Avg Vol 3.6M Gross Margin 17.35 % Dividend Yield 0.52 % Devon Energy (DVN +1.65%) on the other hand, presents a contrasting set of fundamentals that analysts are beginning to examine more closely, and almost nobody in the mainstream financial press is talking about it. The Real AI Power Connection Hyperscale data centers powering AI workloads consume enormous amounts of electricity, and natural gas is the dominant fuel source for new power generation in the United States. Devon isn't just a passive beneficiary of this trend. The company has signed a 7-year gas supply agreement to deliver 65 MMcf per day to a proposed 1,350 MW power plant tied directly to AI-driven electricity demand, effective 2028. It also locked in a 10-year LNG export contract for 50 MMcf per day, also effective 2028. These are contracted cash flows, not power purchase agreements built on hopes that nuclea...
Recognized for its continuous high engagement with Microsoft Advertising and its growth potential TOKYO, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- transcosmos is proud to announce that it was named the Elite Partner in the Microsoft Advertising Partner Program run by Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. (Microsoft), following its first honor in the Microsoft Advertising Partner Awards 2025*. The Elite status is the hig...
Recognized for its continuous high engagement with Microsoft Advertising and its growth potential TOKYO, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- transcosmos is proud to announce that it was named the Elite Partner in the Microsoft Advertising Partner Program run by Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. (Microsoft), following its first honor in the Microsoft Advertising Partner Awards 2025*. The Elite status is the highest tier in this certification program, which consists of three tiers—Elite, Select, and Partner. transcosmos×Microsoft Advertising Elite Partner The Microsoft Advertising Partner Program is a loyalty program that supports partner companies and enhances their engagement. Partners are certified based on their annual advertising revenues and receive various privileges based on their certified tier, including access to exclusive events, promotions, a partner badge, and recognition at the Partner Award events. transcosmos was the first in the industry to implement Microsoft Advertising, developing and deploying industry-specific solutions using its unique feeds, as well as operating ad products in diverse ways to maximize Microsoft Advertising performance. In Performance Max (PMAX), in particular, transcosmos continued to demonstrate strong results in both the number of deployments and operational scale, contributing to many clients' efforts to solve their business challenges. Building on the solid collaboration and strengthening its relationship with Microsoft Advertising through the Microsoft Advertising Partner Program, which ensures greater access to the latest product information and operational expertise, transcosmos will contribute to clients in growing their businesses even further. *Related press release: transcosmos wins Data Integration Excellence Award in Microsoft Advertising Partner Awards 2025 https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/company/news/251127_0001.html *transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries. ...
Key Points Constellation Energy’s valuation bakes in major AI-driven upside even as recent earnings growth and year-to-date performance have lagged the hype. Devon Energy offers a direct natural-gas angle to rising data-center electricity demand through long-term supply contracts and a pending merger that could quickly boost dividends and buybacks. 10 stocks we like better than Constellation Energ...
Key Points Constellation Energy’s valuation bakes in major AI-driven upside even as recent earnings growth and year-to-date performance have lagged the hype. Devon Energy offers a direct natural-gas angle to rising data-center electricity demand through long-term supply contracts and a pending merger that could quickly boost dividends and buybacks. 10 stocks we like better than Constellation Energy › If you want upside from the AI boom but don't want direct exposure to tech stocks, energy looks like the next best option. But not all opportunities are created equal. Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG) has become Wall Street's favorite AI power story, riding a narrative that nuclear energy will fuel the next wave of data center growth. But the fundamentals tell a more complicated story. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » CEG is priced for a future that hasn't arrived yet. The stock trades at 41x trailing earnings on a ~$109 billion market cap, while full-year net income fell 38% year-over-year to $2.3 billion. While the company did have a Q4 revenue beat, it was a 13% increase from the prior year quarter. Decent growth, but not worth a 41x multiple on its' own. Meanwhile, the stock is already down 18% year-to-date from its January peak. It's simply a crowded trade losing altitude before the fundamentals have caught up to the hype. Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) on the other hand, presents a contrasting set of fundamentals that analysts are beginning to examine more closely, and almost nobody in the mainstream financial press is talking about it. The Real AI Power Connection Hyperscale data centers powering AI workloads consume enormous amounts of electricity, and natural gas is the dominant fuel source for new power generation in the United States. Devon isn't just a passive beneficiary of thi...
Alexandre Tziripouloff/iStock Editorial via Getty Images European defense contractor BAE Systems ( BAESY , BAESF ) has gained 33.7% since my last report, outperforming the S&P 500’s 3.4% decline. The performance matches and even exceeds my bullish view supported by expanding European defense budgets and weapon system recapitalization . However, we do note that while demand for defense equipment re...
Alexandre Tziripouloff/iStock Editorial via Getty Images European defense contractor BAE Systems ( BAESY , BAESF ) has gained 33.7% since my last report, outperforming the S&P 500’s 3.4% decline. The performance matches and even exceeds my bullish view supported by expanding European defense budgets and weapon system recapitalization . However, we do note that while demand for defense equipment remains high and tension is increasing, we should continue monitoring whether current prices still provide a compelling entry point. In the case of BAE Systems, I do believe this is the case, driven by a sharp discount to the valuation levels of aerospace and defense peers. In this report, I discuss the company’s FY25 earnings, discuss the outlook for 2026, and update my price target in support of my continued buy rating. BAE Systems Sales Grow, Margin Expansion Largely Absent Due To Early-Stage Programs BAE Systems BAE Systems saw its order intake grow 9% to £36.8 billion, while sales grew 10% on constant currency and 8% reported to £30.7 billion. This marks a book-to-bill ratio of 1.2x, which is more or less stable year-on-year. The backlog grew 7.5%, from £77.8 billion to £83.6 billion. The backlog now covers 2.3 years of annual sales against the revenue levels seen in 2025. We do note that this does not provide a major opportunity to accelerate sales growth but is still sufficient to maintain high single digit growth rates. EBIT grew 10% to £3.32 billion, with margins expanding 20 basis points to 10.8%. What we see is that there is no major operating leverage benefit on the profits, and that is partially driven by the fact that defense contractors have to continue investing to maintain an attractive product portfolio while also continuing to invest to expand production capability. Furthermore, there are some programs that are in their early phases, meaning engineering, ramp-up or low-rate production, and thus may dilute margins. So, higher sales and higher volumes are not...
"Any suggestion that we ignore FCA reports misrepresents our ongoing efforts to protect people," Meta's Daniels said. The person said that despite regular engagement with Meta over the issue of scam ads, the FCA has failed to see a material difference in its approach and will continue to test the company's controls and monitoring systems. The regulator repeated its review of posts on Meta for anot...
"Any suggestion that we ignore FCA reports misrepresents our ongoing efforts to protect people," Meta's Daniels said. The person said that despite regular engagement with Meta over the issue of scam ads, the FCA has failed to see a material difference in its approach and will continue to test the company's controls and monitoring systems. The regulator repeated its review of posts on Meta for another week in December. It again found that a small number of repeat offenders were responsible for the majority of the illegal ads it discovered, the person familiar with the FCA's work said, without giving a breakdown of the number of illegal ads or repeat offenders. "Fraud is the most common crime in the UK," an FCA spokesperson said. "With over half of some scams originating on their platforms, it's vital Meta steps up and uses its tools to protect users from scam content." The regulator focused on Meta's platforms - which include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp - because they carry a disproportionate amount of suspicious financial ads, a person familiar with the FCA's work said. Asked about the FCA's findings, Ryan Daniels, a spokesperson for Meta, said it fights fraud and scams aggressively on a global level and takes swift action on the vast majority of reports within days. Britain's FCA warned last year that people were increasingly being targeted on social media by online trading scams where fraudsters offer currency trades. Its review was an attempt to see how successful Meta has been at weeding out the rogue ads. Worldwide, billions of users of Meta's platforms have been exposed to ads for fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes, illegal online casinos and banned medical products, according to internal Meta documents previously reported by Reuters. What's more, 56% of those ads were from an unspecified number of unauthorised advertisers the FCA had already flagged to Meta, according to the results of the review seen by Reuters and reported here for the fir...
(RTTNews) - The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Ltd. (0045.HK, HKSHF), on Wednesday, reported higher income for the full year 2025 compared with the previous year. The increase was driven by a recovery in global travel demand, improved operational efficiency and cost control, and growing contributions from its newer properties, including The Peninsula London and The Peninsula Istanbul, as they conti...
(RTTNews) - The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Ltd. (0045.HK, HKSHF), on Wednesday, reported higher income for the full year 2025 compared with the previous year. The increase was driven by a recovery in global travel demand, improved operational efficiency and cost control, and growing contributions from its newer properties, including The Peninsula London and The Peninsula Istanbul, as they continued to ramp up and mature. For the full year 2025, comprehensive income attributable to shareholders of the company came in at HK$ 709 million compared with loss of HK$ 906 million in the previous year. Earnings per share were HK$0.19 versus loss per share of HK$ 0.57 last year. Underlying profit came in at HK$105 million compared with loss of HK$ 176 million in the previous year. EBITDA rose to HK$ 1.66 billion from HK$ 1.45 billion in the prior year. Operating increased to HK$ 961 million from HK$ 760 million in the same period a year ago. Revenue decreased to HK$ 7.98 billion from HK$ 10.29 billion in the previous year. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels is currently trading 0.15% lesser at HK$6.650 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
油價急升｜海關、消防搗3宗非法油站 拘2人包括光顧司機 涉於屋邨停車場內出售鬼油 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】海關和消防再破獲3宗非法流動加油站，拘捕2人，當中有人在屋邨停車場以七人車出售非法汽...
油價急升｜海關、消防搗3宗非法油站 拘2人包括光顧司機 涉於屋邨停車場內出售鬼油 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】海關和消防再破獲3宗非法流動加油站，拘捕2人，當中有人在屋邨停車場以七人車出售非法汽油。 涉案兩輛私家車擺放在樂華北邨停車場，灰色七人車車廂內放置了油缸。海關及消防發現有人搭喉將汽油注入旁邊的私家車，即場檢獲400公升未完稅汽油和一些入油工具，懷疑有人經營非法油站；又拘捕操作員及光顧非法油站的司機，晚上將他們帶走調查。 海關周一亦在東涌一個棄置貨櫃檢獲1,400公升未完稅汽油，以及這輛正在改裝的客貨車；翌日再在深水埗一個非法加油站檢獲30公升未完稅汽油。 海關表示，近日本港汽油價格持續上升，導致不法分子有誘因販賣較便宜的未完稅汽油圖利，再次提醒非法汽油可能損害汽車，影響行車安全，將會和消防處緊密合作繼續打擊。
習近平會見土庫曼民族領袖、人民委員會主席別爾德穆哈梅多夫 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】國家主席習近平在北京釣魚台國賓館會見到訪的土庫曼民族領袖、人民委員會主席別爾德穆哈梅多夫。 習近平指出無論國...
習近平會見土庫曼民族領袖、人民委員會主席別爾德穆哈梅多夫 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】國家主席習近平在北京釣魚台國賓館會見到訪的土庫曼民族領袖、人民委員會主席別爾德穆哈梅多夫。 習近平指出無論國際形勢如何變化，中方將始終支持土方維護國家獨立、主權和領土完整，始終支持土方奉行永久中立政策，雙方要加快推進共建「一帶一路」倡議和「復興絲綢之路」戰略對接，擴大天然氣領域合作規模，提升貿易和投資水平。 別爾德穆哈梅多夫則讚賞中方在國際事務中秉持公正立場，願同中方加強在聯合國、中國-中亞機制等多邊平台的協調配合，共同維護地區和世界的和平穩定。
Chinese scientists say they have turned E coli into a cancer therapy that can colonise tumour cells, as well as produce and deliver an existing cancer drug directly from within, reducing the toxic side effects of traditional chemotherapy. The research, performed on mice with breast cancer, paved the way for targeted cancer treatments in future, said the scientists from Shandong University in the e...
Chinese scientists say they have turned E coli into a cancer therapy that can colonise tumour cells, as well as produce and deliver an existing cancer drug directly from within, reducing the toxic side effects of traditional chemotherapy. The research, performed on mice with breast cancer, paved the way for targeted cancer treatments in future, said the scientists from Shandong University in the eastern port city of Qingdao. Escherichia coli (E coli) is a group of bacteria commonly found in the gut. While most strains are harmless, some strains cause watery diarrhoea, vomiting and a fever. China turns to AI to ease overstretched healthcare system China turns to AI to ease overstretched healthcare system In the study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS Biology on Wednesday, the Chinese team worked on a strain called E coli Nissle 1917 (EcN). Advertisement It was named after German doctor Alfred Nissle, who isolated it from the faeces of a healthy soldier during an outbreak of diarrhoea in World War I. Nissle later developed a probiotic formulation containing the strain, which is used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, including diarrhoea. In addition to its known role in the gut, scientists have been exploring it as a promising candidate to distribute cancer treatment. Advertisement The probiotic strain showed “the capacity to both accumulate and proliferate within solid tumours, which makes it a highly promising live vector for application in bacterial cancer therapy,” the Chinese team wrote. The researchers said the “engineered EcN enables drug biosynthesis and precise delivery, offering powerful anticancer activity”.
The UK government is facing calls to spend almost £4bn to launch a “social tariff” providing cheaper energy for poor households amid growing concerns over the Iran conflict. As households brace for an increase in living costs, the Resolution Foundation said ministers should develop a system of discounted domestic energy bills in time for next winter to protect the most vulnerable households. Urgin...
The UK government is facing calls to spend almost £4bn to launch a “social tariff” providing cheaper energy for poor households amid growing concerns over the Iran conflict. As households brace for an increase in living costs, the Resolution Foundation said ministers should develop a system of discounted domestic energy bills in time for next winter to protect the most vulnerable households. Urging the government to target support for those most in need, the thinktank warned that a blanket approach to protect all households – similar to Liz Truss’s energy price guarantee after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine – would be “wasteful” or risk leaving poor households behind. In a report that comes as ministers face pressure to intervene on energy bills, the Resolution Foundation said a social tariff worth £3.7bn that subsidises the gas and electricity bills of the poorest households could provide an average £310 for the poorest tenth of households, rising to £520 for a family with high energy needs. It said such an approach would have the most impact while providing value for money amid concern that elevated levels of government borrowing and debt are limiting the chancellor Rachel Reeves’s capacity to respond. A social tariff would provide a 21% discount on electricity and gas prices to households with incomes before housing costs that are below £38,000. Keir Starmer’s government has come under growing pressure from opposition MPs about the potential rise in living costs, as the Tories, Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats push for the chancellor to drop a planned rise in fuel duty from September. A 5p cut in the tax on petrol and diesel – first made after the Russian invasion of Ukraine – is scheduled to be phased out in that month. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has also pledged to scrap VAT and remaining green levies on energy bills. VAT is set at 5% on household energy bills. At the autumn budget, Reeves cut green and social levies from bills, transferring funding to g...
Deep down, Ali Larijani always believed that the western powers were bent on destroying Iran’s revolutionary regime, for which he had fought on the battlefield. The prescience of that inner conviction has now been vindicated in lethal fashion as Larijani has become the latest establishment figure to die at the hands of Israel, killed in an apparently targeted airstrike, according to reports. It ca...
Deep down, Ali Larijani always believed that the western powers were bent on destroying Iran’s revolutionary regime, for which he had fought on the battlefield. The prescience of that inner conviction has now been vindicated in lethal fashion as Larijani has become the latest establishment figure to die at the hands of Israel, killed in an apparently targeted airstrike, according to reports. It came frothing to the surface when the Guardian interviewed him in June 2006, when he was in the thick of tense and protracted cat-and-mouse negotiations with the west over Iran’s nuclear programme. As secretary of the supreme national security council – the same position he held at the time of his death – Larijani, a former Revolutionary Guards commander, was the point man in a dispute that had seemed to have risen to existential levels for the regime which he served and its arch enemy Israel. 9:26 Key Iran leader ‘killed’: what does it mean for war? - The Latest He had been guarded throughout an interview conducted in his office in Tehran with three Guardian journalists, Simon Tisdall, Ewen MacAskill and myself – until I asked him if he considered the western concerns over Iran’s uranium enrichment programme to be genuine. “Sir, I think you know the answer to that question,” he said, becoming animated and fixing me with a clear-eyed gaze. “If it was not the nuclear matter, they would have come up with something else … the pressure they are putting us under is reason enough for us to be suspicious.” It was a revealing moment of clarity into the state of mind of a man who otherwise appeared to be inscrutable – an impression compounded by the fact that Larijani was talking to us through an interpreter. Twenty years later, the interview seems eerily prophetic in other ways, as Larijani warned that “the price of oil will skyrocket” in the event of a conflict and discussed the potential closure of the strait of Hormuz. My other distinct memory of the encounter is when I thanked La...
A spicy, aromatic way with lentils that’s redolent of north African cuisine and that pairs wonderfully with white fish, and a rustic Italian pasta Like most people in 1980s Britain, I didn’t really understand lentils, even though I was a professional cook in my 20s at the time. Until, that is, I had them at a restaurant in France, which braised them very carefully; thereafter I was for ever a conv...
A spicy, aromatic way with lentils that’s redolent of north African cuisine and that pairs wonderfully with white fish, and a rustic Italian pasta Like most people in 1980s Britain, I didn’t really understand lentils, even though I was a professional cook in my 20s at the time. Until, that is, I had them at a restaurant in France, which braised them very carefully; thereafter I was for ever a convert. My favourites are French puy, Italian casteluccio and Spanish pardina, because they’re all refined, resilient and delicious; they’re versatile, too, and complement all sorts, from fish and meat to vegetables. The rich, Italian-style braised lentils for today’s pasta can also act as a base for all manner of other dishes, and they taste better reheated the next day – it’s the best earthy comfort food imaginable and just so happens to be seriously good for you, too. The fish dish, meanwhile, is a complete contrast, and packed with sweet and spicy flavours more reminiscent of southern Spain and north Africa. Continue reading...
Oral sex in the kitchen. Weed-smoking and talk of temazepam. A full-frontal Andrew Lincoln shower scene. And that’s just in the first episode. Welcome to This Life. Pop on a Portishead CD and leave your inhibitions (and clothes) at the door. This Wednesday marks 30 years since the landmark drama swaggered on to our screens in a fug of cigarette smoke and swearing. The BBC is celebrating the annive...
Oral sex in the kitchen. Weed-smoking and talk of temazepam. A full-frontal Andrew Lincoln shower scene. And that’s just in the first episode. Welcome to This Life. Pop on a Portishead CD and leave your inhibitions (and clothes) at the door. This Wednesday marks 30 years since the landmark drama swaggered on to our screens in a fug of cigarette smoke and swearing. The BBC is celebrating the anniversary by rerunning the none-more-90s saga, with a new introduction by the actor Daniela Nardini, who played the breakout heroine Anna. It enables viewers to revisit a cult classic that not only captured the hedonistic spirit of the Cool Britannia era but left a lasting mark on TV. Amy Jenkins, the show’s creator and chief writer, recalls how This Life came into being: “Michael Jackson – not that one, the BBC Two controller – wanted to be more like Channel 4, so decided to commission a cool drama for young people about trainee lawyers. When I told [executive producer] Tony Garnett that I’d briefly been a lawyer, his eyes lit up. But I didn’t want to write a show about lawyers! Fuck, so boring. That’s why I’d left to become a writer. I agreed on the condition that we never had courtroom scenes and it wasn’t actually about law at all. I had another idea for a script about the rave scene, so I brought that spirit into it.” double quotation mark It was fresh and youthful but didn’t feel like Hollyoaks. They drank and did drugs but there wouldn’t be any big consequences Daniela Nardini Her seminal series followed a gang of law graduates as they embarked on their adult lives while sharing a shabby house near London’s Southwark Bridge. Booze flowed. Quips flew. Debauchery followed. “I remember being in BBC meetings and people asking, ‘Why do we care about this bunch of idiots?’” says Jenkins. “By which they meant fairly privileged university graduates. It was oddly radical at the time to show middle-class young people who were drinking, swearing, taking drugs and having sex. It str...
Finding out who owns land in England is to become much simpler because a paywall will be lifted from large parts of the Land Registry, the government is to announce. A small number of landowners control the majority of land but finding out who owns what is difficult to piece together, even for government departments, owing to the way the Land Registry operates. Freeing up access will make it easie...
Finding out who owns land in England is to become much simpler because a paywall will be lifted from large parts of the Land Registry, the government is to announce. A small number of landowners control the majority of land but finding out who owns what is difficult to piece together, even for government departments, owing to the way the Land Registry operates. Freeing up access will make it easier to determine ownership of key areas, such as river catchments, grouse moors and peatland. The change comes as part of a major reform to the way England’s land is managed. The government’s long-awaited land use framework – to be unveiled by Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, on Wednesday afternoon – marks the first time that government has attempted to assess how best to use farmland, nature reserves and areas of degraded land to help balance competing needs for land for food production, housing, energy and industry. For the first time, ministers will set out how much land is needed to meet the UK’s net zero target through growing forests and restoring peatland as “carbon sinks” and through energy generation from solar and windfarms. Only about 1% of land will be needed for renewable energy generation, according to the government’s new estimate, and much of the land required will still be used for food production, for instance through livestock grazing around windfarms and under solar panels. New mapping will also make it easier to assess how the restoration of peatlands in upland areas could reduce flooding from rivers, which is expected to worsen as the climate crisis deepens. Reynolds said: “It is more important than ever that we make the right decisions about our finite land, especially in the face of the dual threat of the climate and nature crises. The land use framework will hardwire climate resilience and nature-based solutions into our decision-making to ensure that we have safe homes for the future.” Guy Shrubsole, author of Who Owns England?, said: “The b...
One of the profound tragedies in life is the burial of the youngest among us. In Neolithic China (9,000–1,500 BC), urn burials were often designated for the deceased children and infants. While urn burials for older babies have been extensively studied, there remains little understanding of burial customs surrounding stillbirths, miscarriages, or newborns who passed shortly after birth. A new 2026...
One of the profound tragedies in life is the burial of the youngest among us. In Neolithic China (9,000–1,500 BC), urn burials were often designated for the deceased children and infants. While urn burials for older babies have been extensively studied, there remains little understanding of burial customs surrounding stillbirths, miscarriages, or newborns who passed shortly after birth. A new 2026 study in China revealed that by examining 16 urn burials associated with perinatal deaths from over 6,000 years ago, ancient peoples distinguished these infants from older babies. This study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, sheds light on how early societies in China perceived individuals who died during the perinatal period, specifically infants aged 34 to 40 gestational weeks – a full-term pregnancy typically lasting about 40 weeks. A study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science illuminates how early societies in China understood individuals who died during the perinatal period, specifically infants aged 34 to 40 weeks gestational age. Photo: Journal of Archaeological Science A notable finding was that the remains were interred in separate jars located within a designated area specifically for perinatal deaths. Advertisement “The intentional and careful funerary treatment reveals a distinct social identity for perinatal infants, as well as the special funerary concepts and cultural beliefs held by ancient residents,” the authors stated. Previous research indicates that infants, typically older than those who died perinatally, were treated differently in ancient China compared to older children. However, there has been limited investigation into whether Neolithic cultures distinguished perinatal deaths from other forms of infant mortality. An ancient Chinese map, above. Infant jar burials were a prevalent and culturally significant mortuary practice in ancient China. Photo: Baidu “By identifying specific developmental stages, we aim to unco...