The Int'l Man's Hot Links Archive 2022: July 1 - Dec 31

Hot Links Archive 2017 - 2018 (1): - June 30	Hot Links Archive 2018 (2): July 1 - December 31
Hot Links Archive 2019 (1): January 1 - June 30	Hot Links Archive 2019 (2): July 1 - December 31
Hot Links Archive 2020 (1): January 1 - June 30	Hot Links Archive 2020 (2): July 1 - September 30
Hot Links Archive 2020 (3): Oct 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2021 (1): January 1 - June 30
Hot Links Archive 2021 (2): July 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2022 (1): January 1 - June 30
Hot Links Archive 2022 (2): July 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2023 (1): January 1 - June 30
Hot Links Archive 2023 (2): July 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2024 (1): January 1 - June 30

Hot Links Archive 2022: July 1 - December 31

December 31, 2022

• Coronavirus: A-Z - everything you need to know | Face Masks - "3700+ Coronavirus COVID-19 Advice, News & Resources." UPDATED DAILY!
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases - by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
• CORONAVIRUS GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TRACKER - "Governments are taking a wide range of measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This tool aims to track and compare policy responses around the world, rigorously and consistently."
• Tracking Covid-19 vaccinations worldwide - "At least 218 countries and territories have administered more than 10 billion doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, since the first Covid-19 case was reported in China in late 2019. Several different vaccines have been developed at record speed, in large part due to years of research on related viruses and billions of dollars in investment."
• Climate Change - "Check out all about climate change: 1200+ evidence, facts, information, news, reviews and resources."
• Our world in data - "Research & data to make progress against the world’s largest problems."
• Ukraine war live - "Live coverage of the all the latest developments in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine."
• THIS WEEK'S THREE BUZZWORDS - CHATHAM HOUSE RULE.
• New Year’s Eve: celebrations around the world as 2023 begins - live - "Large fireworks events return in many major cities after pandemic."
• New Year’s Eve 2022 survival guide: how & where to ring in 2023 across Australia - "Heading out to watch the new year fireworks? Plan ahead, pack light and check the drinking regulations."
• 10 great places to spend New Year's Eve - "These destinations around the world have a well-deserved reputation for traditionally throwing a great New Year's Eve shindig, and they're bouncing back from the subdued celebrations of the past two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. Be sure to plan for prime parties and the best viewing areas for fireworks. Some venues charge admission, and tickets sometimes sell out months ahead."
• Key takeaways from six years of Donald Trump’s federal tax returns - "Trump had bank account in China while president, taxes show. Documents show former US President had accounts in several foreign countries and paid more in foreign taxes than US taxes in 2017. Here are other key takeaways."
• Covid in China: Officials must share data on its impact, says WHO - "Chinese officials must share more real-time information on Covid in the country as infections surge, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. Many of the country's strict restrictions have been lifted over the last few weeks, but cases have soared and several countries are now screening travellers from China."
• 2022 ends with looming risk of a new coronavirus variant, health experts warn - "As the world enters a new year, many public health and infectious disease experts predict that monitoring for new coronavirus variants will be an increasingly important part of Covid-19 mitigation efforts – and some are turning their attention to a surge in cases in China."
• The Most Memorable Royal Photos of 2022 - "From Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee to King Charles III's first speech as monarch, here are the British royal family's most memorable moments of 2022."
• Britain’s royal family had a rollercoaster year - "The writing was on the wall. Family reunions, legal troubles, fractured relationships and exiled royals – it was always going to be a tough 12 months for the House of Windsor. But nothing could have prepared Britain’s royal family for the realities of the past year and the seismic shifts it has endured. 2022 should have been a year of celebration, an opportunity to recognize the entry of Queen Elizabeth II into an exclusive club of world leaders who reached the historic milestone of 70 years of service."
• The day Queen Elizabeth died: the inside story of her final hours - "As meticulously laid palace plans kicked in, others were taken by surprise. We recall those historic hours."
• Greta Thunberg ends year with one of the greatest tweets in history - "Thunberg’s funny exchange is a reminder of the connection between machismo, misogyny and hostility to climate action."
• Barbara Walters, legendary news anchor, has died at 93 - "For more than five decades, Walters was a name to reckon with, whether speaking with world leaders on news programs, in celebrities’ homes for her regular 'Barbara Walters Specials' or on 'The View,' a daytime talk show in which a diverse panel of women discuss the latest headlines."
• Michelle Obama ‘couldn’t stand’ Barack for first 10 years of marriage - "The former first lady candidly discussed the early years of the couple’s union, during which they were raising two young daughters, explaining that she was doing the heavy lifting while the eventual president was often absent."
• There’s never been a better time to stop tweeting - "Twitter, how do I leave thee? Let me count the ways."
• The gigantic tunnels & bridges linking Asia to Europe - "With sloping banks studded with elegant private mansions, palace parks and centuries-old groves, the Bosphorus is the embodiment of Istanbul. This 19-mile (30-kilometer) strait runs from the Black Sea in the north to the Sea of Marmara in the south."
• Stop tying yourself in knots: what stress does to your body & how to beat it - "From migraines to IBS, back pain and hair loss, millions of us suffer health problems triggered by stress and anxiety. Here’s how to deal with them?"
• Vivienne Westwood: her life & career - in pictures - "A look at the famous fashion designer’s greatest moments, after her death at the age of 81."

December 30, 2022

• Six years of Trump’s tax returns are now public - "Six years of former President Donald Trump’s federal tax returns, long shrouded in secrecy, were released to the public on Friday by the House Ways and Means Committee, the culmination of a battle over their disclosure that went to the Supreme Court. CNN is currently reviewing the tax returns."
• China Covid: experts estimate 9,000 deaths a day as US says it may sample wastewater from planes - "Infectious disease experts believe strategy more effective in slowing virus spread than new travel restrictions, as health data firm says thousands are likely dying daily in China."
• US travel restrictions for Chinese visitors are 'discriminatory' says Chinese state media - "Chinese tourists are ready to travel abroad again. Here's why some countries are hesitant."
• Gaslighting - Word of the Year 2022.
• ‘Gaslighting’ Is the Word of the Year. What Does That Tell Us About the World We’re Living In? - "Anyone who has ever been gaslit will remember the feeling. Wondering whether you might be overreacting after all. The self-doubt over what - until just now - you absolutely knew to be true. Perhaps you are a crazy psycho bitch and have misread the situation? Maybe you do overthink. Is it all in your head?"
• 22 Things That Made the World a Better Place in 2022 - "From spinal implants that allow paralyzed people to walk to smashing an asteroid off course with a rocket, this wasn’t just a year of negative headlines."
• The worst of tech in 2022 - "Two words: Tech bros."
• One of the world's most congested cities just opened its first metro line - "Bangladesh on Wednesday launched its first metro rail service in the capital Dhaka, with officials and commuters hopeful it will help ease traffic in one of the world's most densely populated and congested cities."
• The most overlooked titles of 2022 in movies, TV, music, books & more - "This was a doozy of a year, admittedly made even more overwhelming by the ever-expanding glut of content you know you want to consume. We seem to constantly be barraged by recommendations that have been enthusiastically served up by friends and loved ones - only for most of them to remain on our 'to watch' (or read, or listen to) list for months, never to budge. In this upcoming last weekend of 2022, we encourage you to catch up on a few of these overlooked titles that for whatever reason got lost in the crazy shuffle."
• The best films of 2023 to look forward to - "New movies from Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, Sam Mendes, Greta Gerwig and Florian Zeller, among others, mean there’s a feast of cinema in the coming months."
• The best books of 2022, according to cultural tastemakers - "If you've reached the end of the year feeling as though you didn't read enough, we've got you. Here are some of the best books of the year according to notable authors, artists, image-makers and other cultural tastemakers."
• The vibes are off at Tesla - "Layoffs, lawsuits, delays, Twitter chaos, stock in free fall, factory shutdowns - What happened to America’s favorite electric car company?"
• Small Steps to Improve Your Mental Health in 2023 - "Well’s most popular mental health stories of 2022 are full of insights and guidance to usher you into the new year."
• Chess: Carlsen triumphs in World Rapid, then sprints to avoid Blitz time forfeit - "The world No 1 led all the way in the Rapid, scoring 10/13 with some classic wins, before arriving late for round one of the Blitz and playing the whole 59 moves with only 30 seconds on his clock."
• Iranian chess player ‘moving to Spain’ after competing without headscarf - "Sara Khadem and family plan to set up residence in an unnamed Spanish city, according to reports."
• Andrew Tate detained in Romania over rape & human trafficking case - "Following the arrest, Greta Thunberg tweeted 'this is what happens when you don't recycle your pizza boxes.'"
• The lost nuclear bombs that no one can find - "The US has lost at least three nuclear bombs that have never been located - they're still out there to this day. How did this happen? Where could they be? And will we ever find them?"
• Vivienne Westwood: fashion designer dies aged 81 - "Iconoclastic British designer rose to prominence by outfitting the Sex Pistols as punk took off in the 1970s."
• PelÉ: a life in pictures - "Here is Pelé’s remarkable life in pictures - on and off the field - from his childhood in Brazil to World Cup glory."

December 29, 2022

• Covid in China: US imposes Covid testing for visitors from China - "The US has become the latest country to impose Covid testing on visitors from China, after Beijing announced it would reopen borders next week."
• As Covid-19 Continues to Spread, So Does Misinformation About It - "Doctors are exasperated by the persistence of false and misleading claims about the virus."
• The greatest visual effects ever seen? - "Avatar 2: What is the future for visual effects? James Cameron's sequel has changed the game once again. But with reportedly difficult working conditions for VFX artists generally, where will visual effects go now, asks Hanna Flint."
• These tech moguls lost a combined $433 billion this year - "It’s been a dreary year for tech billionaires’ net worths, but they still have more money than many small countries."
• Duchess Hollywood! - "Value of Meghan Markle's wardrobe boomed to £79,000 in 2022 - despite stepping back from royal duties."
• A double-decker plane seat & other wild aviation moments from 2022 - "Covid and chaos: 22 ways flying had a bumpy ride in 2022."
• The new buildings set to shape the world in 2023 - "The last year in architecture will be remembered as one of firsts, from the world's first 'upcycled' skyscraper winning World Building of the Year to Burkina Faso-born Francis Kéré becoming the first African architect to win the coveted Pritzker Prize."
• Sydney's $230M gallery complex - "'Most significant' arts venue since Opera House: Sydney's $230M gallery complex opens. Now known as the Tank, this 24,000-square-foot former naval bunker has been transformed into an exhibition space as part of an ambitious redevelopment of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Dubbed the Sydney Modern Project, the 344-million-Australian-dollar ($230 million) expansion has been described by state officials as the city's 'most significant cultural development' since the famous Opera House opened almost 50 years ago."
• The best things to do at the amazing Sydney Opera House - "Since its inauguration on October 20, 1973, the iconic Sydney Opera House has been the centerpiece of Sydney Harbour, drawing millions of visitors every year."
• The unforgettable cultural moments that shaped 2022 - "Cultural review: From celebrity spectacle to art in conflict, here are the moments that shaped 2022."
• Sherlock Holmes will finally escape copyright this weekend - "Metropolis, To The Lighthouse, and the final Holmes stories are all entering the public domain."
• Tech's biggest winners in 2022 - "Space pictures and word games took our minds off the horrendous tech news cycle."
• How to take a screenshot on any device - "We’ve got iOS, Android, Windows, Chrome OS and more covered in this guide."
• Apple, Google, Amazon & Facebook are always listening unless you change these settings - "If you want to take control of your privacy, here’s how to stop your smart devices from listening."
• Every iPhone & Android user should know these genius commands - "On the usefulness scale, your phone's smart assistant is high - if you know the correct commands."
• Everything the Dynamic Island can do on the iPhone 14 Pro - "One of Apple’s most unique interface elements in years, the Dynamic Island isn’t an app or even a setting - it’s a visual representation of things going on in the background while you use your phone. It can be a multitasker - tap the island and it’ll open the app inside it - a shortcut - tap and hold and it’ll expand to show more information - or just a notification tray."
• Here are some of the best features to try on your new Apple Watch - "Read on for some guidance on our favorite Apple Watch features for health, activity, customization, and more."

December 28, 2022

• China’s move to open up travel sparks concern over spread of new Covid variants - "Experts say a lack of data makes it difficult to assess the risk of potential new Covid strains with travel to the long sealed-off country set to resume."
• The rise & fall of zero-Covid - "Zero-Covid was supposed to prove China’s supremacy. How did it all go so wrong for Xi Jinping?"
• Trump tax returns to be released Friday - "The returns will be placed into the congressional record on Friday morning during a House pro forma session. That pro forma session will occur around 9 a.m. ET on Friday. There will also be a formal announcement Friday from the committee."
• Apple & Tesla: Tech shares tumble amid supply issues - "Apple and Tesla stocks have tumbled over growing concerns about delays in their production lines in China. Apple shares hit their lowest point since June 2021. Tesla's stock has dropped 73% from a record high in November 2021."
• Tesla stock marks lowest close in years as investors worry about Musk’s focus - "Experts blame Elon Musk’s management style at Twitter for the electric carmaker’s financial problems."
• The most spectacular new hotels opening in 2023 - "From next-level luxury escapes in Dubai, Mozambique and the Maldives to hip urban hideaways in Paris, Sydney and Palm Springs, this year's exciting array of new hotels has something for every traveler (and budget!). We've handpicked 20 incredible hotels with openings in 2022 and 2023 for you to stay at - or dream of - in the new year."
• Spain tops world’s best tourist villages ranking with three awards - "UN World Tourism Organization’s list of 32 best places worldwide for small community tourism also includes villages in China, Morocco and Ecuador."
• Dr. Sanjay Gupta: 6 keys to keeping sharp in 2023 - "Preventing and even treating forms of dementia are largely driven by lifestyle and the choices we make daily. You are not necessarily doomed to whatever fate you think sits stuck in your genes. If there’s one fact that’s increasingly apparent in scientific circles, it’s that our lifestyle choices contribute mightily to our aging process and risk for disease, likely as much - or perhaps even more - than our genetics."
• Scientists develop blood test for Alzheimer’s disease - "Scientists say test could replace a costly brain scan or painful lumbar puncture and enable earlier detection of disease."
• ‘Too much’ nitrite-cured meat brings clear risk of cancer, say scientists - "Call for UK government ban of chemical in processed meat such as bacon and ham after mice tumours study."
• 5 Podcasts About the Royal Family - "These shows take listeners deep into the stories and scandals behind the British throne."
• The best movies of 2022 ... you may not have seen - "From a sharp comedy reboot to an erotic political thriller, Guardian writers pick the hidden films of the year that people should know more about."
• The 35 must-see TV shows to look forward to in 2023 - "A hardy period drama from Shane Meadows, a Frasier reboot and the fourth series of Succession - here’s a rundown of all the new year’s unmissable telly."
• ‘The closest humans come to being a fish’: how scuba is pushing new limits - "Scientists have begun to explore the ocean’s ‘middle light’ - the mesophotic zone, a lesser-known part of our seas - with new rebreathers."

December 27, 2022

• US braces for more deaths as ‘blizzard of the century’ grips nation - "Rescue crews struggle to reach stranded residents in Buffalo, New York, where dozens have been killed in winter storms."
• Biggest climate toll in year of ‘devastating’ disasters revealed - "Most expensive storm cost $100bn while deadliest floods killed 1,700 and displaced 7 million, report finds."
• China’s Future Isn’t What It Used to Be - "Global dominance has been postponed, mayby indefinitely."
• Rush to book flights as China eases Covid rules as quarantine for travellers to end - "China’s decision to cease quarantine for inbound travellers from 8 January fuels hopes for the revival of the world’s second-largest economy."
• Ukraine war: Five ways conflict could go in 2023 - "The conflict in Ukraine is about to enter its second calendar year. We asked several military analysts how they think events on the ground will unfold in 2023."
• Americans Are Realizing Tesla Isn’t the Only Electric Car - "Not long ago, Tesla’s electric vehicles were far and away the best on the market. If you wanted a stylish, long-range, easy-to-charge and feature-packed E.V., Elon Musk would be your most likely supplier - even if you hated his guts. But not anymore."
• The 2022 Camera of the Year - "2022 is fast drawing to a close. There have been some outstanding releases this year, including lenses, bodies, and accessories."
• 2022'S TOP 20 SNEAKERS - "Voted on by Sole Retriever mobile app users, here are the top 20 sneakers for 2022."
• The best PC games for 2023 - "Where to start with a juggernaut like PC gaming?"
• 17 Times Celebrities Married Normal People - Vogue.
• All I want is one productivity app that can handle everything - "'I know this is an unachievable fantasy, but there has to be some kind of middle ground.'"
• When in Bath, Do as the Romans Did - Take a Spa Break - "No matter which direction you arrive from, the drive into Bath is one of the most spectacular of any city in England - and, indeed, far beyond this green and pleasant land. Nestled within a north Somerset valley, every road crests and falls to reveal the sprawling, honey-colored Georgian terraces that are the city’s architectural signature: whether elegantly curved in a half-moon around the Royal Crescent, or with their parapets subtly zig-zagging downwards along a vertiginous hill. When you’ve arrived in Bath, you know that you’ve arrived."
• Dezeen's top 10 lookbooks of 2022 - "Our 2022 review collects 10 of the year's most popular lookbooks, which include board-formed concrete interiors and living rooms in warm neutral hues."
• 10 times ancient Egyptian discoveries awed us in 2022 - "From mummies with gold-plated tongues to a pyramid built for a previously unknown queen, here are 10 spectacular discoveries about ancient Egypt from 2022."
• Why we brush our teeth wrong - "The best way to brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth effectively lowers your chances of getting a host of chronic diseases, as well as keeping your teeth and gums healthy. But the majority of us are doing it wrong."
• Why the world's most difficult novel is so rewarding - "Marcel Proust's groundbreaking 1922 masterpiece In Search of Lost Time is considered daunting and difficult by many, but has been misunderstood and is actually universally appealing, writes Cath Pound."
• Cadillac Lyriq review: the Cadillac of EVs - "Cadillac’s first electric vehicle is the Lyriq, a smooth, sumptuous 312-mile range compact SUV for $64,000 with a focus on comfort over sportiness. But what’s with those door handles?"

December 26, 2022

• People killed by storm found in snow banks, cars - "Winter storm leaves at least 37 dead nationwide as residents in western New York remain trapped under feet of snow."
• ‘Life or death:’ As Britons buckle under cost of living crisis, many resort to 'warm banks' for heat this winter - "Thousands of warm banks have opened their doors across the UK this winter, as household budgets are squeezed even further by spiking energy bills and inflation reaches a 40-year high, leaving many scrambling to pay for basic necessities. There are more than 3,000 registered organizations running warm banks in Britain, according to the Warm Welcome Campaign, an initiative that signposts community-led responses to the cost-of-living crisis."
• Covid Is Spreading Rapidly in China, New Signs Suggest - "Even as official figures from the central government remain low, regional numbers point to explosive outbreaks and overstretched health care systems."
• King Charles' first Christmas speech reflects cost-of-living crisis - "He spoke of the 'great anxiety and hardship' for those struggling to 'pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm'. There were images of food banks and help for the homeless alongside the speech, recorded by the King in St George's Chapel, Windsor. He paid tribute to his mother Queen Elizabeth, who is buried in the chapel."
• How TikTok Became a Diplomatic Crisis - "A Chinese app conquered the planet - and now the U.S. is threatening to shut it down. Can the world’s biggest virality machine survive?"
• What it's like to land on the world's shortest commercial runway - "Flying into Saba isn't for the faint hearted. The vertiginous slopes and sea cliffs of this five-square-mile island in the Caribbean don't leave much space to land a plane. But Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, clinging to Saba's only bit of flat land, is proof that it can be done."
• Why fasting can be good for you - "The benefits of intermittent fasting the right way. Intermittent fasting offers the tantalising promise that changing mealtimes, and not the meals, can be good for you. But what are the dos and don’ts of eating less frequently?"
• Babylon: The wild tales of early Hollywood that inspired it - "Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt's outrageous new period epic about the scandalous side of 1920s Tinseltown has been making waves. But what's the truth behind it, asks Christina Newland."
• ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ nears $900 million globally - "Box office analysts noted that cold winter weather and storms during the Christmas weekend likely led to slower ticket sales domestically."
• The unstoppable rise of 'ghosting' - "Why workers and employers are ghosting each other. Rather than sending a withdrawal or rejection email, workers and employers are simply cutting off contact during the hiring process. Are we stuck in a ‘ghosting’ spiral?"
• Maya Ruiz-Picasso, Artist’s Daughter & Inspiration, Dies at 87 - "As a girl she brought out a childlike quality in Picasso. As an adult she became an authority on his works."
• Christina Ricci on cannibalism, chaos & childcare: ‘I’m extremely interested in deviant behaviour’ - "With roles in hit cannibal horror Yellowjackets and a TV reboot for the Addams Family character that made her name, the actor has had an amazing year - even if she has plenty of regrets ..."

December 25, 2022

• 7 countries, 7 traditional Christmas feasts - "Christmas is celebrated in many ways in many corners of the globe, and the cuisine that marks the holiday is as diverse as the people feasting on it. The typical Christmas meal may be different by destination, but the idea of indulging in a feast, be it on the day itself or the night before, isn't."
• Pope condemns human 'hunger for wealth & power' at Christmas Eve Mass - "Pope Francis has condemned human 'hunger for wealth and power' at Christmas Eve Mass in the Vatican, seemingly referring to the war in Ukraine and other conflicts."
• 22 of the Best Classic Christmas Movies - "Here, our favorites for the holiday season, from can’t miss classics to more out-of-the-box selections." Vogue.
• Christmas vacations: 15 of the best places to go - "In 2022, many places are returning to a livelier holiday season after two years of subdued or canceled festivities because of the Covid-19 pandemic. From England to the Philippines, these 15 destinations around the world traditionally offer up some of the best holiday atmosphere for a Christmas-drenched vacation."
• China stops publishing daily Covid figures amid reports of explosion in cases - "The National Health Commission’s decision comes as the country’s health system faces enormous strain after the sudden end to the zero-Covid policy."
• ‘I had to fulfil my responsibility’: Fauci on his career, Covid & stepping down - "America’s top health official, a cult figure for millions, has advised seven US presidents - but will he speak freely about Trump’s response to coronavirus?"
• Reasons for Optimism in 2023 - "Even in a world facing many challenges, there are reasons to be hopeful about next year and beyond."
• Paper-thin solar cell can turn any surface into a power source - "Researchers develop a scalable fabrication technique to produce ultrathin, lightweight solar cells that can be seamlessly added to any surface."
• US fails to give money promised for developing countries to ease climate impacts - "Spending bill passed by Senate includes less than $1bn in climate assistance for poorer nations even though Biden promised $11.4bn."
• 10 moments in 2022 straight out of a sci-fi movie - "From a spacecraft the size of a refrigerator plowing into an asteroid (deliberately) to a helicopter trying to catch a rocket plummeting back to Earth, 2022 offered surreal moments in space that could have been ripped from the pages of a science fiction movie script."
• Stop Using Your Phone as a Flashlight - "Smartphones come with a fairly powerful built-in flashlight that is so convenient and easy to use. But you should stop relying on it (and putting your phone in peril) right now."
• US man uses 'intuition' to win lottery six times - "He played the lottery, like he had been doing for over 20 years. His intuition told him: don't just buy one ticket, buy six. And don't just use any numbers, use the exact same numbers on each ticket. As luck would have it, Raymond Roberts' numbers came in, and were worth $390,000 each as a cash prize."
• What the Queen's English revealed about a changing world - "The accent of the world's longest-serving monarch evolved during her long reign - reflecting enormous social shifts that occurred during that time."
• Harry Winston’s Colorful Candy Timepieces - "The inspiration for the Winston Candy was a series of archival sketches dating back to the 1950s and 60s. The drawings included brightly colored cocktail rings in unexpected shades, which fit right into Harry Winston’s jewelry aesthetic of pairing fancy-shaped stones with round brilliant-cut diamonds, as well as the use of intriguing color combinations. The 'King of Diamonds' obviously also enjoys color."
• How Kindle novelists are using ChatGPT - "An interview with an AI early adopter."
• Volkswagen unveils drivable office chair that can travel up to 20 kilometres per hour - "Automotive manufacturer Volkswagen has developed a five-wheeled office chair prototype that uses the same technology found in its electric vehicles. The nameless model chair was designed by Volkswagen Norway's Commercial Vehicles department to help users feel like they are in an electric Volkswagen car, with a horn, seatbelt and hi-fi music system to boot."
• Bill Gates & Samsung develop toilet that combusts waste "into ashes" - "Billionaire Bill Gates has partnered with electronics company Samsung to create a prototype waterless toilet for household use that turns solid waste into ashes. The toilet was developed as part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Reinvent the Toilet Challenge - an initiative that started in 2011 that sought proposals for toilets that safely and effectively manage human waste."

December 24, 2022

• Christmas Around the World - "Find out how Christmas Traditions and how Christmas is celebrated in lots of different countries and cultures around the world!"
• See The British Royal Family Christmas Cards Through the Years - "The tradition of the royal holiday greeting has changed over time."
• Leaked notes from Chinese health officials estimate 250 million Covid-19 infections in December - "If correct, the estimate - which CNN cannot independently confirm - would account for roughly 18% of China’s 1.4 billion people and represent the largest Covid-19 outbreak to date globally."
• Nobel-nominated vaccine expert warns of Covid complacency - "‘We’re still losing too many lives.’ Dr Peter Hotez says Joe Biden was wrong to say pandemic is over and warns US risks another deadly coronavirus wave soon."
• Gigantic US winter storm leaves millions without power and cancels holiday plans - "Power outages leave more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in the dark, while thousands of US flights were canceled."
• What Is a ‘Bomb Cyclone’? - "These storms aren’t tremendously rare, but this particular one is much more powerful than most."
• January 6 report review: 845 pages, countless crimes, one simple truth - Trump did it - "The House committee has done its work. The result is a riveting read, utterly damning of the former president and his followers."
• Two surprising takes from Trump's tax returns - "Surprise number one is that Trump paid some federal income taxes. Surprise number two is that the IRS did nothing. At all."
• Notable Deaths of 2022 - "Remembering Queen Elizabeth II, Mikhail S. Gorbachev, Sidney Poitier, Bill Russell, Loretta Lynn, Jiang Zemin, Madeleine Albright, Jean-Luc Godard, Shinzo Abe, Régine, Meat Loaf, Ivana Trump, Vin Scully and many others who died in 2022." The New York Times.
• What it's like to live on Christmas Island - "'The jungle is our playground, and the sea is our wonderland.'"
• Billionaire Superyacht Showdown: Who’s Who In St. Barths For New Years 2023 - "The legendary superyacht showdown, started early with several high profile billionaires already anchored outside of Gustavia and neighboring St. Maarten, and Antigua. Many will stay throughout Christmas on the island of Antigua and then party with the traditional fireworks New Years Eve celebration in St Barths. Here is a selection of some of the largest yachts that are in and around St. Barths for the holidays. It is important to note that yachts are often privately chartered during the holidays, so you may never see their wealthy owners."
• Do you smell what I smell? How scents linked to Christmas have changed - "While oranges and cloves moved from medicine cabinet to kitchen, rosemary fell out of festive fashion in England."
• All of the Love Actually Trivia Worth Knowing - "It’s been 20 years since Richard Curtis shot his most divisive film. Ahead of your annual rewatch, revisit some of the inspirations behind the screenplay and anecdotes from the set."
• The 'world's smallest vineyard' is selling bottles for $5,000 apiece - but doesn't want you to drink them.
• The Serpent comes home - "Serial killer returns to France after serving 20 years' jail in Nepal for gruesome backpack murders that inspired BBC drama."
• Should we be eating three meals a day? - "The idea that we should eat three meals a day is surprisingly modern. How many meals a day is best for our health?"
• Apple pulls option to upgrade to new HomeKit architecture in iOS 16.2 - "The change follows multiple reports of issues with the Home app."
• EcoFlow Power Kit review: off-grid living made easy - "A game-changing all-in-one power system for cabins and RVs that can be installed relatively quickly. Just add solar."
• 12 unforgettable style moments of 2022 - "Controversial, perplexing and fabulous - from Kim in Marilyn's dress to a dramatic spray-on stunt, it's been a wild year in fashion, writes Ellie Violet Bramley."
• A little-known holiday 'latte' recipe - "Sahlab: The Middle East's answer to the latte. Inside each sip are the rich flavours of the Levant and the spices of holiday traditions that reach across religions and stretch back centuries."
• Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog: Extravagant Fantasy Gifts For 2022 - "Neiman Marcus is famous for its outrageous annual Christmas Book catalog, where money is often no object, and the gifts offer the ultimate bragging rights. Every year, the luxury store offers up many ridiculously priced items and a few affordable luxury products we can all enjoy."
• Gucci Opens First Luggage-Only Store in Paris - "Gucci has officially announced the opening of its first stand-alone luggage store in Paris. The Italian luxury brand makes its way to the coveted Rue Saint-Honoré with a 2,900-square-foot shop that offers the full Gucci Valigeria range. Take a look inside the new shop on Saint-Honoré."
• Bugatti is auctioning off its last purely gas-powered car & it’s accidentally one-of-a-kind - "Bugatti will sell its very last purely gas-powered supercar at a Paris auction on February 1, 2023. The one-of-a-kind model is expected to sell for millions of dollars. It’s a car that, Bugatti says, was never originally expected to be sold at all."

December 23, 2022

• Deadly Covid surge slams China - "As crematoriums fill up, China shifts how it counts Covid deaths."
• As Covid Deaths Climb, Even Seniors Skip the Latest Booster - "Nearly all Americans over 65 got their initial Covid vaccines. But that immunity is waning, and this time, the government is offering far less support for new shots."
• Pill for Covid does not reduce risk of hospitalisation or death, UK study finds - "Oxford University’s Panoramic trial suggests molnupiravir can speed up recovery in vaccinated but vulnerable patients. An oral antiviral pill for Covid speeds up recovery among vaccinated yet vulnerable patients, but does not reduce their likelihood of needing hospital care or dying, research has suggested."
• US winter storm will bring frostbite within minutes - "Plunging temperatures wreaking havoc across the US and Canada can lead to frostbite on bare skin in only five to 10 minutes, experts are warning."
• January 6 committee releases final report, says Trump should be barred from office - "The recommendation is among the conclusions of the panel’s final report, a comprehensive overview of the bipartisan panel’s findings on how Trump and his allies sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election, released late Thursday evening."
• I.R.S. Routinely Audited Obama & Biden, Raising Questions Over Delays for Trump - "The revelation that the agency had not audited Donald J. Trump during his first two years in office despite a mandatory presidential audit program raised concerns about potential politicization."
• For first known time in public, Putin calls fighting in Ukraine a ‘war’ - "Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday used the word 'war' to refer to the conflict in Ukraine, the first known time he has publicly deviated from his carefully crafted description of Moscow’s invasion as a 'special military operation' 10 months after it began."
• Putin vows to ‘knock down’ US Patriot missiles supplied to Ukraine - "Russian president dismisses weapon as ‘outdated’ as he implies Kyiv will have to cede territory for peace."
• 14 of the most striking images of 2022 - "Kelly Grovier picks 14 of the most startling photos from this year - including Ukrainian soldiers playing chess with Molotov cocktails, Iranian protesters and wildfires in Spain and the US - and compares them with iconic artworks."
• How KFC became a Christmas tradition in Japan - "Almost every year since she was a child, Hokkaido resident Naomi has looked forward to her family's traditional Christmas meal: a KFC 'party barrel' brimming with salad, cake and lots of fried chicken. 'In Japan, it is customary to eat chicken at Christmas,' says the 30-something Japanese woman."
• The 80-plus best last-minute digital gift ideas you can still get - "We’ve rounded up a list of gift ideas for all budgets that cater to a wide range of interests you can buy as late as Christmas itself."
• The best shows to binge watch over the holidays in 2022 - "Take time over break to catch up on some of these excellent shows."
• How to Set a Table This Holiday Season & Beyond - "Have you ever wondered how to set a table? The holidays are here, and with it, dinner parties as well as formal family meals that finally put grandma’s silver to use. Laying them out, however, can be a confusing task: what utensils to use, and which order to place them in, depends on everything from the style of the event to how many courses you’re having. (A general rule of thumb? Every utensil put on the table should be used - so you can skip the spoon - and set in order of use, from the outside in)."
• 10 great places to spend New Year's Eve - These destinations around the world have a well-deserved reputation for traditionally throwing a great New Year's Eve shindig, and they're bouncing back from the subdued celebrations of the past two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. Be sure to plan for prime parties and the best viewing areas for fireworks. Some venues charge admission, and tickets sometimes sell out months ahead.
• 36 hours in London - "To the casual observer, London may present itself as a capital wedded to traditional and, at times, perplexing institutions, particularly over the past year, from the rotating cast of prime ministers to the choreographed schedule of mourning following Queen Elizabeth II’s death. In actuality, London is a complex knot of old and new. It is also an almost insurmountable task to try conquering the city in one weekend."
• CELEBRITY MUG SHOTS: 1-50 - TMZ.
• The fast-growing sport you've probably never heard of - "With 25 million players worldwide, padel is only tipped to get ‘bigger and bigger’ by tennis star Andy Murray."
• The forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps' - "For millennia, people slept in two shifts - once in the evening, and once in the morning. But why? And how did the habit disappear?"
• The World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2022 - "A group of rising stars is narrowing the gap with Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams, with eight women earning at least $10 million apiece for the first time." Forbes.
• Solid - since 2016. "Solid: Your data, your choice. Advancing Web standards to empower people." Solid (Social Linked Data) is a web decentralization project led by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web. The project "aims to radically change the way Web applications work today, resulting in true data ownership as well as improved privacy" by developing a platform for linked-data applications that are completely decentralized and fully under users' control rather than controlled by other entities. The ultimate goal of Solid is to allow users to have full control of their own data, including access control and storage location.

December 22, 2022

• Zelensky: Ukraine will never surrender - "In historic speech to US Congress, Zelensky urged lawmakers to strengthen sanctions against Russia and 'let the terrorists be held responsible for aggression'."
• Moscow accuses US of fighting proxy war as new military aid announced for Kyiv - "Moscow says support announced by Joe Biden during Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Washington is evidence of an indirect war with Russia."
• Here Are the Key Numbers From Trump's Tax Returns - "New figures in a report by the House Ways and Means Committee showed that Donald J. Trump paid $1.1 million in federal income taxes in his first three years as president, and that he paid no taxes in 2020 as his income began to dwindle."
• Trump’s Taxes: Red Flags, Big Losses & a Windfall From His Father - "The presidency of Donald J. Trump, a congressional report reveals, was marked by some of the same questionable tax maneuvers that had characterized his business career."
• 13 Dazzling Hotel Christmas Trees - "While Rockefeller Center’s sky-high Christmas tree, which traces back to 1931, may be the most famous of its kind, hotels all over the world pitched equally impressive Tannenbaums this season."
• The best space photos of 2022 - "Stunning space photos of 2022 revealed the universe as it had never been seen before."
• How to Use ChatGPT & Still Be a Good Person - "It’s a turning point for artificial intelligence, and we need to take advantage of these tools without causing harm to ourselves or others."
• Samuel L Jackson’s embarrassing Twitter porn gaffe - "Fans are having a field day after Samuel L Jackson was caught out in an embarrassing X-rated online gaffe - on his birthday, no less."
• how rental fashion became big business - "‘It’s more sustainable - and I still get to wear something new every weekend.'"
• Glass barriers keep St Mark’s Basilica dry during Venice floods - "Simple structures protect 900-year-old church from seawater that previously proved damaging."
• French ski resort becomes first in Europe to ban smoking - "A red and white banning sign on top of a black burning cigarette - the universal non-smoking symbol - will be the new addition welcoming ski enthusiasts from around the world in the small village of Les Gets in the French Alps this month."
• Covid: ongoing loss of smell may be caused by nasal cell destruction - "Research into immune response sheds light on question of whether virus damages nose or brain. Millions of people who lost their sense of smell after contracting Covid may have an ongoing, abnormal immune response that destroys cells in the nose, researchers say."
• Another record year for Champagne expected - "Champagne sales are expected to reach a new record this year, despite inflation that could have made consumers shun the expensive bubbly, producers said ahead of the start of year-end celebrations around the world. Champagne sales reached an all-time high last year at 5.7 billion euros ($6.05 billion), as the relaxation of pandemic-related curbs fuelled a surge in exports."
• I stopped using my phone to wake up. Here's what happened - "Why you should reinstate the classic alarm clock."
• How to make a low-carbon Christmas dinner - "Here's everything you need to know to make a delicious festive roast that's a bit more planet-friendly."
• Corsage & Empress Elisabeth: The first royal celebrity - "The new film Corsage tells the story of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth. It allows us a glimpse behind the mask of a 19th-Century glamour icon, writes Christina Newland."
• Retro hedonism in a glass: why 2022 was the year of the martini - "The simple cocktail is above all the drink of nostalgia - for a time before we felt judged, hopeless and tired."
• Ralph Lauren Promotes ‘Everyday Elegance’ With Its New 867 Timepieces - "Ralph Lauren’s 867 timepiece collection reinterprets the elegance of the Art Deco era with polished, pragmatic designs for what the brand describes as 'how men live today.' Four additions to this collection with the same details that has made this line a signature of the fine luxury brand was recently introduced."
• 2022 Forbes Holiday Gift Guide: An A-To-Z List Of Letter-Perfect Presents - Just choose a letter and without even trying, you’ll soon find yourself buying and buying."

December 21, 2022

• US House panel releases details of Trump taxes - "Democratic-led House Ways and Means Committee set to release Trump’s taxes in the coming days."
• Zelensky in Washington: Ukraine's leader heads to US for first foreign trip - "Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is on his way to Washington, where he will meet US President Joe Biden on Wednesday."
• Elon Musk says he will leave Twitter CEO role after he finds a successor - "Twitter owner Elon Musk confirmed Tuesday evening he will step down as the company’s CEO, but only when he identifies a successor, directly addressing for the first time a Twitter poll he created this week in which millions of users voted for his ouster."
• China’s Covid ‘chaos’: How a shortage of fever drugs is sparking a global run on medicines - "An unprecedented wave of Covid infections in China has triggered widespread drug shortages, as people scramble to buy fever medicines and painkillers to alleviate flu-like symptoms."
• Surrender to a Drone? Ukraine Is Urging Russian Soldiers to Do Just That - "Capitalizing on reports of low Russian morale, Ukraine has begun offering enemy troops detailed instructions on how to make their way over the battlefield and lay down their arms."
• In The Age Of TikTok, YouTube Shorts Is A Platform In Limbo - "YouTube is pushing the idea of the 'multiformat' creator, who posts both TikTok-style short videos, as well as the longer videos YouTube is known for. Meanwhile, creators are eyeing something else: Shorts monetization coming early next year."
• 18 of Asia's most underrated places - "Comprising more than 40 countries, Asia can't be summed up easily. The classics are classics for a reason - from the awe-inspiring architecture of Angkor Wat and the Taj Mahal to the buzzy metropolises of Tokyo and Hong Kong and the beaches of Bali and Phuket, it's impossible for any traveler to find something not to their liking. But for the travelers who are fortunate enough to have time to dig a little bit deeper, there are less-crowded, equally-rewarding treasures to be found."
• North Korea country profile - "Provides an overview of North Korea, including key events and facts."
• 1923 & the violent TV universe that has electrified the US - "Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren star in the latest drama from Taylor Sheridan, the man behind mega-hit Yellowstone. What is it about his shows that attracts millions, asks Caryn James."
• Where to start with: Charles Dickens - "The great Victorian chronicler of inequality and poverty was also a tremendous - and prolific - storyteller. Here are some of the best ways in to his colossal legacy."
• Here’s what it’s like to wear the Dyson Zone - "I channeled my inner Bane, but not a single jaded New Yorker gave Dyson’s wearable air purifier a second glance."
• 2023 gadget I’m most excited for is actually a tiny budget laptop - "In a major design update, Lenovo has brought a better screen, a webcam shutter, and even a backlit keyboard to its budget-oriented IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook."
• The best Nintendo Switch games for 2023 - "A guide for beginners, from A to Z trigger."
• BMW Motorrad Unveils Two Special-Edition, Chrome-Heavy Bikes to Celebrate Its 100th Birthday - "The BMW R nineT and R 18 model variants feature exclusive aesthetic enhancements and added ride amenities."
• People are only just learning what the tiny pockets in their jeans are for - "While we may no longer use them, the tiny pockets have been in our jeans for more than 100 years. But people are only just learning what they were originally made for."

December 20, 2022

• Nearly every country on Earth just agreed to protect 30 percent of the planet - "They agreed to protect 30 percent of Earth’s land and water. Can they do that without repeating past abuses against people?"
• 1 million might die in China's abrupt exit from zero-Covid strategy, study says - "China’s abrupt and under-prepared exit from zero-Covid could lead to nearly 1 million deaths, according to a new study, as the country braces for an unprecedented wave of infections spreading out from its biggest cities to its vast rural areas."
• From Zero Covid to No Plan: Behind China’s Pandemic U-Turn - "After micromanaging the coronavirus strategy for nearly three years, the country’s leader, Xi Jinping, has suddenly left the populace to improvise."
• Elon Musk breaks silence after 10 million Twitter users vote for him to step down - "The billionaire says only paid Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to vote in future policy-related polls on the platform."
• Elon Musk is conspicuously quiet after Twitter users vote for him to step down - "Is Elon Musk resigning as “chief Twit” or not? That’s the question remaining to be answered this Monday evening, more than 12 hours after an unscientific poll posted by the Twitter CEO resulted in 57.5% of participants voting that he should step down as head of the beleaguered social media company."
• January 6 committee refers Trump to Department of Justice on 4 criminal charges - "The January 6 committee used its final public meeting Monday to summarize its 17-month investigation with a simple closing statement: All roads lead to Donald Trump."
• Explaining the criminal charges January 6 committee recommended for Trump - "After 16 months of investigation, the January 6 committee recommended four separate charges for former president Donald Trump and his associates. While these referrals do not carry legal weight, the justice department may consider the House panel's recommendations as part of their own inquiry into Mr Trump's actions after the 2020 election."
• The weird ways destinations tried to get you to visit in 2022 - "When they're good, they're iconic. When they're bad - well, at least you can usually laugh. We're talking destination campaigns - when travel hotspots make a bid for your hard-earned vacation cash by producing extravagant videos and entire websites to grab your attention. From the weird (Iceland's typing horses) to the wonderful (South Africa's emotional reopening), the bad (as in evil - Sweden recreated 'The Blair Witch Project') to the controversial (David Beckham's plug for Qatar), here are 15 of the videos that caught our attention this year."
• 'We don't have to grow the whole animal:' See how lab-grown meat is made - "What if you could eat meat without killing or farming animals? Investors in the cultivated meat industry believe this is not only possible but will one day be profitable. CNN visits Ivy Farm Technologies to taste a lab-grown product that their scientists have been developing for years."
• The Super-Duper Google Maps Feature Everybody Should Use - "Google Maps integrates a feature that lets users send the directions they configure on their computers to phones and tablets running either Android or iOS. In other words, you can do all the route planning on the PC and then have everything submitted to the mobile device."
• How Important Is Stretching, Really? - "And do you need to do it before and after every workout? Here’s what experts say about when to stretch and why."
• What’s the Point of Teaching Cursive? - "As typing increasingly replaces handwriting, an old form of penmanship has become an anachronism."
• The vegan leather made from India’s waste flowers - "An Indian start-up has found an unusual use for the tonnes of flowers which clog the Ganges: turning them into vegan leather."
• What we bought: Our favorite gadgets of 2022 - "Engadget editors tell us about some of their best purchases of the year."
• Archaeologists Devise a Better Clock for Biblical Times - "A new approach to studying the history of Old Testament conflicts, courtesy of Earth’s geomagnetic record."

December 19, 2022

• World Cup final 2022: Argentina win thriller against France - in pictures - "The best images from an utterly incredible match in Qatar as Lionel Messi finally won the biggest prize in football."
• How the world reacted to 'the best World Cup final ever' - "This World Cup final was a game that seemed to defy comprehension, conventions and any attempt to describe it. How could anything capture the sound in the stadium when Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy? Or the calmness with which Kylian Mbappé slotted a penalty to equalize in extra time? It was - as the world seemed to settle on in an attempt to sum it all up - simply the greatest final ever."
• How has holding a World Cup changed the way the world sees Qatar? - "For Qataris, as well as putting on a well-organized tournament, the World Cup was an opportunity to expose the world to their culture, displaying everything from their architecture to their hospitality. But being in the spotlight also brings scrutiny and much of the coverage, particularly in the western world, has centered around the Qatari government’s human rights record, from the deaths and conditions endured by migrant workers to LGBTQ and women’s rights."
• COP15: Nations reach 'historic' deal to protect nature - "The 'historic' plan will put 30% of the planet under protection by the end of the decade. There will also be targets for safeguarding vital ecosystems such as rainforests and wetlands. The agreement was finalised in the early hours of Monday in Montreal, Canada."
• How 2022 changed us forever - "The irony behind this word of the year."
• The five biggest work lessons in 2022 - "For the first time in three years, many things felt normal about daily life. But the work world is still a major exception - and lots remains in flux."
• Elon Musk says he will step down as Twitter CEO if voted out by a poll he tweeted - "Twitter’s mercurial new boss may be out the door after less than two months on the job, if results of a Twitter poll go against him. Elon Musk tweeted a poll Sunday evening asking people to vote on whether he should step down as Twitter’s CEO. Musk said he would abide by the poll’s results. As of Sunday evening, 'Yes' was winning by a margin of 58% to 42%."
• Twitter deletes controversial new policy banning links to other social platforms - "Twitter deleted its controversial new policy on Sunday evening that had banned links to certain other social media platforms, less than 24 hours after the policy’s initial introduction."
• What has the January 6 House panel done so far & what’s next? - "The final meeting will determine if Trump will be criminally referred to the US justice department."
• 30,000-year-old giant virus 'comes back to life' - "An ancient virus has "come back to life" after lying dormant for at least 30,000 years, scientists say. It was found frozen in a deep layer of the Siberian permafrost, but after it thawed it became infectious once again."
• They live in Soviet-era housing blocks. Here's what it's like - "What's it like living in Soviet-era housing today? Across the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc, huge concrete complexes stand as testament to Europe's post-war housing drive. Constructed en masse in the second half of the 20th century, their utilitarian designs were usually geared toward providing homes as quickly and cheaply as possible."
• The iconic photograph that made time stand still - "'How to make applesauce'. Exploding with energy but perfectly still, Harold "Doc" Edgerton's 1964 image of a .30-caliber bullet ripping through an apple showed an otherwise unseeable moment in captivating detail. The scene took on a serene, sculptural beauty as the disintegrating apple's skin burst open against a deep blue backdrop."
• Detectorists: Why a metal-detecting show became a global hit - "Described as 'almost Shakespearean' by the LA Times, the gentle UK comedy about metal detecting has wowed audiences worldwide. What's the secret of its success, asks Neil Armstrong."
• Amber Heard, Johnny Depp Settle Following Defamation Lawsuit Appeal - "Amber Heard and Johnny Depp have avoided yet another court appearance after settling their latest round of litigation."
• Steven Spielberg reveals Jaws 'regret' & fears sharks could be 'mad' at him - "It was the film that made him a big name - but Spielberg says he's unhappy with the way some people used it as a reason to target sharks."
• Isfeng: a crispy doughnut from al-Andalus for Hanukkah - "The treat shared by Jews & Muslims."
• How the Transcontinental railroad forever changed the US - "It spread Anglo-European culture across the nation and caused trade to flourish, but the story of the Chinese labourers who built the track has largely been forgotten."
• Six things we learned from Formula E’s preseason test - "Teams face a number of challenges between now and the first race next month."
• Editors' Choice: My Favorite Headphones of 2022 - "If your budget for headphones or IEMs falls below $800, my favorite headphones of 2022 might be worth checking out." ecoustics.
• Why These New Ultra-Premium Headphones Are Some of the Best We’ve Ever Tested - "The Solitaire P headphones and HA 200 amplifier work together to reveal previously unheard layers of a recording."

December 18, 2022

• The most memorable moments of Qatar 2022 - "This year’s World Cup was a tournament of firsts – the first to be held in the Middle East, the first to be held in November-December and the first where a woman refereed a men’s World Cup match. From surprise victories, to tears and spectacular goals, this tournament will stick in the memory. Here are some of the most memorable moments of the 2022 World Cup."
• Russia sends musicians to frontline to boost morale - "The defence ministry announced the formation of the 'front-line creative brigade' this week, saying it would include both vocalists and musicians."
• Ukraine’s museums keep watch over priceless gold in bid to halt Russian looters - "Experts monitoring the loss of Scythian artefacts have been shocked at scale of theft by Putin’s forces."
• Why is Elon Musk spending his time on Twitter, not on the mission to Mars? - "He is one of the world's richest men - sometimes the richest, depending on the price of Tesla shares, his main financial asset. With a string of other high-profile companies under his wing, including Tesla, Space X, Starlink, and Neuralink, he is also a subject of global fascination."
• Witness to paradise being lost: my year in the dying Amazon - "'In the past 12 months I have learned that the mass extermination of the Amazon is a climate catastrophe – and much more.'"
• Get Ready for the New Year With These iPhone Maintenance Tips - "December is coming to an end and 2023 will be upon us in just a couple of weeks. With holiday breaks and vacations coming up, the end of the month is a great time to sit down and do a little bit of iPhone maintenance to get ready for the new year."
• Why You Should Clear Your iPhone Cache - Don't let digital data clog up your internet browsers.
• The Top 10 Most Expensive Cars In Michael Jordan's Collection - "Widely regarded as the greatest NBA player of all time, Michael Jordan's performance on the court, and his lucrative brand deals off of it, have led him to become one of sports' wealthiest men. With an estimated fortune of $1.7 billion according to Forbes, it's fair to say that Jordan could feasibly afford to buy just about anything he wanted."
• 15 Most Well-Known Clothing Brands in the World - "The global clothing industry grew from $551 billion in the year 2021 to $606 billion in 2022 at a CAGR of 9.9%. However, the pandemic after effects, rate hikes and supply-chain disruptions due to the ongoing Ukraine war are expected to slash the apparel industry CAGR by 3.8% and the market is projected to reach a share of $768.26 billion in 2026 at the CAGR of 6.1%."
• ‘I feel swaddled, protected’: testing out Prada’s £700 white vest - "Vest enthusiast Simon Hattenstone runs the rule over designer tank top hailed as the item that defined 2022."
• Study Shows Crossword Puzzles Beat Computer Games in Slowing Memory Loss - "Crossword puzzles showed an advantage over digital brain games in sharpening memory among older adults with mild cognitive impairment, according to a study in NEJM Evidence." Duke University School of Medicine.
• For almost 160 years, a CÉzanne painting had a secret hidden beneath its surface - "For an artwork dating back to 1865, the appearance of small cracks was no surprise. But they were concentrated in two specific areas, rather than distributed evenly across the canvas. What's more, they revealed tiny flashes of white that stood out in contrast to the brooding palette of the French painter's so-called 'dark' period."
• Global heating helps turns icy Sweden into unique wine-making territory - "As the climate warms, and with up to 23 hours of summer sun to ripen innovative varieties, commercial wineries are booming."

December 17, 2022

• Xi silent as his zero-Covid policy falls apart - "For nearly three years, China’s leader Xi Jinping has staked his political legitimacy and prestige on zero-Covid."
• Which Virus Is It This Time? New Yorkers Are Sick of Being Sick - "New Yorkers are contending with a bewildering and miserable mix of symptoms as Covid, flu, R.S.V. and various mystery illnesses circulate."
• Virgin to fly 'net-zero' transatlantic Boeing 787 - "The aircraft will hit the skies in 2023 fueled entirely by what's known as sustainable aviation fuel."
• Capitol riot: Committee to seek charges for Trump - reports - "The congressional inquiry into last year's Capitol riot will reportedly recommend three criminal charges against former President Donald Trump."
• Elon Musk, Management Guru? - "Why the Twitter owner’s ruthless, unsparing style has made him a hero to many bosses in Silicon Valley."
• Elon Musk reinstates Twitter accounts of suspended journalists - "On a wild day of bans, sudden U-turns and chaotic messaging, Musk abides by Twitter poll result that favoured restoring the accounts of reporters he accused of ‘doxxing’ him."
• Charles’s first 100 days as king - Two PMs, a race row and Harry & Meghan. Amid a steady stream of controversy, keeping calm and presenting a united front remains the monarchy’s mantra.
• FIFA rebuffs Zelensky’s request to share message of peace at World Cup final - "A request by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to share a message of world peace prior to kickoff at the World Cup final on Sunday has been rebuffed by FIFA, a source told CNN. The source said Zelensky’s office is offering to appear in a video link to fans in the stadium in Qatar, ahead of the game and was surprised by the negative response. It’s unclear if Zelensky’s message would be live, or taped."
• Inventor of world wide web creates new way to protect personal data - "The internet has come a long way since Tim Berners-Lee invented the world wide web in 1989. Now, in an era of growing concern over privacy, he believes it’s time for us to reclaim our personal data. Through their startup Inrupt, Berners-Lee and CEO John Bruce have created the 'Solid Pod' - or Personal Online Data Store. It allows people to keep their data in one central place and control which people and applications can access it, rather than having it stored by apps or sites all over the web."
• ‘The view was heavenly’: 22 of the best travel discoveries of 2022 - "Cityscapes, sherry bodegas, wilderness trails, medieval marvels and the joys of youth hostelling ... we share their finds of the year."
• A Very Streaming Christmas - "With so many Christmas movies to stream this season, which ones are quality nuggets and which are lumps of coal?"
• 2022 Forbes Holiday Gift Guide: An A-To-Z List Of Letter-Perfect Presents - "After making your list - and checking it twice - check it again for a better price. Should you still need ideas for loved ones and pets, this selection of gifts is as good as it gets. So just choose a letter and without even trying, you’ll soon find yourself buying and buying."
• How to survive Christmas - "A therapist’s Top 5 tips."
• Why Is Everyone Suddenly Obsessed With Buccal Fat? - "What even is buccal fat?"
• The best smartwatches for 2023 - "Our guide to picking the right timepiece (and no, the Apple Watch isn’t your only option)." engadget.
• Magnus Carlsen enjoys stunning undefeated win over reigning US blitz champion Fabiano Caruana - "Each match at the tournament consists of three segments; 90 minutes of 5+1 blitz games - in which, players get five minutes per game with one second per move increases - 60 minutes of 3+1 blitz games, and 30 minutes of 1+1 bullet games - the fastest form of chess, with one minute per player with one second increments. Players get one point for winning a game, and the player with the most points wins."
• ‘Almost as botched as Monkey Christ!’ Has the National Gallery ruined a Nativity masterpiece? - "The restoration of this treasure took three years. So why do the shepherds look so gormless? Is the curly-haired one at a school disco - and is the other trying to remember where he parked the donkey?"
• There's Still No Instagram App for iPad & Now Some Users Can't Get iPhone Version to Work Properly on iPadOS 16 - "Meta-owned social networking app Instagram continues to be limited to the iPhone, with no sign of an iPad app on the horizon. That's a major source of frustration for iPad users who prefer to have an app to access the social network, as there isn't a full feature set available on the web."

December 16, 2022

• National Archives releases thousands of JFK assassination documents - "The National Archives on Thursday released thousands of previously classified documents collected as part of the government review into the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The cache of over 13,000 documents is the second of two JFK assassination-related document dumps that President Joe Biden ordered last year when the White House postponed a public release because of the Covid-19 pandemic."
• Harry & Meghan Volume 2 review - "A remarkable reminder of how petty the royals can be."
• Harry & Meghan, the final episodes, in 60 seconds - "Prince Harry exposes a royal rift with his brother the Prince of Wales in the last three episodes of Harry & Meghan's Netflix documentary. BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond whizzes through the final three episodes in a minute."
• The golden age of the streaming wars has ended - "For a few years, there was a boon of content, and we were all wonderfully spoiled. And now that’s over."
• Elon Musk’s Twitter bans CNN, NYT, WaPo journalists without explanation - "Twitter on Thursday evening banned the accounts of several high-profile journalists from top news organizations without explanation, apparently marking a significant attempt by new owner Elon Musk to wield his unilateral authority over the platform."
• Elon Musk Sells Another Big Chunk of Tesla Stock - "Twitter’s owner has now sold $23 billion worth of Tesla stock this year, much of it after he pledged in April to stop selling shares to finance his deal to acquire the social media company."
• Warren Buffett is beating the market this year - "It looks like the Oracle of Omaha will have the last laugh this year. Shares of Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) are up about 5.5% in 2022. The S&P 500 has dropped more than 15%."
• Watered down: why negotiators at Cop15 are barely mentioning the ocean - "With only two mentions of the word ‘ocean’ in the latest 5,000-word working agreement, delegates fear marine biodiversity is being sacrificed."
• Berlin's giant AquaDom aquarium containing 1,500 fish bursts open - "An aquarium containing a million litres of water in the lobby of the Radisson Blu in central Berlin has burst, flooding the hotel and nearby streets."
• 15 extraordinary discoveries of 2022 - "The most exciting art and archaeology discoveries of 2022."
• The world's most fascinating abandoned towns & cities - "Once thriving spots, these villages, towns and cities now stand abandoned. Their empty buildings, streets and even cars left for nature to reclaim over the years."
• 36 hours in Seoul - "South Korea’s capital, Seoul, is basking in the global attention engendered by its wildly popular cultural output. It’s not just K-pop fans flocking here; international art galleries are setting up shop one after another, and this fall, the city hosted Frieze’s first art fair in Asia."
• Lionel Messi's life in pictures - "Messi is widely considered to be one of the sport's greatest players, and for many he is at the top of the list. He is Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer, and at club level he is the all-time leading scorer for FC Barcelona and the Spanish soccer league La Liga. Messi has won the Ballon d'Or trophy, given annually to the sport's top player, a record seven times. He has also won four Champions League titles with Barcelona. He now plays professionally in France with Paris Saint-Germain."
• Harrison Ford Loves His Craft. ‘1923’ Tested His Limits - "The actor, now 80, is still trying new things, including his first major TV role. Just don’t ask him to get all touchy-feely about it."
• The 'low CO2, high-protein diet' - "What is the lowest-carbon protein? Finding protein-rich foods that are good for the climate can be complex. Isabelle Gerretsen digs into the data to understand which food choices can help us curb emissions."
• Can You Pass the Flexibility Test? - "Having a good range of motion is essential for athletics as well as everyday life."
• 23 Best Fitness Gifts for the Active People in Your Life - "From portable trampolines and treadmills to the chicest workout gear, here's what to shop."
• The reMarkable 2 tablet has finally replaced my trusty paper notebook - "There's a lot to like about the reMarkable 2 tablet, starting with the physical tablet itself. The build quality is excellent, showing very few compromises. I love that it has a brushed aluminum casing that not only gives it a premium and solid feel, but also a signature look with the notebook-like spine on left hand side. It's also impressively thin at only 4.7 mm - just enough to accommodate a USB-C port."
• Nike Metcon 8 Review: What's New With Our Favorite Gym Shoe? - "The all-new sneaker looks to continue the Metcon's reputation as one of the best gym shoes available."
• new phone camera takes shockingly good DSLR-like photos - "Check out these images: new phone camera takes shockingly good DSLR-like photos impossible to capture on iPhone or Galaxy S23 Ultra."
• What Is Stiff Person Syndrome? - "Celine Dion canceled her upcoming tour after being diagnosed with this rare neurological condition. Here’s what we know."
• How to Save Yourself From ‘Task Paralysis’ - "Your brain can see your to-do list as a threat. Here’s how to get things done anyway."
• 6 Best Islay Whiskies Of 2022 - "This year saw the release of many new Islay whiskies - including Nick Offerman’s third collaboration with Lagavulin and the exquisite Ardbeg Ardcore. And in the next year, the vaunted Port Ellen distillery is expected to fire up its stills for the first time in 40 years. Until then, here are the best new Islay releases of 2022."
• best VR headsets for 2023 - "There's never been a better time to jump into virtual reality."
• Aston Martin Residences Unveils Early Glimpse Of $59M Triplex Penthouse - "The First Aston Martin Triplex In The World. The long-awaited interiors of the triplex penthouse atop Miami’s Aston Martin Residences have been revealed through the release of several renderings showcasing the expansive interiors, as well as a few hints at the 7,300 square feet of private outdoor space. Above is a partial view of the full-length living room which highlights the curved nature of the building’s exterior walls, designed to mimic the prow of a ship sailing on the ocean."
• The GQ Guide to Fade Haircuts - "Whether you're after a subtle taper or a full-on skin fade, there are some things to know."

December 15, 2022

• How Will China Fare With Covid? ‘Meaningless’ Data Clouds the Picture - "Despite assurances that the situation is under control, information on infections has become more opaque now that Beijing has rolled back pandemic restrictions."
• Why Do Stanford, Harvard & NASA Still Honor a Nazi Past? - "At a time when this country is reconsidering our darkest corners of history, Nazi scientists are still lauded across the country."
• Banned in Russia for 40 years, it's now the year's bestseller - "'1984,' George Orwell's novel of repression, tops Russian bestseller lists."
• The world's top city destinations for 2022 are revealed - "Europe has been winning the tourism game in 2022, says a new report by a UK-based market research company called - no bias intended - Euromonitor. Each year, its annual report compares the attractiveness of 100 cities worldwide across six categories - or 'pillars' - including tourism policy and performance, sustainability, infrastructure, health and safety and economic performance."
• What the fusion success means for the future - "How close are we to using nuclear fusion as an energy source?"
• This plane might be the future of aviation - "Etihad's 'Greenliner' shows a glimpse of a more sustainable future for aviation."
• Tickets now available for 2023 Monaco E-Prix - "Tickets to spectate the 2023 Monaco E-Prix from the grandstands are now available, the Automobile Club announced on Wednesday, December 14. Formula-E will return to Monaco for the sixth time with the 2023 E-Prix, which will be held on Saturday, May 6."
• Buckingham Palace prepares for Prince Harry gaslighting claims in part 2 of Netflix docuseries - "Are you ready for round two? The final three episodes of the eagerly awaited Netflix docuseries from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are releasing on Thursday."
• Elon Musk taking legal action over Twitter account that tracks his private jet - "Elon Musk says he is taking legal action against the holder of a Twitter account that tracks his private jet, arguing it put his son at risk."
• Scarlett Johansson says she was ‘groomed’ for ‘bombshell’ roles - "Scarlett Johansson is opening up about some of her early roles."
• Iman speaks of grief over death of David Bowie - "‘He’s not my 'late' husband’. The supermodel also discusses changing the fashion industry and resisting ageing cliches."
• The 50 best books of the year 2022 - "From anti-romcoms and horror to razor-sharp essays and state-of-the-nation novels, it's been a brilliant year for books. Here are BBC Culture's top picks."
• ‘Post-Avatar depression syndrome’: why do fans feel blue after watching James Cameron’s film? - "PADS is not a medically recognised condition, but the feelings people experience are very real."
• 5,000-year-old 'bog body' found in Denmark may be a human sacrifice victim - "The bones of a possible ancient human sacrifice victim have been found in a bog in Denmark."
• H. Moser & Cie Introduces An Endeavour Timepiece That Comes Complete With A Virtual World - "H. Moser & Cie has created a new virtual dimension for the launch of it’s most modern timepiece yet, and it combines virtual reality with Swiss tradition and craftsmanship. The watch, and the concept, are dubbed Genesis, or 01100111 01100101 01101110 01100101 01110011 01101001 01110011, as it is written in binary code. The Endeavour Center Seconds Genesis is a limited edition of 50 pieces. It has a three-dimensional printed titanium crown and bezel, which appear pixelated. The case is microblasted steel, and the dial is Vantablack, the blackest black coating that Moser pioneered the use of for watch dials."

December 14, 2022

• Apple Releases iOS 16.2 & iPadOS 16.2 With Freeform, Apple Music Sing, Advanced Data Protection & More - "Today's iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates bring several notable features toiOS 1 and iPadOS 16, including the Freeform app, which is a sort of digital whiteboard that you can use for anything, while also working collaboratively with friends and colleagues. It includes the Apple Music karaoke feature called Sing, it introduces Advanced Data Protection for end-to-end encryption for moreiClou features, plus more. On the iPad, the update brings support for external displays on M1 and M2 iPads."
• iOS 16.2 arrives with improved always-on display & iCloud end-to-end encryption - "Apple’s latest iOS 16.2 update is now rolling out and includes a number of new and improved features for iPhone users. iPhone 14 Pro owners will benefit from improved always-on display settings, which let users turn off the mode’s wallpaper and notifications if they’re distracting. Other new features include end-to-end iCloud encryption, the Apple Music Sing karaoke mode, and much more."
• Google won’t launch ChatGPT rival because of ‘reputational risk’ - "Google’s execs addressed the rise of ChatGPT in a recent all-hands, but said outstanding problems with AI chatbots like bias and factuality mean they aren’t ready to replace search."
• Beijing streets left empty as Covid cases explode - "Empty streets, deserted shopping centers, and residents staying away from one another are the new normal in Beijing - but not because the city, like many Chinese ones before it, is under a 'zero-Covid' lockdown."
• As Covid Spreads Fast, Beijing Isn’t in Lockdown. But It Feels Like It - "Almost no one is venturing out even after an easing of pandemic measures. Cold and flu medicines are scarce, but food supplies appear adequate."
• Can Fusion Solve the Climate Crisis? - "Scientists made a huge breakthrough on the road to emissions-free power. Here’s what that means, and doesn’t mean."
• Africa’s World Cup: how a continent that usually underperforms finally got it right - "How a continent of over a billion finally got the World Cup right. Against the backdrop of a tournament that seems increasingly defined by global politics and corporations, African countries have provided passion at Qatar 2022 and delivered plenty of pride for their nations."
• What’s Powering Argentina at the World Cup? 1,100 Pounds of Yerba Mate - "The herbal drink is beloved by South American players, who have taken it with them around the world - including to Qatar."
• Elon Musk no longer world's richest man - "Elon Musk is no longer the world's richest man after a sharp drop in the value of his shares in electric car company Tesla this year. According to both Forbes and Bloomberg, Mr Musk has been overtaken at the top spot by Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of luxury goods group LVMH."
• Elon Musk SUSPENDS Twitter account tracking his private jet movements - but Florida teen owner shares link to back-up pages on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram.
• Do Christmas trees help the planet? - "The overlooked benefits of real Christmas trees. The environmental pros and cons of Christmas trees go far beyond the climate impact of 'real or plastic', scientists say. So what's the best choice for a green Christmas?"
• Green tariffs: what are they & why do they matter? - "They are considered a means of levelling the playing field between countries with differing commitments to cutting carbon."
• New trains, new routes: How rail travel changed for the better in 2022 - "From a night train taking you from Austria to the Italian Riviera to the new semi high-speed line across Laos, from a luxurious trans-African odyssey to a new Swiss train that can 'jump' rail tracks, and even the United States finally getting the thrill of the tracks, here are some of our favorite moments from the world of train travel."
• Jay Leno details how his ‘face caught on fire’ in first interview since accident - "In an interview with Hoda Kotb from 'Today,' his first since the November 12 incident, the comedian, 72, said he was working underneath an antique 1907 car alongside his friend Dave Killackey when a series of events led to his injuries."
• Do you really need deodorant? Experts weigh in - "Like brushing your teeth or washing your face, putting deodorant on every day might seem like one of those rituals crucial for basic hygiene. But your decision is most likely based more on personal and cultural preferences than any potential medical necessity, dermatology experts say. Deodorants neutralize body odor, while antiperspirants reduce wetness on the skin, Zeichner added. Both are often offered in one product. Despite the commonly-accepted reasons why people wear deodorant, natural body odor isn’t necessarily considered unpleasant by everyone."
• Here's how many times you need to reuse your reusable grocery bags - "The battle against the single-use plastic bag may not be won but it’s definitely under way."
• Dictionary.com announces word of the year: ‘woman’ - "Portal said searches for the word increased by 1,400% after Ketanji Brown Jackson was asked to define it in her confirmation hearing."
• 10 of the best pizzerias in Naples, Italy - "The city’s top pizza makers put their name, heart and, most importantly, their hands into what they make, says guidebook author Domenico Mazzella."
• ‘Like the first flag on the moon’: oldest known jeans fetch $114,000 at auction - "The pair of jeans, recovered from an 1857 shipwreck, has sparked debate over whether they are a predecessor of the modern Levi’s."
• Sotheby’s & Christie’s New York Jewelry Auctions Total $108 Million - "Sotheby’s and Christie’s ended the 2022 auction season with Magnificent Jewels sales in New York in early December that totaled approximately $108.7 million. Fancy-colored diamonds received the most attention from collectors. For Sotheby’s, its December 7 sale of 129 lots totaled $50 million, with 81% of lots sold, bringing Sotheby’s total of global jewelry sales to more than $450 million - a five-year high for the company. The star of the auction was 'The Golden Canary,' a 303.10-carat, the fancy deep brownish-yellow diamond that sold for $12.4 million, below estimates. It was the third most valuable yellow diamond ever sold at auction, also ranking among world’s largest known internally flawless diamonds."

December 13, 2022

• What you need to know about nuclear fusion breakthrough - "The discovery could take us closer to unleashing an infinite source of clean energy that could help end dependence on fossil fuels."
• Bottling the sun - "The world has been trying to master this limitless clean energy source since the 1930s. We're now closer than ever."
• How national border walls are splitting ecosystems apart - "Amid a rising tide of nationalism, walls and fortified fences are proliferating around the world. These barriers pose a growing threat to wildlife - blocking migrations and threatening millions of species that will need to move to keep up with a changing climate."
• Does a kettle use more electricity than a TV? How much power your gadgets use - "We test what devices consume, with households increasingly worried about rising energy prices."
• Winners of 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards revealed - "Clumsy cub and smiling fish among Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards winning images."
• Sam Bankman-Fried: FTX founder arrested in Bahamas - "Police said Mr Bankman-Fried, 30, was arrested for 'financial offences' against laws in the US and The Bahamas."
• Piers Morgan calls on King Charles to strip Harry & Meghan of all titles ‘before they destroy monarchy’ - "'Imagine being the royal family still grieving the loss of your great matriarch just a few weeks ago, and now having to endure two relatives who deserted royal duty and Britain for riches in America, publicly trashing you as racists and liars week after week? It’s so disgusting.'"
• Apple Releases Firmware Update for AirTags - "Apple today released a new firmware update designed for its AirTag item trackers, with the firmware featuring an updated build number of 2A24e, up from the 1A301 firmware that was released back in April."
• ChatGPT: Optimizing Language Models for Dialogue - "We’ve trained a model called ChatGPT which interacts in a conversational way. The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer followup questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests. ChatGPT is a sibling model to InstructGPT, which is trained to follow an instruction in a prompt and provide a detailed response."
• Becoming a chatbot: my life as a real estate AI’s human backup - "For one weird year, I was the human who stepped in to make sure a property chatbot didn’t blow its cover – I was a person pretending to be a computer pretending to be a person."
• The best new European train journeys for 2023 - "Overnight trains between Stuttgart and Vienna and Bordeaux and Freiburg are among several new services that have launched in recent days."
• Hawaii's last PRINCESS dies aged 96 - "Inherited $215m from sugar plantation owner dad, bred racehorses and enjoyed toying with people who asked her for donations."
• Inside the ultimate 1970s party pad - "With its boho-luxe style and decadent atmosphere, the hedonistic home of Yves Saint Laurent in Paris still influences interiors today."
• The White Lotus finale review - an absolute televisual chef’s kiss - "Yet again, this show has proved that it is possible to make outstanding TV that both plays to the crowd and refuses to sing the classics. What a glorious way to see off the year."
• Westworld is leaving HBO Max - "Yes, the once-flagship HBO Original TV show is close to meeting the same cost-cutting fate as those episodes of Sesame Street."
• The NuPhy Air75 is the low-profile, Mac-friendly mechanical keyboard I’ve been looking for - "'I will never go back to normal keyboards again.'"
• 2023 McLaren Artura: Innovative Hybrid Tech=Supercar Performance - "Everyone is predicting a purely electric automotive future, and while that may (or may not...) come to pass, in the long term, there’s no denying the need for 'electrification' - also known as hybrid technology - in the short term. Using hybrid technology can substantially increase a vehicle’s fuel efficiency while lowering tailpipe emissions. Every automaker is ramping up its hybrid technology push, including British supercar maker McLaren. The company’s first high-volume hybrid model, the 2023 McLaren Artura, is hitting showrooms soon, and we just drove it. The 2023 Artura starts at $235,000, and can be highly optioned for less than $260,000."
• Black Harley-Davidson Panther King Is a Mechanical Feline Running on a Big, Fat 330 Wheel - "Big wide wheels at the back of a motorcycle are extremely fun. Fun to look at, fun to make, and of course fun to ride on – and that’s probably why you rarely see a modified Harley-Davidson wearing its stock rear wheel."
• Cat Breeds That Live Longest 2022 - "Here are 10 gorgeous cat breeds thought to have long lifespans."

December 12, 2022

• Ski resorts are melting. Here's what that means for winter vacations - "Planet-warming emissions are rising so quickly worldwide that experts at the World Meteorological Organization estimates that we could see another hottest year on record within the next five years, beating the previous record set in 2016. The consequences could be devastating for the planet, and many low-level ski resorts are already under severe threat because of a lack of snow."
• The tourist attractions travelers won't be able to visit in 2023 - "It already looks like 2023 is going to be a year of 'revenge travel,' with people who were cooped up during the pandemic taking the long-overdue dream vacations they've been saving up for. However, while most of the world is open again and operating like before, not every attraction survived the pandemic unscathed. Some have taken advantage of the pause in tourism to remodel or upgrade infrastructure, while others have said goodbye forever."
• 'Bali tourism will not be affected by new criminal code,' Indonesian officials say - "'Based on the provisions of the new Indonesian criminal code, visitors who visit or live in Bali would not need to worry,' said Balinese governor Wayan Koster, adding that there would be 'no checks on marital statuses at tourist accommodations like hotels, villas, guest houses or spas, or inspections by public officials or community groups.'"
• Asia's most beautiful train route? - "Sri Lanka's most beautiful train journey. The Colombo to Badulla railway is so enchantingly beautiful that it's become a bucket list adventure for many visitors."
• The most dangerous place on Earth - "Safety of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant hangs in the balance. Shelling near the six-reactor facility plus a shortage of workers and uncertain backup power are making it what could be most dangerous place on Earth."
• China scraps virus tracking app as country braces for Covid impact - "China is bracing for an unprecedented wave of Covid-19 cases as it dismantles large parts of its repressive zero-Covid policy, with a leading expert warning Omicron variants were 'spreading rapidly' and signs of an outbreak rattling the country’s capital."
• The Prince, the Plot & a Long-Lost Reich - "Prince Heinrich XIII was arrested last week as the suspected ringleader of a plan to overthrow the German government. Nostalgic for an imperial past, he embraced far-right conspiracy theories."
• World's Smallest Cats 2022 - "Here are 10 most tiny breeds of adorable cat stay looking like kittens into adulthood."
• Legally bookish: Reese Witherspoon & the boom in celebrity book clubs - "The star has deposed Oprah Winfrey as queen of the online literary discussion groups - and plenty more A-listers are getting in on the act. Our reporter dives under the covers."
• Golden Globes: List of Nominees - "A complete list of the nominees for the 2023 Golden Globes in 27 categories across film and TV."

December 11, 2022

• Twitter to relaunch Twitter Blue at higher price for Apple users - "The company said users could subscribe to the revamped service that will allow subscribers to edit tweets, upload 1080p videos and get a blue checkmark post account verification, for $8 per month through the web but for $11 per month through Apple iOS."
• iOS 16.2 for iPhone Expected to Launch Next Week With These 12 New Features - "iOS 16.2 is expected to be released next week following nearly two months of beta testing. With last-minute additions like Apple Music Sing and Advanced Data Protection, the software update now has over a dozen new features for the iPhone. We've recapped many of the new features coming with iOS 16.2, including Apple's new whiteboard app Freeform, two new Lock Screen widgets, the ability to hide the wallpaper and notifications on the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display, a new AirDrop setting, SharePlay support for Game Center, Live Activities enhancements, and more."
• How Is Everyone Making Those A.I. Selfies? - "Images generated with Lensa AI are all over social media, but at what cost?"
• The New Chat Bots Could Change the World. Can You Trust Them? - "Siri, Google Search, online marketing and your child’s homework will never be the same. Then there’s the misinformation problem."
• Anthony Fauci: A Message to the Next Generation of Scientists - "'Although I hesitate to use the hackneyed expression 'It seems like just yesterday,' it does feel that way as I prepare to leave the National Institutes of Healthafter over five decades. As I look back at my career, I see lessons that may be useful to the next generation of scientists and health workers who will be called on to address the unexpected public health challenges that will inevitably emerge.'"
• Economists hail end to zero Covid in China but huge human toll is feared - "Low rate of vaccination of elderly and a lack of natural immunity mean country may be in for a bumpy ride."
• Germany coup plot: The extremists who tried to topple the state - "HQ, to a large extent, until this Wednesday, for an eclectic group of plotters, hoping to take over the German parliament and destroy the structures of modern Germany, replacing them with a monarchical system, with a Prince at its head, whose family used to rule this region for hundreds of years before World War One."
• Biden faced internal opposition to Brittney Griner swap, reports say - "Department of Justice viewed deal to exchange basketball star for Russian arms dealer as a mistake."
• Fran Lebowitz on life without the internet: ‘If I’m cancelled, don’t tell me!’ - "The writer is easy to spot if you spend long enough in New York, but interviews have to be over her landline, as she is permanently offline. She reveals why Andy Warhol wasn’t so smart, and how she learned to love a good party."
• What was Dracula really like? 550-year-old clue to life of Vlad the Impaler emerges - "Scientists are hoping ‘historical biomolecules’ on a 15th-century missive written by Vlad Dracula, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s vampire count, will reveal more about him."
• Robbie Coltrane remembered by Miriam Margolyes - "30 March 1950 - 14 October 2022. His friend and fellow actor pays tribute to a stupendous talent with a rollicking, expansive, occasionally cruel spirit – and a vulnerable side he never let people see."
• Pink Snow Is Not a Cute Phenomenon - Here’s Why - "Researchers are trying to understand what drives the algal blooms that tinge ice—and have implications for the drought-stricken American West’s water supply."
• Massive eruption from icy volcanic comet detected in solar system - "Astronomers observed a major eruption from a volcanic comet flying through the solar system, likely spewing more than 1 million tons of debris into space."
• umbrellas shielding democracy in Hong Kong - "French photographer Thaddé Comar spent months documenting the struggle of protesters in Hong Kong, for whom the umbrella became a symbol."
• This Really Is the Greatest Bag Ever Made - "'In my 10 years as a Gear editor at WIRED, Filson’s Ballistic Nylon Duffle Pack is hands down my favorite gear item.'"

December 10, 2022

• The most dangerous cat on the Chinese internet - "How a Twitter account with a cat avatar took on Beijing. The unprecedented protests that swept China late last month, posing the biggest challenge to leader Xi Jinping’s authority since he came to power, had a peculiar focal point: a Chinese Twitter account with a cat avatar."
• Putin floats possibility of nuclear 'first use' - "Russian President Vladimir Putin, for the second time this week, floated the possibility that Russia may formally change its military doctrine of not being the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict, days after he warned of the 'increasing' threat of nuclear war."
• Jens Stoltenberg warns against conflict spiralling into Russia-Nato war - "Nato chief says alliance working ‘every day’ to avoid the fighting turning into a wider war."
• Meghan 'mocks' the Queen with her curtsey - "Meghan compared meeting the Queen to a night at America's Medieval Times."
• The fatal flaw in 'Harry & Meghan' - "Why ‘Harry & Meghan’ is a royal disappointment. The first clue that perhaps they never really intended to keep their private life private after all."
• 5 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar - "Including the newest Sonos speaker, Dyson's air-purifying headphones and more Audeze's new planar magnetic gaming headset."
• The 20 Best Luxury Gifts For The Man Who Has It All - "In an attempt to showcase this year’s most premium products across the board, we stumbled upon several iconic pieces of gear, tech, and home appliances that are far too envy-inducing to overlook, leading us to wheel out a guide to the best luxury gifts you can buy for the man in your life who thinks he has everything." HiConsumption.
• 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now - The New York Times.
• Highbrow Films Aimed at Winning Oscars Are Losing Audiences - "The kind of critically praised dramas that often dominate the awards season are falling flat at the box office, failing to justify the money it takes to make them."
• The Cars Most Likely To Become Coveted Collectibles - ""This year's Bull Market list includes a diverse range of vehicles, including microcars, muscle cars, sports cars, exotics, a motorcycle, and even a military-grade SUV. The common factor is timing - even against the current economic backdrop, we believe this group is poised to grow the most in value next year," says Hagerty’s Vice President of Automotive Intelligence Brian Rabold. "Buying a fun car while it's on the way up means you can use and enjoy it while likely coming out ahead when it's time to sell." Forbes.
• Musk brings back Twitter Blue with new features to prevent impersonation - "Reuters reviewed an email to advertisers saying Twitter Blue is back Friday."
• Why Dresden is Europe's capital of Christmas - "Flanked along both sides of the shimmering Elbe River and cradled in a valley of the same name, is Dresden. Its thriving classical music scene, which beckoned the likes of Richard Wagner, Johann Sebastian Bach and many others, combined with its baroque charm and world-class museums, have earned it the nickname Elbflorenz, or Florence on the Elbe. On paper, Dresden is the capital of the German region of Saxony, but by the looks of it, it's really the capital of Christmas."
• The amazing new Swiss mountain train that can jump rail tracks - "Combining elegance and comfort with 21st century technical excellence, Switzerland's newest panoramic train journey finally starts on December 11 - three years later than planned and 150 years after it was first proposed."
• The self-proclaimed kingdom that doesn't recognise Germany - "In the depths of the countryside in eastern Germany, there's an invisible border."
• The seven-day-a-week life of a maid for Qatar's royal & rich - "Qatar's human rights record is under scrutiny as the World Cup takes place in Doha. A lot has been written about the treatment of migrant workers who built the stadiums and hotels, but what about the foreign maids who work for Qatar's ruling classes? BBC gender and identity correspondent Megha Mohan speaks to two about a life of long hours without days off."
• Notre Dame’s uncovered tombs start to reveal their secrets - "Two sarcophaguses unearthed in reconstruction work after 2019 fire identified as elite canon of cathedral and young cavalier."
• This Formula 1 Season Was All Max Verstappen & Red Bull - "After a nail-biting battle in 2021 with Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen dominated and set a record for most victories."
• Chevy's first hybrid Corvette leaks ahead of summer 2023 arrival - "The E-Ray could pair a V8 with an electric motor to offer all-wheel drive."
• Best Audiophile Over-Ear Headphones (Wired) of 2022 - "The best audiophile headphones of 2022 include some smaller brands you might not know."
• New York Watch Auction Preview 2022, Featuring Rolex, Cartier & Patek Philippe - "Five Hodinkee Editors Chat About Paul Newman's Stuntman, J.P. Morgan's Pocket Watch, And Watches We'd Actually Bid On As We Preview This Week's Auctions. Eavesdrop on a Hodinkee Slack chat as we talk auction trends, rare Cartier London watches, tiny chronographs, and more from the upcoming New York auctions."
• A Watch Collector Found His ‘Grail’ in the Indie Scene - "'Give me something unique, give me something unusual, give me something original,' Paul Blandford said."
• Qobuz vs Tidal review: Who’s better in 2022 - "For a long time, Spotify dominated the music streaming world. It’s quickly losing market share to a number of competitors. Many are leaving for different reasons (other than just Joe Rogan). One of the main reasons is the music streaming quality. Right now, Tidal and Qobuz are leading the race on music streaming quality. In order to find out who the king of Hi-Res streaming is, we tested both Tidal and Qobuz."

December 9, 2022

• Why Viktor Bout’s return to Russia is so important for Vladimir Putin - "It is the most uneven of swaps at the most unlikely of times, but perhaps the intense pressure of this moment is why the exchange of a US basketball star for a Russian arms dealer ended up happening now. On the surface, Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout are accused of ludicrously different crimes. Griner was sentenced to a Russian penal colony for possession of a single gram of cannabis oil. Bout is allegedly the most prolific arms dealer of the past decades, fuelling conflicts in Africa and beyond - and more specifically being convicted in a US court of plotting to kill Americans."
• What to know about the prisoner exchange that freed Brittney Griner - "Griner, a championship-winning player with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury who for years played for a Russian basketball team in the WNBA’s off-seasons, had been held in the country since February after she was arrested on drug possession charges at a Moscow airport."
• Harry compares Meghan to Diana & criticizes royals’ ‘unconscious bias’ in Netflix documentary - "Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have taken aim at 'unconscious bias' inside the royal family and defended their decision to quit the institution, as their highly anticipated Netflix documentary series threatens to deepen the split between the couple and Buckingham Palace."
• Tory MP plans legislation to strip Harry & Meghan of royal titles - "'As well as trashing his family and monetising his misery for public consumption, he is also attacking some important institutions in this country.'"
• 19 Gizmos & Gadgets You Didn’t Know You Needed in Your Life From Amazon - "Whether you're looking for a trinket or two to complete your holiday shopping or you're buying for yourself, you won't regret checking these out."
• The world's most 'welcoming' countries of 2022 - "For the busiest of business travelers, who regularly find themselves called to fly to a string of countries at short notice, up-to-date information on which countries require visas or electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) is essential."
• The Most Highly Anticipated New Hotel Openings Of 2023 - "Travel is bouncing back in a big way as travel restrictions throughout the world have been completely removed or lessened to a great extent. According to the U.S. Travel Association, travel spending improved considerably in September and is now at its highest mark at 6% above 2019 levels. Also, 32% of American travelers indicate leisure travel will be a high budget priority in the next three months."
• Google reveals top trending flight searches of 2022 - "Four of the top 10 destinations searched for by US-based Google Flights users - London, Paris, Rome and Lisbon - are in Europe, which had a resurgent summer travel season this year."
• Rare wave clouds amaze sky-watchers in Wyoming - "Stunned sky-watchers in the US state of Wyoming have snapped photos of a rare cloud formation crashing across the horizon like ocean surf."
• The Highest Outdoor Pool in the World Soars 1,060 Feet Above the Ground - "Located in a building designed by Goettsch Partners, the pool sits on the 71st floor: Guangxi China Resources Tower, Nanning, China."
• Seriously, Clear Your iPhone Cache - "Don't let digital data clog up your internet browsers."
• Am I Getting Enough Vitamin D During the Winter? - "If you live in certain parts of the country, you’ll need a lot more than sunlight to maintain adequate levels this season. Here’s what the experts recommend."
• Alex Jones owes $1.5bn and declared bankruptcy. So how is Infowars still running? - "Jones is already making headlines again for platforming Ye’s antisemitic rants. Legal experts explain what’s going on."
• Sonos & Ikea made a floor lamp speaker that could be perfect for surround sound - "They basically just stuck some long legs onto the second-gen Symfonisk lamp speaker and switched to a bamboo shade."
• McLaren Artura first drive: A hybrid supercar that adds EV torque to the mix - "Better for the environment and the track."

December 8, 2022

• Women of Iran: Heroes of the Year 2022 - "The movement young women in Iran are leading is educated, liberal, secular, raised on higher expectations, and desperate for normality." TIME
• Royals deny they were asked to comment on Harry & Meghan show - "In the first three episodes, the couple attack the media and press intrusion from the start of their relationship."
• Elon Musk briefly loses title as world's richest person to LVMH's Arnault - Reuters.
• Elon Musk turns Twitter into 'hotel' for staff - "The BBC has been given photos of Twitter office space that has been converted into bedrooms, which San Francisco authorities are probing as a possible building code violation."
• ‘The world changed overnight’: Zero-Covid overhaul brings joy & fears - in China - "Workers across China have dismantled some of the physical signs of the country’s zero-Covid controls, peeling health code scanning signs off metro station walls and closing some checkpoints after the government unveiled an overhaul of its pandemic policy. But as many residents expressed relief and happiness at the obvious loosening of measures, some worried about its impact and questioned how the new rules would be rolled out."
• The Golden Globes Are Coming Back in 2023. Here’s Everything You Need to Know - "Once a fixture in the awards season calendar - the raucous party known for boosting the campaigns of Oscar hopefuls—the Golden Globes have become mired in controversy and were not broadcast by NBC in 2022. From the criticisms leveled against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the small group of international journalists who vote on the awards) to the news that it will be returning to screens in 2023, here’s what you need to know."
• Harry & Meghan's highly anticipated Netflix documentary released - "Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have taken aim at Britain’s media and promised to recall their experiences of their bitter split from the British royal family, in their highly anticipated Netflix documentary series. The project, 'Harry & Meghan,' was released on Thursday after months of speculation that the couple would star in a tell-all series."
• ‘Eco’ wood burners produce 450 times more pollution than gas heating - report - "Report from chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty finds air pollution kills up to 36,000 people a year in England."
• How Indonesia's new sex laws will affect tourists - "International travelers have been flocking back to the popular resort island of Bali as the Covid pandemic subsides, prompting hopes that Indonesia's battered tourism industry is on the road to recovery. But this week, controversial new laws were passed in parliament that ban cohabitation and sex outside marriage. The laws will apply not just to residents but also to foreign expats and tourists in the country - raising concerns from experts."
• Five ways Boeing's 747 jumbo jet changed travel - "Over 50 years after the launch of the 'queen of the skies,' the very last Boeing 747 has been rolled of the assembly line. The aircraft, a 747-8 Freighter, left the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington on Tuesday, and will be delivered to American cargo airline Atlas Air in early 2023."
• Bella Hadid's Model of the Year win & more highlights from the Fashion Awards - "Model Bella Hadid - who recently made headlines when a dress was sprayed onto her body during Paris Fashion Week - scooped up the highly anticipated Model of the Year prize, presented by fellow model Ashley Graham."
• He’s the Bad Boy of Chess. But Did He Cheat? - "An American teenager, Hans Niemann, defeated Magnus Carlsen, the world’s best chess player. Then Mr. Carlsen accused his opponent of cheating. It’s either overdue justice or paranoia."
• The weird world of soda flavours - "Beyond cola: The strange flavours of soft drinks. From drinks that taste like cough medicine to sodas that contain fish roe, there is a vast and varied landscape of flavours beyond the familiar cola and lemonade."
• The price of ‘sugar free’: are sweeteners as harmless as we thought? - "We know we need to cut down on sugar. But replacing it with artificial compounds isn’t necessarily the answer."
• a beginner’s guide to weight training at any age - "Strengthen your heart, bones - and maybe even your brain. A resistance workout is not just about adding muscle: it can bring a host of other proven benefits as well. So what is stopping you?"
• Switzerland’s brilliant new train route: direct from Montreux to Interlaken - "The GoldenPass line has long been known for incredible views, but now a pioneering engineering feat has made it even more attractive."
• Cristiano Ronaldo Collaborates With Jacob & Co. On $145,000 Watch - "The new watches are offered in two versions: the Jacob & Co CR7 Epic X 'Flight of CR&' and 'Heart of CR7.' The watches are highly personalized versions of Jacob & Co.’s well-known Epic X series with bold X-shaped lugs, diamond-set angled bezel on the 44mm case and a colored inner flange. Most importantly, the watch is the perfect venue for customizing it to honor Ronaldo thanks to the two distinctive vertical bridges that are visible on what would be the dial side of the watch (if it had a dial)."
• IKEA's latest Sonos Symfonisk speaker is also a $260 floor lamp - "It’s the most expensive member of the Symfonisk lineup."
• Dyson’s Zone air-purifying headphones start at $949 - "You can do your best Bane impression starting in March."

December 7, 2022

• 2022 Person of the year: Volodymyr Zelensky - "Volodymyr Zelensky's success as a wartime leader has relied on the fact that courage is contagious." TIME.
• China overhauls zero-Covid policy - "China scraps some of its most controversial Covid rules, in significant step toward reopening."
• Jump in number of residents in hospital with coronavirus - "A total of 38 people were being treated for coronavirus symptoms at Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco on Sunday, December 4. Among them were 21 residents. Two non-residents were in intensive care. Meanwhile, the benchmark incidence rate, measuring the infection rate adjusted for 100,000 people, rose to 536 in Sunday, up from 401 one week earlier."
• What it's really like to live in Monaco - "Described as a 'sunny place for shady people,' by English novelist W. Somerset Maugham, Monaco is one of the smallest and wealthiest countries in the world."
• Trump Organization found guilty on all counts of criminal tax fraud - "A Manhattan jury has found two Trump Organization companies guilty on multiple charges of criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records connected to a 15-year scheme to defraud tax authorities by failing to report and pay taxes on compensation for top executives."
• US judge dismisses case against Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing - "Judge says Mohammed bin Salman entitled to sovereign immunity despite ‘credible allegations’ of involvement in journalist’s murder."
• Scientists finally know why people get more colds & flu in winter - "In what researchers are calling a scientific breakthrough, scientists behind a new study may have found the biological reason we get more respiratory illnesses in winter. It turns out the cold air itself damages the immune response occurring in the nose."
• What would a green World Cup look like? - "What would it take to really make the World Cup, and other sports mega-events, a genuine part of a low-carbon world?"
• Best Movies of 2022 - "Amid endless agonizing over the State of Cinema, the actual releases proved a bounty for film lovers, whether fans of the art house or the multiplex."
• How the 1% Runs an Ironman - "Inside the world of Ironman XC, which makes the endurance contest a little more endurable - for executives who can afford to pay."
• Inside $10 Million Luxury Underground Bunkers - "Inside Oppidum’s Luxury Underground Residences Where The Ultra-Wealthy Plan On Living Out The End Of The World."
• Oppidum - since 2015. "ULTRA-LUXURY FORTIFIED UNDERGROUND RESIDENCES." We are an engineering, technology and development company specializing in ultra-luxury fortified underground residences. We create spaces that are totally secure and utterly discreet yet sumptuously appointed and entirely bespoke - all underground, within your own domain. You can be sure that you, your family and your most treasured possessions have a place of safety and comfort close at hand for as long as you need, whatever happens in the world outside.
• Big cats: US Senate unanimously passes bill to curb private ownership - "Conservationists estimate as many as 7,000 tigers are living in the US either in zoos or privately owned."
• Apple sued by women over AirTag stalking - "Apple has long been aware, before it released AirTags, that they could be used for criminal activity. On releasing them, Apple said that 'AirTags are designed to track items not people'. The devices use a bluetooth signal which can be detected by Apple's Find My Network. If an AirTag is found moving with a person the AirTag is not registered with, a message should appear on their phone alerting them to it."
• The British island stuck in time - "On the far-flung Channel Island of Sark, life is ingrained with feudal tradition - and driven by horse-drawn carts and wagonettes."
• Microsoft reaches 10-year deal with Nintendo for Call of Duty - "Microsoft is also committing to keep Call of Duty on Steam as it puts the pressure on Sony to accept a similar 10-year deal. The concession could help ease concerns from regulators over Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquistion."
• 13 years after the Steve Jobs iPad, Apple to copy Pixel Tablet design, making the best iPad ever? - "13 years after the launch of the original iPad, Google Pixel Tablet might finally fix tablets by giving them a clear purpose and direction."

December 6, 2022

• Beijing drops some Covid tests as capital ‘readies itself for life again’ - "Conditions of entry to supermarkets and offices eased, with more expected after protests forced China’s government to abandon its zero-Covid policy."
• Mauna Loa Eruption Threatens a Famous Climate Record - "Atop the Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, a little more than two miles above sea level, a 124-foot aluminum tower has been collecting carbon dioxide measurements nearly every hour, every day, for over 60 years. It was a rare interruption in the data collection that has produced the world’s longest running continuous record of the rising levels of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."
• Dementia risk may increase if you’re eating these foods, study says - "We all eat them - ultraprocessed foods such as frozen pizza and ready-to-eat meals make our busy lives much easier. Besides, they are just darn tasty - who isn’t susceptible to hot dogs, sausages, burgers, french fries, sodas, cookies, cakes, candy, doughnuts and ice cream, to name just a few? If more than 20% of your daily calorie intake is ultraprocessed foods, however, you may be raising your risk for cognitive decline, a new study found. That amount would equal about 400 calories a day in a 2,000-calories-a-day diet. For comparison, a small order of fries and regular cheeseburger from McDonald’s contains a total of 530 calories."
• Kirstie Alley, ‘Cheers’ & ‘Veronica’s Closet’ star, dead at 71 - "Actress Kirstie Alley, star of the big and small screens known for her Emmy-winning role on 'Cheers' and films like 'Look Who’s Talking,' has died after a brief battle with cancer, her children True and Lillie Parker announced on her social media."
• 'Goblin mode' chosen as Oxford word of the year for 2022 - "As you read this, look around. Are you still in bed? Are there piles of clothes and takeout food boxes strewn across the floor? Do you have chip crumbs on your sheets? Have you broken your self-care routine more times than you can count? Do you not even care? If so, you might already be in 'goblin mode' - chosen by the public as the 2022 Oxford word of the year."
• A New Harry & Meghan Trailer Sets a Dramatic Tone For The Docuseries - "In a new trailer for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix docuseries, Harry and Meghan, the Duke of Sussex asks the question the whole world is wondering about their royal departure: 'It’s really hard to look back on it now and go, what on earth happened?' he says to the camera."
• Disney’s latest AI tool de-ages actors in seconds - "In a bid to avoid hours of postproduction VFX, Disney researchers have created a neural network that can do the work for them."
• 2022 Forbes Holiday Gift Guide - "An A-To-Z List Of Letter-Perfect Presents."
• 'Fast furniture' is clogging up landfills - "Like fast fashion, 'fast furniture' is a problem for our planet."
• I Found the Perfect Replacement for Twitter. It’s LinkedIn - "In a fragmented online world, the professional social network is finding mass appeal."
• Architects are building for a flooded future - "Architects are designing for the new climate reality."
• Blockchains, What Are They Good For? - "Growing evidence says: absolutely nothing. A year ago Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies were selling at record prices, with a combined market value of around $3 trillion; glossy ads featuring celebrities - most infamously Matt Damon’s 'Fortune Favors the Brave' - filled the airwaves. Politicians, including, alas, the mayor of New York, raced to align themselves with what seemed to be the coming thing. Skeptics like yours truly were told that we just didn’t get it." The New York Times.
• Heroic Georgia dog fights off coyote pack preying on flock of sheep - "Casper nearly gave up ghost himself but managed to slay eight of the predators."
• Man who shot Lady Gaga’s dog walker & stole bulldogs sentenced to 21 years - "In a deal, James Howard Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder after he was accidentally released from custody."
• What Makes a Movie the Greatest of All Time? - "The much-respected Sight and Sound poll of the best films ever shows that what is valued onscreen has changed over time, sometimes radically."
• Billie Eilish: Growing up in public has been bruising - "Billie Eilish is the first person born in the 21st Century to win an Oscar. The 20-year-old singer tells BBC 100 Women she has struggled with impostor syndrome, and that growing up in the public eye was a 'bruising experience'."
• What it's like to read without sight - "What happens to our brains when we learn Braille, asks Red Szell in this video for BBC Culture's A Sensory World series."
• John le CarrÉ: The Spy Novelist Who (Mostly) Kept Quiet - "'A Private Spy,' a collection of the British writer’s letters, offers glimpses of unguarded moments and ruffled feathers."

December 5, 2022

• Covid is weakening, China state media claims, as major cities lift lockdowns - "Unnamed expert tells state media outlet Yicai that Covid could be downgraded from a category A disease to category C."
• What is Ozempic Face? - "Only two other drugs have been on the tip of everyone’s tongue before this: Botox and Viagra. The diabetes drug has become a hot topic among moneyed weight watchers from Malibu to Madison Avenue."
• 30 Christmas Movies to Watch On Netflix - Town&Country.
• The 20 best songs of 2022 - "Alongside landmark records from Kendrick and Beyoncé, the year saw standout tracks from Steve Lacy, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more."
• The Soviet Union: 100th anniversary - in pictures - "Formed in 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a one-party state, governed and ruled by the Communist Party. TV documentary series The Soviet Union: 100th Anniversary 2022 explores the country that Winston Churchill famously referred to as: ‘A riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma’. It is scheduled for release on 5, 6 and 7 December on PBS America, and available on Freeview 84 | Freesat 155 | Sky 174 | Virgin Media 273 and on catch-up from 6 December."
• Best Hi-Fi Accessories, Racks and Stands | Buyers Guide 2023 - "Welcome to the Best Hi-Fi Accessories section of the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for 2023."
• 5 Texting Strategies That Keep A Guy's Interest - "Sending mundane text messages can really sabotage your chances for a reply."
• The rich marine life under frozen ice - "When scientists searched beneath the polar ice, they discovered this freezing environment was home to a surprising amount of life."
• Queen of Christmas: the wondrous snowy landscapes that made Grandma Moses as big as Jackson Pollock - "The upstate New York farmer took up painting at 76 and was soon a star, her ‘old-timey’ scenes proving perfect for stamps, curtains and Christmas cards – saving her from a life of raising chickens."
• A local’s guide to Chamonix, France: great hikes, the Alps & decent sushi - "With soaring peaks on its doorstep the town is an international hotspot. Mountain guide Julien ‘Pica’ Herry tells us what he loves about the birthplace of alpinism."
• Roomba Combo j7 Plus review: now with a mop on top - "A cool but minor upgrade to an already excellent robot vacuum, iRobot’s Combo j7 adds a mop to the bot and is worth considering if you’ve got hardwood floors and lots of fluffy rugs. For everyone else, the regular j7 vacuum is still your best bet."

December 4, 2022

• Cutting energy prices will take years - power boss - "It 'will take years' to get energy prices back to pre-Ukraine war levels, the boss of one of the world's biggest energy firms has told the BBC. Enel's Francesco Starace said bringing prices down depends on new sources of energy such as renewables and heat pumps."
• Fears of deadly infection surge as China abandons zero-Covid policy - "Dramatic U-turn following widespread unrest leaves country ill-prepared for Omicron."
• The top 100 films & what they say about our changing society - "Offbeat British directors defying realist expectations fare well in poll, but Hitchcock dominates."
• Royal troubles cast shadow over William & Kate’s US tour - "Carefully scripted trip had to contend with racism row and sympathy for Meghan."
• King Charles is seen for the first time since Harry & Meghan's bombshell Netflix trailer - "The Monarch looked pensive and stern-faced as he walked to church on the Royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk, accompanied by a friend. The King, who was wearing a long brown overcoat and smart brown shoes, made the short walk to St Mary Magdalene Church for the 11am service."
• Where Did the Royals Find Prince George’s Nanny? - "At Norland College, future nannies take courses on early childhood education and cooking alongside learning to fend off kidnappers and shielding strollers from paparazzi."
• Kendall Jenner parks in handicapped spot to go for a workout - "Rules for thee but not for me! Kendall Jenner is caught parking her luxury Land Rover in a handicap spot for AN HOUR during Hot Pilates class in West Hollywood."
• Will the Era of Butts Ever End? - "A new book takes a look back at the posterior’s cultural role throughout history."
• Christmas has come early for Jeff Bezos - "His humungous $500 million sailing superyacht is complete and ready for the centibillionaire to take delivery."
• TOP 10 private houses of 2022 - "In our coverage of private homes in 2022, we saw conscious interventions that respond directly to the local climate, sensitive restorations, attempts at net-zero construction, and a continued desire for a deep connection with nature. Though they vary in size and setting, our TOP 10 private homes all offer groundbreaking approaches that both respond to and interact with their surroundings."
• Owner Parts With Rare Emerald From 1622 Shipwreck to Help Ukraine - "The gem, recovered from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, ended up in the possession of the chicken magnate Frank Perdue. His widow, Mitzi Perdue, is auctioning it to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine."
• Beyond beliefs: does religious faith lead to a happier, healthier life? - "The stress-reducing, life-extending benefits of religion can offer useful strategies even for non-believers, say scientists."
• Why Does Everyone Suddenly Want A Cartier Pebble watch? - "Understanding the hype surrounding Cartier's latest hit."
• THE FIRST DESIGNER: ALL THE FIRST LADIES WHO HAVE WON HEARTS IN OSCAR DE LA RENTA - "'Fashion is nonpolitical and nonpartisan.' The fashions of a First Lady have intrigued Americans for decades. From Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama, each FLOTUS has her own unique sense of style that, in a way, solidifies their legacy."
• This West Hollywood Caviar Palace Is Los Angeles’s Most Exclusive New Dinner Destination - Forbes.
• Gold is old, sneakers are its replacement - "The global sneaker resale market is worth $6 billion and is expected to rise to $30 billion by the end of this decade, according to Statista."
• The 5 Best Stretches To Do Before You Walk Every Day, Trainer Says - "Calling all daily walkers! It's time to tweak your routine."
• Yoga for feet, toes & ankles: give your neglected lower limbs some love - "Try these stretches to give your feet and ankles some well-deserved TLC."

December 3, 2022

• Apple Releases iOS 16.1.2 With Carrier Improvements & Crash Detection Optimizations - "Apple today released iOS 16.1.2, another minor bug fix update that comes one week after the release of iOS 16.1.1 and three weeks after the launch of iOS 16.1, an update that added support for iCloud Shared Photo Library, Matter, Live Activities, and more. According to Apple's release notes, the iOS 16.1.2 update introduces improved compatibility with wireless carriers along with Crash Detection optimization on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models."
• Twitter moderators turn to automation amid a reported surge in hate speech - "New head of trust and safety Ella Irwin says Elon Musk is urging Twitter ‘to take more risks’ in the wake of mass layoffs."
• FBI director raises national security concerns about TikTok - "FBI Director Chris Wray said the FBI was concerned that the Chinese had the ability to control the app’s recommendation algorithm, 'which allows them to manipulate content, and if they want to, to use it for influence operations.' He also asserted that China could use the app to collect data on its users that could be used for traditional espionage operations."
• Ukraine war: Learning to survive in Ladyzhyn, a town with no heating - "Hundreds of kilometres from the front line, a state of emergency has been declared in Ladyzhyn, a town whose 18,000 residents lost their heating for a week."
• People try to steal Banksy mural in Ukraine - "Police make arrests and secure image of gas-masked woman in dressing gown sprayed on Hostomel wall."
• world's 13 most notorious hotels - "Luxury hotels with a front row to history. While many hotels have rich and varied stories behind every door, there are a few around the world that stand out for the momentous, scandalous or even tragic scenes which once unfolded there, but have now become a key part of their appeal. Here are 13 of our favorites."
• Fly To The North Pole In A Luxury Airship For $200,000 - "In 1926, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen flew over the North Pole in an airship named Norge - marking mankind’s first verified trip to the pole. Almost one century later, budding explorers will soon be able to re-enact this incredible feat with an airship adventure of their own, thanks to OceanSky Cruises."
• Tried & tested: Riviera cycling made much easier than it looks - "Veronica Larsson is on a mission to get as many people from Monaco as possible to hop on a bike and explore the beauty of this area and to live an active and healthy lifestyle."
• Saudi Arabia plans one of the world's biggest airports - "The King Salman International Airport, due to be built in capital Riyadh, will have no fewer than six parallel runways, allowing 185 million passengers to pass through annually by 2050. Built over the current King Khalid International Airport, it will sprawl over a whopping 22 square miles and is due to be designed by starchitects Foster + Partners, who have dubbed it an 'aerotropolis.'"
• US Air Force unveils new B-21 Raider nuclear stealth bomber - "The US Air Force has unveiled its newest nuclear stealth bomber, the B-21, which will gradually replace aircraft first flown in the Cold War."
• Edward Snowden gets Russian passport after swearing oath of allegiance - "Whistleblower is ‘happy and thankful to the Russian Federation’ for his citizenship, lawyer says."
• French baguette gets Unesco heritage status - "There are arguably few things more quintessentially French than the humble baguette. After all, the country is said to produce some 16 million a day. Now there's something to celebrate, as Unesco adds the baguette to its 'intangible cultural heritage' list."
• Jonathan the tortoise, world’s oldest land animal, celebrates his 190th birthday - "The South Atlantic island of St. Helena is celebrating the birthday of the world’s oldest living land animal - a Seychelles giant tortoise called Jonathan, who is turning 190. While there’s no real record of his birth, Jonathan is thought to have been born around 1832. He was brought to St. Helena from the Seychelles in 1882 as a gift to Sir William Grey-Wilson - who later became governor."
• World’s oldest recorded tortoise prepares for 190th birthday party - "Jonathan, Seychelles giant tortoise given to Saint Helena in 1882, is also oldest known living land animal."
• Earthshot Prize: Prince William announces five winners - "Childhood friends in Oman who figured out how to turn carbon dioxide into rock are among five winners chosen for the Prince of Wales's prestigious Earthshot Prize."
• Two Principalities see eye to eye on taxes - "A tax treaty, aimed at eliminating double taxation with respect to income tax and preventing tax evasion, has been signed between the Principality of Monaco and the Principality of Andorra."
• Aston Martin Unveils First Luxury Home In Tokyo, Complete With An Automotive Gallery - "The marque is bringing its design prowess to Tokyo, Japan with the reveal of No. 001 Minami Aoyama, an ultra-luxe home in the sought-after area of Omotesando in Minami Aoyama that was designed in collaboration with Japanese real estate leader Vibroa. For many luxury car companies, designing interiors is similar to designing a car in the sense that these projects prioritize the finest craftsmanship and design. No. 001 Minami Aoyama is no different."
• Chinese Grand Prix removed from 2023 F1 calendar on account of coronavirus - "Formula 1 has confirmed the cancellation of the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix, as a result of the country’s continuing zero-Covid policy."
• How Zwilling’s Cool Touch Kettle became my most-used kitchen gadget - "Yes, I paid $115 for a unitasker, but it does its task superbly."
• Huawei teases a smartwatch with built-in wireless earbuds - "Who needs a charging case?"

December 2, 2022

• Environmental photographer of the year 2022 - in pictures - "This year’s Environmental photographer of the year competition, from CIWEM, WaterBear, Nikon and Arup, showcases some of the most striking images of the natural world, providing an international platform to raise awareness for the issues that threaten our planet. Here’s a closer look at the winning photos."
• Mar-a-Lago docs review halted in major defeat for Trump - "Appeals court halts special master review of documents seized at Mar-a-Lago in major defeat for Trump. The ruling removes a major obstacle to the Justice Department’s investigation into the mishandling of government records from Trump’s time in the White House."
• The comic ingenuity of Chinese protesters - "It transforms the most powerful man in the country into a teddy bear."
• Kanye West's Twitter account has been suspended after Elon Musk says it violated rule against incitement to violence - "'I tried my best. Despite that, he again violated our rule against incitement to violence. Account will be suspended,' Musk tweeted in a reply."
• New footage reveals how 5 lions escaped their Sydney zoo enclosure - "The Great Escape always brings prisoner-of-war Steve McQueen to mind, but perhaps the real masters of breaking out are five lions who absconded from their enclosure at a Sydney zoo last month."
• Netflix releases the first official trailer for 'Harry & Meghan' - "Get ready for a more intimate look into the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex."
• Fifth Indiana Jones movie releases first trailer & title - "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, in theaters June 2023, sees Harrison Ford reprising his role as the hero archaeologist."
• The Floating Mountain: Japan's most remote ski destination - "Buffeted by wild winds and blanketed in deep powdery snow throughout winter, the remote island of Rishiri off Japan's north-western tip is a self-powered skier's paradise."
• WHO recommends new name for monkeypox disease - "Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO will begin using a new preferred term “mpox” as a synonym for monkeypox. Both names will be used simultaneously for one year while 'monkeypox' is phased out. When the outbreak of monkeypox expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings and in some communities was observed and reported to WHO. In several meetings, public and private, a number of individuals and countries raised concerns and asked WHO to propose a way forward to change the name."
• Alzheimer’s Drug May Benefit Some Patients, New Data Shows - "The drug, lecanemab, made by Eisai and Biogen, also carried risks of brain swelling and bleeding and should be studied further, a report of the findings said."
• Expats rank the best & worst European cities in 2022 for careers, social life & safety - "If you’re thinking about moving abroad, you’re in luck. Remote working is on the rise around the globe - and dozens of countries have developed targeted ‘digital nomad’ visas. But it’s important to choose a country that provides the necessary services for teleworking and suits your lifestyle."
• The Coolest Restaurants To Eat At In 2023 - "The restaurant-award industry is also still booming, with the Best Chef Awards sharing attention with Michelin star announcements, La Liste and those World’s 50 Best lists. This isn’t one of those lists. Rather, a few hand-picked experts who enjoy eating well—professionally, in fact—weighed in on what’s up-and-coming, where they’ve been pleasantly surprised, and the places to which they’re eager to return."
• Pantone's 2023 Color of the Year revealed - "Described as 'a nuanced crimson tone' that balances warm and cool, Viva Magenta is 'an unconventional shade for an unconventional time,' Pantone said in a statement unveiling its pick."
• Viva Magenta! What Pantone’s colour of the year tells us about 2023 - "The design company calls it an empowering shade that drives innovation - and its storied history suggests it might be right."
• Rolex launch certified pre-owned program, but we are left with more questions than answers - TIME + TIDE.
• The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time - "For the first time in 17 years, we've completely remade our list of the best songs ever. More than 250 artists, writers, and industry figures helped us choose a brand-new list full of historic favorites, world-changing anthems, and new classics."
• Alex Jones files for bankruptcy following $1 bln Sandy Hook verdict - "Alex Jones filed for bankruptcy on Friday, less than two months after a jury ordered him and the parent company of his Infowars website to pay nearly $1 billion in compensatory damages to relatives of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting. Jones filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors with the U.S. bankruptcy court in Houston, a court filing showed. The filing said Jones has between $1 million and $10 million of assets and between $1 billion and $10 billion of liabilities."
• Elton John to perform his last ever UK show at Glastonbury 2023 - "Announcement comes weeks after singer’s final US show and will be his second appearance ever at a UK festival."
• Amazon Kindle Scribe Review: This Note-Taking E Ink Tablet Strikes a Great Balance - "It's got some room for improvement, but the Scribe delivers on its promise of an e-reader that you can use to take notes, mark up documents and doodle."
• Tesla delivers first electric Semi trucks - three years late - "The electric long-hauler was first announced in 2017, and was supposed to go into production in 2019, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and a global parts shortage."
• Lamborghini unveils Off-Roading HuracÁn Sterrato, Limited To 1,499 Examples - "You would be forgiven for thinking that a high-riding Lamborghini Huracán with off-road tires and rallying intentions would be a concept car. Perhaps one intended to appear in the next Forza Horizon video game, and nothing more. But no. Lamborghini is deadly serious, and the car seen here is the production version of the 2019 Sterrato concept, ready to blast across sand dunes. Or safely mount the kerb outside your local shopping mall."
• Airbus reveals plans for hydrogen fuel cell aircraft - Airbus has announced it is developing a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine - and that it plans to test it on the largest commercial airplane ever to take to the skies.

December 1, 2022

• China’s vice-premier signals shift in Covid stance as some lockdowns eased - "Sun Chunlan says Omicron less pathogenic as Beijing appears to respond to zero-Covid protests by relaxing some measures."
• Trump taxes: US lawmakers get access to former president's returns - "Donald Trump's tax returns have been handed over to a committee of the US House of Representatives after the former president lost a long legal battle to keep them sealed. It is not clear if the returns will be made public, or what they will reveal."
• 500 flights daily cast doubt on Qatar's green pledge - "World Cup: Shuttle flights cast doubts on carbon-neutral pledge. In the run-up to the World Cup, Qatar pledged to make this the first carbon-neutral event in the tournament's history. But climate advocates raised serious doubts about its sustainability claims. So, is Qatar living up to its promise?"
• These are the world's most expensive cities to live in 2022 - "It seems like every month when household bills come due, we grumble about how the cost of living has gone up again. But it's not just anecdotal. According to this year's Worldwide Cost of Living Index, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the average cost of living is up 8.1% in 2022, owing to the Russian war in Ukraine and the lingering effects of the pandemic."
• Saudi Arabia is hosting one of the world's biggest raves - "Why the birthplace of Islam is hosting one of the world’s biggest raves. Electronic music, strobe lights, glittered faces and hundreds of thousands of people in mixed-gender gyrations are all part of a new kind of ritual in Saudi Arabia that didn’t exist just three years ago. The kingdom’s Soundstorm music festival, which began in 2019, is back again for its fourth year and will start on Thursday."
• The Cake Recipe That Was a Secret for Two Decades - "With an origin story out of Old Hollywood, chiffon cake is at once airy and rich. It is almost nothing, this cake, and yet so rich: angel and devil at once."
• MÂchon: The French breakfast you don't know - "While France is renowned for its pains au chocolat and croissants, Lyon has a long-standing tradition of tucking into wine and offal at breakfast."
• Victoria Beckham Has Eaten the Same Meal Every Day for 25 Years - "'She only eats grilled fish, steamed vegetables.'"
• Here's Everything Coming to Netflix in December - "Cozy season is officially upon us, which means it's high time to be entertained by a whole new crop of movie and TV offerings. Luckily, that's exactly what Netflix is bestowing upon us this holiday season; below, find everything that's hitting the streaming service in December."
• 9 Books From Elon Musk’s Reading List That Could Change Your Life - "When he’s not building rockets, boring tunnels beneath Los Angeles, or sending cars into space, Elon Musk reads a lot. Here are 9 nonfiction books he thinks we should all read."
• When V.I.P. Isn't Exclusive Enough: Welcome to V.V.I.P. - "Every sports venue has its own tiered system of luxury. The World Cup in Qatar is providing a reminder that there is always a higher level."
• Interior Design Trends to Know in 2022 & What’s on Its Way Out - "Is it any wonder that in 2022 - our third consecutive year in a global pandemic - the top interior design trends are again focused on making us feel emotionally at ease?"
• Here's How to check saved Wi-Fi passwords in iOS 16 & iPadOS 16 - "Both iOS and iPadOS let users easily share Wi-Fi passwords between Apple devices. Still, sometimes people need to see the password of a known Wi-Fi network to share it with non-Apple devices. Now with iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, Apple has finally added an option to let users quickly view saved Wi-Fi network passwords on the iPhone and iPad. Read on as we detail how to do this on your device."

November 30, 2022

• China’s security apparatus swings into action to smother Covid protests - "China’s vast security apparatus has moved swiftly to smother mass protests that swept the country, with police patrolling streets, checking cell phones and even calling some demonstrators to warn them against a repeat."
• Sharp rise in Monaco’s coronavirus cases - "The benchmark incidence rate of positive tests rose to 401 as of Sunday, November 27, up from 240 one week earlier. The figure is based on the number of positive tests adjusted per 100,000 population."
• France starts to put mask pressure on as coronavirus case numbers rise - "New COVID-19 infections are on the rise again in France and people should consider wearing masks on public transport or when in contact with vulnerable people, French government officials said on Tuesday."
• Mapped: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Around the World - "According to Our World in Data, the global population emits about 34 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) each year. Where does all this CO₂ come from? This graphic by Adam Symington maps out carbon emissions around the world, using 2018 data from the European Commission that tracks tonnes of CO₂ per 0.1 degree grid (roughly 11 square kilometers)."
• Kim Kardashian & Kanye West reach divorce settlement - "Per the agreement, a draft of which was obtained by CNN, Kardashian will receive $200,000 per month in child support from West, who last year legally changed his name to Ye, and share joint custody of their four children."
• New high-speed trains make this country Europe's rail capital - "Spain's new high-speed trains make it Europe's rail capital."
• The 23 Best Places to Go in 2023 - "For Indigenous-led wildlife experiences, design-forward stays, and expedition sailings." Conde Nast Traveler.
• Will Exercising With a Cold Make You Sicker? - "If you have mild symptoms, a short, low-intensity workout may be fine. But experts say there are important things to consider."
• Rare success for Alzheimer's research unlocks hope for future therapies - "The first big breakthrough in 30 years of Alzheimer’s research is providing momentum for clinical trials of 'cocktail' treatments targeting the two hallmark proteins associated with the mind-robbing disease, according to interviews with researchers and pharmaceutical executives."
• Christian Louboutin Reflects on His Road to Footwear Fame - "On Nov. 30, Christian Louboutin was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 36th annual FN Achievement Awards."
• The 35 Best Gifts to Bring Parents a Touch of Luxury - "For years, our moms and dads have showered us with thoughtful goodies. It's time to return the favor."
• Best Men’s Cologne For 2023 - "Top 7 Scents Most Recommended By Experts."
• Why Add Whiskey To Cologne? + Best Whiskey Scented Colognes - "Whiskey is a classic scent, combining it with cologne gives you the best of both worlds. It has a strong and bold aroma but is also smooth and refined."
• Rolex Is Reportedly Building a New $1 Billion Facility in Switzerland - "Authorized Rolex dealers may finally be able to get some badly wanted allocations as Rolex has just announced a new $1 billion CHF ($1.06 billion USD) production facility in Bulle, Switzerland."
• Why Is It So Hard for Men to Make Close Friends? - "American men are stuck in a 'friendship recession.' Here’s how to climb out."
• Winners of 61st Rose d’Or awards announced - "The prestigious Rose d’Or Awards define the gold standard for excellence and achievement in International TV and Audio programme making."

November 29, 2022

• China targets older people in Covid-19 vaccination drive - "Plan to accelerate vaccine rates among people over 80 comes as police crack down on protests against country’s zero-Covid policy."
• Blank paper, equations & alpacas: the symbols of China’s zero-Covid protests - "Protesters in China deploy creative means to make political statements in order to evade censors."
• UN: humanitarian situation in southern Ukraine 'critical' as people struggle without power - "The UN says the situation is particularly dire in the southern cities of Mykolaiv and Kherson. Nearly a quarter of a million people in Mykolaiv alone face a lack of heat, water and power."
• World's largest active volcano erupting for first time in nearly 40 years - "Hawaii’s Mauna Loa is erupting for the first time since 1984."
• Why airplanes can't fly through volcanic ash clouds - "Volcanic ash clouds are a serious hazard to aviation, reducing visibility, damaging flight controls and ultimately causing jet engines to fail."
• Elon Musk set to become number-one influencer on Twitter - "Tuesday, 17 January 2023 is the day analysts predict Elon Musk will become the number-one influencer on Twitter."
• Musk feuds with Apple over Twitter advertising - "Elon Musk has said Apple has halted most of its advertising on Twitter and accused the company of threatening to remove the platform from its app store."
• Will Elon Musk really let Twitter go bust? - "Advertising shortfall and issues over subscription revenues should worry new owner given huge level of debt."
• Will Smith says bottled rage led him to slap Chris Rock at the Oscars - "The actor has been interviewed for the first time since the incident, which he described as "a horrific night"."
• Eating flavonols may be key for preventing memory loss, study says - "Eating more flavonols, antioxidants found in many vegetables, fruits, tea and wine, may slow your rate of memory loss, a new study finds."
• I text myself all day every day & you should, too - "Messaging yourself reminders, to-do lists, links, and photos is the fastest way you’ll find to make sure everything is searchable and cross-platform."
• Why Laax could be Switzerland’s greenest ski town - "Wolves and lynx are returning to the mountains around this sustainable ski resort, where solar-powered lifts serve the grand prix runs and snow parks."
• Bob Dylan apologizes for using autopen device to 'hand-sign' new book - "Bob Dylan has apologized for an 'error in judgment,' after it emerged that he used a machine to autograph special copies of his new book that had been advertised as 'hand-signed.'"
• A Finnish fashion brand is turning McDonald's uniforms into stylish workwear - "The Helsinki-based fashion label VAIN has just released a unique collaboration with the fast food giant. The brand used McDonald's employee uniforms as the base ingredients for a collection of upcycled garments."
• The Wishlist: 15 Best Gifts for the Jetsetter - "These items tend to make for stellar presents for any globetrotter or frequent flyer when each year’s holiday season rolls around."
• 9 Safest Places To Retire Abroad for Less Than $2,000 a Month - "A lower cost of living, better weather, lower taxes and a higher quality of life are all reasons to think about making the move to another country when you get ready to retire - and leaving the U.S. for greener pastures, so to speak, is not an idea that's unheard of. According to the Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey 2021, living abroad is an important retirement aspiration for 12% of Americans."
• The history behind the Cartier watch Princess Diana always wore - "The Cartier Tank has maintained its prime position as the last word in elegant, iconic timepieces through each of its iterations and every era."
• The Complete Guide To Carbon Fiber - "Offering five-times the strength of steel and double the stiffness while clocking in at just one-third its weight, carbon fiber is an ultra-lightweight, incredibly-stiff material with stellar heat tolerance and minimal thermal expansion."
• The weird & wonderful art created when AI & humans unite - "Will AI kill art? Not likely, says the artist Alexander Reben, who has been working with AI for years. In fact, we may be entering an exciting new period that changes how we think about creativity itself."
• 10 of the best TV shows to watch this December - "Hugh Montgomery picks out the month's biggest TV offerings - from Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford in Western series 1923 to fantasy prequel The Witcher: Blood Origin with Michelle Yeoh."
• Manuscript treasure trove may offer fresh understanding of Hegel - "Exclusive: Library discovery of undocumented transcripts of German philosopher’s lectures like ‘finding new Beethoven score’."
• Apple TV 4K 2022 review: cheaper but still premium streaming box - "Rapid smart TV upgrade with every streaming service available and a quality ad-free home screen."

November 28, 2022

• Cyber Monday deals - at Amazon.com.
• Rare protests are spreading across China - "State media doubles down on its Covid messaging even as protesters across the country join calls for tough measures to be lifted."
• Russian attacks on energy grid amount to genocide, says Ukraine - "Strikes on key facilities targeted 'the full Ukrainian nation' and were an effort to force Kyiv to surrender, the prosecutor-general told the BBC. The term genocide refers to an effort to wipe out a group of people. Russia denies having any such aim."
• Cameraman refused entry to World Cup stadium for wearing rainbow watch strap - "Security staff told a BBC cameraman he couldn’t enter a World Cup ground because he was wearing a watch with a rainbow strap."
• Elon Musk Sends Special Invitation to Bill Gates - "The CEO of Tesla has still not forgotten the doubts of his fellow billionaire. Musk's enmity with his billionaire peer Bill Gates is based on the fact that the co-founder of Microsoft (MSFT) - Get Free Report has often expressed doubts about certain ambitious projects of Tesla (TSLA) - Get Free Report, the manufacturer of premium electric vehicles and jewel of Musk's empire. Last May, Musk protested because Gates had a short position of $500 million against Tesla. Short selling stock is a bet that the stock price will drop."
• What travel warnings do other nations give their citizens about US violence? - "American travelers - at least those of the cautious variety - might be familiar with the US State Department's travel advisories. The agency monitors the world for potential trouble and issues warnings from "Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions" to 'Level 4: Do Not Travel,' alerting would-be visitors to terrorism threats, war, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, high crime rates and other personal security issues."
• The Warren Buffett formula: How you can get smarter - "You could be the oracle of wherever you live, too."
• Conscious spending: The finance approach that’s both smart & fun - "When you think of money, do you feel like living in the moment and being responsible are mutually exclusive? Does guilt eat at you when you go out for lunch or have a $7 oat milk latte? You don’t have to think or feel this way, thanks to a flexible personal finance approach called conscious spending. 'Unlike a budget, which looks backward, a conscious spending plan allows you to look forward,' said Ramit Sethi, author of the best-selling 'I Will Teach You to Be Rich' and CEO of the eponymous blog."
• The Case for Returning to Tumblr - "People dusting off their old Tumblr accounts and returning to the O.G. microblogging site."
• In Defense of Dating Pete Davidson - "His long list of celeb conquests has received even more press; the man has variously been linked to Emily Ratajkowski, Cazzie David, Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale, Margaret Qualley, Kaia Gerber, Phoebe Dynevor, and Kim Kardashian, with none other than Dionne Warwick recently volunteering as tribute."
• TOP 10 EDC GEAR GIFT GUIDE YOUR TOOLKIT NEEDS TO BE PREPARED FOR LIFE’S ADVENTURES - "Often referred to by its acronym EDC, EveryDay Carry as a category of products has absolutely taken off in the past couple of years. With objects like phones becoming absolute essentials and wallets becoming objects of art and desire, the idea of having a set of EDC is almost a part of one’s personal style guide. While your phone, wallet, and keys are undeniably some of the things you’d carry with you everywhere, EDC today has a much broader appeal, even including things like pocket knives, multitools, tech accessories, and even desirable stationery."
• Why interval training is so effective - "For many people aiming to burn a lot of calories, high-intensity interval training is the way to go. Also known as HIIT, these popular workouts feature bursts of intense activity, such as squats or lunges, followed by recovery time. A HIIT routine can torch more calories than a traditional endurance workout while being performed in a shorter amount of time."
• Goyard Has a Quota? - "We’ve all heard of Hermès and Chanel having a quota limit on their bags. But now Goyard has a quota too! Wait, what?"
• Jackie Kennedy & Queen Elizabeth "Had a Good Relationship" Says Secret Service Agent Clint Hill - "His new book, My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy, shares never-before-told stories of his journeys with the first lady."
• Exploring a memory: Designer re-creates a dress for Diana - "Shocking pink with a plunging, ruffled neckline and body-hugging shape, the gown was designed by Emanuel for Lady Diana Spencer to wear at a Buckingham Palace party a few days before her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981. It was a visual coming-out event for the future princess, until then largely known for her conservative sweater-and-pearls look."

November 27, 2022

• Protests erupt across China - "Demonstrations break out across the country in an unprecedented challenge to Xi Jinping's zero-Covid policy."
• Happy Birthday, Omicron - "One year after the variant’s discovery, virologists are still scrambling to keep up with Omicron’s rapid evolution."
• Ukraine conflict: What war crimes is Russia accused of? - "Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, says Russian troops may have committed more than 400 war crimes in Kherson before abandoning the city."
• Melting point: could ‘cloud brightening’ slow the thawing of the Arctic? - "The climate emergency is prompting some scientists to suggest extreme measures. But whether you call it geoengineering or biomimicry, others feel interfering with nature will have too high a cost."
• Welcome to Lusail: Lego-city of the gods & one of the strangest places on earth - "Andy Warhol would love the venue for the World Cup final, a super-Croydon, a post-modern Milton Keynes of the hyper-rich."
• 3D Map: The World's Largest Population Density Centers - "What does population density look like on a global scale? These detailed 3D maps illustrate the world's biggest urban areas and trends."
• Amazon Alexa Deemed ‘Colossal Failure’ Following $10 Billion Loss - "Eight years into Alexa’s existence, Amazon has decided the smart assistant hasn’t been worth all the hype. The retail giant’s most recognizable product has generated a multi-billion dollar loss during its tenure while failing to accomplish what it was made to do: sell more stuff. Amazon’s “Worldwide Digital” unit, which manages Alexa’s AI and various hardware, lost over $3 billion in the first quarter of 2022 alone, reports Business Insider."
• Google’s Nest Wifi Pro is a dead simple way to bring Wi-Fi 6E home - "If you're looking for something fast, simple and affordable, the $199 mesh router has you covered."
• ‘Gangnam Style’ Brought K-Pop to the World, but Haunted Its Creator - "In 2012, the song took over the internet, and it helped pave the way for the global success of Korean pop. But Psy, the artist behind it, spent years trying and failing to replicate the phenomenon."
• Secrets of ‘SuperAgers’ with superior memories into their 80s - "Carol Siegler is a cognitive 'SuperAger,' possessing a brain as sharp as people 20 to 30 years younger. She is part of an elite group enrolled in the Northwestern SuperAging Research Program, which has been studying the elderly with superior memories for 14 years."
• World Cup 2022: Cristiano Ronaldo a 'total genius' for winning Portugal penalty - Fifa - "The 37-year-old converted from the spot to become the first man to score at five different Fifa World Cups."
• How Fleming’s 55-Foot Cruiser Became One of the Boating World’s Most Successful Designs - "The Fleming 55 is in a category of one among offshore cruisers, sporting the same exterior and hull as its 1986 debut."
• Charles V: French scientists decode 500-year-old letter - "A coded letter signed in 1547 by the most powerful ruler in Europe has been cracked by French scientists, revealing that he lived in fear of an assassination attempt by an Italian mercenary."
• Lost city of Atlantis rises again to fuel a dangerous myth - "Millions have watched Netflix hit Ancient Apocalypse, which is just the latest interpretation of an enduring tale. But in its appeal to ‘race science’ it’s more than merely controversial."
• The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the most versatile gadget you can buy - "It’s a phone. It’s a tablet. It’s a notepad. Hell, it’s even a desktop PC and it all fits in your pocket."

November 26, 2022

• Black Friday might be over - "Check out our everyday great deals." Amazon.com.
• Apple has a huge problem with its supplier’s iPhone factory in China - "A violent workers’ revolt at the world’s largest iPhone factory this week in central China is further scrambling Apple’s strained supply and highlighting how the country’s stringent zero-Covid policy is hurting global technology firms."
• Bondi becomes nude beach as thousands take part in Spencer Tunick’s Sydney installation - "Legislation had to be changed to permit public nudity on the beach."
• US bans new Huawei equipment sales over ‘unacceptable risk’ to national security - "Bar on telecommunications products from firms including ZTE, Dahua and Hikvision are part of latest crackdown on Chinese tech giants amid spying fears."
• Elon Musk to launch new blue, gold & grey Twitter ticks - "New colour-coded categories next week for individuals, government and firms with accounts ‘manually authenticated’."
• Elon Musk just decided to bring the worst people on the internet back to Twitter - "Twitter CEO Elon Musk has decided to offer 'general amnesty' to suspended accounts starting next week - a gentler way of saying that he’s decided to welcome back some of the site’s worst and most toxic people. It’s the second major moderation decision he’s made since taking over after unbanning former President Donald Trump; both decisions were made after Musk ran an informal poll from his personal Twitter account."
• Prince Harry's explosive autobiography Spare is available on Amazon for FREE in Black Friday deal - two months before it hits the shelves.
• Charles Darwin's full correspondence is now available online - "You can read over 15,000 letters from the evolutionary science pioneer."
• 10 Best Places to Live in the World - "These are the best places to live in the world based on health care, culture, infrastructure, and more."
• 5 Countries With Easy Citizenship for Retirement - "Canada - Dominican Republic - Ireland - Peru - Germany. In the short term, we're all working for the weekends; but, in the long run, we're all working with the hopes of retiring one day. While everyone has a different dream for that scenario, there is an option that feels very appealing to a lot of us: moving to another country."
• How long can humans live? We ask an expert - "Setting our upper limit at a mere 150 might sound daft 10,000 years from now, says Prof Richard Faragher."
• 18 Well Preserved Medieval Towns In Europe To Visit - "You’ll find the most stunningly preserved medieval towns all over Europe, which is a dream come true for history buffs, particularly if you live in the United States and have never been able to see one for yourself. When you walk through the old medieval town walls for the first time in a place like Germany or Croatia, you’ll be pinching yourself to believe it’s real."
• Best Fragrances 2022 - "FRAGRANTICA Editors Choice."
• £645 Adidas Stan Smith trainers sell out at Balenciaga - "Shoes look as if they have been ‘flattened by 20-ton steamroller’ and now sit on auction site at £2,500."
• Tutankhamun's inspiring 21st Century afterlife - "'Everywhere the glint of gold.' This is how the British archaeologist Howard Carter infamously recalled his first impression of the dazzling, treasure-filled tomb of Tutankhamun."
• Casablanca at 80: a golden age classic that remains impossible to resist - "The involving and affecting romantic thriller is a sterling example of collaboration and how the studio system can often excel."

November 25, 2022

• Black Friday Deals - Amazon.com.
• The world's skinniest skyscraper is now complete & its interiors are remarkable - "New York-based firm Studio Sofield has unveiled the interiors of Steinway Tower, the newly constructed 1,428-foot-tall tower overlooking Central Park. The announcement marks the completion of the opulent midtown Manhattan landmark, which was built on a site once occupied by the historic Steinway & Sons piano company."
• Net-zero hotels: 6 top stays for travelers who prioritize sustainability - "As big hotel groups move at a sluggish pace in reducing carbon emissions, a few smaller players are taking the green lead and tackling the climate challenge head-on, boldly committing to a net-zero future well ahead of government targets."
• Could hemp be a key tool in fight against climate change? - "The fast-growing plant is believed to be twice as effective as trees at absorbing and locking up carbon."
• Elon Musk offers general amnesty to suspended Twitter accounts - "Poll organised by new owner backed reopening accounts, leading to fears ‘superspreaders of hate’ will return to social media platform."
• The 2022 Well Gift Guide - "Looking for the perfect present? We’ve got 28 ways to keep your loved ones healthy and happy."
• Does kindness get in the way of success? - "We've been taught that kind people don't have what it takes to be successful. But is this always the case?"
• The Italian city where the houses are fit for royalty - "It's the Italian city home to palaces so spectacular that they're UNESCO World Heritage sites. A city that was once home to so much wealth that the local aristocracy lived in environments literally fit for a king, and the place where Rubens began his great artistic career. Rome? Florence? The Grand Canal-facing palaces of Venice? Nope: Genoa."
• 26 year-old Flossie crowned world's oldest living cat - "Flossie, at the age of almost 27 - which is the feline equivalent of being 120 human years old, according to Guinness World Records - has been crowned the world’s oldest living cat."
• Before you slice your holiday pie, read this - "This is the dessert that explains America."
• The Science of Comfort Food - "Much of the joy we get from our favorite dishes stems from the memories we associate with them."
• How to answer those dreaded personal questions at holiday gatherings - "What to say when someone lobs a horrible comment your way over holiday dinner, according to experts."
• What Is Ozempic & Why Is It Getting So Much Attention? - "More people are turning to a diabetes medication to induce weight loss - but experts say it’s not a miracle drug."
• Eight glasses of water a day excessive for most people, study suggests - "‘One size fits all’ guidance could lead to 20m litres of drinking water being wasted each day in UK, scientists say."
• How to Know if You Have a Genetic Risk for Alzheimer’s - "Here’s how to find out if you’re at risk & what to do if you are."
• 36 Hours in SÃo Paulo - "São Paulo is a city for city people, where street art, street noise and street food cede, but only occasionally, to high design, high rollers and high-end restaurants."
• Humans v nature: our long & destructive journey to the age of extinction - "The story of the damage done to the world’s biodiversity is a tale of decline spanning thousands of years. Can the world seize its chance to change the narrative?"
• 11 films to watch this December - BBC Culture.
• Are You Still After An Omega × Swatch MoonSwatch? - "The most talked-about watch of 2022. On March 24th, Swatch announced the MoonSwatch models - 11 pieces that all had their own 'destination.' It was a complete surprise to most people, except the few journalists invited a week earlier to Swatch HQ to look at this new secret project with Nick Hayek Jr., CEO of Swatch Group. On March 26th, the Swatch boutiques were stocked and ready to sell a maximum of two MoonSwatches per person. The first boutique to open was in Australia, and at some point, there was a queue of no less than 5,000 people. Swatch decided to bring the maximum number of MoonSwatch watches per customer down to one. Well, you know the rest of the story..."

November 24, 2022

• China’s Covid cases hit record as dissent grows over tough restrictions - "The National Health Commission (NHC) recorded 31,444 locally transmitted cases on Wednesday – surpassing the previous peak of 29,317 recorded April 13 during Shanghai’s months-long lockdown."
• How covid is rising again in China - "China has seen its first deaths from Covid-19 in six months, and thousands more people are catching the disease, despite the government's strict lockdown policy."
• Over 20,000 died in western Europe’s summer heatwaves, figures show - "This year’s temperatures would have been virtually impossible without climate crisis, scientists say."
• Why some Arabs are furious about Western coverage of the Qatar World Cup - "'Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker,' FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said in a fiery tirade on Saturday, comparing his own plight as a redhead son of migrants to that of marginalized communities. His ostensible empathy with Qatar was due to the barrage of criticism the nation has faced in Western media for hosting the tournament. But it’s hypocritical of the West to be giving lessons in morality to others, he said. Those statements on the eve of the World Cup went viral, inviting much anger and ridicule. But to many Arabs and Muslims, they resonated strongly."
• Police in Qatar instructed not to treat women as criminals if they report rape - "FIFA security officials instruct police in Qatar not to treat women as criminals if they claim to be victims of rape or sexual assault. Officers also told that pregnant women should ‘not face any accusations’."
• Manchester United takeover eyed by tech giants Apple in bid to make them world's richest club - "Apple are lining up a potential swoop to buy Manchester United after the club's owners put the Red Devils up for sale with the technology firm keen to agree a deal. However, Apple has no experience of owning a football club the size of United, although CEO Tim Cook is keen to explore the opportunities owning United could provide. He will line up talks with the banks appointed to oversee the sale, which include The Raine Group."
• The little-known nut that may save at-risk rainforests - "The nut in question is called kenari, and it grows on the tree of the same name, which is native to northern and eastern islands and regions of Indonesia."
• Ranked: Top 25 Best Countries to Retire in Around the World 2022 - "Which countries are the best equipped to support their aging population? This graphic show the best countries to retire in around the world."
• Kanye West Used Porn, Bullying, ‘Mind Games’ to Control Staff - "Former Yeezy team members claim West showed them explicit images of Kim Kardashian and used fear and manipulation to assert dominance. A scathing open letter to Adidas claims execs 'turned their moral compass off.'"
• Here's what flight attendants want you to know about flying - "Flight attendants share their air travel secrets. Intrigued to find out their tips and tricks, CNN Travel spoke to two veteran cabin crew, British flight attendant Kris Major and American Allie Malis, to get their takes on some of the key travel questions."
• A new airline is planning low-cost transatlantic flights - "Fly Atlantic this week announced plans to start operating in 2024. The new budget airline will be based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. As well as operating short-haul European flights, it plans to enter the transatlantic market with low-cost flights from Belfast to the US and Canada."
• The Kystriksveien: Earth's most beautiful road trip? - "Norway's coastal road from the town of Stiklestad to the Arctic city of Bodø is a 670km journey between two very different worlds. It's also one of the most beautiful road trips on the planet."
• Here’s How Long You Should Hold A Plank For A Stronger Core - "The moment your muscles engage and you lift up into a plank, that’s when your brain will start inundating you with questions like, 'How long should I hold this plank?' or 'Is it almost over?' - and rightfully so."
• 'Japandi': Why Japanese-meets-Scandi design is taking over the internet - "The cozy cleanliness of Scandinavian interiors and the minimalist beauty of traditional Japanese decor have made them both staples of modern home design. Now, there's a growing trend combining the two: 'Japandi.'"
• Gucci announces major shake up - "Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele steps down. Alessandro Michele has stepped down as Gucci's creative director after almost eight years, a period that saw him help revive and transform the Italian label's fortunes. Announcing the decision Wednesday, the luxury house's parent company, Kering, said the 49-year-old designer had 'played a fundamental part in making the brand what it is today.'"
• Gold coin proves 'fake' Roman emperor was real - "The coin bearing the name of Sponsian and his portrait was found more than 300 years ago in Transylvania, once a far-flung outpost of the Roman empire."
• The New Seamaster Professional 300M 60 Years Of Bond - With A Special Animated Case Back - "The classic 007 opening scene made it onto the case back. Introduced in the city where MI6 resides, the new Omega Seamaster 300M celebrates 60 years of 007. Although James Bond has been wearing various watches from several brands in the past 60 years, since 1995, it has been the Omega Seamaster. In the presence of no one else than Daniel Craig, the most recent actor to fulfill the role of 007, the new Seamaster 300M Bond has been introduced to the press and special guests."
• IWC Unveils Portofino Perpetual Calendar With Moonphase That’s Accurate For 577.5 Years - "I’ve been in the watch industry a very long time. In fact, I started my journey in late 1984 and my first full year in timepieces was in 1985. That was the same year that IWC unveiled its revolutionary DaVinci Perpetual Calendar watch that had been developed over the course of several years by master watchmaker Kurt Klaus - a man considered a legend for the brand today. The perpetual calendar displays the date, day of week, month, moonphase and year in four digits - and runs without needing a correction until the year 2499."
• ‘When you hear the four-minute warning’ ... Whatever happened to Britain’s nuclear bunkers? - "The UK was once dotted with structures designed to survive nuclear conflict, from sprawling government complexes to tiny underground observation posts. How many are still in use - and what are your chances of getting a place if you need one?"
• Belgium’s trade in Russian diamonds continues despite moral pressure - "Poland and the Baltic states are pressing for diamonds to be included in the EU’s next round of sanctions."
• Fashion, fine art & Hitler: the turbulent career of Erwin Blumenfeld - in pictures - "His fashion career was disrupted by the second world war, but that didn’t stop the Jewish photographer from sneaking fine art into his later work."
• This credit card-sized Continuity Camera mount is clever & affordable - "The Elephant Card supports your iPhone for use as a full-featured Mac webcam. It costs less than $10 and folds up flat to easily fit into a pocket or wallet."

November 23, 2022

• Supreme Court allows release of Trump's tax returns to House Democrats - "The decision means the Democratic-led Ways and Means Committee can try to obtain documents before the GOP takes control of the House."
• Ukraine war: How Germany ended reliance on Russian gas - "When Vladimir Putin switched off the gas taps to Europe, Germany more than most feared a winter of blackouts. Ministers scrambled to secure alternative supplies, painfully aware that a heavy dependence on Russian gas had left this industrial nation woefully exposed."
• Should we get rid of air miles for climate change? - "A return flight from Lisbon to New York generates nearly the same level of CO2 as the average person in the EU does by heating their home all year round."
• 12 Travel Essentials You Should Never Forget to Pack for Vacation - "Traveling soon? Don't forget these items."
• Zimbabwe's stunning 80km safari train - "On its route between Dete and Ngamo Sidings, the 'Elephant Express' offers guests an utterly unique safari experience."
• The world's most breathtaking clifftop hotels - "Commanding views, whether ocean, mountain or valley, coupled with enviable locales give these hotels endless allure - it's no wonder they're among the most coveted travel accommodations in the world."
• Saudi Arabia's victory over Argentina greatest upset in World Cup history - "Argentina has won the World Cup twice - in 1978 and 1986 - but at Qatar 2022 La Albiceleste wrote its name into the history books in an altogether different way. According to sports data group Gracenote, Argentina’s 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia in their Group C match is the biggest upset in World Cup history."
• Out of the Blue review - the rise & fall of Liz Truss - "How did Liz Truss become the seven-week prime minister? This juicy tale of high political farce hints at an answer. Famously, she was the first British prime minister to be outlasted by a lettuce."
• How sneakers came to be cultural currency - "It all started during the Industrial Revolution, when the very wealthy began to find they had leisure time on their hands. (Sidebar: The word 'sneakers' came into the language in the 1870s because the rubber-soled shoes allowed kids to 'sneak' around without being detected.)"
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2022: What To Expect At The Fair’s 20th Anniversary - "This year marks Art Basel Miami Beach’s 20th anniversary, and it is set to be the largest edition to date. From December 1 to 3 (by-invitation private viewings are on November 29 and 30), the Miami Beach Convention Center will be home to 282 exhibitors spanning 38 countries and territories. Resounding trends from this year’s selections include: re-thinking historical narratives and perspectives, the power of ideology, textiles, the human form, and violence."
• As Meta & Twitter slash staff, TikTok plans to keep hiring - "While much of Silicon Valley is grappling with hiring freezes and job cuts, at least one social media company is still planning to keep hiring: TikTok."
• The benefits of being forgetful - "Forgetfulness: Why your mind sometimes goes blank. We've all had those frustrating moments when we struggle to recall someone's name, or a key bit of information stays for too long on the tip of your tongue. It turns out these momentary lapses may actually be good for your memory."
• Velcro, bullet trains & robotic arms: how nature is the mother of invention - "Many of the world’s most inspiring solutions have been created by scientists who stole their ideas from the natural world."
• HervÉ Renard’s fairytale journey from Cambridge to World Cup mastermind - "Saudi Arabia’s swashbuckling upset of Argentina was overseen by a coach whose bravery brought unthinkable rewards."
• Five Modern Rose Gold Watches - "Tutima, Arnold & Son, Laurent Ferrier, Armin Strom, Franck Muller. This is a great time of year to celebrate the rosy glow of pink gold. Red is the hue of gold that has been traditionally used for dress watches, special editions or high complications, but these five rose gold watches update that tradition with subtly modern tweaks, preserving the formality of the hue while adding a contemporary kick. Since all are made by small or independent brands - and since they are gold - they will be produced in small quantities, which makes them rare and collectible, with investment potential."
• Victrola's Stream Carbon turntable works seamlessly with Sonos, at a price - "The Stream Carbon sounds great and is easy to set up, but will vinyl purists want to play records digitally?"

November 22, 2022

• Millions of lives under threat in Ukraine this winter - WHO - "Half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure is either damaged or destroyed, and 10 million are currently without power, said Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe. Temperatures are predicted to plummet as low as -20C (-4F) in some areas."
• Beijing shuts parks & museums as China’s Covid cases rise - "In China’s capital, cases have hit a record high, testing a recent government commitment to ease its zero-Covid policy."
• Donald Trump Is Finally Finished - "The only coherent explanation for Republicans' underperformance is the ex-president."
• In a First, Nonprofit Buys Insurance for Hawaii’s Threatened Coral Reefs - "If worsening coastal storms damage the reefs, the Nature Conservancy will get a payout and use the money to repair the coral - work that state officials can’t afford to do."
• Greta Thunberg’s charity donates £158,000 to Sami campaign - "Indigenous people in Sweden are battling UK firm over plans for iron-ore mine on reindeer-herding lands."
• Twitter is making DMs encrypted & adding video, voice chat, per Elon Musk - "Musk says the creator of Signal is interested in helping make it so that 'I can’t look at anyone’s DMs if somebody has put a gun to my head.'"
• Angler lands one of world’s largest goldfish in French lake - "Andy Hackett catches the Carrot, elusive 30kg leather carp-koi hybrid released into fishing lake 20 years ago."
• Village in French Alps demolishes its ski lift because there's no snow left - "Watching from the sidelines, roughly a hundred people gathered in the small French Alpine village of Saint-Firmin to bid farewell to their ski lift as a small team worked to dismantle it late last month. The reason? It hasn't been in use for years - because there was no more snow. 'Global warming happened, and that's what changed our view of this site,' Didier Beauzon, 63, a life-long resident of Saint Firmin and an elected official serving the village, told CNN."
• Fashion designer Raf Simons shutters his influential label - "Belgian fashion designer Raf Simons will shutter his eponymous fashion brand after 27 years, he announced on Monday. Simons shared the unexpected news on Instagram, writing that his label's recently unveiled spring-summer 2023 collection would be its last."
• The menu tweaks that lower diners' emissions - "Beyond ingredients, seasonality and even calorie content, some restaurants are now offering information on their food's carbon emissions - and it may help diners make more sustainable choices."
• The book that could corrupt a nation - "The Well of Loneliness: 'The most corrosive book ever.' While its literary value has been questioned, and many of its values now appear outdated, Radclyffe Hall's The Well of Loneliness still holds a place as a beacon for sexual self-discovery, writes Hephzibah Anderson in BBC Culture's Banned Books series."
• Die Another Day at 20: is the reviled Bond movie worth a second look? - "The 20th film was ripe for ridicule - from Madonna’s awkward theme song to an invisible car - but it’s a smarter film than many think."
• ‘This looks like the real deal’: are we inching closer to a treatment for Alzheimer’s? - "After years of setbacks, dementia researchers are getting excited about a new antibody drug called lecanemab. No one expects it to stop cognitive decline, but even slowing it would be a breakthrough."
• How to buy a timeless suit - "Check the seams, note the lining & pretend you’re driving. From sweat shields to a comfortable rise, tailors share their tips for finding a suit to last a lifetime."
• ‘An unforgettable rail journey’: my night on the Istanbul-Sofia Express - "The overnight service from Turkey to Bulgaria started running again this year and was voted one of the world’s best journeys for 2023 by Lonely Planet."

November 21, 2022

• Xi's battle for global influence - "Chinese leader Xi Jinping is pushing back at American influence overseas after whirlwind G20 and APEC summits."
• World still ‘on brink of climate catastrophe’ after Cop27 deal - "Experts say biggest economies must pledge more cuts to carbon emissions but hail agreement to set up loss and damage fund."
• ‘The ghost that haunts Monteverde’: how the climate crisis killed the golden toad - "The loss of the amphibian from Costa Rica’s cloud forest was one of the first linked to global heating, say scientists."
• English speakers, here's how to pronounce 'Qatar' - "The beginning of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will also kick off another intense international sport: Pronouncing 'Qatar.'"
• Lonely Planet reveals its top 30 destinations for 2023 - "30 places to inspire you. Uniquely curated by local experts around the world. Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2023 offers a comprehensive set of itineraries to help you explore the world. For the first time ever, we've sorted the list by trip type - eat, journey, connect, learn, or unwind - to help you find your next adventure."
• 10 Sports Cars To Consider Instead Of The Porsche 911 - "It is widely regarded within the motoring community that the Porsche 911 is the best sports car on the planet. The original design may be from the VW Beetle, but many automakers are still building sports cars to rival the 911 – most of which fail to get near the Porsche’s performance, build quality, and engineering."
• Christie’s Pulls T. Rex From Auction, Citing Need for ‘Further Study’ - The sale of a specimen named Shen fell apart after a fossil company questioned how much of it was a replica of Stan, a T. rex auctioned off two years ago for a record price.
• This Week, Billionaires Made a Strong Case for Abolishing Themselves - "Musk, Bezos, Bankman-Fried, Trump: some of our most prominent billionaires laid waste to their carefully cultivated image as benevolent saviors."
• FTX crypto exchange owes biggest creditors $3.1bn - "Cryptocurrency exchange FTX owes its 50 largest creditors almost $3.1bn, according to a court filing."
• Monaco on track to establish new investment bank - "Rumours have been rife in recent weeks concerning the establishment of a new bank in Monaco that would be closely aligned with the State. In some cases, the new bank has been described as ‘the Prince’s Bank.’"
• The term ‘heroin chic’ needs to die - even if skinny-worship rages on - "The aesthetic may be back, but the phrase has dark roots. Industry veterans warn we shouldn’t revert to 90s beauty standards."
• How To Look After Running Shoes - "Why it’s important to keep your running shoes dry and clean, and avoid the washing machine. It’s important to keep them clean, from a bacteria perspective, and let the shoe dry out naturally after use. Don’t put it on a radiator because that can damage some of the materials and the cushioning."
• How a Pomodoro timer app helped me regain my focus - "A silly tomato timer came in clutch after grief and a global pandemic destroyed my attention span."
• The closer you look at these paintings, the more disturbing they become - "Ancient Korean silk paintings get a mind-bending contemporary spin."
• Chimpanzees share experiences with each other - "A trait once thought to be only human."
• The Mars robots with an inner life - "The Martian robots that came to life. When Nasa sent twin rovers to Mars, they came to life. A new documentary looks at the remarkable missions and their effect back on Earth."
• Are stepmothers really so wicked? - "The myth of the evil stepmother. Popular culture tells us that stepmothers are mean, neglectful - even deadly. Yet there’s little evidence to support the myth. Why does it prevail?"
• Best red carpet fashion at the 2022 American Music Awards - "See some of the most eye-catching looks from LA's Microsoft Theater, where the music industry gathered to mark the awards' landmark 50th edition."
• Thousands shocked after child's discovery on Toblerone bars - "There's a Hidden Bear Inside the Toblerone Logo. It's a tribute to the swiss city of Bern, where the chocolate company was founded. They're nicknamed 'the city of Bears,' and their coat of arms is what looks like a bear climbing upwards."
• ‘Who doesn’t love a nugget?’ How the fast food favourite got posh - "We’ve come a long way from the humble Chicken McNugget, with high-end restaurants serving their own versions using cod cheeks, salt beef and even trotters. But why have they become so popular?"

November 20, 2022

• Cop27 agrees historic ‘loss & damage’ fund for climate impact in developing countries - "Deal is hailed as potential turning point that acknowledges vast inequities of climate crisis."
• Twitter lifts Donald Trump ban after Elon Musk’s poll - "The people have spoken’ says Twitter owner, having acknowledged during online poll that automated ‘bots’ were voting too."
• Is this really the end of Twitter? - "Twitter today is awash with people saying goodbye. The hashtag 'RIPTwitter' is trending and lots of the site's users are scrambling to download their data."
• ‘It’s on the tape’: Bob Woodward on the criminality of Donald Trump - "The great Washington Post reporter has published 20 interviews he conducted with the then president - who is now running again."
• World Cup 2022: Tournament in Qatar set to get under way - "After 12 years of questions, criticisms and conjecture, the Fifa World Cup in Qatar will finally get under way on Sunday."
• The World Cup That Changed Everything - "The decision to take the World Cup to Qatar has upturned a small nation, battered the reputation of global soccer’s governing body and altered the fabric of the sport."
• FIFA boss launches explosive tirade against Western 'hypocrisy' on eve of World Cup - "Infantino, the boss of world soccer’s governing body, looked on glumly as he addressed hundreds of journalists in Doha, Qatar, Saturday. Europe should apologize for 'next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons,' he said on eve of the controversial World Cup in Qatar."
• The Verge guide to the 2022 World Cup - "The tech, the memes, and everything else you need to know ahead of the most controversial World Cup in history."
• President Biden Is Turning 80. Experts Say Age Is More Than a Number - "The New York Times spoke to 10 experts in aging to paint a picture of what the next six years might look like for a person of the president’s age."
• Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker - in pictures - "A look back at the career of Nancy Pelosi, 82, who is stepping down as the Speaker of the House of Representatives."
• Polyamory, penthouses & plenty of loans: inside the crazy world of FTX - "After the crypto firm collapsed, the executive who handled the Enron debacle was brought in - and said he’d never seen anything like it."
• Tunnel discovered beneath Egyptian temple may lead to Cleopatra's tomb, archaeologist says - "Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has been searching for the lost tomb of Cleopatra for nearly 20 years. Now she believes she's made a pivotal breakthrough. Martinez and her team uncovered a 1,305-meter (4,281-foot) tunnel, located 13 meters (43 feet) underground, the Egyptian Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities recently announced - an architectural design experts called an 'engineering miracle.'"
• 30 years after those notorious Fergie toe-sucking pictures, financier John Bryan finally gives his side of the story - "Claimed the toe kissing was part of a game with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. We were just playing a game of Cinderella with the girls. I said: 'Let’s kiss Mummy’s toes'."
• ‘Why am I talking to 10 guys?’ The rise & fall of dating apps - "Swiping, benching, ghosting... Dating apps can be so cold. Now that disgruntled singles are realising the best way to meet someone is in real life, will a new world of ‘offline dating’ bring people back together?"
• Anti-ageing serums: 10 of the best - "There is nothing wrong with wrinkles, but older skin appreciates being replenished with nourishing potions."
• The DOJ was reportedly investigating Ticketmaster before the Taylor Swift debacle - "The agency may be looking into whether Live Nation has a monopoly in the live music space."
• Novak Djokovic set to surpass $160 Million in career prize money - "He already has the most career prize money in ATP or WTA history, and he’s about to hit another milestone."

November 19, 2022

• Cop27 talks continue over EU climate loss & damage fund proposal - "Last-ditch plan for providing cash to countries suffering climate-related disaster brings overtime wrangling."
• Extreme Heat Will Change Us - "Half the world could soon face dangerous heat. We measured the daily toll it is already taking."
• 110 experts raise alarm over WHO’s ‘weak’ PFAS limits for drinking water - "Independent scientists raise concerns about apparent industry influence and distortions of the science in WHO guidelines."
• Elizabeth Holmes sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for fraud - "Judge Edward Davila imposed a sentence of 11 years and three months in prison, with another three years of supervision after Holmes is released. The sentence also includes a fine of $400, or $100 for each count of fraud. Restitution will be set at a later date. Holmes was ordered to turn herself into custody on April 27, 2023. She is expected to appeal her conviction."
• Can Elon Musk turn Twitter into an ‘everything app’? - "Verification is an old nemesis for Musk."
• Nancy Pelosi Was the Trump Foil We Sorely Needed - "Nancy Pelosi stepped down as Speaker of the House on Thursday, after Democrats narrowly lost their majority in the midterm elections. The first female speaker in American history will remain in Congress, representing her home district in San Francisco."
• Will Covid Boosters Prevent Another Wave? Scientists Aren’t So Sure - "The shots may help vulnerable Americans dodge serious illness or death. But some experts believe boosters must be improved and are calling for a new strategy."
• The Best Password Managers to Secure Your Digital Life - "Keep your logins locked down with our favorite apps for PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, and web browsers."
• 2022 World Cup’s Highest-Paid Players - "French superstar Kylian Mbappé reigns supreme while Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo are chasing international glory one final time."
• Ban on Beer Is Latest Flash Point in World Cup Culture Clash - "Qatar’s about-face on alcohol signaled that FIFA, soccer’s governing body, may no longer be in full control of its showcase championship."
• Banksy calls on fans to 'shoplift' London fashion giant after spotting his artwork - "Artist Banksy has shared a post on Instagram encouraging his fans to 'shoplift' fashion store Guess on Regent Street in London, as he claimed that the retail giant 'helped themselves' to his artwork."
• King Charles BANS 'torture in a tin' foie gras from ALL royal residences, animal rights group Peta says - "A long-standing detractor of the French delicacy, the King removed the food from his royal residences as Prince of Wales as far back as 2008, when he instructed Clarence House chefs not to use it."
• Remember when Grace Kelly threw a lavish party exclusively for Scorpios? - "You might assume that Grace Kelly's 700-strong royal wedding ceremony to Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956 was the apex of her social legacy. But 13 years later, on Saturday November 15, 1969, the American film star-turned-princess threw herself one of the most peculiar and extravagant birthday parties in history. 'The Scorpion Ball,' Kelly's horoscope-themed 40th birthday celebration, was held at the Hotel Hermitage in Monte-Carlo, Monaco."
• Flying without wings: The world's fastest trains - "As the world faces up to climate change, short-haul flights look increasingly unattractive to many travelers. The flygskam (flight shame) phenomenon that started in Scandinavia is already inspiring many travelers to reduce their reliance on airlines. Until someone proves otherwise, high-speed rail is the most effective alternative to air travel for journeys of up to 1,100 kilometers (700 miles). Shuttling passengers between city centers at speeds of 290 kph (180 mph) or more, it offers a compelling combination of speed and convenience."
• White House weddings - past & present - "Naomi Biden: Biden's granddaughter to marry at the White House."
• Alan MacMasters: How the great online toaster hoax was exposed - "For more than a decade, a prankster spun a web of deception about the inventor of the electric toaster. His lies fooled newspapers, teachers and officials. Then a teenager flagged up something that everyone else had missed."
• Britain’s ‘loneliest house’ goes on sale for reported £10m - "Skiddaw House on the market for first time, along with 1,214 hectares of Lake District land - including three mountaintops."
• What Do Rich People Eat On Private Jets? - "It’s not easy to eat well on airplanes. Despite the obvious disadvantages - like not possessing kitchens - most airlines settle for terribly boring, terribly ‘cooked’ plates of food that never quite feel, well, edible. And then, of course, there are private jets. In spite of their size, these seem to be the singular route to eat well in the sky. Over the last few years we’ve seen Cardi B chowing down on crab legs in hers, Kanye West bingeing on Chick-fil-A in his, and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson sharing an enormous hand-crafted birthday cake—a gift from his flight crew—on Instagram."
• Mickey Mouse Plays Football In The Latest Gerald Genta Collectible watch - "Gerald Genta Mickey Mouse watches are the most cheerful collectibles in the world of horology. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be taken seriously. The genre was created by the world’s most famous watch designer - Genta designed the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the Cartier Pasha - and like these pieces (though not quite to the same extent), Gerald Genta’s Mickey Mouse watches fetch respectable prices at auction. They are always limited editions, and they contain mechanical movements, most of which include complications."
• Going Somewhere? Shop the 17 Best Luggage Brands On the Market - "Investing in quality luggage only makes getting there all the better. A lightweight steel case might mean you can pack a bit extra and avoid an overweight baggage fee. While an eye-catching rollaboard from Calpak in a cheerful color will ensure no one else mistakes their luggage for yours. The nostalgic set, meanwhile, will delight in leather-trimmed cases from Steamer, Globe-Trotter, and T Anthony; you may be boarding a plane, but your case will transport you right to the Orient Express. If you’re traveling in some fashion that doesn’t require a TSA Agent to handle your luggage, why not opt for an extra-luxe option? Louis Vuitton makes some lovely sets worthy of the private jet on which you may or may not be flying."

November 18, 2022

• How climate change might alter borders - "How borders might change to cope with climate migration. With up to three billion people expected to be displaced by the effects of global warming by the end of the century, should it lead to a shift in the way we think about national borders, asks Gaia Vince?"
• G20's criticism of Russia shows the rise of a new Asian power. And it isn't China - "'Today’s era must not be of war,' it said, echoing what Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian leader Vladimir Putin during a face-to-face meeting in September. Media and officials in the country of 1.3 billion were quick to claim the inclusion as a sign that the world’s largest democracy had played a vital role in bridging differences between an increasingly isolated Russia, and the United States and its allies."
• US determines Saudi Crown Prince is immune in case brought by Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancÉe - "A court filing was made by Justice Department lawyers at the request of the State Department because bin Salman was recently made the Saudi prime minister and as a result, qualifies for immunity as a foreign head of government, the request said. It was filed late Thursday night, just before the court’s deadline for the Justice Department to give its views in court on the immunity question and other arguments the prince made for having the lawsuit dismissed."
• Twitter ‘closes offices’ after Elon Musk’s loyalty oath sparks wave of resignations - "The tech company is struggling to retain workers after Musk demanded employees sign a pledge to work ‘long hours at high intensity’."
• The 25 Travel Experiences You Must Have - "A pair of internationally minded writers, a chef, an architect and a landscape photographer made a list of the most extraordinary adventures a person should seek out. Here are the results."
• Gigantic floating city design could become the world's largest boat - "The latest luxury boat to hit the market is Pangeos - named after Pangea, a supercontinent that existed from 200 million to 335 million years ago. And if those seem like big numbers, wait until you hear how many dollars it'll take to construct it: $8 billion, according to designers Lazzarini. Little wonder it's so expensive when this, if funded, will become the largest floating structure ever built. Looking rather like a Bond villain's lair, it'll sprawl 550 meters (1,800 feet) long, and 610 meters (2,000 feet) wide."
• Would you live in a cave? These architects believe we should - "Hypermodern glass and steel may be shaping our cities of the future - and the supertall skyscrapers that continue to punch through their skylines - but some architects are looking instead to humanity's oldest dwelling: the humble cave."
• Covid Depression Is Real. Here’s What You Need to Know - "The risk of developing symptoms of depression remains high up to a year after you’ve recovered."
• 5 Unusual Covid Symptoms & What to Do About Them - "'Hairy tongue,' pins and needles and Covid toe are just a few unnerving yet real manifestations of the coronavirus."
• Anthony Hopkins on film stardom at 84: ‘He said, Oh my God. You’re really strange!’ - "From Hannibal Lecter to Nixon, Anthony Hopkins has long been one of cinema’s most singular stars. He recalls winding up Brad Pitt, working with Bob Hoskins and weirding out Jonathan Demme."
• what happened when Marie Kondo tidied my home - "A decade after publishing her first guide to tidying up, the writer and TV presenter has a new book about creating living spaces that ‘foster conversation’. But can she help me clear up the disaster that is my desk? And will it spark joy?"
• Tom Ford’s $2.8 Billion Deal To Sell His Fashion Brand To EstÉe Lauder Makes Him A Billionaire - Forbes.
• 4 New Vacheron Constantin Egerie Moon Phases Come With Diamonds & More Diamonds - Forbes.

November 17, 2022

• Biden casts doubt on Zelensky's Poland missile claim - "'That’s not the evidence,' Biden told reporters at the White House after returning from the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia."
• Draft Cop27 agreement fails to call for ‘phase-down’ of all fossil fuels - "Document will provide basis for negotiations over coming days and is likely to be significantly reworked."
• Ivanka Trump makes statement about father's presidential bid. Hear what she said - "Former President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump announced that she doesn't plan to be involved in her father's campaign for president in 2024."
• Trump not first politician to be ditched by Rupert Murdoch - "The bashing of Donald Trump by Rupert Murdoch's US newspapers looks like a familiar pattern of the Australian-born media baron turning on political leaders who are no longer useful to him."
• Qatar World Cup: watch Danish TV reporter forced off air - "TV 2 Denmark's Rasmus Tantholdt was reporting on the World Cup when he was approached. The journalist said security threatened to break his camera."
• World Cup 2022: complete guide to all 831 players - "Everything you need to know (and more) about every squad member in Qatar. Click on the player pictures for a full profile."
• ‘There are enough new routes to last a lifetime’: ski touring in the French Alps - "The Haute Tarentaise region is ideal for clipping on your touring skis, escaping the resort crowds, and discovering a world of spectacular, little-known valleys as far as the Italian border."
• Oscars 2023: Everything We Know So Far About Hollywood’s Biggest Night of the Year - "The 2022 Oscars were historic to say the least: Apple TV+’s life-affirming CODA became the first film released by a streaming service to win best picture; its raucous star Troy Kotsur became the first deaf man to secure an acting Oscar; West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose became the first openly queer woman of color to scoop best supporting actress; and, before he took home best actor, Will Smith was involved in a jaw-dropping viral moment which will be remembered for decades to come. So, what on earth will the 2023 ceremony bring? Here’s everything we know so far."
• How to Prepare for Life After Twitter - "Don’t delete your account just yet. Elon Musk’s takeover can teach us valuable lessons about our relationship with social networks."
• How to Read the Tree Leaves - "A little knowledge of botany can be helpful, even if you’re an amateur gardener. Here are a few things you should know about what happens in the fall."
• 1970s Birkenstock sandals worn by Steve Jobs auctioned for $218K - "The 'well used' brown suede Birkenstocks dating to the mid-1970s set a record for the highest price ever paid for a pair of sandals, Julien’s Auctions said."
• Andy Warhol car crash artwork sells for 'monumental' $85.4 million - "'White Disaster (White Car Crash 19 Times),' a colossal image from the artist's 'Death and Disaster' series, fetched $85.4 million at Sotheby's in New York, a sum the auction house described as 'monumental.'"
• Marie Antoinette’s furniture up for auction in Paris - "Two pieces of furniture formerly owned by France’s Queen Marie Antoinette are set to go to auction on November 22 at Christie’s in Paris. The 250-year-old chest of drawers and chair are estimated to be worth 800,000 to 1.2 million euros ($832,000-1.25 million) and 100,000 to 200,000 euros ($104,000-208,000) respectively."
• Ivana Trump’s Penthouse On Manhattan’s Upper East Side Hits The Market For $26.5 Million - "The limestone-clad townhouse, located on East 64th Street between Fifth and Madison, is like stepping back in time to the 1980s, an era when opulence and gold-encrusted everything dominated over-the-top luxury interior design. The Adamesque-style home—an 18th-century neoclassical interior design and architectural style recognized by features like curved walls, grand columns, elaborate plasterwork, pastel hues and frescoes—is notable on this coveted block for its limestone facade with a mansard roof and black-and-gold embellished grilled doors."
• Pirelli Calendar 2023 unveiled - "Pirelli unveiled its 2023 calendar Wednesday, an opulent, dream-like edition featuring a star-studded cast. Titled 'Letters to the Muse,' the calendar is an homage to a group of 'extraordinary women' - artists, activists, athletes and other trailblazers - said Australian photographer Emma Summerton, who have inspired her."
• iOS 16.2 for iPhone Expected to Launch in December With These 8 New Features - "iOS 16.2 introduces a number of new features, including Apple's new whiteboard app Freeform, two new Lock Screen widgets for Sleep and Medications, the ability to hide the wallpaper and notifications on the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display, Live Activities enhancements, a rearchitected Home app, and more."
• This 10,001-piece Eiffel Tower is Lego's tallest set yet - "Ambitious Lego fans who want to replicate the Parisian experience in their own homes can now do so with their very own Eiffel Tower set, which reaches 1.49 meters (4.8 ft) - the company's tallest ever build."
• Trompe l'oeil & the images that fool the mind - "From the 17th Century and Cubism to today, trompe l'oeil art endures. Are we hard-wired to love things that are not as they appear to be, asks Caryn James."

November 16, 2022

• Former President Donald Trump announces a White House bid for 2024 - "'In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,' Trump told a crowd gathered at Mar-a-Lago, his waterfront estate in Florida, where his campaign will be headquartered."
• Biden Is No Sure Thing for 2024. What About Buttigieg? Harris? Even Whitmer? - "He was already the oldest president in American history when he took office at 78. He’d be just shy of 82 on Election Day in 2024. It shows. He doesn’t project anything like the ebullience he once did. His flubs transcend malapropisms. Last month, he erroneously claimed that student loan forgiveness - which he decreed by executive action - passed Congress by a few votes. That was the most glaring misstatement of his own record but hardly the only one."
• 2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List - "The 2023 GRAMMYs take place Sunday, Feb. 5."
• Princess Diana 'giggled' after listening to King Charles, Camilla phone call - "Princess Diana rolled on the floor after King Charles and Camilla's tampongate humiliation."
• Ukraine’s 15,000-Mile Lifeline - "How the country’s vast rail system has helped it withstand an invasion."
• How to deck out your pad with smart home gadgets for the holidays - "Here’s how to deck out your pad with smart home gadgets for the holidays and ensure your season is as stress-free as possible."
• The Rise of Therapy-Speak - "How a language got off the couch and into the world."
• Crows outthink monkeys, can grasp recursive patterns - "In cognitive tests for recognizing certain types of patterns, crows outperformed monkeys."
• 3.5 billion-year-old rock structures are one of the oldest signs of life on Earth - "Fossils called stromatolites from Western Australia were created by microbes 3.48 billion years ago."
• The Thermomix TM6 all-in-one cooking machine does it all & it will change your life - "With a $1,499 price tag, the Thermomix TM6 is not just a splurge, it’s a commitment. However, if you’re a fan of geeked-out, do-it-all kitchen appliances, the German-made Thermomix is the best of them all."
• Nike Will Let People Design & Sell Sneakers for the Metaverse - "Swoosh members will compete to create digital kicks with the brand’s design staff and bag a royalty cut. But not even Nike knows how it’s going to work."
• 2022 SELF Certified Sneaker Awards: Introducing the 30 Best Sneakers of the Year - "Check out this year’s best shoes for running, walking, hiking, and living an active life."
• Paris considers electric scooter ban over safety concerns - "Paris is considering banning its 15,000 rental electric scooters due to concerns about public safety on the city’s sidewalks, but operators are proposing a series of improvements in the hope of getting their licences renewed. The Paris town council is considering not renewing the licences of the three operators - Lime, Dott and Tier - which expire in February 2023. Its vote is only consultative and the decision, expected in coming weeks, rests with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo."

November 15, 2022

• Day of 8 Billion | United Nations - "On 15 November 2022, the world's population is projected to reach 8 billion people, a milestone in human development."
• Can the world feed 8bn people sustainably? - "Food production is a major factor in the climate crisis and still millions of people go hungry. Here are some potential solutions."
• Elon Musk Has No Idea What He’s Doing at Twitter - "If you thought Elon Musk’s will-he-or-won’t-he approach to buying Twitter was chaotic, the two weeks since Musk took the helm of the social media company have been downright anarchic, with his plans for Twitter flipping and flopping as furiously as a fish on a hook."
• Tesla on trial - "Elon Musk will take the stand to defend his $56 billion compensation package as CEO of Tesla. At the same time, a manslaughter trial is set to begin in LA for a fatal crash caused by a Tesla owner operating Autopilot. As if he doesn’t have enough going on, Elon Musk will find himself in court later this week defending his $56 billion pay package from allegations by Tesla shareholders that it was rigged with easy performance targets."
• Exclusive: Jeff Bezos says he will give most of his money to charity - "Amazon founder Jeff Bezos plans to give away the majority of his $124 billion net worth during his lifetime, telling CNN in an exclusive interview he will devote the bulk of his wealth to fighting climate change and supporting people who can unify humanity in the face of deep social and political divisions."
• Jay Leno SERIOUSLY BURNED IN CAR FIRE - "Jay Leno is in a burn center after suffering a serious injury to his face ... TMZ has learned. Jay was in the Burbank garage where he stores his cars on Saturday when one of the cars erupted into flames without warning. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the flames burned the left side of Jay's face, but thankfully did not penetrate his eye or his ear."
• The fall of the FTX ‘King of Crypto’ Sam Bankman-Fried - "It took fewer than eight days for Sam Bankman-Fried to go from being nicknamed the 'King Of Crypto' to his company filing for bankruptcy and him stepping down as chief executive, facing federal investigations into how he handled the company's finances."
• Crypto exchange FTX expects to have more than 1m creditors - "Bankruptcy filing says ‘questions arose’ about founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s leadership."
• Monaco’s coronavirus figures take turn for the worse - "The coronavirus incidence rate in Monaco rose to 230 per 100,000 in the seven days to November 13 compared to 163 one week earlier. Ninety new cases were reported during the week."
• Banksy confirms seven new murals in Ukraine - "Three days after Banksy debuted his latest mural on Instagram, spray painted on the wall of a bombed building in the city of Borodianka, Ukraine, the anonymous street artist confirmed that he completed seven new works in Ukraine in total."
• The company making steaks out of thin air - "It was space travel that inspired scientist Lisa Dyson to create an unusual climate solution: protein made from air, which can be grown inside a tank instead of using up valuable land. Dyson is the founder of Air Protein, a California-based startup that is harnessing cutting-edge technology to create a meat alternative called Air Meat, using just microbes, water, renewable energy and elements found in the air."
• The 5th-gen Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is a great addition to any smart home - "There’s a reason Amazon’s Echo Dot speakers are so popular. Compact and easy on the eyes, these smart speakers are conducive to any room in the house and offer an affordable way to add smart home functionality for just $50 to $60. And it doesn’t hurt that Amazon was the first out of the gate with Alexa’s virtual assistant technology back in 2014."
• best smart speakers of 2022 - "Smart speakers go beyond just playing music. They provide control over your other home devices, answer queries and connect you with friends and family - and the best ones should execute all those tasks equally well. We’ve been testing smart speakers for years, reviewing each new iteration as it hits the market, and we’ve whittled the long list of smart speakers down to the best four."
• 9 of the world's best wellness retreats - "Whether you're looking for deep cleanses amid the snowy peaks of New Zealand, massages in the Maldives and Saint Lucia, or spa therapy in Saint Lucia, here are some of the best rejuvenation hotspots the world has to offer."
• Want to Hold Onto Elite Status With Your Airline? It’s Going to Cost You - "There was a moment at the height of the pandemic when rewards programs were lowering the velvet rope for more than the privileged few. But it’s time to prepare for the 'great reset' in elite status."
• Daniel Craig unleashes his inner disco diva in Taika Waititi-directed vodka commercial - "The British star has been busy brushing up his fancy footwork, which he enthusiastically showcases in a new vodka commercial directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi."
• 5 things to remember before jumping up to the marathon - "Debating running a marathon after finishing your half? Here are a few training tips to consider."
• I tried the infamous record-breaking marathon shoes, but are they worth the price? - "The Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% 2 will give me the edge on race day."
• Why indecision makes you smarter - "Indecision can seem like a wholly undesirable trait. But research shows it might actually lead to smarter judgements."
• A Clockwork Orange: 60-year-old teen slang that still shocks - "Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange spawned an underground lexicon that seeped into pop culture and resonates now, writes Arwa Haider, in BBC Culture's new Cult Books series."
• Rare 13-Carat Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond Could Fetch $35 Million At Christie’s - "In a year that has seen more than its share of exceptional fancy-colored diamonds entering the auction market, one more has emerged: a 13.15-carat Fancy Vivid pink diamond that will likely be the top lot at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on December 6. Its estimate is $25 million - $35 million."

November 14, 2022

• Who Is Leonora Knatchbull? The Heartbreaking True Story That Inspired 'The Crown' Season 5 - "Get to know the royal who was gone far too soon."
• Elon Musk: 'I have too much work on my plate' - "Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday he was working 'at the absolute most amount ... from morning til night, seven days a week' when asked about his recent acquisition of Twitter and his leadership of automaker Tesla."
• Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos is giving away his $124billion fortune - "The Amazon founder plans to donate the majority of his net worth to charities fighting climate change, as well as supporting people who can help to heal political and social divisions, during his lifetime."
• TOP 10 APPLE WATCH ACCESSORIES FOR THE ULTIMATE TECH ENTHUSIASTS - "From the most inventive Apple Watch charging dock you’ll ever see to an Apple Watch nightstand that mimics the iMac G3 - we’ve put together a range of diverse and interesting Apple Watch accessories that even hardcore Apple lovers will go gaga over!"
• Crypto crash & gold sell-off show there’s no place for investors to hide - "The spectacular implosion of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, a so-called unicorn startup that was recently valued at $32 billion, is just the latest bit of bad news for investors in bitcoin, ethereum and other digital assets. But 2022 was already an awful year for crypto before the FTX-Binance soap opera. Bitcoin prices are currently hovering around $16,500, down from a level of $20,000 just a week ago. Still, even at $20,000, that was a far cry from the price of just north of $46,000 that bitcoin was trading at on the last day of 2021."
• The Untold Story Behind Emax, The Cryptocurrency Kim Kardashian Got Busted For Hyping - "An exclusive Forbes investigation unmasks the pair of slick promoters who appear to have made millions pumping and dumping EthereumMax and other now virtually worthless crypto tokens."
• Why India overtaking China as most populous country is more than symbolic - "Moment hints at possible limits to unrelenting rise of China and raises questions about ability of India to reap demographic dividend."
• How I Learned the Art of Seduction - The New York Times.
• These Japanese beef croquettes are so popular there's a 30-year waitlist - If you order a box of frozen Kobe beef croquettes from Asahiya, a family-run butcher shop in Takasago City in western Japan's Hyogo Prefecture, it'll take another 30 years before you receive your order.
• Joan Didion's personal belongings are being sold in one of the most coveted estate sales of the year - "Now the past (in the form of furniture, artwork and books) of this legendary writer and style icon, who died last year at age 87, is going up for auction, and the stir the estate sale has created could not be bigger."
• Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy dies aged 66 - "Prolific voice actor defined the sound of the caped crusader in acclaimed animated series, films and video games."
• 33 Vogue Editors Share the Best White T-shirts for women - "Throughout the history of pop culture, from Marlon Brando to Kendall Jenner, the white T-shirt has been ingrained in both our lives and our wardrobes."
• EK Janaki Ammal: The 'nomad' flower scientist India forgot - "'Janaki was not just a cytogeneticist - she was a field biologist, a plant geographer, a palaeobotanist, an experimental breeder and an ethno-botanist and not in the least, an explorer,' says Dr Savithri Preetha Nair, a historian who has researched the scientist's life for years."
• ASMR: How whispering took over the internet - "Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is an intensely pleasant, tingling sensation that some people feel when they see or hear certain stimulants. We meet the creators behind the current ASMR boom."
• Ghost farms: the mink sheds abandoned to the pandemic - "More than 1,000 mink farms in Denmark were ordered to close over fears a Covid mutation was a risk to human health. Two years on, most will never reopen."
• LG C2 OLED TV review: you can’t go wrong - "It’s far from the brightest TV out there, but as the sweet spot in LG’s lineup, the C2 combines stunning picture quality with an exhaustive list of features and terrific gaming prowess."

November 13, 2022

• New report paints dire picture of America’s future as climate crisis accelerates - "Sometimes it’s helpful to state the obvious truth. And then restate it, again and again. That’s one of the benefits of the National Climate Assessment, a new draft of which was released this week ahead of President Joe Biden’s trip to the UN’s climate summit in Egypt. The federal report paints a dire picture of what life is now like in America amid the climate crisis, and the incredible changes in store in the future. And it outlines some painful truths about global warming we must confront, but so far have not."
• Replace animal farms with micro-organism tanks, say campaigners - "Advocates of plant-based protein say 75% of world’s farmland should be rewilded to reduce emissions."
• Dolly Parton receives $100 million Courage & Civility Award from Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sanchez - "'Jeff [Bezos] and I are so proud to share that we have a new Bezos Courage and Civility Award winner - a woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work,' Bezos’ longtime partner, Lauren Sanchez, posted on Instagram alongside a video of their speech Friday before awarding the grant to the country music legend. 'We can’t wait to see all the good that you’re going to do with this $100 million award, @DollyParton.'"
• Iranian who made Paris airport home for 18 years dies - "Caught in a diplomatic limbo, Mehran Karimi Nasseri made a small area of Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport his home in 1988. His experience inspired the 2004 film, The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks."
• Banksy unveils Ukraine gymnast mural on building shelled by Russia - "Banksy posted a picture on Instagram of the artwork, a gymnast doing a handstand amid debris, in Borodyanka."
• Your Cat Might Not Be Ignoring You When You Speak - "Cats have a reputation for being aloof, but a new study has found that their relationships with their owners may be stronger than we thought."
• ‘It Was Important to Get That Right’: How ‘The Crown’ Tackled the Revenge Dress - "The series’s costume designer discussed what was sure to be the most closely scrutinized re-creation of the new season, Diana’s shoulder-baring little black dress."
• The damaging resurgence of Heroin Chic - "As the Kardashians ditch their BBLs and curves for a ‘skinnier look’, recent changes in body image trends seem to be reverting back to the 2000s love of the slim physique and heroin chic."
• Alec Baldwin sues Rust film staff involved in handling loaded gun - "Actor says he wants to clear his name after 2021 on-set shooting that killed Halyna Hutchins."
• Hunting Ghislaine by John Sweeney review - compelling study of the notorious socialite - "From privileged childhood to trial, this is a riveting story - although Ghislaine Maxwell remains an enigma just out of reach."
• Six feared dead after military planes collide at Dallas airshow - "Unclear how many were aboard aircraft at ‘America’s premier world war II airshow’."
• Truffles Are Becoming Even More Expensive. Blame Climate Change - "Harvests of the fungi are plummeting as Europe gets drier, pushing the prices of some varieties to eye-watering heights."
• The Best TV Streaming Devices for Cord Cutters - "We've tested dozens of devices for watching stuff on 4K or HD TVs. These are our favorites." WIRED.
• How to take advantage of the new Files app features in iPadOS 16 - "With iPadOS 16, which was released in October to the public, Apple introduced a number of new features to the Files app - which lets users manage their files just like on a computer. The update brings even more advanced options such as the ability to change file extensions, view folder sizes, and more. Read on as we detail how to take advantage of the new Files app in iPadOS 16."
• Google’s rolling out a Nest Wifi Pro update to fix slow internet speeds - "The company says only ‘a small number of users’ are experiencing reduced internet speeds with the new router. It’s rolling out a software update early next week to address it."
• Twitter Blue verification was a complete disaster in exactly the ways everyone predicted - "It lasted less than 48 hours."

November 12, 2022

• Cop27 first week roundup: powerful dispatches, muted protest, little cash - "Despite ‘loss and damage’ focus there have been more oil and gas lobbyists than delegates from the most vulnerable countries."
• Two Weeks of Chaos: Inside Elon Musk’s Takeover of Twitter - "Mr. Musk ordered immediate layoffs, fired executives by email and laid down product deadlines, transforming the company."
• Twitter blue check unavailable after impostor accounts erupt on platform - "Before Elon Musk took over the badge was granted to celebrities and journalists verified by the platform to prevent impersonation."
• Drone taxi takes first spin in air traffic near Paris - "An electric helicopter with multiple rotors took its first flight in conventional air traffic near Paris on Thursday as it prepares for commercial flights from 2024."
• The best Christmas markets taking place in 2022 - "There's nothing quite like a festive market to bring out the Christmas spirit in people. While these events can be traced back to Vienna - the city's first recorded December market was in 1298 - the tradition has spread across the world over the centuries. From Germany, to Switzerland, to New York, it's difficult to find a coveted destination that doesn't hold an impressive annual advent market."
• Cruise ship with 800 Covid cases docks in Sydney - "About 4,600 passengers and crew were aboard the ship when it docked - meaning around one in five had Covid."
• Anthony Bourdain in Greece: The Complete Country Guide - "Anthony Bourdain visited Greece twice: in episode 4, season 4 of No Reservations to the Ionian islands and again as the season premiere of season 8 of Parts Unknown, visiting the island of Naxos in the Cyclades. These are his only on-screen visits, though it’s possible - and likely - that he visited other parts of Greece during his travels."
• Steve Jobs' iconic sandals up for auction, come with an imprint of his feet - "If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to walk in the late Steve Jobs’ shoes, now’s your chance - but you might have to settle for a pair of worn-out sandals."
• The spectacular canal that was 2,500 years in the making - "The very first sailings through the Corinth Canal, one of the most significant infrastructural feats the world had ever seen, took place in 1893, fulfilling a vision that had been at least 2,500 years in the making."
• Michelle Obama on the guilt and anxiety of being a mother & her golden parenting rules - "In an exclusive extract from her new book, the former first lady shares what she learned about raising a family while living in the White House."
• Kevin Magnussen takes sprint pole in Brazilian F1 GP shock - "Danish driver edges Max Verstappen to São Paulo GP sprint pole."
• How to replace your Wi-Fi router without disconnecting all your devices - "Upgrading to a new Wi-Fi router doesn’t have to be hard. Here’s how to easily switch all your smart home gadgets and other connected devices in your home to a new router in under a minute."

November 11, 2022

• The most underestimated president in recent history - "President Joe Biden has been consistently underestimated. Democrats performed exceptionally well by historical standards on Tuesday and Biden walks away having fared better than any other President in his first midterm since George W. Bush in 2002. 'It was a good day for democracy,' the president declared on Wednesday."
• Elon Musk’s Twitter faces its ‘Titanic’ moment as executives & advertisers flee while trolls run rampant - "The world is watching the world’s richest man single-handedly destroy one of the world’s most powerful and important communication platforms, just weeks after acquiring it for $44 billion. And of course, the world is watching the dramatic spectacle unfold on - where else? - Twitter."
• Exodus continues at Twitter as Elon Musk hints at possible bankruptcy - "Departures of top figures handling safety, security, privacy and compliance come amid warnings from Federal Trade Commission. The departures began on the same day Elon Musk addressed employees for the first time, saying that 'bankruptcy isn’t out of the question', according to multiple reports."
• Twitter boss Elon Musk 'not above the law', warns US regulator - "The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said new chief executive Elon Musk was 'not above the law'."
• Elon Musk details his plan to turn Twitter into a bank - "Supposedly, it’ll be simple: one balance that you can spend within the Twitter payment network, or outside it using a debit card or checks."
• The Crown relives King Charles' toe-curling moments - "How The Crown will embarrass King Charles: New series shoehorns in toe-curling moments that seem designed to humiliate the monarch - from royal's break dancing in 1985 to THAT tampongate call with Camilla."
• Social media melts down at Madonna licking water out of dog bowl - "'Another embarrassing and disgusting video.' The clip, which grossed out several viewers on Twitter, was released shortly after the rapper 50 Cent reignited a feud with her after he called her a 'grandma' while mocking a video of her angrily lip syncing to a song by Baby Keem."
• Can You Get a Full-Body Workout in 20 Minutes? - "Yes, but you have to pick the right routine."
• What if You Suddenly Won $2 Billion? - "As excitement peaked over a record-breaking Powerball, TikTok creators cashed in by offering financial advice."
• China scraps Covid flight bans, cuts quarantine for inbound travelers - "China has reduced the amount of time travelers entering the country must spend in quarantine and removed a major restriction on international flights, in a sign of a limited easing of its stringent zero-Covid policy. The new measures were announced Friday following a meeting by the ruling Communist Party’s top decision-making body, during which leaders vowed to maintain Covid protocols while stressing the need to minimize economic and social disruptions."
• 13 of the world's best hotels for a splurge - "From tropical island escapes in the Maldives and Hawaii to glamorous urban getaways in Sydney, Hollywood and Singapore, we're dreaming of - and saving for - these hotel splurges."
• Why this southern European country is a hot place to move - "With 'work to live' rather than 'live to work' as the unofficial lifestyle mantra, more than 1,100 miles of coastline to explore and delicious pastéis de nata all over the place, putting down roots in Portugal sounds pretty appealing."
• Martin Scorsese at 80: Francis Ford Coppola, Steve McQueen & Woody Allen on the ‘greatest director alive’ - "Ahead of his birthday next week, directors including Tim Burton, Edgar Wright, Lynne Ramsay and Luca Guadagnino reveal their favourite scenes - and what Scorsese’s work means to them."
• 11 Best Portable Door Locks To Ensure Security On The Go In 2022 - "Safety will always be within your palm's reach with these best portable door locks."
• Climate activists attacking art ‘severely underestimate’ fragility of works, gallery directors warn - "Protesters have thrown soup and glued themselves to famous artworks around the world, prompting response by high-profile galleries including Moma and the Louvre. The statement was co-signed by almost 100 directors of high-profile institutions, many of which have been targeted by activists already."
• Tunnel discovered beneath Egyptian temple may lead to Cleopatra's tomb, archaeologist says - "Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has been searching for the lost tomb of Cleopatra for nearly 20 years. Now she believes she's made a pivotal breakthrough."
• Inside A $17 Million Waterfront Villa On Lake Como - "$17 Million Waterfront Villa Revels In The Beauty Of Lake Como, Italy. Among notables to frequent the area over the centuries have been Napoleon Bonaparte, opera composer Vincenzo Bellini and Winston Churchill. In more recent years, the late fashion designer Gianni Versace bought and restored a villa near Moltrasio where he played host to such pop icons as Sir Elton John, Sting and Madonna."
• Monaco’s economy turns the page on pandemic - "Last year Monegasque GDP reached 7.27 billion euros. It stood at 6.60 billion in 2019 and 5.90 billion in 2020. After a sharp drop of 13.0 percent in 2020, it grew by 21.6 percent in 2021, and above all by 5.8 percent compared to compared to 2019 (in volume, corrected for inflation). In other words, the Principality’s economy has resumed its growth, with an annual average of +4.4 percent recorded over the decade."
• Philips Hue's smart string lights are a pricey way to add holiday cheer to your home - "With the holidays around the corner, Signify, the company formerly known as Philips Lighting, is finally introducing a set of festive fairy lights. Measuring 20 meters (or just a touch over 65 feet), the Festavia string lights feature 250 mini LEDs. Naturally, they’re fully compatible with the company’s recently redesigned Philips Hue app. The lights are slated to cost a cool $160 when they arrive on November 15th."

November 10, 2022

• The single most important number from the midterm exit polls - "If you’re looking for a key to unlock what happened in the 2022 midterm elections, look no further than the independent vote."
• Russia flew €140m in cash & captured Western weapons to Iran in return for deadly drones, source claims - "A Russian military aircraft secretly transported the cash and three models of munition - a British NLAW anti-tank missile, a US Javelin anti-tank missile and a Stinger anti-aircraft missile - to an airport in Tehran in August, the source told Sky News."
• Building for a flooded future - "Architects are designing for the new climate reality. Climate change is making cities more susceptible to flooding. According to a 2019 study, global sea levels are expected to rise between two and seven feet over the course of the century; by 2100, at least 190 million people could be living in areas below the projected high-tide line."
• Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s art collection tops $1.5 billion at auction - "The collection of Paul Allen, the late co-founder of Microsoft, was a treasure trove of masterpieces spanning 500 years. Several works sold for three or four times their estimates, with several artists setting new records at auction, including Vincent van Gogh, Edward Steichen and Gustav Klimt."
• T. rex skull could sell for $20 million at auction - "A Tyrannosaurus rex skull is expected to fetch up to $20 million at auction next month, according to Sotheby's. The skull, which has been named Maximus, is one of the most complete of its kind ever found. Weighing over 200 pounds and standing 6 feet and 7.5 inches (2 meters) tall, the colossal skull could become one of the most valuable fossils sold at auction when it is offered at a sale in New York."
• Apple Releases iOS 16.1.1 & iPadOS 16.1.1 With Bug Fixes - "Apple today released iOS 16.1.1 and iPadOS 16.1.1, minor bug fix updates that that come two weeks after the launch of iOS 16.1, an update that added support for iCloud Shared Photo Library, Matter, Live Activities, and more."
• Everyone knows you paid to be verified on Twitter - "Clicking on the check mark on someone’s profile might tell you more than they want you to know."
• Why Mark Zuckerberg had to announce 11,000 job cuts at Meta - "Company thought rise in online activity would last, rivals stole its users, and metaverse was too uncertain for shareholders."
• The Highs & Lows of The Crown Season 5 - "At the beginning of Season 5 of The Crown - before we’re even introduced to the new lineup of top-tier British acting talent playing the royals this time around - we’re swept all the way back to 1954, with Claire Foy’s Queen Elizabeth II launching the Royal Yacht Britannia."
• Barbra Streisand on Her Pristine Early Recordings: ‘That Girl Can Sing’ - "'Live at the Bon Soir,' a restored set of songs from November 1962, allows listeners today - and Streisand, herself - to rediscover the sounds of a star being born."
• Sean Penn loans his Oscar to Ukraine’s president Zelenskiy - "Actor presented his statuette to the president in Kyiv, telling him: ‘When you win, bring it back to Malibu’."
• Warren Beatty Sued for Allegedly Coercing Sex With a Minor in 1973 - "A woman has filed a lawsuit against Warren Beatty, alleging that the actor coerced her into having sex with him in 1973 when she was 14 or 15 years old. Kristina Charlotte Hirsch filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday."
• How to track your luggage - or anything else - with AirTags - "Buying a last-minute set of AirTags during a family trip let me stop worrying about my luggage disappearing into the sea of lost bags. Turns out they’re pretty handy."
• Rolex Daytona 6240 Paul Newman “Neanderthal” - A Myth Goes Extinct - "In May 2018, the auction house Phillips hosted a thematic auction called 'Daytona Ultimatum' in which 32 of the 'finest, rarest, and best-preserved' Rolex Daytona chronographs changed hands. One of these was the so-called 'Neanderthal', a watch featured in Pucci Papaleo’s legendary 'Ultimate Rolex Daytona' book and presented by Phillips as the ancestor of the coveted 'Paul Newman' Daytona."
• A CURIOUS ROLEX DAYTONA 6264 “PAUL NEWMAN” AT ANTIQUORUM GENEVA - "Antiquorum Geneva is about to auction a peculiar Rolex Daytona Ref. 6264 in stainless steel featuring a stunning 'tropical' Paul Newman dial. Interestingly, the case number belongs to a legendary 18k gold batch, the engravings between the lugs are fake and so is the bezel. The dial? Well, that one has a life of its own."
• ULTIMATE ROLEX DAYTONA by Pucci Papaleo - "The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona timepiece is with no doubts more than just a chronograph: it is true horological icon. Aside from being photographically speaking a homage to industrial still life, 'Ultimate Rolex Daytona' tells the Rolex Daytona story as never done before: an incomparable publication created to showcase the most outstanding photographic collection of Daytonas in the world, from the early pieces of the 1960s to present day production models, highlighting the evolution of design and construction techniques of the famous chronograph. Limited numbered edition of 599 copies".
• AN-225: Plans to rebuild world's largest plane confirmed - "For avgeeks, the destruction of the world's largest commercial plane was one of the key images at the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In February, the Antonov AN-225 was attacked at its base in Hostomel, near Kyiv. Now it looks like they have stayed true to their word, with the company announcing that plans to rebuild it are already underway. Nicknamed 'Mriya' - Ukrainian for 'dream' - the massive plane was built in the 1980s to carry the Soviet space shuttle."
• Princess MÄrtha Louise of Norway gives up royal duties to run business with shaman fiancÉ - "Norway’s Princess Märtha Louise is withdrawing from official royal duties in order to concentrate on the alternative medicine business she runs with her fiancé, American spiritual guru Durek Verrett. The 51-year-old princess, who is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, 'will not be representing the Royal House at the present time,' according to a statement from the royal household, published Tuesday."
• Digital Benin project reunites bronzes looted by British soldiers - "Comprehensive database of Benin bronzes held by museums raises questions about where they belong."
• Best podcasts of the week - "How Osama bin Laden went from billionaire’s son to public enemy number one. What pushed the al-Qaeda founder to extremism, and to perpetrate the 9/11 attacks? A new show tells his whole story."
• ‘I miss eating’: the truth behind the weight loss drug that makes food repulsive - "In Beverly Hills’ doctors offices, celebrities are clamoring for Ozempic prescriptions - but what are the costs of the supposed wonder drug?"
• Cosmetic surgery: The men who go through hell for a little extra height - "Would you have your legs broken to make yourself taller? The procedure can cost £80,000 - but increasing numbers of people are putting themselves through leg-lengthening surgery. What drives them to do it? And is it worth the pain and potential complications?"

November 9, 2022

• 2022 midterm election results - live updates - "The battle for control of Congress is coming down to a dwindling number of key races, with Democrats dashing Republicans’ hopes for a red wave and both parties hanging onto hopes of winning narrow majorities."
• Anatomy of a close election: How Americans voted in 2022 vs. 2018 - "Early exit polls show women and voters of color shifted toward the GOP."
• Powerball Ticket Sold in California Snags Record $2.04B Win - "The winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the red Powerball was 10. The jackpot ticket was sold at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills northeast of Los Angeles. For selling the winning ticket, business owner Joe Chahayed will receive a maximum Powerball bonus of $1 million."
• Here’s how a Twitter engineer says it will break in the coming weeks - "One insider says the company’s current staffing isn’t able to sustain the platform." MIT Technology News.
• A beginner’s guide to Mastodon, the Twitter alternative that’s on - "If you’ve heard the word 'mastodon' a lot since Elon Musk took over Twitter in late October, here’s why: The extinct mammal is also the name of a relatively small, formerly little-known social network that has skyrocketed in popularity, as many Twitter users try it out as an alternative for connecting with others online."
• The New Covid Boosters Are Incredible & Everyone Should Get One - "In a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, nearly three-quarters of Americans said that they were likely to get the new booster. And yet roughly 7 percent of the eligible population has gotten it so far."
• 21 of Europe's most underrated places - "Europe is full of so many wonderful, underrated places. Whether you want to visit historic, overlooked cities or wild mountain ranges where few tourists tread, these 21 underrated European destinations are bound to induce a serious bout of wanderlust."
• Digital Nomad Life: What's It Like to Work from Anywhere? - "‘We are living a fantasy’: what’s it like to be a digital nomad? Digital nomad visas are drawing remote workers to destinations around the world. Here's what it's like to be a digital nomad."
• Spain’s New Digital Nomad Law Is a Game Changer - "If you are considering living and working in Spain, this new law will bring tax benefits and other perks to digital nomads, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. Perhaps most compelling for remote workers, are the details of Spain’s New Digital Nomad Law."
• Are Trees Talking Underground? For Scientists, It’s in Dispute - "From Ted Lasso to TED Talks, the theory of the 'wood-wide web' is everywhere, and some scientists argue that it is overblown and unproven."
• What does a £100,000 ‘invisibility cloak’ look like? Funny you should ask - "Three years’ research and a lot of very expensive materials have gone into Steve and Nick Tidball’s thermal camouflage jacket. Can its wearer really blend into the background?"
• The most famous thing Winston Churchill never said helps explain ‘The Crown’ - "History, as Winston Churchill probably didn’t say, is written by the victors. It’s an elegant sentiment, but not one that allows for the vagaries of writing anything to do with the British royal family in the year 2022."
• Sylvester Stallone Gets Candid About Career, Regrets, Feuds: “I Thought I Knew Everything” - "At 76 years old, the Hollywood icon is still fighting: On his battle for the 'Rocky' rights, the future of 'Rambo,' his pivot to TV (‘Tulsa King’ and a reality show), and the time he turned down $34 million for a movie role."
• Morgan Stanley: Prices for Rolex, Patek Philippe & Audemars Piguet watches will keep plunging due to a flood of supply - but these 3 real assets remain scarce and coveted.
• Maybe We Shouldn't Have Seized so Many of Those Russian Superyachts - "Turns out it costs a lot of money to have a ship worth millions of dollars sitting moored somewhere. And taxpayers are footing the bill."
• Microsoft Cofounder Paul Allen’s 303-Foot Superyacht Has Finally Sold - "The late billionaire's epic art collection is also being auctioned off later this month."
• Evelyn de Rothschild, Scion of Banking Dynasty, Dies at 91 - "Initially showing little promise, he eventually joined the family firm and rose to chairman, wielding vast influence in Britain’s financial and political affairs."

November 8, 2022

• US midterms 2022: The key states to watch on election night - "Election night in America can mean a long evening watching hundreds of results from all corners of the country pour in. Feeling overwhelmed? Here's how you can focus on the moments that really matter."
• Powerball draws numbers for record-breaking $2 BILLION jackpot - "Winning numbers were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and red Powerball 10."
• Day of 8 Billion | United Nations - "On 15 November 2022, the world's population is projected to reach 8 billion people, a milestone in human development."
• Full moon will turn an eerie red during the total lunar eclipse - "Set to turn a coppery shade of red in the sky this Tuesday, November 8, the full moon will kick off Election Day with an early morning event of its own - a total lunar eclipse."
• Energy crisis: How living in a cold home affects your health - "With the world in the grip of a global energy crisis, hundreds of millions of people are now facing fuel poverty this winter as they struggle to keep their homes warm. The consequences could be wide-reaching and long-lasting."
• How to move a country: Fiji’s radical plan to escape rising sea levels - "In Fiji, the climate crisis means dozens of villages could soon be underwater. Relocating so many communities is an epic undertaking. But now there is a plan - and the rest of the world is watching."
• China's super-rich see fortunes plunge as economy slows - "The Hurun Rich list shows the Russia-Ukraine war and Beijing’s zero-Covid measures seriously affecting China’s most wealthy."
• Antarctica’s biggest Covid outbreak yet puts US station McMurdo on pause - "10% of personnel infected with authorities stopping inward travel just as peak research season begins."
• Powerball: how to play & other questions answered - "The draw to claim a record US Powerball jackpot of $1.9bn has been delayed, organisers have announced. The premier lottery game - which has had no winner in more than three months after 40 consecutive drawings - was due to be drawn on Monday night. But organisers told the Associated Press the event had been postponed as a participating lottery needed more time to process some tickets. No exact timing for the redraw was provided."
• Inside the new business 'snuggle class' double beds - "In ultra-swanky international first class, double beds have been the norm since the mid-2000s, with perhaps the most famous being Singapore Airlines' Airbus A380 first class, and later the Etihad Residence one-bedroom suite in the mid-2010s, with a small double bed in its own room."
• These Are the Most Overrated & Underrated Types of Sushi - "Here are some very raw opinions from actual sashimi masters around the country."
• You can be my wingma’am: Tom Cruise’s high time with the Queen - "The monarch enjoyed tea with the Top Gun star this summer - and let him land his helicopter at Windsor."
• Heiress Auctions Off Her Emerald Ring From Fabled Shipwreck - "Mitzi Perdue’s spectacular engagement ring, a gift from her chicken magnate husband Frank, was lost at the bottom of the ocean for 363 years, along with 47 tons of Spanish gold. The rare 6.25-carat emerald, which will lead Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on December 7."
• Frail movie star Paul Hogan, 83, unrecognisable from Crocodile Dundee heyday - "Paul Hogan, known for starring in the smash hit Crocodile Dundee films, has said in a rare interview that he wants to return to his native Australia but he would feel guilty leaving his youngest son without family in LA."
• Hushpuppi: Notorious Nigerian fraudster jailed for 11 years in US - "A notorious Instagram influencer from Nigeria has been jailed for more than 11 years in the US for his role in an international fraud syndicate. The influencer rose to fame flaunting his wealthy lifestyle on his page, which boasted 2.8 million followers. But it all came crashing down when he was arrested in Dubai two years ago."
• What hotel star ratings actually mean today - "There isn't a single answer to the question of what star ratings actually mean, since there are so many systems shaped by so many factors. Some tourism marketers now even give exceptional luxury properties an unofficial six-star designation. (Think stunning over-water villas in the Maldives with private butlers). And bear in mind not all of a brand's properties are created equal when making assumptions about a chain's star category - newer hotels are usually more modern and deserving of a higher rating."
• ‘White Lotus’ & the Plight of the American Man - "What the hell happened to the great American man? How did he go from swashbuckling hero of his own story to tragicomic villain in everyone else’s? One minute, he’s Superman, Steve McQueen, Sylvester Stallone. The next, he is everything wrong with America."
• Inside Chanel's star-studded show in Miami - "Celebrities alighted in Miami Beach on Friday evening as French fashion house Chanel hosted a stateside iteration of its Cruise 2022-2023 show."
• Stop swiping, start talking: the rise & rise of the blind dating app - "Call them crazy, but more and more online daters are choosing to start conversations without vetting each other’s profile pictures. It’s almost as if looks aren’t the only thing that matters!"
• TikTok’s ties to China: why concerns over your data are here to stay - "Harvesting data is the norm for social media apps, but the question that many have is where it goes and who has access to it."
• How 'non-verbal communication' is going digital - "We’re used to reading body language and silent cues in person. With remote work, subtle ways we communicate are changing - and workers need to know how to adapt."
• Charity seeks home for kitten that is neither male nor female - "Fifteen-week-old Hope found to have no sex organs, possibly because of rare development failure."

November 7, 2022

• Developing Nations Have a Message at Global Climate Talks: Polluters, Pay Up - "Poor countries facing climate hazards want the United States and other industrialized nations to compensate them for the harm caused by greenhouse gases."
• Greta Thunberg to skip ‘greenwashing’ Cop27 climate summit in Egypt - "Swedish climate activist says the UN’s climate conference will be ‘used as an opportunity for leaders and people in power to get attention’."
• US & UK fall billions short of ‘fair share’ of climate funding - "Support for developing countries will be critical issue at Cop27 but new data shows rich countries are lagging."
• Billionaires should not make up climate finance gaps, says Bezos Earth Fund head - "Rich countries ‘not living up to obligations’, says Andrew Steer, in charge of $10bn environmental fund."
• What early exit? China doubles down on zero-Covid pledge despite public frustration - "China has reiterated its unswerving commitment to its longstanding zero-Covid policy, despite mounting public frustration the stringent measures are costing the very lives they’re intended to protect."
• Apple: iPhone shipments delayed over China Covid lockdown - "Itching to buy the latest iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone Pro Max? Apple says you should expect longer wait times to receive its new products."
• Powerball: Lotto rises to $1.9bn world record prize with no jackpot winner - "The US Powerball jackpot has risen to $1.9bn after there was no winning ticket for Saturday's world-record prize. The premier lottery game has had no winner in more than three months after 39 consecutive drawings. The odds of winning the jackpot in Monday's draw are one in 292.2 million, according to Powerball. The previous world-record jackpot was set in 2016, when $1.59bn was split between three Powerball players."
• Teenager Holger Rune shocks Novak Djokovic to claim Paris Masters title - "The victory makes Rune the youngest champion in Paris since Boris Becker in 1986 and sees him enter the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time."
• Twitter users jump to Mastodon - but what is it? - "In the wake of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, some users have been seeking alternative platforms. One of the biggest beneficiaries has been Mastodon. But what is it?"
• Mastodon - since 2016. "Social networking that's not for sale." Your home feed should be filled with what matters to you most, not what a corporation thinks you should see. Radically different social media, back in the hands of the people. Free and open-source software for running self-hosted social networking services. It has microblogging features similar to the Twitter service, which are offered by a large number of independently run Mastodon nodes (technically known as instances), each with its own code of conduct, terms of service, privacy options, and moderation policies.
• Huge Indian wedding takes over Monte-Carlo Casino Square - "A three-day Indian wedding in Monaco culminated in a religious ceremony on Casino Square on Saturday, November 5. The festivities had started on Thursday at the Monte-Carlo Beach and continued on Friday at the Grimaldi Forum. The newly-weds later led the entertainment at the Salle des Étoiles at the Sporting."
• Bizarre new twist in Lord Lucan case - "Facial recognition expert claims aristocrat who vanished after nanny was bludgeoned to death in London 48 years ago has 'EXACT facial match' with an 87-year-old Buddhist living in Australia."
• roasted pigeon dish that may have changed the course of modern Chinese history - "A massive blue and red neon sign hovers above a narrow alley off busy Nathan Road in Hong Kong's Yau Ma Tei area. Its five bold Chinese characters read 'Tai Ping Koon Restaurant' - the famous name of the very first Chinese-owned 'Western' restaurant in China. Today, it's one of the longest operating family-run restaurants in Hong Kong. Most diners come for one dish in particular - the TPK Style Roasted Pigeon. It's brought to the table by a bowtie-wearing server along with an unlikely accessory - plastic gloves. Because there's is no better way to devour the crispy and juicy poultry than with your hands."
• Matter is here, but it’s still a long road to the simple smart home - "Matter’s launch event showcased speed and interoperability, but now it’s up to the platforms to deliver simplicity."
• Why some people are overlooked geniuses - "Why there's more to being smart than intelligence. Multiple psychological factors contribute to astonishing feats of creativity and insight."
• Arseny Avraamov: The forgotten Soviet genius of modern music - "One hundred years ago today, the extraordinary Symphony of Sirens revolutionised the way we compose, perform and experience music. So why was its visionary composer forgotten for decades, asks Alex Sakalis."
• How to set healthy boundaries & stop letting anxiety & guilt get in the way of living your life - "Whether it’s family expectations at Christmas, ground rules in a new relationship or the demands of working from home, people are always overstepping boundaries. But how do you establish a limit - and then stick to it?"
• Driver ‘seriously injured’ after being run over three times by own car - "Swiss woman, 45, was run over three times after she got out of her car and left the engine running."
• Luxury watches crafted from paper - in pictures - "Canadian artist Gabriel Lau fell in love with luxury watches while studying product design at university. Like most of us, he can’t afford them, so he drew his dream Rolex - purposefully skew-whiff, but completely accurate in dimension and design - and photographed it stuck on his wrist for Instagram. That was the start of his paper watch collection. He has now made Patek Phillipes, Cartier timepieces and Omega Seamasters out of cardboard."

November 6, 2022

• 2022 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference | COP27 - November 6-18 (Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt).
• As countries convene at climate summit in Egypt, reports show the world is wildly off track - Here’s what to watch at COP27.
• Who’s who at Cop27 - "The leaders who hold the world’s future in their hands."
• US midterm elections: Why are they so important? - "The US elections on 8 November will have an enormous impact on the direction of the nation, as well as the fate of the person and the party in power in the White House."
• New Covid Variants Are Circulating. Here's What to Know - "The 'nightmare variant' is not as bad as it sounds."
• Are You Ready for Gas Station Sunglasses? - "Wraparound shades are now embraced by celebrities and fashion fiends worldwide."
• Long-lost jewelry from King Tut's tomb rediscovered a century later - "Some of this jewelry may have been taken out of Egypt by Howard Carter, the British archaeologist who led the excavation that uncovered the tomb."
• All the smart home news from the Matter launch event - "The smart home is entering a new phase of interoperability, and these are the first product announcements."
• Twitter launches $8 blue tick subscription service - "Twitter Blue offers status marks formerly used to validate VIP accounts, with more features ‘coming soon’."
• Ye Doesn’t Own His Sneaker Designs. So What Happens Next? - "On Oct. 25, Adidas officially announced that it had terminated its deal with Ye. The decision came after a continuous avalanche of controversies surrounding the artist formerly known as Kanye West that began with the debut of a 'White Lives Matter' T-shirt during his Yeezy Season 9 show at Paris Fashion Week, and continued with a string of public antisemitic remarks. Adidas asserted that while it will cease production of all Yeezy-related products, it remains the 'sole owner of all design rights to existing products as well as previous and new colorways under the partnership.'"
• All the Brands That Have Cut Ties With Kanye West Amid Anti-Semitic Comments - "After days of mounting criticism and speculation, it happened: Adidas terminated its Yeezy deal. We take a look at a number of brands and companies that have announced they were taking action with regards to their respective relationships with Ye, who was also recently revealed to be buying the right-wing social media platform Parler."
• A great white shark photobombed a photographer’s snap of a surfer - "Jordan Anast, a California-based photographer, was taking pictures of the San Onofre Surf Club Contest when he captured the shocking image of the shark, seemingly just yards away from surfer Tyler Warren in the foreground."
• Norway plans sanctuary for ‘spy’ whale Hvaldimir who came in from cold - "Charity aims to establish first open water safe haven in a reserve for whales, including a Russian beluga that went viral on YouTube."
• 10 of the best railway journeys in Italy - "On train rides from Venice to Sicily, best book a window seat on these spectacular Italian trips."
• 20 of the best men’s footwear - in pictures - "Keep it classic in Chelsea boots and loafers, or turn up the colour with a chunky orange sole."

November 5, 2022

• Biden calls out Elon Musk & Twitter at Chicago-area fundraiser - "President Joe Biden on Friday called out Elon Musk, saying the billionaire had purchased a social media platform that 'spews lies all across the world.' 'Elon Musk goes out and buys an outfit that spews lies all across the world,' the president said at a Democratic fundraiser in Rosemont, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, according to the pool."
• Twitter: Musk defends deep cuts to company's workforce - "Twitter's new owner Elon Musk says he had 'no choice' but to slash the company's workforce as the firm is losing more than $4m a day."
• The New York City Marathon’s Happening On Sunday - "Here’s What to Know - And Who We Think Will Win."
• COP27: Climate anxiety is rising - it might be a good thing - "Record-breaking heatwaves, devastating floods in Pakistan, and drought in East Africa - and that is just this year."
• 10 best gadgets for digital nomads - "Tried-and-true gear from the wandering workforce."
• JOBY GorillaPod MagSafe Vlogging Kit - "Do-everything, go-anywhere kit that’s been expertly crafted for influencers and mobile content creators."
• 15 Best Whiskey Brands, From Bourbon to Scotch - "No matter what style of whiskey you prefer, we've got the top bottle to add to your home bar."
• Forget Taormina - Here’s Where You Should Really Be Going in Sicily - Vogue.
• What if we find life on other planets? - "The missing plan for alien first contact. Humans are still searching for signs of intelligent alien life on other planets - but how would we react towards it if we ever did make contact?"
• ‘He was celebrated & protected’: revisiting the dark story of Phil Spector - "In a new docuseries, the life of the abusive music mogul is contrasted with that of Lana Clarkson, the woman he was convicted of murdering."
• Microsoft co-founder’s collection poised to raise $1bn in ‘largest art auction in history’ - "Proceeds from sale of 150 works owned by the late billionaire Paul Allen will go to charity."
• Insta360 X3 action camera now available for sale in Apple Stores with special ‘Apple Bundle’ - "Insta360 X3 is a popular handheld action camera that lets users capture 360-degree video in 5.7K resolution and 72MP photos. On Friday, Insta360 announced that its Insta360 X3 camera is now available for sale in Apple Stores with a special 'Apple Bundle.'"

November 4, 2022

• From Apple to Disney, China’s Covid curbs are again hurting business - "It has been almost three years since Covid-19 first hit China, but the country’s relentless adherence to lockdowns continues to hobble business and the economy."
• Explainer: Why the US midterms matter - from abortion rights to democracy - "Guardian writers lay down what’s on the line and what a Republican victory could mean for the future of the country."
• Can’t Sleep? Try Sticking Your Head in the Freezer - "In a new book, a sleep scientist offers tips for better rest - without reaching for a pill."
• The Best Sleep Mask - Wirecutter.
• Unfollow? Block? And who gets custody of the WhatsApp groups? How to break up in the digital age - "Social media has made finding love easier, but ending relationships even messier. Here’s how to finish things online without losing your mind."
• What to Do if You Find Yourself in a Crowd Crush - "While tragedies such as the deaths of 151 people at a Halloween event in Seoul are rare, anyone attending a big gathering should keep these safety tips in mind, experts say."
• Is It Better to Brush Your Teeth Before Breakfast or After? - "It’s a hotly debated question in dentistry."
• How technology is revolutionising our understanding of ancient Egypt - "A century on from the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, CT scans, 3D printers and virtual reality are bringing the world of the pharaohs - and ordinary ancient Egyptians - into sharper focus."
• How a sand battery could transform clean energy - "A new way of storing renewable energy is providing clean heat through the long Nordic nights."
• Elon Musk’s first Hyperloop tunnel in California is gone - "The test tunnel that hosted student competitions in 2018 and 2019 has been removed and replaced with parking spots for SpaceX employees."
• The walls are climbing for first class fliers - "The latest in luxurious first-class airplane suites: Building up. A new generation of high-wall supersuites are stretching up to the ceilings of the latest wide-body jets, eclipsing the suites that came before."
• This roasted pigeon dish may have changed the course of modern Chinese history - "A history-changing dish: Many diners at Tai Ping Koon Restaurant, one of the oldest restaurants in Hong Kong, come for its signature TPK Style Roasted Pigeon."
• Sketch dismissed as Rembrandt ‘crude imitation’ revealed to be genuine - "The Raising of the Cross was thought to be by a follower of the Dutch master, but experts now say it is by Rembrandt himself."
• In Search of a Lost Spain - "In the southern part of the country, churches and streets hold the remnants of eight centuries of Islamic rule."
• curator reveals secrets & myths of Paris’s famous cemetery - "Benoît Gallot balances the needs of the city with those beating a path to legends such as Oscar Wilde at Père-Lachaise."
• The weird way language effects our sense of time & space - "The languages we speak can have a surprising impact on the way we think about the world and even how we move through it."
• Registration now open for Monaco Run 2023 - "The Monaco Run will return on Saturday 11 and Sunday, February 12, 2023 on Quai Albert 1er."
• Belt-Drive vs. Direct-Drive Turntables: What’s the Difference? - "More expensive doesn't always mean better. Most people start their vinyl journey with a cheap belt-drive turntable. But when it’s time to upgrade, they discover something new - expensive direct-drive turntables. They cost more money, so they must be better, right? The answer is a bit more complicated than you’d expect."
• Spotify is going to war with Apple after the App Store rejected its big new feature - "Here’s the backstory: Spotify simply refuses to fork over the whopping 30% cut of its business to Apple. That means that the company cannot sell audiobooks, a business it is trying to break into, inside its iOS app."
• Your first DAC: the $79 iFi Audio Uno - "Want to take your listening experience to a level beyond that of the average laptop or smartphone’s internals and for very little outlay? iFi’s new US$79 Uno could be just the ticket."
• Gordon & MacPhail’s Recollection Series - "Why You Should Discover Scotland’s Lost Distilleries."
• Audio-Technica has made 2022’s best-looking turntable - "Audio-Technica is celebrating its 60th anniversary with the introduction of a new turntable, the AT-LP2022. Turntables often come across as complicated to the uninitiated so let’s break this one down piece by piece."

November 3, 2022

• Europe’s climate warming at twice rate of global average, says report - "Trend of faster warming over last 30 years likely to cause exceptional heat, wildfires and floods, warn scientists."
• Why this can be our secret weapon against climate change - "The ocean’s ‘blue carbon’ can be our secret weapon in fighting climate change. Because it covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, the ocean is crucial in capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Recent scientific discoveries have found that marine ecosystems are far more efficient at sequestering and holding carbon than land-based plants or trees, trapping and storing carbon for thousands, if not millions, of years. The carbon captured by these ecosystems is often referred to as 'blue carbon.'"
• Climate change: No glaciers on Kilimanjaro by 2050 - "Glaciers across the globe - including the last ones in Africa - will be unavoidably lost by 2050 due to climate change, the UN says in a report. A third of glaciers located in UN World Heritage sites will melt within three decades, a UNESCO report found. Mount Kilimanjaro's last glaciers will vanish as will glaciers in the Alps and Yosemite National Park in the US."
• China has been caught in a zero-Covid trap of its own making - "It’s been little more than a week since Chinese leader Xi Jinping began his norm-breaking third term in power with a ringing endorsement of his relentless zero-Covid policy. But the commitment to stick with it is already fueling scenes of chaos and misery across the country."
• can Twitter survive Elon Musk - or even thrive? - "Since buying it, the billionaire has wasted no time shaking up the struggling social media firm, cutting staff and introducing fees. But can he make the platform matter again - or will it become a hellscape of hateful content and misinformation?"
• Why Elon Musk is so desperate for Twitter to make money - "Musk’s plans for an $8-a-month verification service stem from a much bigger financial problem. It’s been six days since Elon Musk took ownership of Twitter, and the changes have been both furious and fast. He’s proposed cataclysmic layoffs - somewhere between 50 percent and 75 percent of the company’s staff, depending on which reports bear out. He’s established an entirely new user tier, in which users will pay $8 a month (formerly $20) to receive algorithm boosts and the prestige of verification. He’s also proposed a paywall feature for videos and there are rumors of a plan for paid direct messages."
• In Pictures: See What $1 Billion Worth of Art Looks Like, Courtesy of the Paul Allen Collection Sale at Christie’s - "All 156 lots from the sale are now on public view at Christie’s Rockefeller Center gallery, through November 8."
• Life-size cast of Princess Diana's hand goes up for auction - "A life-size cast of Princess Diana's hand is expected to sell for up to £40,000 ($46,046) when it goes under the hammer Tuesday. The plaster cast of Diana's left hand, depicting her wedding band, will be auctioned off at Reeman Dansie in the southeastern English county of Essex. The 24-centimeter-long cast was made by renowned Croatian sculptor Oscar Nemon just before his death in 1985, with Diana being his last sitter."
• Kanye West can’t sell ‘White Lives Matter’ shirts because two Black men own the trademark - "Two Black radio hosts in Arizona could be a potential roadblock if Kanye West ever decided to sell his 'White Lives Matter' T-shirts in the United States. Ramses Ja and Quinton Ward, hosts of the weekly racial justice radio show Civic Cipher, became the legal owners of the phrase’s trademark for its use on clothing late last month. The story was first reported by Capital B."
• The world's best cheese for 2022 is revealed - "When you gather 4,434 cheeses from 42 countries in one room to find out which is best, there's inevitably a sense of excitement in the air. There is, of course, inevitably also a very, very powerful smell. This year's winner, a gruyère from Switzerland, was eventually chosen by a panel of top judges after the field had been whittled down first to 98 'super gold' champions and then to a final 16."
• The many meanings of moss - "Moss is ancient, and grows at a glacial pace, but it lives alongside us everywhere, country and city, a witness to the human world and its catastrophic speed. What can we learn by tuning in to ‘moss time’?"
• A huge tunnel has opened below Niagara Falls - "A whitewater wonder visited by everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Mark Twain, Niagara Falls has been a magnet drawing global travelers for at least two centuries. But until this year, a huge tunnel buried deep below the cascade has been off-limits to visitors. And now, a 670-meter (2,198-foot) tunnel built more than a century ago on the Canadian side has been opened up to reveal the awesome scale of these engineering marvels."
• What can you do about injustice? - "Injustice is everywhere, so what are our moral duties? Our world is unjust and replete with suffering - what can an individual possibly do about it? As the philosopher Kieran Setiya writes, there are far better options than capitulation or despair."
• Apple TV 4K (third-generation) review: unmatched power at a much better price - "Packing more speed than ever (and now HDR10 Plus) at a cheaper price, the Apple TV 4K is the best overall streamer on the market - even if tvOS is falling behind in places."

November 2, 2022

• 2-Minute Showers & a Flotilla of Gas Shipments: Europe Braces for Winter - "Countries across the continent have taken extraordinary steps to decrease energy use and ramp up supply, moving swiftly away from their longtime primary provider, Russia."
• The Robber Barons Had Nothing on Elon Musk - "Elon Musk is now the proud owner of Twitter. The danger here is not that we have a rogue billionaire in our midst - that has happened before, and it will happen again - but that this one will be in control of what he has rightly referred to as our 'digital town square.'"
• Russian billionaire denounces Russian citizenship - "Oleg Tinkov is the latest Russian billionaire to show his opposition to Russian president Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine."
• Russia’s Wagner Group ‘have as much power in Kremlin as ministers’ - "Russian dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky tells UK parliamentary group of ‘terrorism’ threat."
• Shipping giant Maersk warns of looming global recession - "AP Møller-Maersk says Ukraine war, Europe’s energy crisis and high inflation are hitting demand, as UK consumers face record food inflation."
• Paul Pelosi: Who is spreading false claims about attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband? - "Within hours of the attack, a series of unsubstantiated claims began circulating in fringe far-right circles that contradicted the official police account of how the attack unfolded."
• New Image of Johnny Depp As Louis XV In MaÏwenn’s ‘Jeanne Du Barry’ - "The drama is freely inspired by the life of Jeanne du Barry, Louis XV’s last royal mistress at the Court of Versailles, after Madame de Pompadour."
• 6 Mac Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Use Every Day - "If you're on MacOS, you need to know about these Command keyboard shortcuts."
• Can you stand on one leg for 10 seconds? - "Why balance could be a matter of life and death - and how to improve yours. Studies have shown poor balance can be associated with serious health problems - as well as increased risks of falls as we get older. But there are ways to make yours better."
• I visited Monaco, one of the wealthiest countries in the world - "Here are the 12 most over-the-top examples of luxury I saw."
• 4th largest Powerball jackpot of $1.2 billion is up for grabs in tonight's draw - "Could soar to a record $1.59 billion if no one wins the top prize. There have now been 38 consecutive draws without a jackpot winner. Every time there is a draw with no win, the total amount of cash climbs higher."
• King Tut Died Long Ago, but the Debate About His Tomb Rages On - "Maybe the walls are disguising the undiscovered burial chamber of Nefertiti. Or 'maybe it’s Al Capone’s safe.'"
• The Fading Art of Preserving the Dead - "A dwindling group of professionals is tasked with navigating the often fraught passage from life to death."
• 303-Carat ‘Golden Canary’ Diamond Could Fetch $15 Million At Sotheby’s - "The Golden Canary, a fancy deep brownish-yellow diamond weighing a colossal 303.10 carats, is one of the largest polished diamonds in the world and the largest flawless or internally flawless diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America. It will be the top lot of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale in New York on December 7. Its estimate is $15 million, and it is being offered without reserve, with bidding starting at just $1."
• The First All-Titanium Rolex Watch Is Here - "Rolex Deepsea Challenge In RLX Titanium. Waterproof to 11,000 meters or 36,090 feet, the new Rolex Deepsea Challenge, or Rolex Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge reference 126067 in RLX Titanium is 50mm-wide and goodness knows how thick. Although commercially available at a whopping $26,000, the first all-titanium Rolex watch is interesting for so much more than its borderline unwearable, albeit impressive specs."
• Stanford University reviewing safety after man caught living illegally in dorms - "The man was 'reported to be on campus several times since December of last year' but was most recently caught on October 27, according to Dee Mostofi, the external communications assistant vice president for the Northern California university."
• A complete guide to the Apple Freeform app on iOS, iPadOS & macOS - "Are you wondering what you can do in the Apple Freeform app on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS? We're here to answer your questions."
• 'My dad, the claw hair clip inventor' - "It was the hair accessory of choice in the 1990s - fashionable yet functional - making a comeback in Covid lockdown when a trip to the salon wasn't possible."
• Rail route of the month - "The slow train to Skagen, Denmark, where the North Sea meets the Baltic."
• The things left behind: police display belongings found after Seoul crowd crush - in pictures - "Hundreds of personal belongings retrieved by police from the scene of the Itaewon disaster have been displayed at a gym in Seoul for survivors and the relatives of the victims to collect. At least 156 people died in a crowd crush in Itaewon on Saturday night. Most of the victims were young people who had been out celebrating Halloween."
• Canon R6-II hands-on - "Faster, more resolution and reduced heating issues. It can now shoot 4K at up to 60p for at least 30 minutes."
• Audio-Technica resurrects its Sound Burger portable turntable from the '80s - "The new model features Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in battery."

November 1, 2022

• Enormous emissions gap between top 1% & poorest, study highlights - "‘Polluting elite’ responsible for same amount of carbon dioxide in a year as poorest 10% are in a decade, data shows."
• The Rising Tide of Global Sadness - "We live in a world of widening emotional inequality. The top 20 percent of the world is experiencing the highest level of happiness and well-being since Gallup began measuring these things. The bottom 20 percent is experiencing the worst. It’s a fundamentally unjust and unstable situation. The emotional health of the world is shattering."
• 8 cost-saving tips for travelers in these trying economic times - "No matter what is going on in the macro finance world, however, savvy travelers can find a way to travel well for less by adjusting their strategies. By following these tips, you can still keep your travel budget in check for that much-needed vacation."
• China iPhone factory quadruples bonuses to workers amid anger over Covid curbs - "Apple supplier Foxconn raises daily bonuses to $55 to ease discontent after strict Covid measures prompted some workers to flee the site."
• Want a blue check mark on Twitter? It may soon cost you $19.99 a month - " Twitter is considering offering verified accounts to users who are willing to pay $19.99 a month for a subscription service, and it may take away the coveted blue check marks of existing users if they don’t start paying for the product within 90 days, according to internal Twitter documents viewed by CNN."
• Let’s call out the Qatar World Cup for what it really is - "In Qatar, journalists are thrown in jail for investigating migrant worker conditions. LGBTQ+ people are treated as criminals. Women need to ask men permission to marry, travel and study abroad in many cases."
• ‘How I became a sexual creature’ - Paul Newman reveals all in newly discovered memoir - "He was Hollywood’s Mr Perfect. But in his astonishing posthumous autobiography, the star faces up to his alcohol problems, his fatherly failings – and reveals the secret of his sex appeal. We speak to his daughter about the revelations."
• Julia Roberts reveals Martin Luther King Jr. & Coretta Scott King paid the hospital bill for her birth - "A previously little known fact about Julia Roberts is now more widely known, thanks to social media. It all started recently when a Twitter user shared a compilation video of Roberts, writing 'Martin Luther King Jr. paying for her birth is still a little known fact that sends me.'"
• 9 of the best TV shows to watch this November - "From Sylvester Stallone's first TV series, to the new season of The Crown and an Addams Family spin-off, Caryn James picks out the month's biggest small-screen offerings."
• Most Haunted Places In America: 24 Scary Travel Spots - "The spooky season is here. So where should you travel if you want to see the most haunted places in America?"
• From pirates’ hideout to DalÍ’s bolthole: CadaquÉs, star of Spain’s Costa Brava - "This hidden cove has drawn artists for generations but the ex-hippy seaside town has maintained its independent character."
• ‘Tampongate’ was just ‘two middle-aged lovers being sweet’, says The Crown star - "Dominic West, who plays then Prince of Wales in new series of the drama, says his views on incident changed after filming storyline."
• Villa Carpena: The owners of this Italian mansion say it's haunted by Mussolini family ghosts - "Showcasing fascist dictator Benito Mussolini's military uniform, his beloved motorbike, an iron cradle and a spooky bedroom mirror, Villa Carpena is clearly a museum unafraid of the dark side of history."
• The Hummer EV e-bike is just as over the top & ridiculous as the electric truck it’s based on - "GMC is licensing the Hummer brand to an Indiana-based supplier of fat tired e-bikes to local police departments. The result is a dual-motor Class 3 bike with a big battery and lots of power."
• Ferrari Returns To The Top Of Sports Car Racing With The Hybrid 499P Hypercar - "Ferrari is returning to the top category of professional sports car racing for the first time in a half-century with the gas-electric hybrid 499P, which will contest the new Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) category of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) World Endurance Championship in 2023."

October 31, 2022

• The New World: Envisioning life after climate change - "When scientists talk about the path we’re on today, they are often referring to warming between two and three degrees Celsius, or between 3.6 and 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit - a little more than half as much as was projected to be the “business as usual” future a decade ago. The United Nations confirmed that range in a report released this week."
• Twitter is planning to start charging $20 per month for verification - "And if the employees building it don’t meet their deadline, they’ll be fired by Elon Musk."
• Twitter trolls bombard platform after Elon Musk takeover - "Platform says 300 accounts carried out 50,000-plus tweets in ‘organised effort to make users think firm has changed content policy’."
• Musk posts baseless conspiracy theory about Paul Pelosi attack on Twitter - "Post comes days after Musk takes over social media platform amid concern that hate speech will run rampant under his leadership."
• Greta Thunberg to skip ‘greenwashing’ Cop27 climate summit in Egypt - "Swedish climate activist says the UN’s climate conference will be ‘used as an opportunity for leaders and people in power to get attention’."
• Buying an e-bike? Here’s what you need to look for - "More than two-thirds of Britons have started or are considering cycling to work to cut travel costs."
• Apple: Chinese workers flee Covid lockdown at iPhone factory - "Workers have broken out of Apple's largest iPhone assembly factory in China after a Covid outbreak forced staff to lockdown at the workplace. Video shared online showed about 10 people jumping a fence outside the plant, owned by manufacturer Foxconn, in the central city of Zhengzhou."
• A closer look at George Clooney’s insanely luxurious lifestyle - "The megastar has a $1 billion tequila empire and loves to splurge on properties with his gorgeous wife Amal Clooney. A BFF like no other, he once gifted suitcases filled with $1 million each to 14 of his friends."
• The Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities Of 2022 - "A Writer Earns Half-A-Billion From The Great Beyond."
• Why Switzerland built a 2-kilometer-long train - "High in the Swiss Alps, St Moritz made its name as a place for pushing the boundaries of winter sport. By the time it hosted the second Winter Olympics Games in 1928 its reputation as a playground for wealthy adventurers was already well established."
• You can now buy $1,200 sneakers - for horses - "If you've ever wanted horse-sized Adidas so you can match shoes with your equine companion, you're in luck. But you'll have to shell out over $1,000 for a pair of customized horse sneakers."
• Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary - "As he gazes at the eccentric, titanium-plated angles of Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, Francisco Mulero, a tourist from Spain's Canary Islands, explains why he admires the building."
• Guggenheim effect: how the museum helped transform Bilbao - "The Basque city locals remember as grimy and industrial has changed a lot since the Frank Gehry-designed building sprang up 25 years ago."
• Will we ever... live in city-sized buildings? - "The cities of science fiction are frequently portrayed as all-encompassing and self-contained structures, but how feasible is it build a colossal city in a building?"
• The dramas changing our view of death - "Living to Breaking Bad: the film and TV facing up to death. A new remake of Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru sees a man finding peace after a cancer diagnosis. Like films and shows before it, it may help audiences face up to the inevitable, writes Leila Latif."
• Max Verstappen dominates Mexican GP to set record for wins in a season - "Verstappen has won 14 out of 20 races this season."
• 2023 Corvette Z06 Is America’s Supercar Hero - "Test-Driving: Launching a range-topping supercar without a hybrid powertrain or even a turbo sounds like commercial suicide in 2022. However, that is exactly the path Corvette took with the Z06 and, despite all criticism, it rocked the industry."
• TOP 10 HEADPHONES THAT ARE THE PERFECT ALTERNATIVE TO THE APPLE AIRPODS MAX - "Once my headphones are in, the rest of the world is out. I scroll through my playlist and deep dive into my favorite musical tunes. And then I’m in my own little audio world, where everything is peaceful, my favorite singers are my best friends, and they just knohew the right things to say. If you’re a music fanatic as well, you know how important and sacred your personal music time can be, and how holy your relationship with your headphones is. After all, these are the resourceful little things that transport us into our beloved audio world."
• Coke products might look a little different next year - "Over the past year, Coca-Cola has experimented with bizarre, limited-time flavors and immersive online experiences. Now, it’s setting its sights on adding more varieties of cans, bottles and value packs to offer cash-strapped consumers more options - even if that ultimately means paying more for less."

October 30, 2022

• Make Halloween evil again - "There’s a time and a place for empathy. On a plane with a screaming baby, when a sick colleague leaves work early and when friends blithely announce plans for a destination wedding, a little empathy can go a long way. As I recently discovered, however, there is one occasion from which empathy should be banished forever: Halloween."
• Kanye West’s antisemitism did what his anti-Blackness did not - "And some people have a problem with that."
• Kanye West Faces Costly Fallout: A Timeline - "The entertainer has been widely condemned for a series of antisemitic comments. The fallout across industries has been swift."
• The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward’s chilling warning for US democracy - "The Washington Post Watergate veteran’s 20 interviews with the now former president prove to be must-listen material."
• Antarctica’s emperor penguins at risk of extinction due to the climate crisis - "As Antarctica’s emperor penguins are increasingly threatened by the climate crisis, the flightless seabirds will receive new protections under the Endangered Species Act, or ESA. With global warming melting the sea ice the penguins depend on for their survival, the US Fish and Wildlife Service now categorizes the species as threatened. The federal agency lists 'imperiled species as endangered or threatened regardless of their country of origin.'"
• Yoga, Pilates, tai chi, qigong - what's best for me? - "Mindfulness and mind-body practices are hot topics today, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic brought with it increased levels of stress and anxiety. In the US, some of the most popular mind-body exercises are yoga, Pilates, qigong and tai chi. These four are all therapies that integrate movement, breathing exercises and meditation to enhance your physical and mental health, self-awareness and spiritual growth."
• Giant steps: why walking in nature is good for mind, body & soul - "Rather than just moving from A to B, think about your surroundings and the wider ramifications of your walk."
• Best Chinese food: 32 must-try dishes - "With one of the world's most diverse food scenes, China makes it nearly impossible to put together one single list that truly encompasses the 'best' Chinese dishes. But with such a huge variety of flavors on offer, it's immensely helpful to go into the country with an introductory list of essential eats that will give you a well-rounded culinary experience."
• Thin fish, small catches: can Japan’s sushi culture survive climate crisis? - "Global heating is warming waters, changing salmon and tuna migration - and hurting fisheries."
• Experts fear rising global ‘incel’ culture could provoke terrorism - "Almost 1,000 references to misogyny and violent action are recorded each day on dedicated incel forums."
• Former supermodel Kate Moss reflects on her infamous line: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" - "She said the phrase was her motto during a 2009 interview."
• Lovers’ drunken brawl nearly cost Francis Bacon an eye, diaries reveal - "The spat and injury inspired Bacon to paint his violent expressionist canvas Self-Portrait with Injured Eye."
• You see aspects of his paintings wherever you look: on CÉzanne’s trail in Aix-en-Provence, France - "It’s easy to see why the chic town in the south of France made such an impression on the famous artist."

October 29, 2022

• Elon Musk Takes Twitter & Tech Deals, to Another Level - "Silicon Valley moguls used to buy yachts and islands. Now they are rich enough, and perhaps arrogant enough, to acquire companies they fancy."
• Elon Musk declares Twitter ‘moderation council’ - as some push the platform’s limits - "Conservative users began recirculating conspiracy theories as others voiced concerns over allowing hate speech and disinformation."
• Kanye West has a disturbing history of admiring Hitler - "Several people who were once close to the artist formerly known as Kanye West told CNN that he has long been fascinated by Adolf Hitler - and once wanted to name an album after the Nazi leader."
• Weather tracker: unseasonable heat in Europe as winter comes early to US - "Southern Spain hit 35.2C on Thursday, more than 10 degrees above normal, as heavy snow fell on Utah."
• Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex - "With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief." At Amazon.com.
• Zulu coronation: South Africa's love affair with King Misuzulu - "South Africans are not massive fans of royalty, but the forthcoming official coronation of the new Zulu king has the nation transfixed - and is a watershed moment in its history."
• Spooky spots to explore from the US to Asia - "In travel news this week, we bring you America's eeriest cities, the world's most elusive shipwrecks and National Geographic's top places to visit in 2023."
• Ray of joy: Nasa captures image of the sun ‘smiling’ - "Satellite photo shows what appears to be a happy face pattern on the sun with dark patches called ‘coronal holes’."
• How much money makes you happy? We ask an expert - "There is a link between money and happiness, says Prof Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, but it’s much stronger at the bottom of the pay scale."
• What’s on TV This Week: ‘The White Lotus’ & Lots of Spooky Movies - "The HBO series begins its second season. And we rounded up some scary movies to get you prepped for Halloween."
• ‘The White Lotus’ relocates to Sicily & delivers another five-star experience - "'The White Lotus' hasn’t lost any of its intoxicating allure, shifting its mix of rich-people problems and staff struggles to a new island (Sicily), with Jennifer Coolidge as the one holdover from the Emmy-winning original. It’s an impressive exercise in reloading by writer-director Mike White, who based on this encore should have plenty of frequent-flyer miles in his future if he chooses."
• Plans for Singapore's first 'supertall' skyscraper unveiled - "Singapore is set to welcome its first ever 'supertall' skyscraper, a term used to describe buildings that exceed 300 meters (984 feet) in height. The new tower, known as 8 Shenton Way, will soar above the Southeast Asian city-state from 2028, offering offices, a hotel and 34 floors of luxury residences."
• Watch the first electric Rolls-Royce illuminate its doors & ceiling - "Rolls-Royce's first electric vehicle, Spectre, is a luxurious 'super coupé' that teases the full electric lineup the brand promises to deliver by 2030."
• Jerry Lee Lewis was a star who lived life dangerously close to the edge - "Beloved for his music but also known for his off-stage extremities, the late singer leaves behind a difficult legacy."
• Jerry Lee Lewis - a life in pictures - "The pioneering rock’n’roller has died at the age of 87 after a career that saw him rise to the top yet struggle to remain out of trouble."
• Damian Lewis on grief, espionage & his new musical ambitions - "‘When someone dies prematurely, you’re left careering in a different direction.’ They were the golden couple of British acting, but Helen McCrory’s death last year left her husband shattered. Now he is putting the pieces of himself back together - and finding a new creative energy."

October 28, 2022

• Elon Musk has taken control of Twitter & fired its top executives - "Elon Musk has completed his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter, a source familiar with the deal told CNN Thursday, putting the world’s richest man in charge of one of the world’s most influential social media platforms."
• Elon Musk claims he has acquired Twitter ‘to help humanity’ - "Tweet comes as advertisers fear one of his first moves as chief will be to restore Donald Trump’s account."
• Elon Musk just bought Twitter. Here are the winners & losers - "After months of uncertainty and legal threats, Elon Musk has officially purchased Twitter. Here's who stands to gain and lose the most now that the deal has gone through."
• Elon Musk: How the world's richest person bought Twitter - "It was a cool evening in late March in San Jose. A hastily organised meeting had been arranged at an Airbnb to host the world's richest person. The meeting was a big one for Twitter. Elon Musk had recently become Twitter's largest shareholder. Now there was talk that he wanted to join the company's board."
• Elon Musk, Twitter & the mysterious X app - "It was beginning to feel like Elon Musk and Twitter were locked in an eternal dance. And then it came to an abrupt end - for now at least - with a short, succinct letter from Musk's lawyers to Twitter's, which announced that he intended to buy the firm after all, and an enigmatic tweet from Musk himself to his 107 million followers about creating 'X, the everything app'."
• Climate crisis: UN finds ‘no credible pathway to 1.5C in place’ - "Failure to cut carbon emissions means ‘rapid transformation of societies’ is only option to limit impacts, report says."
• Putin: World faces 'most dangerous decade' since end of WWII - "Putin accuses Western elites of playing ‘dangerous, bloody and dirty game’."
• What happened to China’s former leader Hu Jintao? - "It is a moment that for many observers has come to define strongman leader Xi Jinping’s tightening grip on China: his visibly frail predecessor, Hu Jintao, being escorted out of a key Communist Party meeting during a five-yearly leadership reshuffle - apparently at Xi’s behest."
• Kanye West claims he lost $2bn in one day amid backlash to antisemitic comments - "Rapper known as Ye confirms the impact of Adidas and other companies cutting ties over his hateful remarks about Jewish people."
• A luxurious train journey to the world's largest Buddhist temple - "Seated inside a plush train carriage fitted with traditional Javanese batik tapestries, paintings and books, travelers on board Indonesia's newest luxury train are surely in agreement that the journey is as important as the destination. Why else opt to take a seven-hour train ride instead of a plane to Yogyakarta, home to Indonesia's famed UNESCO-listed Buddhist site, Borobudur."
• Robert Bartini: The world's most mysterious aircraft designer - "His life is such a mystery that even his real name is uncertain, but his legacy to the world of aviation is clear: Robert Oros di Bartini - as the inscription reads on his tombstone - was a genius ahead of his time whose wondrous airplanes and bizarre flying boats still impress today, almost 50 years after his death. A modern polymath who spoke seven languages, he was also an astronomer, philosopher, physicist, painter and musician."
• Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog: Extravagant Fantasy Gifts For 2022 - "Neiman Marcus is famous for its outrageous annual Christmas Book catalog, where money is often no object, and the gifts offer the ultimate bragging rights. Every year, the luxury store offers up many ridiculously priced items and a few affordable luxury products we can all enjoy."
• World's best spicy foods: 20 dishes to try - "When it comes to the world's best spicy dishes, we have some of the world's hottest peppers to thank, along with incredible layers of flavor and a long, spice-loving human history."
• The city with gold in its sewage lines - "Firozabad is India's glass capital, most famous for producing traditional glass bangles. But the city is the source of another treasure - one that's hidden and extremely hard-won."
• $4,990 Ice Bath - "Cold-plunge enthusiasts are spending big on home tubs and spa classes. Is it worth it?"
• 10 of the best films to watch this November - "Including Rian Johnson's follow-up to Knives Out, Steven Spielberg's autobiopic The Fabelmans, and cannibal drama Bones and All starring Timothée Chalamet - Nicholas Barber lists this month's unmissable releases."
• Why Is There So Much Outrage Over Season 5 of The Crown? - "Season five of The Crown doesn’t premiere until November 9, however the discourse has already started - and in dramatic fashion. Columnists are writing hot takes, politicians are making statements, and award-winning actors are penning letters, all weighing in with differing takes on the same matter: Has The Crown’s sensationalizing of the British royal family gone too far?"
• Bill Nighy on sex, social media & still being able to manage the stairs - "‘I think about death 35 times a day.’ In his new film, Living, Nighy plays a civil servant who has six months to live - a part tailor-made for him by Kazuo Ishiguro. He talks about the power of nostalgia, keeping it minimal and his close brush with Instagram."
• Hans Niemann chosen to lead USA at World Team Championship - "The 19-year-old will play at Jerusalem in his first event since he launched his $100m lawsuit against Magnus Carlsen and others."
• Echo Dot with Clock (2022) review: a good time - "With better sound, faster responses, and more sensors, Amazon’s Echo Dot with Clock fifth-gen is more useful for your smart home and remains the best budget smart speaker you can buy."

October 27, 2022

• China locks down part of Wuhan, nearly three years after first Covid case emerged - "More than 800,000 people locked down in site of world’s first Covid outbreak in 2019, as other Chinese cities seal up streets and homes."
• Carbon emissions from energy to peak in 2025 in ‘historic turning point’, says IEA - "International Energy Agency says Ukraine invasion boosted state spending on clean energy and ‘will accelerate transition to renewables’."
• How Elon Musk Became a Geopolitical Chaos Agent - "The world’s richest man has inserted himself in some of the world’s most combustible conflicts."
• Elon Musk makes splashy visit to Twitter headquarters carrying sink - "Tesla CEO changes his profile to ‘Chief Twit’ as Friday deadline to finalize his takeover deal nears."
• It looks like Elon Musk started using a new program that blocks jet tracking - after the man who follows his plane wouldn't take his Twitter account down.
• Elon Musk credits diabetic drug for his 'ripped' look - "What you need to know about the new treatment that’s gone viral on TikTok. Accident and emergency doctor Michael Daignault says an effective weight-loss treatment would be a game-changer for millions suffering from obesity."
• The Latecomer’s Guide to TikTok - "TikTok has become massively influential. We’re here to help you understand how it all works."
• YouTube’s battle with TikTok takes its toll as revenues dip - "Owner Alphabet reveals first decline since it began reporting streaming site’s performance separately two years ago."
• Prince Harry's memoir will be called Spare - "Publisher Penguin Random House confirming the £28 book 'full of insight, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom' will be released on January 10."
• 60 YEARS OF JAMES BOND HATS - 60th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT - "60 years of 007 style combines with Lock & Co.'s 346 year heritage of hat making. Lock & Co. are proud to present the 007 Hat Collection, which formally establishes a long-standing relationship between the two iconic British brands. The range consists of seven James Bond inspired hats to be launched throughout 2022."
• Mercedes-Benz becomes latest Western company to pull out of Russia - "Mercedes has become the latest Western company to pull out of Russia, following the invasion of Ukraine in February. The German-based firm stopped manufacturing in and exporting to the country in early March."
• Cuban missile crisis, 60 years on - "New papers reveal how close the world came to nuclear disaster. In 1962, a Soviet submarine commander nearly ordered a nuclear launch, newly translated accounts show, with modern parallels over Ukraine all too clear."
• Azerbaijan's secret to long life? Mountain air - "There are a number of destinations around the world famed for the longevity of their residents. In Japan, Okinawa's sprightly centenarians have earned it the nickname 'Land of the Immortals.' Campodimele, Italy's 'Village of Eternity,' is testament to the Mediterranean diet. In the sunny Californian town of Loma Linda, a community of Seventh-Day Adventists reaping rewards of clean living. There's one long-lived corner of the globe you won't have heard talked about as much, and it's home to the world's only Museum of Longevity. That's Lerik in southern Azerbaijan."
• Why talking to strangers can make us happier - "In a suspicious world, many of us are reluctant to interact with strangers. But talking to people we've never met before, even in passing interactions, can make us wiser and happier."
• How to Live With a Ghost - "Many Americans believe that their home is inhabited by ghosts, a conviction that researchers attribute to the rise of paranormal-related media, a decline in religious beliefs and the pandemic."
• Even nuns watch porn, Pope says, warning of risks - "Pope Francis has warned priests and nuns about the dangers of watching pornography online, saying it 'weakens the priestly heart'. Pornography, he said, was 'a vice that so many people have... even priests and nuns'."
• Remember Princess Diana's revenge dress? It's coming back - "Black, off-the shoulder with a sweetheart neckline and a figure-hugging skirt that finished above the knee, the cocktail dress - designed by Christina Stambolian - was unlike anything Diana, or any other royal, had ever worn in public. 'Diana wanted to look a million dollars,' the princess' former stylist Anna Harvey said."
• Burj Khalifa designer shares the secrets of building supertall - "How to build supertall: Designers of the world's tallest towers share their secrets."
• A Private Spy: The Letters of John le CarrÉ 1945-2020 review - missives accomplished - "An extraordinary collection of his letters reveals the secretive spy novelist’s loves and laments."

October 26, 2022

• We May Have Only a Few Months to Prevent the Next Pandemic - "The window to act is closing fast."
• One more Monaco death attributed to coronavirus - Monaco Daily News.
• COP27: Climate change threatening global health - report - "Climate change is severely impacting people's health around the world, a report by a leading medical publication has found."
• Cut meat consumption to two burgers a week to save planet, study suggests - "Climate crisis report says ‘we are not winning in any sector’ as experts call for urgent action on fossil fuels."
• Inside the hospitals that concealed Russian casualties - CNN Special Report.
• One sore point for sanctions hawks is Russian diamonds, which have been repeatedly exempt - meaning the gems can continue to be bought by Antwerp dealers.
• Adidas terminates Ye partnership, Gap removes Yeezy items over rapper’s antisemitic remarks - "Forbes said the loss of the Adidas partnership cost Ye his billionaire status."
• Telfar Bags Surpasses All Legacy Luxury Brands In Resale Market Value - "Black-owned fashion brand Telfar is raising the stakes when it comes to bag resale market value. According to Rebag’s 2022 Clair report, the Telfar Clemons-helmed collection has surpassed legacy luxury brands in average value retention."
• The Biggest Brands of 2022 - "We calculated the average percentage of value retained compared to retail pricing for handbags, accessories, fine jewelry, and watches with proprietary data pulled from our very own tool, Clair." Rebag.
• The Strange Comfort of Jet Lag - "There’s serenity in the post-travel daze."
• The Mysterious Patient in Room 23: The Hermit Baroness - "Birgit Thyssen-Bornemisza led a life of eccentric anonymity and shabby gentility. Then her money got cut off. Then she had a stroke."
• NASA names 16-person panel tasked with investigating UFOs - "It will focus on unclassified sightings from government and civilian sectors."
• Apple raises prices for music & TV streaming services - "Apple on Monday raised the price of its music and video streaming services, in the latest example of streaming products getting more expensive in recent months. An Apple Music subscription for individuals will now cost $10.99 per month, up from $9.99, and a family plan supporting up to five people is now $16.99 per month, up from $14.99. The price of Apple TV+ will increase to $6.99 per month, a 40% increase from the $4.99 it cost previously, the company said Monday."
• $20 Spotify Platinum plan with HiFi, headphone tuner, ‘Library Pro,’ & more could be imminent - "We’re getting close to two years since Spotify announced it would be launching a HiFi offering. After the extended delay, the company could be close to debuting a new “Platinum plan” with high-res music, a headphone tuner, 'Studio Sound,' 'Library Pro,' 'Playlist Pro,' and limited ads for podcasts."
• iOS 16.2 lets users report to Apple when Emergency SOS is unintentionally triggered - "Apple on Tuesday released the first iOS 16.2 beta to developers, and it comes with some new features – especially for iPad users. And when it comes to the iPhone, Apple has added an intriguing new option that lets users report to the company when Emergency SOS is unintentionally triggered."
• Airline launches lottery to entice more passengers to sit in the middle seat - "Offering neither a window view, nor easy access to the lavatory, the middle seat is indisputably the least desirable spot to sit on a flight. In fact, only 0.6% of more than 7,500 voters polled prefer - or, perhaps more likely, accidentally voted for - the middle seat, according to a recent social media poll by Virgin Australia."
• Dove, Nexxus & other dry shampoos recalled for cancer-causing chemical - "Unilever has recalled certain Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI and TRESemmé aerosol dry shampoos because of the potential presence of benzene, a chemical that can cause cancer."
• The search for what causes SIDS - "Sudden infant death syndrome kills thousands of babies every year. We don't yet know the cause of SIDS - or its cure. But researchers are getting closer."
• Enheduanna: The world's first named author - "A little-known Mesopotamian poet and priestess, Enheduanna, is the subject of a new exhibition in New York. Diane Cole explores her influence - and looks at how she helped create a common system of beliefs throughout the ancient empire."
• The dark side of self-employment - "The women forced to 'choose' self-employment. In the US, more women are working for themselves. On the surface, it seems empowering - but there’s a dark narrative driving this rise in self-employment."
• Peanut butter pasta dish among Nigella Lawson’s £1.25-a-portion budget recipes - "Budget dishes created by celebrity cook include peanut butter pasta and feta, black bean and clementine couscous."
• Sacheen Littlefeather obituary - "Activist, model and actor who believed she had been blacklisted for refusing an Oscar on Marlon Brando’s behalf in 1973."
• 5 Largest Yachts To See At The 2022 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show - Forbes.

October 25, 2022

• What is a ‘dirty bomb’ & why does Russia claim Ukraine might use one? - "Russia's defence minister has claimed Ukraine might use a 'dirty bomb' - a device containing radioactive material as well as conventional explosives."
• Who is Rishi Sunak? Everything you need to know about Britain’s next prime minister - "Ultra rich, young and the first person of colour to become UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak will also make history as the first practising Hindu to lead the country."
• The ships full of gas waiting off Europe’s coast - "The behemoths are waiting. Off the coasts of Spain, Portugal, the UK and other European nations lie dozens of giant ships packed full of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Cooled to roughly -160C for transportation, the fossil fuel is in very high demand. Yet the ships remain at sea with their prized cargo."
• Covid-19 vaccine study links side effects with greater antibody response - "People who reported experiencing side effects to the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines such as fever, chills or muscle pain tended to have a greater antibody response following vaccination, according to new research."
• Immune system-evading hybrid virus observed for first time - "Researchers found the RSV and influenza viruses fused together to form a new type of virus pathogen."
• Stop trying to fix yourself, this expert says - CNN Health.
• Creatine Won’t Magically Give You Abs. Here’s What It Might Do - "The supplement isn’t just for body builders, doctors said."
• It's one of Europe's most popular destinations. Here's how to avoid the crowds - "Like Venice, Barcelona and Prague, Dubrovnik is a victim of its own success."
• Everglades Jetport: The 'world's greatest airport' that never was - "It was supposed to be the world's largest airport, a glamorous intercontinental hub for supersonic airliners with six runways and high-speed rail links to surrounding cities. But today, it's little more than an airstrip in the middle of nowhere."
• The woman who travels the world with only a tiny bag - It's been a year of airport chaos and problems with baggage handling have left many travelers struggling to reunite with their luggage. Flying with only carry-on is as desirable as ever. But for one traveler, even that isn't minimalist enough. She's hitting the road with only a small, 12-liter (3-gallon) shoulder bag.
• Rats with backpacks could help rescue earthquake survivors - "Buildings don’t collapse very often - but when they do, it’s catastrophic for those trapped inside. Natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes can level entire towns, and for the search and rescue teams trying to find survivors, it’s a painstaking task. But an unlikely savior is being trained up to help out: rats. The project, conceived of by Belgian non-profit APOPO, is kitting out rodents with tiny, high-tech backpacks to help first responders search for survivors among rubble in disaster zones."
• Sweet temptation: Istanbul's beloved 'brothel dessert' - "Halka tatlisi ('ring dessert' in English) is one of Istanbul's favourite and oldest street foods. Found on every corner and said to help restore one's vigour after hours spent walking the busy streets, the circular dough that's deep-fried to a golden-brown and soaked in syrup has long been associated with the city's seedier side. And it's that connotation that gave rise to its local nickname of the "brothel dessert". 'It's known as a 'natural viagra'.'"
• how tattoo removal became a booming business - "‘Like being burned with cooking oil.’ As ink surges in popularity, so does regret - but despite improvements to the process, erasing body art remains difficult."
• A. Lange & SÖhne Unveils Next-Generation Zeitwerk - "As many new-generation watchmakers are entering the watch world, we are witnessing some strong evolutions of modern-day iconic watches. Such is the case with the much-coveted A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk. First unveiled to the world 13 years ago in 2009, the German-made luxury timepiece was the brand’s first to boast a mechanical jumping digital display of the hours and the minutes in a strikingly harmonious dial. Thanks to its specially created constant force escapement, the watch was also incredibly precise. All of the features together propelled the Zeitwerk to the forefront of collectors’ minds. Today, A. Lange & Söhne unveils the newest generation of award-winning Zeitwerk watches. Two new versions, in platinum or in 18-karat pink gold, are powered by a next-generation, or evolved, mechanical movement: caliber L043.6, which holds seven patents. It also offers 72 hours of power reserve - double the amount of time from previous versions."

October 24, 2022

• China’s Xi is more powerful than ever. What does it mean for the world? - "It was a crowning moment for Xi Jinping when he stepped onto a red-carpet stage on Sunday to begin his norm-shattering third term as China’s supreme leader. Xi, 69, has emerged from the ruling Communist Party’s five-yearly congress with more power than ever, stacking his party’s top tiers with longtime proteges and staunch allies."
• iOS 16.1 for iPhone Launching on Monday With These 8 New Features - "As expected, Apple today confirmed in a press release that iOS 16.1 will be released on Monday, October 24 alongside iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura."
• Apple releases macOS Ventura, iOS 16.1 & iPadOS 16 - "Stage Manager is the highlight on Mac and iPad, while Apple Fitness+ has arrived on iPhone."
• 70 Best Spooky Movies to Watch for Halloween - "One of the best things about Halloween month (the way all mature adults refer to October) is the fact that it coincides with the official start of Cozy Season. When the leaves start to fall and Rite Aid rolls out the ghost and skeleton costumes, there’s nothing better than curling up in a blanket or 12, sipping a seasonal beverage - Pumking ale, anyone? - and freaking the living hell out of yourself with a horror movie. To celebrate all things Halloween-adjacent, we’ve put together a master list of the very best scary (or scary-ish) movies to watch this month."
• Why we enjoy fear: the science of a good scare - "The thrill of a frightening film can feel euphoric - and mild horror, say researchers, can also help foster lasting psychological resilience."
• Why many climate films miss the point - "A new trend for climate films. We need a subtler, more varied portrayal of climate change in film than just climate disaster blockbusters, says Becca Warner."
• Only 5% of plastic waste generated by US last year was recycled, report says - "Americans discarded 51m tons of plastic in 2021 - of which almost 95% ended up in landfills, oceans or scattered in the atmosphere."
• 35 Celebrity Memoirs That Are Actually Worth Reading - "At their best, celebrity memoirs provide unusually candid portraits of the 'real person' behind the public persona - and don’t skimp on the dirty details. At worst, they can be ghostwritten fluff." Vogue.
• How TikTok’s algorithm made it a success - "‘It pushes the boundaries.’ The company’s secret sauce is what populates its For You Page, which predicts the videos that will pique a viewer’s interest."
• Barbra Streisand: ‘It’s the funniest thing to me that people still can’t get my name right’ - "In a rare interview discussing her music, the star details the highs and lows of her early career, the difficult transition into pop and how she rose above jabs at her appearance."
• The House Of Ye - "Chaos, Anti-Semitism, ‘White Lives Matter’ & Steady, Unbothered Sales. Ye, the billionaire music entrepreneur and fashion designer previously known as Kanye West, is having quite a few months. He’s unleashed hateful rhetoric against Jews, worn clothing that mocks the Black Lives Matter movement and used social media to harass his ex-wife and her then-boyfriend - a trifecta of nauseating behavior."
• The Rothschild Women Led Lives as Full as the Men’s - "A new biography by Natalie Livingstone focuses on several generations of the banking family’s wives and daughters, documenting their passions for politics, science and music, all abetted by wealth and social connections."
• face-slapping league gets go-ahead in Vegas - "Nevada’s athletic commission voted to oversee league of the controversial sport that has already seen one competitor die."
• A face only a mother could love: Terrifying photo shows what ants looks like close up - "No, this photo doesn't portray one of the new creatures on HBO's 'House of the Dragon,' or an outtake from a horror movie. It's an award-winning close-up photo of ... an ant."
• Salman Rushdie has lost sight in one eye, agent Andrew Wylie says - "'He has about 15 more wounds in his chest,' Andrew Wylie, a New York-based agent, also told Spain's El País newspaper. 'It was a a brutal attack.'"
• The Manchurian Candidate at 60: does the paranoid thriller still resonate? - "John Frankenheimer’s creepy thriller was seen as prescient, but today’s political landscape might seem too outlandish in comparison."
• Why yoga at home is simple, fun & rewarding - "Push back the sofa and roll out your mat for Hatha yoga sessions in your front room."
• Ikea’s new Dirigera hub & Home smart app deliver big improvements - "Easier to use and stable. But let’s check in again after a few months."
• A history of the horny side of the internet - "In a new book, journalist Samantha Cole digs through the rich history of sex on the internet, from BBS to FOSTA."

October 23, 2022

• Who are the men that rule China now? - "The Chinese Communist Party has finally unveiled the men who will rule China for the next five years."
• Did the Pandemic Change Your Personality? Possibly - "For more than two years, Covid disrupted social rituals and rites of passage. Now a recent study suggests we have become less extroverted, creative, agreeable and conscientious. The declines in some traits were sharper among young people."
• CDC director tests positive for Covid-19 - "Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tested positive for Covid-19 Friday. Walensky is experiencing mild symptoms and is up-to-date on her Covid-19 vaccines, according to a statement released by the agency. Walensky received an updated Covid-19 booster in September."
• Trump subpoena: Former president ordered to testify to January 6 committee - "The congressional panel investigating last year's Capitol riot has issued a legal summons ordering former President Donald Trump to testify to lawmakers."
• Trump Organization to face criminal tax fraud charges in New York court on Monday - "Former CFO is expected to testify about off-the-books compensation scheme to evade paying payroll taxes."
• From dance videos to global sensation: what you need to know about TikTok’s rise - "The app has grown at breakneck speed to surpass the internet behemoths in downloads."
• Who Gets the Last Word on Steve Jobs? He Might - "When Laurene Powell Jobs unveiled a website dedicated to the story of her late husband, historians wondered if it could change how influential people burnish their legacies."
• ‘Fishless fish’: the next big trend in the seafood industry - "‘Alternative seafood’ is having a moment, with the rise of companies like BlueNalu and Wildtype, which has the backing of Leonardo DiCaprio."
• Dietrich Mateschitz: Red Bull co-owner & energy drink giant dies aged 78 - "Mateschitz was the driving force behind the establishment of what became the global market leader in energy drinks. He used the fortune created by that to set up a Formula 1 team that has become one of the leading forces in the sport."
• Reservoir Dogs at 30: Tarantino’s canny contained act of provocation - "The violent caper exploded on the scene back in 1992, causing admiration and annoyance, kicking off a new wave of imitators."
• Singapore struggles with ‘unparalleled’ otter boom - "Slippery, hungry, sometimes angry."
• Audemars Piguet Redefines The Gemset Rainbow Watch With 20 Blinged-Out Royal Oaks - "How do you top the rainbow-bezel look trending in high end watches? Audemars Piguet blows it out of the water it with two sets of 10 Royal Oak models that collectively form a double rainbow of colors. They are the latest of this year’s launches to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak. The two sets of 10 models in two different sizes are completely paved with colored gemstones. When you lay each set out together, you get a rainbow effect - which ups the game on the usual rainbow look in watches, in which the full spectrum is set on a single watch."

October 22, 2022

• Xi Jinping: from ‘counter-revolutionary’ to absolute power - "Born into the Communist party elite and shaped by the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese president stands on the brink of securing historic power."
• Hu Jintao: Former China leader led out of Party Congress meeting - "The former leader of China, Hu Jintao, has been led out of the Communist Party Congress, with no official explanation why. It happened at the final session of the Party Congress meeting in Beijing."
• A common respiratory virus is spreading across the US at unusually high levels - "A common respiratory virus is spreading at unusually high levels, overwhelming children’s hospitals. Here’s what parents need to know."
• Lost rainforest could be revived across 20% of Great Britain - "Campaigners call for protection and careful tree-planting to help restore the temperate rainforests that once covered swathes of the country."
• Bezos & fellow billionaires are issuing recession warnings - "Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, two of the wealthiest people on the entire planet (who generally don’t agree on much of anything), are both signaling some tension about a looming recession. Bezos earlier this week commented that it’s time to 'batten down the hatches,' in a tweet that included a video of Goldman Sachs’ CEO saying there was a good chance of a recession on the horizon."
• What on earth is going on with Elon Musk & Ukraine? - "An international shitposting incident, explained."
• Inside King Charles III’s $25 Billion Real Estate Empire - "The new British monarch lords over seven palaces, 10 castles, 12 homes, 56 cottages, and 14 ancient ruins where he can hang up his crown."
• 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now - "The sheer volume of films on Netflix - and the site’s less than ideal interface - can make finding a genuinely great movie there a difficult task. To help, we’ve plucked out the 50 best films currently streaming on the service in the United States, updated regularly as titles come and go. And as a bonus, we link to more great movies on Netflix within many of our write-ups below."
• The End of Netflix Password Sharing Is Coming - "Early next year, Netflix will start charging you fees when you share your account."
• A.I.-Generated Art Is Already Transforming Creative Work - "Only a few months old, apps like DALL-E 2, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion are changing how filmmakers, interior designers and other creative professionals do their jobs."
• George Clooney’s Been Wearing the Same Outfit for 20 Years Straight - "Behold: A masterclass in sartorial consistency you can - and should—make your own."
• First Blood at 40: Rambo’s first outing mixed violence with vulnerability - "The 1982 action thriller saw Sylvester Stallone play a wounded veteran with depth that was later betrayed by a series of xenophobic sequels."
• Tourists apprehended after taking gondola for Venice joyride - "Another week, another spate of terrible behavior from tourists in Italy. Hot on the heels of a woman posing naked on the steps of the cathedral in Amalfi, two tourists to Venice have been apprehended for allegedly stealing a gondola."
• The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Will Set Sail In 2024 - "That’s certainly been the mantra for Miami based cruise line Royal Caribbean, who just announced their largest ship Icon of the Seas will officially enter service in 2024. At maximum capacity, Icon will be capable of hosting 7,600 passengers on its inaugural sail on January 28, 2024."
• 36 hours in Milan - "Confident and cool, Milan keeps its finest treasures under wraps, tucked away in hidden gardens, down alleyways and in far-flung neighborhoods. Those who dig deep into this sprawling, fast-paced city will be rewarded."
• Donald Trump’s Boeing 757 rehabbed & back in West Palm Beach - "Whether Donald Trump is prepared to take-off on another bid for the presidency remains up in the air, but his fabled Boeing 757 is definitely getting off the ground."
• One of the world's most spectacular new libraries has opened in Dubai - "Inside Dubai's $272M book-shaped library. Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, which opened in June - is a beautiful oasis of calm contemplation, where visitors can curl up with a good book, plug in laptops for study or work, or marvel at the rare manuscripts and first-edition books displayed in the exhibition space on the seventh floor. Entry is free for all, locals and tourists alike, with tickets just needing to be reserved in advance. With more than 1.1 million print and digital books housed in the 54,000 square-meter facility, it's hoping to draw crowds who favor culture over consumption."
• Archaeologists restoring ISIS damage in Iraq discover Assyrian reliefs unseen for millennia - "Archaeologists in northern Iraq have uncovered some extraordinary Assyrian rock carvings dating back around 2,700 years. The discovery was made in Nineveh, east of Mosul, by a joint US-Iraqi excavation team completing reconstruction work on the Mashki Gate, which ISIS militants destroyed in 2016."
• Major Modigliani show sheds new light on how artist worked - "More than a century after the death of Amedeo Modigliani, a consortium of art historians and conservation experts convened by the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia is discovering hidden aspects of the artist's techniques thanks to new research and analytical technologies."
• Terrifier 2 director reacts to reports that horror sequel is making people throw up & faint - "Slasher movie sequel Terrifier 2 proved to be the little gore-fest that could last weekend, crashing into the box office top 10 with an initial take of around $1 million despite costing less than $250,000. Writer-director Damien Leone describes the days since the movie's release as 'wonderful, overwhelming. Every morning I wake up, it's like Christmas morning. Since it hit theaters, the hype's been building, so it's really exciting.'"
• Belkin’s MagSafe Continuity Camera mount is an easy webcam upgrade - "And you might actually want to keep it on your phone, solving the issue of having to carry it around and remember it."
• Formovie Theater review: A formidable $3,000 Dolby Vision UST projector - "Triple laser, stellar color accuracy, good sound and a (mostly) positive Android TV experience."

October 21, 2022

• White House says Iran sent personnel to Crimea to train Russians to use drones - "The White House says Iranian military personnel have visited Crimea to assist with Russian operations targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine using drones."
• Under Xi Jinping, zero-Covid is accelerating China’s surveillance state - " As a new, deadly virus overtook the central city of Wuhan and spread throughout China in early 2020, the country’s ruling Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping were faced with a crisis on a scale not seen in decades."
• China’s decade under Xi Jinping explained in seven charts - "Xi has overseen rapid economic growth and rising wealth, while spending big on the military, but inequality has widened has and a demographic crisis looms."
• Another Covid Wave Could Be Coming. Here’s How to Make Your Holiday Plans - "As our third pandemic winter approaches, you can mitigate risk without missing out."
• How to Boost Your Immune System During Cold & Flu Season - "Here are four things immunologists and other health experts say you can do."
• Chess grandmaster Hans Niemann sues champion Magnus Carlsen, others for $100 million over cheating claim - "The suit claims that the defendants, including Chess.com, inflicted 'devastating damages' against Niemann by 'egregiously defaming him' and 'unlawfully colluding' to bar him from the professional chess world."
• Images of farting zebra & petulant penguin shortlisted for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022 - "A standoffish penguin, a horrified monkey and a farting zebra are among the images shortlisted for the 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Also among the 40 photos shortlisted from across the globe are a superhero squirrel, a lion cub face-planting into a tree, and a monkey who just can't even..."
• Top dog: Eve the kelpie sells for $49,000, setting new Australian record - "The sale of the black and tan working dog smashed the previous record of $35,200. Eve the kelpie is not yet two but half a century of work has gone into making her a star."
• Maggie Haberman on Trump: ‘He’s become a Charles Foster Kane character’ - "The author of a new book on the former president reflects on his tumultuous tenure, and getting inside his head."
• ‘It’s 23C in the evening’ - readers’ best autumn breaks in Europe - "Hot chocolate in the Hague or Halloween in Transylvania – our tipsters share their best trips."
• Ritz-Carlton's $6,400-a-week luxury superyacht cruise has finally set sail - "Ritz-Carlton's highly-anticipated superyacht cruise has finally made its debut, three and a half years after its maiden voyage was originally scheduled to begin. Evrima, the first of three custom-built yachts from the famous hotel chain's Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, began a seven-night cruise from Barcelona, Spain to Nice, France on October 15. The 190-meter vessel, which can accommodate 298 passengers, is made up of 149 suites with a private terrace, as well as floor to ceiling windows, and features an infinity pool, a wine vault, a Ritz-Carlton Spa, a nightclub and its very own 'marina.'"
• The Italian village with the 'elixir' of healthy life - "It's a place of terraced lemon groves, a paradoxically warm mountain breeze, and a powerful fat-killing gene carried by a few lucky residents. Limone sul Garda, a picturesque fishing village set on the shores of Lake Garda in Italy's northern Lombardy region, is an unusual destination of barely 1,000 residents."
• New York court dismisses Kevin Spacey sexual assault lawsuit - "The case was brought by Anthony Rapp, who says the actor inappropriately touched him at a party in 1986 when he was aged 14. Mr Rapp, now 50 and also an actor, filed the legal action in September 2020 and had been seeking around $40m in damages."
• The smart way to learn from failure - "Many of us make mistakes on endless repeat - but new insights can help us to learn valuable lessons from our failures."
• Elon Musk plans to cut 75% of Twitter staff if he takes over company - report - "The news comes at a difficult time for the company, which had announced hiring freezes and has seen low employee morale."
• Amal Clooney Delivers Another Vintage Masterclass On The Red Carpet - "Amal Clooney has delivered a series of stand-out vintage moments over the years, and last night was no different. The floaty dress, which was sourced from Classified Vintage."
• Michter’s Is About To Release One Of The Rarest & Best Bourbons Of 2022 - Forbes.
• VanMoof's new A5 & S5 e-bikes are harder to steal & smoother to ride - "You might barely feel the upgraded gear-shifting technology."
• Expert Tips for Curbing Bad Breath - "Food choices, oral hygiene habits and certain health conditions can play a role - but there are ways to keep dragon breath in check."
• Apple has another iPhone update coming on Monday. Here’s what’s new - "Starting on Monday, Apple’s iOS 16.1 update will allow iPhone, iPad and Apple TV users to access Fitness+ even if they don’t have an Apple Watch. Apple is debuting its iCloud shared photo library. Unlike shared albums, everyone in the shared photo library will have the ability to add, delete, edit or favorite photos and videos. On iOS 16.1, clean energy iPhone charging optimizes charging for when cleaner energy sources are available, Apple says, helping to decrease your iPhone’s carbon footprint."
• 12 Best Portable Chargers for All of Your Devices - "Keep your phone, tablet, laptop, and other electronics running with these handheld power banks."
• 10 Best Black Jeans for Men in 2022 - "There are a few garments more versatile than a pair of black jeans, and it’s something everyone should have in their closet."
• Head-to-Toe Denim Is Back - 10 Ways to Wear (and Shop!) the Trend - Vogue.
• Bowers & Wilkins celebrate 60 years of Bond with Px8 007 Edition wireless headphones - "Five-star noise-cancellers get a James Bond-themed makeover."

October 20, 2022

• Rolling blackouts set to begin across Ukraine - "Rolling blackouts are set to begin Thursday across Ukraine after the nation lost at least 40% of its power-generating capacity following days of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure targets."
• BBC prepares secret scripts for possible use in winter blackouts - "The BBC has prepared secret scripts that could be read on air if energy shortages cause blackouts or the loss of gas supplies this winter."
• Beijing steps up Covid measures as cases quadruple during key CCP congress meeting - "Residential compounds with suspected cases put under lockdown as outbreak coincides with crucial political event for president Xi Jinping."
• Updated Moderna Covid booster gives even better protection than earlier jab - "Biotech firm’s data shows stronger immune response to Omicron than original vaccine three months after being given."
• Italy's Berlusconi says has exchanged "sweet letters" with Putin - "Berlusconi, 86, often boasted of his friendship with Putin until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and created a storm last month when he said Putin had been pushed into the war and wanted to put 'decent people' in charge of Kyiv."
• 10 of the most stylish sneakers for men - "The sneaker landscape has evolved immensely over the years. With regular fresh releases and new collaborations marking the brands’ repertoire, sneaker styles have grown exceptionally diverse, giving way to even auction- and collector-worthy pieces. From distinctive hues and designs to the themes and influences they’re inspired by, sneakers are a playground for experimentation much like the world of fashion is."
• Joe Rogan & Steve Jobs Have a 20-Minute Chat in AI-Powered Podcast - "In an entirely AI-generated podcast, podcast.ai has created a full interview between Joe Rogan and Steve Jobs. While the first bit of the podcast is clunky with weird pauses and awkward laughing, it does start to move into real conversation touching on faith, tech companies, drugs, and at one point the AI-generated Jobs uses the analogy of a car where you have to buy all four wheels separately to Adobe’s services."
• Some People Trade in Their Old iPhones - "A Smarter Person Just Sold Their First-Generation Device at Auction for Nearly $40,000. Fifteen years after the first-ever iPhone hit stores for $499, a factory-sealed, first-generation device just sold through LCG Auctions for $39,339 - nearly 80 times its original price."
• The hunt for the world's most elusive shipwrecks - "In March 2022, the world let out a collective gasp when the remarkably preserved shipwreck of Ernest Shackleton's HMS Endurance was discovered almost two miles beneath the icy Antarctic seas. But scores more sunken vessels remain on the ocean floor, awaiting rediscovery. Here are some of the world's most infamously elusive shipwrecks, plus a few you can see for yourself (some without even getting wet)."
• World War II shipwreck still pollutes the North Sea’s ocean floor 80 years later - "The wreck of the V-1302 John Mahn rests in the Belgian part of the North Sea, just one of thousands of ship and aircraft wrecks located along the seabed. The ship first served as a German fishing trawler and was requisitioned by the German Navy during World War II as a patrol boat."
• XPeng flying car takes to the air in Dubai - "The XPeng X2 lifts vertically off the ground using eight propellers, without need for a runway and is therefore suitable for built-up urban areas. The vehicle, designed to carry two passengers, is fully electric and its makers say it can rise through the air at around two meters per second and reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour."
• Why you hate the foods that others love - "Hate cilantro? Love olives? Why some foods are so polarizing."
• A fish that sparked a national obsession - "Bacalhau (salt cod) is a deep part of Portugal's culinary identity. But the fish is found far from the country's shores, so how did this love affair come to be and continue today?"
• Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq - "Archaeologists in northern Iraq have made an exciting discovery - unearthing beautiful rock carvings that are about 2,700 years old."
• How a magician-mathematician revealed a casino loophole - "When a gang of gambling cheats sussed out how to beat the house, they inadvertently highlighted a loophole from a shuffled deck. It took a magician-turned-mathematician to reveal how."
• Inside Wealth-Conference Con Man Anthony Ritossa’s Wild Web of Lies - A Vanity Fair investigation reveals that a self-styled knight and purported Nobel Prize nominee is actually a Wall Street washout, a deadbeat dad, and a con artist, repeatedly jailed by European authorities.
• Eight RTX 4090s Can Break Passwords in Under an Hour - "Security researcher Sam Croley took to Twitter to share just how incredible Nvidia's new RTX 4090 really is... at cracking passwords. It turns out it's twice as fast as the previous leader, the RTX 3090, at breaking one of your passwords - even when faced off against Microsoft's New Technology LAN Manager (NTLM) authentication protocol and the Bcrypt password-hacking function."

October 19, 2022

• Denmark says ‘powerful explosions’ caused the Nord Stream pipeline leaks - "Danish authorities said on Tuesday that 'powerful explosions' had caused the Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines to rupture three weeks ago, but declined to say who might have caused them."
• Microphones dropped into ocean off Greenland to record melting icebergs - "Artist Siobhán McDonald will turn recordings into an acoustic installation exploring humanity’s impact on the ocean."
• How Xi Jinping transformed China - visual explainer - CNN.
• What do US curbs on selling microchips to China mean for the global economy? - "Washington’s ban on hi-tech exports to China marks a huge gambit for economic supremacy for the next decades."
• Is Elon Musk being played by a master manipulator? - "If Elon Musk’s actions didn’t have such powerful consequences, we could sit back and enjoy the show. But, since he likes weighing in heavily on consequential matters, the rest of the world has to worry about the impact and wonder whose side he’s on. What are the principles - moral, ethical, financial - that drive his rambunctious forays into world affairs?"
• Do you have 'eco-anxiety'? Here's how to find out - "We know changes in the weather and seasons can affect mood, causing run-of-the-mill rainy-day blues and seasonal affective disorder. Now, it’s also important to recognize the harmful mental and physical health effects of long-term climate change."
• Pesticide use around world almost doubles since 1990, report finds - "Agricultural chemicals drive falls of 30% in populations of field birds and butterflies, says Pesticide Atlas."
• Inaction over lack of exercise will cost £24bn a year globally by 2030, WHO warns - "Exercise could help prevent 500m new cases of diseases such as diabetes, cancer and stroke - but government policies are lagging behind."
• Rolls-Royce's first electric car has two doors & is longer than a Cadillac Escalade - "Rolls-Royce will start production of its first electric car next year. It has only two doors but is longer than a full-size SUV. And among its innumerable options, the Spectre will be offered with stars in the doors."
• How Netflix turned its fortunes around - "You will probably have noticed how much longer it takes these days to complete your favourite Netflix shows."
• The Crown creator rejects criticism show is ‘unkind’ to King Charles amid row over facts - "Peter Morgan says he has ‘enormous sympathy’ for royal family, while Netflix reportedly pauses Harry and Meghan documentary over criticism."
• Are soaps in danger of extinction? - "From declining ratings across the board to Neighbours' cancellation and Days of our Lives' move to streaming only, soap operas are under threat like never before. Can they survive, asks Louis Staples."
• How to use anxiety to your advantage - "From 'eco-anxiety' to 'FOMO', modern life seems a stressful place to be. But psychologist Tracy Dennis-Tiwary explains why the emotion can be a good thing."
• Israel's transformative desert retreat - "Set deep in the heart of the Negev desert in southern Israel, a small community is inviting travellers to connect with nature and learn to live a little more consciously. Visitors to Lotan do things like organic farming and eco-friendly architecture for five hours and then have the rest of the day to themselves."
• 6 Podcasts to Help You Get Organized - "These shows are all geared toward helping you to get more done, feel less overwhelmed and reframe the drudgery of housework."
• Alan Rickman’s Diaries: Bread Crumbs of a Fast-Moving Life - "'Madly, Deeply' recounts the English actor’s greatest years of fame."
• It Bag Alert: Bottega Veneta’s Sardine Bag Is Becoming A Celebrity Go-To - Vogue.
• A year on the River Thames, part one - in pictures - "The first in a series of photo essays looking at a year in the life of the great River Thames. Jill Mead, a longtime London resident and urban photographer, takes a look at the many sides and seasons of the waterway."
• A year on the River Thames, part two - in pictures - "The second part of Jill Mead’s look at a year in the life of the great River Thames (Part 1 here) over the course of a hot dry summer takes in the Jubilee, Henley Regatta, Swan Upping and the passing of the Queen."
• MAISON ESTELLE - since 2022. "Where all the 'cool kids' will be hanging out from October, private member’s club Maison Estelle is the newest hotspot from hospitality group the Ennismore. With power couple and tastemakers extraordinaire Sharan and Eiesha Pasricha at the helm, this is going to be the place to be (and be seen) in London." 6 Grafton St, Mayfair, London W1S 4EQ, U.K.
• Apple launches redesigned iPad with a bigger screen & USB-C - "The 10th-generation iPad has some upgraded specs and a brand-new look."
• Apple announces an M2-powered iPad Pro with WiFi 6E - "The latest high-end tablet starts at $799 and it has a new 'hover' function for Apple Pencil."

October 18, 2022

• How are 'kamikaze' drones being used by Russia & Ukraine? - "Ukraine has accused Russia of using "kamikaze" drones against civilian targets in Kyiv. These carry explosives which detonate on impact, destroying the drone in the process."
• Sandbag sculpture: how Kyiv is shielding statues from Russian bombs - "Target of bombs is unclear, with some speculating Russia is trying to destroy key Ukrainian monuments."
• China’s plans to annex Taiwan moving ‘much faster’ under Xi, says Blinken - "Comments by US secretary of state come after Xi told Communist party Congress Taiwan is core to plans for China’s ‘rejuvenation’."
• Greenwashing a police state: the truth behind Egypt’s Cop27 masquerade - "Sisi’s Egypt is making a big show of solar panels and biodegradable straws ahead of next month’s climate summit - but in reality the regime imprisons activists and bans research. The climate movement should not play along."
• King Charles III to ban Prince Harry from coronation if he attacks Queen Camilla in memoir - "A report confirms that King Charles III could ban Prince Harry from his coronation."
• History & symbolism of King Charles' signature pinky ring - "King Charles’ pinky ring has been a style staple of the monarch since the 1970s."
• Queen Consort Camilla's Title Is Changing... Again - "Palace aides hope to 'quietly' ditch 'consort' by King Charles's coronation, but will check the 'public appetite'."
• Long Covid & smell: How to get the treatment you need - "It’s been months since your ability to taste and smell disappeared after a Covid-19 infection. You’ve tried to schedule an appointment with a specialist - if you were able to find one — only to discover waiting lists of six months or longer."
• What are European countries doing to cut power consumption? - "Governments across the continent have announced a range of measures to tackle any energy shortages this winter."
• Greta Thunberg: I don't want to go into politics - "Climate activist Greta Thunberg has said she will not pursue a career in politics - because it is too 'toxic'."
• Daniel Craig receives same honour as his iconic character James Bond - in investiture ceremony with Princess Royal at Windsor Castle. Daniel Craig was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George on Tuesday.
• Denim Hunter Brit Eaton Is the Indiana Jones of Old Jeans - "The salvager of long-buried pants risks his life to give relics of the Old West a second shot."
• Yelling, cursing & fine food: Secrets from the world's toughest dining scene - "Hong Kong is widely considered one of the most challenging cities in the world to operate a restaurant - a roiling cauldron of changing tastes, cleaver-sharp competition and unsavory economics. Right at the heart of its culinary world, with connections to at least half of its hottest tables, is publicist Geoffrey Wu."
• Why Wakanda might be a model for our future cities - "Wakanda is a marvel. The fictional country of the Marvel Universe is the most advanced civilization in the world, years beyond the rest of the world in technological learning."
• This image of a lone woman in a room full of men was radical - "She was a pioneering newspaper publisher in a room full of men. In history, she wasn't alone. Taken in New York City in 1975, the portrait of the former Washington Post publisher and eventual CEO, Katharine Graham, is just one of countless images that follow a similar visual formula: the only woman in a composition of men."
• How our eyes really see the world - "The painter who revealed how our eyes really see the world. Paul Cézanne's paintings offered a radical new way of seeing - five works at a new exhibition in London reveal techniques since discovered by scientists, writes Matthew Wilson."
• Americans are using Apple AirTags to track loved ones with dementia, report says - "An estimated 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2022."
• Cadillac outrolls Rolls-Royce with the $300,000 Celestiq electric sedan - "The low-volume ultra-luxury Celestiq is the second EV in Cadillac’s lineup and features a host of 3D-printed parts for extensive customization."
• The power of your garden's hidden half - "The evolution of roots transformed life on Earth - and understanding them could help us to grow more resilient plants."
• Loo rolled: Japan’s oldest toilet damaged as driver backed up - "Worker mistakenly accelerated while the car was in reverse, crashing into the building’s roughly 500-year old wooden door."
• The full brief: how to buy men’s underwear that will last the distance - "Why stretchy fabrics are essential, the benefits of seam-free undies, and what to wear to the gym."
• Elvis Presley’s Palm Springs Honeymoon House Hits The Market For $5.65 Million - "The mid-century modern home in California where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon in 1967 has hit the market for $5.6 million. The Palm Springs home was featured by Look magazine in 1962 as the 'House of Tomorrow.'"
• Ducati Unleashes Street Legal $45,000 Panigale V4 R With 200+ Horsepower - "Italian motorcycle maker Ducati has always pushed the boundaries of street-legal performance motorcycles, but a new era began in the 1980s with the introduction of the 851 Superbike, what many consider to be the start of the 'modern era' of road legal Ducati superbikes based on actual racing machines."
• The Cartier Pebble-Shaped “Baseball” Watch Is Back - "Cartier brings back one of its most original design, which originated in London. The 2022 Cartier Pebble-Shaped Watch (reference CRWGPB0003) will be available as of November 2022, in a limited production of 150 pieces. The price will be EUR 40,000."
• The incredible stories behind Cartier’s most iconic watches - "From the Tank to the Ballon Bleu, Cartier has shaped the history of watchmaking. Here’s a look at the origin stories, celebrity fans and movie credits behind four of the house’s iconic timepieces."
• Ineichen Upcoming Auction Is Packed With Modern Complications - "Zurich-based auction house Ineichen Auctioneers will host sales of complicated watches, part 1, scheduled on 29 October 2022."

October 17, 2022

• ‘Walled-in’ China under Xi Jinping poses long-term global challenges - "Hear the grim warning that got Xi Jinping a roaring applause during speech."
• How Xi Jinping made himself unchallengeable - "Few foresaw that Xi Jinping would become the most assertive Chinese leader in decades - he is now all but set to secure a historic third term in power."
• China’s economy is ‘in deep trouble’ as Xi heads for next decade in power - "When Xi Jinping came to power a decade ago, China had just overtaken Japan to become the world’s second largest economy. It has grown at a phenomenal pace since then. With an average annual growth rate of 6.7% since 2012, China has seen one of the fastest sustained expansions for a major economy in history. In 2021, its GDP hit nearly $18 trillion, constituting 18.4% of the global economy, according to the World Bank."
• American Culture Is Trash Culture - "It’s not just that trash is what Americans want from movies; it’s who we are. So where did it go?"
• Why Airfares Have Risen Five Times Faster Than The Overall Inflation Rate - "Airfares rose 0.8% in September - twice as fast as the rate for all items - according to Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics."
• The spookiest cities in the US & why they still scare us - "Several locales across the US claim to be king when it comes to Halloween. But three in particular - Savannah, Georgia; New Orleans and Salem, Massachusetts - have the haunting histories to truly earn the title."
• A short history of the world's tallest buildings - "When New York's Equitable Life Building opened in 1870, the businessman behind the project, Henry Baldwin Hyde, was berated for having delusions of grandeur. Costing more than $4 million (around $81 million in today's money), his insurance company's headquarters soared a then-astonishing seven stories above the streets of Manhattan. One hundred forty years later, when the 163-floor Burj Khalifa topped out half a mile into Dubai's sky, it too was seen by some as extravagant. Both buildings serve as a reminder that it is not only economics and technology that have driven the history of skyscrapers, but symbolism and ego, too."
• Marathon chicanery, Maradona, Black Sox & more: sport cheating scandals - "As the chess furore between Carlsen and Niemann rolls on, we take a look at some enduring disputes in sport."
• Ghislaine Maxwell says she feels bad for ‘dear friend’ Prince Andrew - "Comments will be embarrassing for royal who has tried to distance himself from disgraced socialite."
• Seth Green alleges Bill Murray dropped him in bin ‘by his ankles’ as a child - "Green is latest celebrity to make allegations about 72-year-old’s behaviour, after reports he straddled and kissed female crew member on set."
• Derek Jacobi on age, ego, Igglepiggle & unrequited love - "Sixty-five years after his first rave reviews, the star of I, Claudius and Last Tango in Halifax is still drowning in work - and self-doubt. Can a man who won Ian McKellen’s heart really see himself as ‘bland and uninteresting’?"
• A Posthumous Memoir Reveals Paul Newman in His Own Words - "Compiled from interviews he gave to a close friend, 'The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man' sheds light on the self-doubt of the seemingly imperturbable Hollywood star."
• 28 Years Ago, Steve Jobs Said What Separates Successful People From Everyone Else Boils Down to 1 Simple Word - "If you can't develop this quality, you may as well toss in the towel now."
• African express: a dramatic apartment in Cape Town - "Eye-catching artworks, bold colours and a fearless approach to design make for an inspirational home in the heart of South Africa’s oldest city."
• Apple Music’s spatial audio is coming to select Mercedes-Benz models - "It’s the first time Apple Music’s spatial audio with Dolby Atmos is available natively in a car... if you can afford it."
• Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is a more down-to-earth luxury electric vehicle - "The SUV version of the EQE sedan will be available starting next year. We don’t have the price yet, but we can probably expect something less than the six-figure EQS."

October 16, 2022

• Xi vows to steer China through grave challenges - "China’s Xi opens Party Congress with speech tackling Taiwan, Hong Kong and zero-Covid."
• How Ukraine is winning the social media war - "After almost eight months, the war in Ukraine hangs in the balance. Ukrainian counter-offensives continue to make progress, while Russian forces are still pressing elsewhere."
• Musk says SpaceX will keep funding Ukraine Starlink internet - "Elon Musk says his rocket firm SpaceX will continue funding its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, a day after he said it could no longer do so."
• World University Rankings 2023 - "The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 include 1,799 universities across 104 countries and regions, making them the largest and most diverse university rankings to date. The table is based on 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook."
• Fast food fever: how ultra-processed meals are unhealthier than you think - "UPFs form 50% of Britons’ calorie intake - and vegans beware, this includes many plant-based meals. Now food scientists are learning more about what makes them so damaging."
• This miracle plant was eaten into extinction 2,000 years ago - or was it? - "Silphion cured diseases and made food tasty, but Emperor Nero allegedly consumed the last stalk. Now, a Turkish researcher thinks he’s found a botanical survivor."
• How will long Covid play out over the coming years? Eight experts weigh in - "The story of long Covid is just beginning, and no one knows how it will play out. Experts from around the world share their insights, questions and fears."
• New study reveals ‘staggering’ scale of lost fishing gear drifting in Earth’s oceans - "Enough commercial fishing line is left in the ocean each year to stretch to the moon and back, according to the most comprehensive study ever completed of lost fishing equipment. The staggering amounts of lost gear, which includes 25 million pots and traps and 14 billion hooks, was likely having deadly consequences for marine life, one of the study’s authors said."
• Netflix: The 44 Absolute Best Movies to Watch - "In preparation for Halloween, check out The Curse of Bridge Hollow, starring Stranger Things' Priah Ferguson."
• Chess: Hans Niemann struggles in US championship amid beefed up security - "The controversial 19-year-old began well in St Louis, but now he is among the tailenders."
• Robert De Niro’s Career in Five Artifacts - "The actor recently donated hundreds of boxes of scripts, props, notes and other objects from his work on 'Raging Bull,' 'Taxi Driver' and more. We dived in."
• Finally, the real answer why your best ideas come during showering - "Being in the shower is the classic example. Your mind wanders. Then, all of the sudden, eureka! A new insight or creative breakthrough occurs."
• 'Biophilic' skyscraper bursting with 80,000 plants opens in Singapore - "A third of the way up the recently completed CapitaSpring tower, the soaring glass and aluminum facade seemingly bursts open to reveal plants and trees growing hundreds of feet above ground. At street level, passersby and office workers can line up for an elevator leading to this so-called 'Green Oasis' - a spiral garden path that winds past exercise equipment, benches and tables on its journey through four stories of tropical flora."
• Fossil fuel protesters charged after tomato soup thrown on Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' in London gallery - "Two anti-fossil fuel protesters who were filmed throwing tomato soup on Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' in a London gallery Friday have been charged with criminal damage offenses."
• Alex Jones: Will a $965m damages demand crush his Infowars empire? - "Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was handed a major defeat in a Connecticut court this week. But will relatives of the Sandy Hook victims be able to collect the money - and does it mean he'll stop spreading lies?"
• Kanye West canceled? Here’s why it probably won’t happen - "Kanye West has had so many controversies you may have forgotten a few. From his infamous interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards to his early embrace of former President Trump and his 'Make America Great Again' agenda, the artist, designer and entrepreneur is, perhaps, best known for being a provocateur. The latest calls to cancel West, who legally changed his name to Ye, may be the most intense yet. After he wore and featured 'White Lives Matter' (The Anti-Defamation League categorizes the phrase as a hate slogan used by White supremacist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan) apparel in his recent Paris fashion show, there was new outcry against West."
• The computer errors from outer space - "The Earth is subjected to a hail of subatomic particles from the Sun and beyond our solar system which could be the cause of glitches that afflict our phones and computers. And the risk is growing as microchip technology shrinks."
• Apple reportedly wants to turn the iPad into a smart display with a new dock - "Apple tracker Mark Gurman says the company’s working on a dock that would you let you place your iPad on a counter or nightstand, sort of like the Amazon Echo Show."
• Apple's mixed reality headset reportedly uses iris scanning for payments & sign-ins - "The hardware is also said to be more advanced than Meta's Quest Pro."

October 15, 2022

• Tourists in Italy are behaving badly this year: Here's why - "Swimming in UNESCO-protected canals. Breaking into historic sites. Driving down the world's most famous staircase. And just when you thought that was as bad as it gets: smashing priceless sculptures in a fit of pique."
• What's happened to Michelangelo's David? - "This Italian icon looks like you’ve never seen it before."
• Musk says SpaceX cannot keep funding Ukraine Starlink - "Elon Musk has said his rocket firm SpaceX cannot continue indefinitely paying for Ukraine's Starlink internet service in his latest spat with Kyiv."
• Camilla might not wear controversial Koh-i-noor diamond crown to coronation - "A coronation controversy is brewing. A glittering 105-carat diamond might cause international upset if Queen Consort Camilla chooses to wear a historical crown during King Charles III’s coronation on May 6 - and according to experts, the piece, which is worth a jaw-dropping estimated $1 billion, is unlikely to be seen at the ceremony."
• How Kris Jenner Made The Kardashians Famous, Rich & Insanely Influential - "At age 51, she landed her family a reality TV show that would change everything. Fifteen years later, the 'momager' still gets a cut of her kids’ 15 businesses and, more recently, is striking out on her own."
• Report Accuses Chess Grandmaster of Understating Extent of His Cheating - "Hans Niemann, who was publicly accused by grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, has been banned from the platform Chess.com."
• Ritz-Carlton launches minimum £5,000-a-week luxury yacht cruises - "Holidays aboard Evrima aim to ape life on a billionaire’s superyacht with dedicated PAs, restaurant, humidor and nightclub."
• Inside Louis Vuitton’s ‘200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries’ Exhibition In New York - "The traveling exhibition arrives at its final stop in New York and celebrates outside-the-box creativity as artists and other luminaries reimagine the brand’s iconic trunk."
• Robbie Coltrane, star of Cracker & Harry Potter, dies aged 72 - "Scottish actor who graduated from the alternative comedy scene to become a major performer known for taking on complex and difficult roles."
• Robbie Coltrane - a life in pictures - "From his early days with Stephen Fry to Cracker, Frasier and Harry Potter’s favourite giant Hagrid, here are the actor’s finest moments."
• iOS 16 quietly added 86-year-old native Dvorak keyboard support - "Trendy 1930s QWERTY-alternative plays catch-up on iPhone. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is reportedly a fan."

October 14, 2022

• Strongman era of Xi Jinping - "A sense of crisis has defined Xi’s rule. It will shape China well into the future."
• New footage shows leaders scrambling to defeat mob Trump incited on Jan. 6 - "Never-before-seen footage, obtained exclusively by CNN, shows in vivid new detail how congressional leaders fled the US Capitol on January 6 and transformed a nearby military base into a command center, where they frantically coordinated with Vice President Mike Pence and Trump Cabinet members to quell the insurrection and finish certifying the 2020 election."
• US Capitol riots: Footage shows Nancy Pelosi seeking help - "In previously unseen footage, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is seen calling for more help to be sent to the US Capitol as riots break outside."
• Subpoena of Trump sets stage for dramatic showdown - "The 6 January committee did not conclude its ninth and possibly final public hearing by referring Donald Trump to the US justice department for criminal conduct - a move many, including some members of the panel, had urged."
• How big are Donald Trump's legal problems? - "The legal battles before Donald Trump are expansive and varied."
• Elon Musk under federal investigation over $44bn Twitter deal - filing - "Court filing made public by social media company does not state what is being investigated, nor which federal authorities are involved."
• East Antarctic glacier melting at 70.8bn tonnes a year due to warm sea water - "Denman glacier in remote part of the continent could become unstable, possibly contributing to more sea level rise than predicted."
• Spectacular interiors of rediscovered Orient Express carriages revealed - "For years, several vintage Orient Express train carriages lay, forgotten, at a small railway station on the border between Poland and Belarus called Malaszwewicze. Hospitality group Accor purchased the rediscovered carriages and enlisted Parisian architect Maxime d'Angeac to meticulously restore them, ready for operation on a Paris to Istanbul rail route that's set to operate from 2025."
• In search of lost toast: Paris show reveals origins of Proust’s madeleines - "Previous versions of French novel featured stale bread, toast and biscuit as trigger for author’s childhood memories."
• The European capital of cool that keeps getting cooler - "Lisbon is in the midst of a renaissance. The latest European capital of cool's affordable rents, great nightlife and gorgeous streets - which wind high into the hills from the River Tagus - have seen younger travelers arrive in their droves in recent years, enjoying extended stays thanks to dedicated 'digital nomad' visas."
• 19th-century Levi's jeans found in mine shaft sell for more than $87,000 - "A pair of Levi's jeans from the 1880s has sold at an auction in a small town in New Mexico for more than $87,000. The jeans - found in an abandoned mine by a 'denim archaeologist' - were bought by 23-year-old Kyle Hautner and Zip Stevenson, a veteran of the vintage denim market."
• New Study Strengthens the Link Between Exercise & Memory - "Experts have long known that fitness is good for the brain. A recent paper connects different types of workouts with assorted improvements in memory."
• A Low-Pressure Guide to Make Strength Training a Habit - "I asked exercise psychologists, scientists, trainers and muscle evangelists for their best advice on launching a lasting strength-training routine. Here’s what I learned."
• How artist Amy Sherald reimagined history's most famous kiss - "It might be the most famous kiss ever caught on camera - the US sailor wrapping his arms around a woman in a white medical uniform in Times Square, her body folded dramatically into his. Taken amid the jubilation of V-J Day, which effectively brought World War II to an end, Alfred Eisenstaedt's black-and-white image was first published in Life magazine in 1945 and has since become a fixture in popular culture."
• Ringo Starr cancels North America tour with Covid - "Sir Ringo Starr has cancelled the rest of his North American tour after testing positive to Covid-19 again. The Beatles drummer, 82, had earlier cancelled some dates with his All Starr band after catching the virus, but returned after a negative test."
• Courteney Cox says she looked 'really strange' after cosmetic procedures - "Courteney Cox has opened up about aging, career insecurity and her changing attitude to cosmetic procedures."
• Why the humble wine cork is being reinvented - "Prized for the lightweight, elastic bark, cork oaks can also store large amounts of carbon during their long lifetimes. Now there are moves to find new uses for this material."
• The most disgusted films ever made - "Triangle of Sadness and the grossest films ever made. Ruben Östlund's Cannes-winning satire contains perhaps the greatest vomiting scene ever seen on screen - and so joins the long list of films that have disgusted audiences, to memorable ends, writes Nicholas Barber."
• Turf houses: Iceland's original 'green' buildings - "Known as 'torfbæir', these ingeniously designed homes helped settle one of Europe's least-hospitable environments."
• Netflix’s ad tier will cost $6.99 a month & launch in November - "Starting in November, Netflix Basic with Ads will be available in 12 countries."
• FAA says Apple AirTags are allowed in checked baggage - "Lufthansa has also denied that it might ban the item tracker."

October 13, 2022

• Almost 70% of animal populations wiped out since 1970, report reveals - "Huge scale of human-driven loss of species demands urgent action, say world’s leading scientists."
• 51 coolest neighbourhoods in the world - "We polled 20,000 city-dwellers and grilled local experts to rank the greatest places for fun, food, culture and community." TimeOut.
• Trump employee tells FBI that Trump directed boxes to be moved at Mar-a-Lago after subpoena served - "A Trump employee has told the FBI about being directed by the former President to move boxes out of a basement storage room to his residence at Mar-a-Lago after Donald Trump’s legal team received a subpoena for any classified documents at the Florida estate, according to a source familiar with the witness’ description."
• Trump worker told FBI about moving Mar-a-Lago boxes on ex-president’s orders - "Key witness and security-camera footage offer evidence of Trump’s actions after government subpoena, people familiar say."
• Material on foreign nation’s nuclear capabilities seized at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago - "Some seized documents were so closely held, only the president, a Cabinet-level or near-Cabinet level official could authorize others to know."
• Who is Roger Stone, the Trump ally in the January 6 panel’s crosshairs? - "Flamboyant rightwing strategist and self-confessed dirty trickster expected to be a focus of committee’s latest session."
• King Charles III stunned by Meghan Markle's four word reply to kind gesture - "The reply, according to one friend, was not quite what he was expecting: ‘Can we meet halfway?>’ Here was an indicator that this was no blushing bride, but a confident, independent woman determined to make a grand entrance on her own."
• Elon Musk Has the World’s Strangest Social Calendar - "When the world’s richest man isn’t tweeting, he’s flying to Burning Man, trying to impress comedians and hopping on yachts."
• Elon Musk's childhood was 'excruciating' & he got beaten up a lot - "Musk was viciously bullied in school. His classmates pushed him down a concrete stairwell. In one instance, he was beaten so badly that he needed to go to the hospital."
• Anna Sorokin's First Night of House Arrest - "In a late-night interview in her new Manhattan apartment, the fake heiress discussed her big plans, possible deportation and the glam potential of an ankle monitor."
• An Empress Ahead of Her Time Is Having a Pop Culture Moment - "A Netflix series and a new movie explore the life of Elisabeth, the 19th-century Empress of Austria who had a tattoo, worked out daily and wanted more from life than just producing heirs."
• The last Covid holdouts in Asia are throwing open their doors for travel - except for China - "After having their economies battered by nearly three years of halted travel, several countries in the region have reopened their doors in the past few months - bringing relief not only to their tourism industries, but to millions of residents who struggled with job insecurity and family separations during the pandemic. Except, that is, in one country: China."
• What Covid-19 precautions should people take for international travel? - "Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it would no longer be maintaining a country-by-country travel advisory of Covid-19 risk. Instead of assessing the level of Covid-19 infection in each country, the CDC will post notices only when there are new variants or other situations that would change its travel recommendations."
• Best Chinese food: 32 dishes every traveler should try - "With one of the world's most diverse food scenes, China makes it nearly impossible to put together one single list that truly encompasses the 'best' Chinese dishes."
• The Danish tradition we all need now - "In Denmark, the Nordic concept of friluftsliv - or unwinding in the outdoors - includes troll hunts, shoreline biking and stargazing in Scandinavia's first International Dark Sky Park."
• Alex Jones told to pay $965m damages to Sandy Hook victims' families - "Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been ordered to pay $965m (£869m) in damages after falsely claiming the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax."
• Eucatastrophe: Tolkien's word for the "anti-doomsday" - "Before he wrote The Lord of the Rings, the author JRR Tolkien coined a word - "eucatastrophe" - that scholars would still be writing about 70 years later. What did he mean, and why could it relate to the very real story of humanity?"
• Chart: The Vinyl Comeback Continues - "Music in the U.S. Continuing one of the more surprising comebacks of the digital age, vinyl album sales in the United States have grown for the 16th consecutive year. And not only that, LP sales jumped by more than 50 percent in 2021, surpassing both digital and CD album sales."
• What Covid-19 precautions should people take for international travel? - "Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it would no longer be maintaining a country-by-country travel advisory of Covid-19 risk. Instead of assessing the level of Covid-19 infection in each country, the CDC will post notices only when there are new variants or other situations that would change its travel recommendations."

October 12, 2022

• Nasa says Dart mission succeeded in shifting asteroid’s orbit - "Space agency attempted first test of its kind two weeks ago to see if in the future a killer rock could be nudged out of Earth’s way."
• Nasa milestones through eight decades - in pictures - "A selection of significant moments during the agency’s space exploration and research are captured in the book Out of this World - Historic Milestones in Nasa’s Human Space Flight by Bill Schwartz."
• King Charles III's coronation date set for May 6, palace says - "The service will be a more modern affair than previous royal coronations and will 'look towards the future,' the palace said in a statement. It added that the occasion will still be 'rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.'"
• Everything We Know So Far About King Charles III’s Coronation - "Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September, Charles III became King. Since then, he’s given his first address to the nation, presided over a historic Accession Council, had calls with world leaders, and begun settling into his new role as sovereign, head of the Commonwealth and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. However, we’ll have to wait a few more months before we witness his official Coronation."
• Elon Musk denies report he spoke to Putin about use of nuclear weapons - "Tesla boss, who recently floated his own peace plan, rejects claim he talked to Russian president about the war in Ukraine."
• Elon Musk Launches Perfume Called Burnt Hair! - "Elon Musk, the best of the megalomaniacs and billionaires worldwide, and a perfume salesman: finally, among other things, he launched a perfume! It is called Burnt Hair and described as the essence of repugnant desire and the finest fragrance on Earth."
• Xi's path to a historic third term, explained - "China's Communist Party Congress: A really simple guide. China's ruling Communist Party is expected to hand a third five-year term to Xi Jinping, arguably the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong in the 1970s."
• Netflix ends secrecy over viewing figures - "Netflix has signed up to the TV ratings agency Barb, which means its audiences will be measured by an external, independent body for the first time."
• Some drivers think they have 'self-driving' cars. That's dangerous - "Drivers are putting too much trust in their vehicles’ driver-assist features, which may lead to dangerous situations, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)."
• Lockdown babies slower to meet most milestones, study finds - "Irish research shows infants were slightly less likely to speak, point or wave at 12 months but were more likely to crawl."
• Can a meat-free filet mignon convert carnivores? - "When it comes to recreating the taste, texture and look of real meat, whole cuts have been called the 'holy grail' of plant-based products. But producing them is not easy. With its plant-based prime cut steak, Juicy Marbles thinks it’s mastered the art. The Slovenian company’s filet mignon contains many ingredients used widely in plant-based beef - soy protein concentrate, sunflower oil, beetroot powder and yeast extract, for example - but it claims to be distinct from other brands because of its marbling effect of protein and fat."
• Maverick the 2,560lb pumpkin triumphs in ‘Super Bowl’ of gourd fests - "Rhinoceros-size Minnesota native wins big in California and will compete once more before being retired to stud."
• These are the 20 actors most likely to become 007 according to latest odds - "It’s one of the hottest roles in cinema - and a range of famous faces are currently in the frame to play the British spy."
• Angela Lansbury: the scene-stealing grande dame of stage & screen for 75 years - "Angela Lansbury has died aged 96. Best-known as the novelist-sleuth Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote, Lansbury’s winning charm and towering talent stretches back to the days of Noël Coward and Judy Garland."
• Report reveals details of Bill Murray’s ‘inappropriate’ on-set behavior - "New report claims the actor straddled and kissed a younger female colleague on the set of Being Mortal, leading to suspension of production."
• How a long dead language was decoded from a broken slab of stone - "Much of what we now take for granted about this world of mummies, pyramids and tombs had for centuries remained shrouded in silence until French soldiers stumbled upon a broken slab of an inscribed stone in 1799."
• Incredible images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 as winners crowned - "Polar bears pottering around a deserted house, magical morels on Mount Olympus and the final moments of a much-loved mountain gorilla are just some of the winning images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition."

October 11, 2022

• Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia - "Russia has launched missiles at several cities in Ukraine - including Kyiv - two days after the only bridge linking Russia with occupied Crimea was damaged in a blast."
• Putin & M.B.S. Are Laughing at Us - "Putin’s motivation for this price hike is no mystery. With his army in Ukraine suffering steady losses of territory - and his having annexed portions of Ukraine that he doesn’t even control - Putin has one hope before he’s forced to do something really reckless: squeeze the supply and jack up the price of oil and gas high enough to force the European Union to abandon both Kyiv and Washington and accept his annexations in return for a cease-fire and resumption of Russian energy exports. The Saudis went along for the ride."
• Democratic senator threatens to freeze weapons sales to Saudi Arabia over support of Russia - "Strong remarks by chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee indicate possible sea change in US policy."
• Hong Kong declines to act on sanctioned Russian superyacht in harbour - "Hong Kong has said it will not seize the superyacht of a Russian oligarch who is under Western sanctions."
• Ninety Years Ago, This Book Tried to Warn Us - There are novels that are simultaneously very much of their time and yet almost clairvoyant about the future. Lion Feuchtwanger’s 1933 novel 'The Oppermanns,' which is being rereleased this month with a revised translation of James Cleugh’s original by the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Joshua Cohen, is one of those books. It’s been nearly 90 years since its publication, but reading it now is like staring into the worst of next week. It’s all there: The ways in which a country can lose its grip on the truth.
• The Oppermanns By Lion Feuchtwanger - "Written in real time, as the Nazis consolidated their power over the winter of 1933, The Oppermanns captures the fall of Weimar Germany through the eyes of one bourgeois Jewish family, shocked and paralyzed by an ideology they cannot comprehend." Amazon.com.
• Elon Musk's unsolicited idea for Taiwan welcomed by Beijing, slammed in Taipei - "The world’s richest man suggested in an interview that hostilities between the two could be resolved if Taipei handed some control of the democratically governed island to Beijing, prompting praise from China and predictable outrage in Taiwan."
• 'World's coolest' neighborhood for 2022 named by Time Out - "It's one of the best parts about a vacation - that moment when you discover the side of the city that's clearly more popular with locals than tourists. To help you discover more hidden gems on your next city break, global media brand Time Out has released its annual list of the worlds coolest neighborhoods."
• How much ‘tech’ is actually in Uniqlo’s HeatTech? - "As winter and higher fuel costs loom, so does the question: are the products any better than good old-fashioned thermals?"
• Give legal rights to animals, trees & rivers, say experts - "Report for Law Society says framework is essential for future interactions with the environment and biotechnology."
• Famous 'Vermeer' painting is not actually his, new research finds - "Awork at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, once thought to be painted by Johannes Vermeer is now regarded as a misattribution or fake, according to research revealed in a new exhibition. A new investigation shows that 'Girl with a Flute' is not from the hand of the Dutch master, although it was probably made in his studio. The painting had been donated as a Vermeer in 1942."
• 'Williamson Pink Star' sells for $60 million, twice the sales estimate - "The 11.15 carat pink diamond is one of the purest, pinkest diamonds ever to come to auction."
• How mud boosts your immune system - "Children love getting dirty. They are drawn to puddles like muddy magnets, with no regard for footwear or the colour of their clothing. But getting mucky could have a powerful effect on their wellbeing, too."
• Pico da Neblina: A sacred peak off-limits for decades - "Nearly 20 years ago, Brazil banned access to its highest mountain. Now, a new initiative could show how ecotourism can protect the Amazon rainforest from environmental threats."
• MI5 missed early chance to expose Soviet agent Kim Philby, files reveal - "British intelligence viewed Flora Solomon as ‘inconsequential’ in 1951 but her evidence later ‘clinched’ case against Philby."
• Apple releases iOS 16.0.3 with notification fixes, improved camera speed on iPhone 14 Pro, more - "Apple is continuing to fix some of the early bugs affecting iOS 16 as well as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. The company is now rolling out iOS 16.0.3, which includes additional bug fixes and performance improvements for notifications, the Camera app, and more."

October 10, 2022

• Crimean bridge: Who - or what - caused the explosion? - "What do we know about what caused Saturday's dramatic explosion on the Kerch Bridge?"
• Chaos & confusion as Max Verstappen is crowned F1 world champion - "‘Have I or have I not?’: Max Verstappen crowned world champion in chaotic circumstances at Japanese Grand Prix."
• The Tucci family's must-have snack - "For the Tucci family, a feast is not complete without one Italian staple. Zeppole are deep-fried doughnuts that Stanley Tucci calls 'addictively delicious.'"
• How to store data for 1,000 years - "Most current data storage systems eventually stop working. But there are alternatives on the horizon."
• There’s a Better Way to Wipe: With a Bidet - "We all deserve one."
• Ancient Egypt unleashed - "How the gods, pharaohs, monsters and murderers shattered their silence. Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt is at the British Museum, London, 13 October to 19 February."
• Behind this Nobel prize is a very human story - "There’s a bit of Neanderthal in all of us. Svante Pääbo deserves his accolade - palaeogenetics is an expanding field that tells us who we are."
• 'Less a bag, more a main character' - "Why the 'pigeon clutch' is a must have accessory for celebrities. From JW Anderson’s pigeon clutch to Balenciaga’s rubbish sack-like design, bags aren’t about carrying stuff any more. We’re in the era of the main character accessory."
• Why the health benefits of laughter yoga will make you smile - "We all know that nothing beats a good giggle, and research shows its physical and mental health benefits are huge, too. Dr Madan Kataria reveals how his ‘laughter yoga’ clubs are giving the world something to feel joyful about."
• William Shatner: My Trip to Space Filled Me With ‘Overwhelming Sadness’ - Variety.
• Steve Jobs' iPhone obsession led to Apple's silicon revolution - "Many of the chips 'Designed by Apple in California' are now manufactured exclusively in Taiwan."

October 9, 2022

• Crimea bridge: Russia ramps up security after blast - "Russia ramped up security on its only bridge to Crimea after a huge blast destroyed sections of it on Saturday."
• Vladimir Putin gets a tractor for his 70th birthday - "It was given him by his Belarusian ally, Alexander Lukashenko, whose country boasts a tractor works."
• Why one of Europe's top airports has become a 'crazy mess' - "At Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, labor shortages continue to fuel unprecedented chaos that began in the spring, prompting many travelers and aviation insiders to wonder what has happened to an airport long considered one of the most efficient and highly regarded in Europe - if not the world."
• Passivhaus: how to insulate your home against soaring heating bills - Properties are built or retrofitted to exacting ‘energy and comfort standard’ for maximum efficiency.
• Passion project: the passive house that raised the roof on sustainable living - "A family home constructed on derelict land in Melbourne sets new standards for a hard-working eco house."
• ‘An incredible work’: David Hockney’s new 5-metre digital artwork unveiled - "The 85-year-old British artist plays with traditional still life in his latest exhibition - and stars in its enigmatic centrepiece."
• Fitbit Sense 2 review: it doesn’t make much sense - "The fitness tracker has industry-leading stress tracking, but pour one out for the future of Fitbit smartwatches."
• Jared Leto to Play Karl Lagerfeld in Biopic of Late Fashion Designer - "Leto will also produce the film, which comes with the full support of the Karl Lagerfeld fashion house."
• Jada Pinkett Smith signs deal for ‘no holds barred’ memoir - "Actor will address her ‘unconventional upbringing in Baltimore’ and ‘complicated marriage’ to Will Smith in tell-all due next year."
• The £20,000 spa break that actually works - "Nearly 100 years ago, the Montreux-based health centre pioneered rejuvenating injections of sheep foetuses, and since then everyone from Winston Churchill to Mick Jagger has flocked here."
• 10 Best Hair Growth Products to Promote a healthy hair-growth - "Want Longer, Fuller Hair? Experts Say These Are the Hair-Growth Products That Actually Work."

October 8, 2022

• Live: fire engulfs crucial Kerch bridge between Crimea & Russia as section collapses - "Train seen burning fiercely on a key Russian supply route and symbol of the Kremlin’s occupation of Ukrainian territory."
• Massive explosion cripples Crimea’s Kerch bridge, Russian officials say - "In a major blow for Russia, a fuel tank explosion early Saturday caused part of Europe’s longest bridge that links Russia to the annexed territory of Crimea to collapse, according to Russian officials."
• Why is North Korea firing so many missiles & should the West be worried? - "North Korea has fired six missiles in the past two weeks - a prolific number, even in a year that has seen the highest number of launches since leader Kim Jong Un took power in 2011."
• Covid wave looms in Europe as booster campaign makes slow start - "A new Covid-19 wave appears to be brewing in Europe as cooler weather arrives, with public health experts warning that vaccine fatigue and confusion over types of shots available will likely limit booster uptake. Omicron subvariants BA.4/5 that dominated this summer are still behind the majority of infections, but newer Omicron subvariants are gaining ground. Hundreds of new forms of Omicron are being tracked by scientists, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said this week."
• Is Charles’ climate fight over now he’s King? - "We’re weeks away from the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference – better known as COP27 - but there will be a distinct lack of royal presence at this year’s event. We now understand Britain’s new monarch will forgo the upcoming summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Earlier this week, several British outlets reported that UK Prime Minister Liz Truss had advised Charles III against attending."
• Greta Thunberg on the climate delusion - ‘We’ve been greenwashed out of our senses. It’s time to stand our ground’.
• UN body reaches long-term aviation climate goal of net zero by 2050 - "Decision described as a compromise by several European countries who wanted a more ambitious target."
• Superyacht linked to Russian billionaire mysteriously shows up in Hong Kong - "A megayacht linked to a sanctioned Russian oligarch has dropped anchor in Hong Kong, amid efforts by the West to seize the luxury assets of Russian elites in allied ports as the war in Ukraine drags on. The Nord, a nearly 142-meter (466-foot) yacht that is said to be one of the world’s largest, was spotted by CNN on Friday in Hong Kong’s waters, just minutes from the central downtown district. The vessel is estimated to be worth at least $500 million and widely believed to belong to Alexey Mordashov, an industrial billionaire, according to a yacht broker who spoke with CNN."
• ‘The Russian Bond is on his way’: exclusive extracts from the letters of John le CarrÉ - "Former spy David Cornwell was famous for his espionage thrillers, but was also a prolific letter writer. Here we publish edited extracts from the new book A Private Spy, The Letters of John le Carré."
• Stanley Tucci makes 'emotional' return to his ancestral home - "The Italian town where half the population is called Tucci. The Tucci family made a pilgrimage to the town of Marzi, tucked away in the toe of Italy's boot."
• A new mission to see Titanic - "For many, seeing the world's most famous shipwreck is a lifelong dream. And now, paying adventurers called 'mission specialists' can get the chance to explore Titanic up close."
• Look of the Week: Why the internet is cooing over Sarah Jessica Parker's pigeon purse - "Keen-eyed fashion lovers soon clocked the bird as an $854 clutch bag from designer JW Anderson's Fall-Winter 2022 collection. The life-size, 3D-printed pigeon purse opens via its right wing to reveal a space just large enough to fit an iPhone and perhaps a wallet. 'AJLT S2 Carrie with the JW Anderson pigeon clutch and a Fendi ankle baguette is perfection,' tweeted London-based fashion editor Hannah Tindle, 'absolutely zero comments.'"
• Yours for £200m? UK’s most expensive house goes up for sale, again - "Seven-storey Knightsbridge property overlooking Hyde Park has more living space than American football pitch."
• Rare ‘fancy vivid pink’ diamond sells for £52m in Hong Kong auction - "Williamson Pink Star sets world record highest price per carat for a diamond sold at auction."
• ‘A crazy story’: how a Chinese vase valued at €2,000 sold for €8m - "French auction house tells of build-up to bidding war that led to an expert losing his job and a seller being left ‘traumatised’."
• I’m cycling to Iceland: it’s a killer to ride but an easy country to love - "The final part of our writer’s marathon sees him riding Europe’s wild outlier, where even squalls and snow fail to dampen his spirit."

October 7, 2022

• World could lose $4 trillion in output - the size of Germany's economy - in next 4 years: IMF - "Hiking rates too quickly could trigger a ‘prolonged recession,’ IMF head warns."
• Hong Kong’s U-turn on quarantine is a sign Beijing still needs its gate to the West - "As China doubles down on Covid lockdowns, restricting movement for tens of millions of people, a very different scene is unfolding in Hong Kong. The mood in the Chinese-controlled city is perhaps the lightest it has been in three years, after authorities scrapped mandatory hotel quarantine for incoming arrivals in September - prompting a mad rush to book flights out of the city among travel-starved residents."
• Hong Kong offers 500,000 free air tickets to tempt tourists back - "Hong Kong attracted around 56 million visitors a year before the pandemic, and now the popular destination is taking significant steps to win tourists back after over two years of some of the world's toughest travel restrictions. Just days after dropping its longstanding mandatory hotel quarantine requirement, Hong Kong has confirmed plans to give away half a million airline tickets in a bid to boost tourism."
• Elon musk lawyers say twitter refusing new $44b bid for company - "Judge delays Twitter trial, gives Musk time to seal buyout."
• 9 Books From Elon Musk’s Reading List That Could Change Your Life - "When he’s not building rockets, boring tunnels beneath Los Angeles, or sending cars into space, Elon Musk reads a lot. Here are 9 nonfiction books he thinks we should all read."
• British Officials Finally Released a Date for King Charles III's Coronation - "On Wednesday, U.K. officials announced that Charles is expected to officially be crowned on June 3, 2023."
• King Charles III's Coronation Jewels Will Be Worth Nearly $4 Billion - "Charles will be decked out in nearly $4 billion (!!) of coronation regalia. Yes, billion, with a B. 'How could one man possibly wear that much jewelry?' you might ask. But the collection is comprised of the St. Edwards Crown, Sovereign's Ring, Imperial State Crown, Sovereign’s Sceptre with dove, Sovereign’s Sceptre with the cross, Sovereign’s Orb, Gold Ampulla, the Spurs, and the Sword of Offering, all littered with gem stones like diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and pearls."
• Prince Harry, Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley & More Sue Daily Mail Publisher Associated Newspapers - "Also suing Associated are musician Elton John and his husband, producer David Furnish, actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, and campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon. The group claim they have been 'the victims of abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy by Associated Newspapers,' according to a press release from law firm Hamlins, which is representing Prince Harry and Frost."
• Netflix pushes back on ‘panicked’ Prince Harry, Meghan Markle over doc edits - "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are at odds with Netflix and even their own production team, sources told Page Six, as they backtrack on what they want to show the public in their upcoming docuseries."
• Pope Francis shares a spiritual life hack: Know the ‘passwords’ of your heart - "Just like on one’s computer, where 'we know how important it is to know the password in order to get into the programs where the most personal and valuable information is stored,' the pope said that discernment requires unlocking 'the passwords of our heart.'"
• Jared Leto to play Chanel supremo Karl Lagerfeld in biopic - "The fashion-friendly actor will star as the larger-than-life designer, who died in 2019, in a new film project."
• Is It Safe to Whiten Your Teeth? And if So, What Works? - "Many products claim to lighten and brighten your teeth. Here’s what the experts say about them."
• How to Make & Keep, Friends in Adulthood - "A friendship expert shares strategies for finding connection in a lonely, disconnected world."
• How Painful Should Your Workout Be? - "Every strenuous exercise involves some mixture of suffering and pleasure. The key to sticking with it is getting the balance right."
• Mondrian painting expected to fetch more than $50 million in rare auction - "Piet Mondrian's signature black grid lines and bright-colored squares are among the most striking images of abstract art. Now, one of his most valuable paintings is going on sale and is expected to reach more than $50 million, Sotheby's has said. 'Composition No. II,' which features Mondrian's artistic hallmarks, is going on auction at Sotheby's on November 14."
• Pink diamond expected to fetch more than £20m at Hong Kong auction - "Williamson Pink Star is second largest ‘fancy vivid pink’ diamond to ever appear at auction."
• America's most delicious desserts - "America's best regional desserts: 15 sweet treats to try."
• 10 Best Bucket List Trips For Your Post-Pandemic Travels - Forbes.
• Easter Island: Sacred statues damaged by fire - "A fire has damaged the enigmatic statues on Easter Island, with some of the charring said to be irreparable. An unknown number of the stone-carved statues have been affected by the blaze, Chile's cultural heritage undersecretary said. Easter Island has nearly 1,000 of the megaliths, known as moai. They have oversized heads and generally stand about 4m (13ft) high. They were carved by a Polynesian tribe more than 500 years ago."
• Route 66's glowing mystery orb - "A floating orange ball over the famed US route has puzzled travellers for 150 years. And while most agree that the so-called Hornet Spook Light exists, few agree on what causes it."
• The controversy over an incredible archaeological discovery - "New film The Lost King tells the extraordinary story of the unearthing of English King Richard III's remains from beneath a car park. But not everyone is happy about its release, writes Neil Armstrong."
• Chess: Niemann faces credibility test in St Louis as cheating saga continues - "The controversial 19-year-old won his opening round at the US championship, then described the game as ‘beautiful’."
• Matter: what you need to know - "Your burning questions about the new smart home standard, answered."
• On the Carnivore Diet, People Are Eating Only Meat: Here’s What to Know - "Everyday Health. High-protein diets are all the rage, but one outdoes all the rest. It’s aptly named the carnivore diet, and it focuses on meat, just meat. If that sounds questionable from a health perspective, that’s because it is."
• The Race to Develop the World’s Thinnest Watch - "The current mania for ultra-slim watches is driving a competition among watchmakers to capture the title."

October 6, 2022

• Elon Musk may want a WeChat for the world. It won’t be easy to build - "Elon Musk is taking inspiration from China’s top social media platform, WeChat, while planning a future for Twitter. And while he has shared very few details of his ambition for an app for everything, experts say it won’t be easy to achieve."
• Elon Musk’s Twitter Will Be a Wild Ride - "His deal to buy the company is back on. Here are six predictions about Twitter under Musk’s control, if it happens."
• Sleep tourism is booming. Here's why - "Interest has skyrocketed since the pandemic, with a number of high profile establishments focusing their attention on those suffering from sleep-deprivation. Over the past 12 months, Park Hyatt New York has opened the Bryte Restorative Sleep Suite, a 900-square-foot suite filled with sleep-enhancing amenities, while Rosewood Hotels & Resorts recently launched a collection of retreats called the Alchemy of Sleep, which are designed to 'promote rest.'"
• Europe set to become world's largest travel region - "Asia Pacific set to lose title as the world's largest travel region."
• Asia Pacific to lose its title as the world’s largest travel region - "From 2012 to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic to/from or within the region accounted for better than a third of all passenger journeys globally."
• Will UK royals follow the Danish downsizing? - "When Queen Margrethe downsized the Danish royal family was she setting an example that other royal families might follow?"
• 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature - was awarded to the French author Annie Ernaux "for the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory".
• Netflix has just quietly added 30 big movies to its library - "Including loads of spooky movies added for October!"
• How to hallucinate without drugs - "The life-changing effects of hallucinations. Illusions brought on by drugs, lights and disease are giving us new insights into the inner workings of our brains. William Park ventured into his own induced hallucination to find out more."
• The Wagyu Olympics: The quest for the world's best beef - "Held every five years, the Zenkyo beef competition is only partially about winning. It's also about the Japanese concept of 'ikigai' and the search for the Shangri-La of steak."
• Defiant Niemann ‘won’t back down’ amid damning chess cheating report - "Shortly after defeating 15-year-old Christopher Yoo with the unfavored black pieces in the opening round of the US Chess Championship, Niemann spoke for less than a minute in a terse post-game interview and insisted he is 'not going to back down' amid the allegations of foul play that have threatened to permanently stain an ascendent career that until last month was bursting with limitless promise."
• Franca Fendi, inheritor of Italian fashion house, dies aged 87 - "Fendi and her sisters took luxury brand to new creative heights by bringing in Karl Lagerfeld in 1960s."
• Recreate 007 Experiences On These Upcoming Private Trips To James Bond Locations - "October 5th marks the 60th anniversary of James Bond’s film debut, 'Dr. No' introducing a little known but undeniably charismatic Scotsman in the title role. To many people, Sean Connery is still the ultimate Bond and with the series paused while producers figure out what next to do with it, the latest 007 hasn’t yet been named. With a series of private trips set to debut next March by the UK/US luxury travel company Black Tomato, though, travelers can fill the void, imagining what it feels like to be Bond by visiting iconic locations of the film and attempting some of the actions (not the death-defying ones, obviously) from the plots. To celebrate the anniversary, 60 trips will be offered."
• Alec Baldwin & ‘Rust’ Producers’ Wrongful-Death Settlement Won’t Impact Criminal Investigation - "The settlement Wednesday between Alec Baldwin and Rust producers with the family of slain cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the resurrection of the indie Western won’t stop possible criminal charges, the Santa Fe District Attorney says."

October 6, 2022

• 5 signs the world is headed for a recession - " Around the world, markets are flashing warning signs that the global economy is teetering on a cliff’s edge. The question of a recession is no longer if, but when."
• In major reversal, Elon Musk again proposes buying Twitter at full price - " Elon Musk on Monday sent a letter to Twitter proposing to follow through with his deal to buy the company at the originally agreed upon price of $54.20 per share, according to a securities filing on Tuesday."
• Hans Niemann probably cheated in more than 100 chess games, investigation finds - "The 72-page report, conducted by Chess.com and initially reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, found that Niemann 'likely received illegal assistance in more than 100 online games' as recently as 2020, including in events where prize money was at stake."
• Danish Queen says she's 'sorry' for stripping grandchildren of royal titles - "Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has apologized after removing the royal titles of four of her eight grandchildren. She’s not changing her mind about the move, however. The 82-year-old monarch, who earlier this year celebrated half a century on the throne, announced on Thursday that from next year the children of her younger son, Prince Joachim, will no longer be known as prince and princess."
• 35th READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2022 - "The number-one places, hotels, airports, cruise lines, travel fixers and more that Condé Nast Traveller readers rate around the world."
• world's best bars for 2022 have been revealed - "The 'world's best bar' isn't in London or New York for the first time."
• Immune reactions to severe Covid may trigger brain problems, study finds - "Research suggests immune response may be cause of delirium and brain fog in Covid patients."
• One of the Hottest Trends in the World of Investing Is a Sham - "Just because a company meets E.S.G. criteria doesn't mean it's a good corporate citizen."
• Chinese vase valued below $2,000 sells for nearly $9 million after bidding frenzy - "The blue-and-white Tianqiuping vase went under the hammer at the Osenat auction house in Fontainebleau, near Paris, on Saturday, and achieved a final price of €9.121 million including fees, according to the company website."
• Giorgio Armani: 'I need to forget that I'm 88, otherwise it's over' - "A lion in his winter years."
• Angelina Jolie accuses Brad Pitt of abuse on private plane - "Angelina Jolie has filed court papers accusing ex-husband Brad Pitt of drunkenly attacking her and their children during a private plane flight, prompting her to file for divorce."
• 50 Questions to Expose Literally Everyone in a Game of "Never Have I Ever" - "Because thinking of these on your own is, frankly, too hard."
• James Bond at 60: Britain’s bulletproof cultural export is ripe for another rebirth - "After the end of No Time to Die, we examine how the British ambassador of death-defying derring-do has used reinvention to survive so long."
• James Bond & The Beatles: the 1962 day that changed Britain - "Sixty years ago today, both the Beatles' first single Love Me Do and the first Bond film Dr No were released. It was a remarkable moment that redefined a nation, writes Mark Allison."
• There’s Still One Big Trick for Getting Into an Elite College - "Every American high schooler knows the supposed secret to a lifetime of success: admission to an elite university. Competition for coveted spots is so fierce that while an admission victory can’t be guaranteed, it can be gamed, if you know how to play."
• Men, No Time for Tinder? Pay Someone Else to Use the Dating App for You - "Tinder can be such a hassle. That's where Tinder Done For You comes in."
• Why short-sightedness is on the rise - "Soaring rates of short-sightedness in children are alarming parents and doctors around the world. Can we turn the tide?"
• Stadels: The age-old barns that fed the Alps - "Long before the Swiss Alps became known as a skiing and hiking destination, ingeniously designed stilted barns sustained entire communities."
• Sonos Sub Mini review: big boom upgrade in a compact box - "Smaller, cheaper bass add-on for wifi speakers and soundbars delivers in all the right areas."
• The Best Cartoon Watches To Be Taken Seriously - "From Omega, Timex, Audemars Piguet, And More. Fun fact: the former Japanese emperor's favorite watch was from Disneyland."
• How to Control Your Apple Watch With Your iPhone - "In iOS 16, Apple introduced a new Apple Watch Mirroring feature that lets you see and control your Apple Watch screen from your paired iPhone. Keep reading to learn how to use it."
• 16 Best Chest Exercises & Workouts For Men - "Mondays will always be international chest day. And for good reason. According to a 2017 survey, a well-sculpted chest is the body part women find the most attractive in men. A muscular chest also makes sure your shirts fit you just as advertised, so if you don’t know some of the best chest exercises for men, you’re missing out."

October 4, 2022

• Putin Is Trying to Outcrazy the West - "He has set in motion forces that are turning Russia into a giant North Korea."
• 8 explosive revelations from new Trump book - "Confidence Man: Key revelations from new book on Donald Trump. Former US President Donald Trump nearly fired his daughter and routinely flushed documents down the toilet."
• Trump sues CNN for defamation & seeks $475m in punitive damages - "Donald Trump has sued cable TV network CNN, claiming defamation and seeking punitive damages of $475m, according to a Florida court filing on Monday. The US cable news station has attempted to smear the former US president 'with a series of ever-more scandalous, false, and defamatory labels of ‘racist,’ ‘Russian lackey,’ ‘insurrectionist,’ and ultimately ‘Hitler’,' Trump’s lawyers claimed. The lawsuit has been filed in federal court in Fort Lauderdale."
• Danish Royal Family: Queen 'sorry' after stripping grandchildren's titles - "The Queen of Denmark has apologised after stripping four of her grandchildren of their royal titles - but has not reversed the decision. Queen Margrethe II said she wanted the monarchy in 'keeping with the times', that her decision had been a long time coming, and that it would 'future-proof' the institution."
• Reclaim the runway: $8 billion project to transform shuttered Berlin airport into an eco city - "At the former Tegel Airport on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany, workers keep uncovering bombs. The residue of the Prussian military and two world wars lingers at the 495-hectare site, which became home to city's main airport in the 1970s, before it fell out of favor and closed in 2020. When the airport was built, land used for runways and around three meters either side were cleared, while other areas were left. Since May 2021, over 10 tons of explosives and ammunition have been moved or safely detonated from 20 hectares."
• Cheating, groupies, big money & drunken brawls: how chess went rock’n’roll - "Chess’s fusty image has been shaken by recent allegations of underhand tactics. But as any fan or player can tell you, it has long been younger, hipper - and wilder - than most outsiders realised."
• 20 best German foods - "German food is rich, hearty and diverse. It's comfort eating with high-quality, often locally sourced ingredients."
• Gut health scientist reveals the five surprising foods you should NEVER eat - "'It's not worth the risk.'"
• 'Get the f**k out of here!': See the moment cheaters were caught in fishing competition - "The Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament ended in the disqualification of two fisherman when lead weights were found inside the fish they caught."
• DNA hunter who found humans interbred with Neanderthals wins Nobel prize - "Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo has won the Nobel Prize for medicine for pioneering the use of ancient DNA to unlock secrets about human evolution. The Nobel Committee said Monday that Pääbo 'accomplished something seemingly impossible' when he sequenced the first Neanderthal genome and revealed that Homo sapiens interbred with Neanderthals."
• The hidden meanings in wearing black - "The hidden meanings behind fashion's most dramatic colour. Through history, wearing black has signified power, rebellion, death, sex and more. Deborah Nicholls-Lee explores the inky depths of fashion's most timeless colour - and how Cristóbal Balenciaga made it iconic."
• 'The enigma of why time goes forward - "Why does time go forwards, not backwards? The arrow of time began its journey at the Big Bang, and when the Universe eventually dies there will be no more future and no past. In the meantime, what is it that drives time ever onward?"
• The world's highest ATM: Pakistan's mountaintop bank machine - "It may be an unlikely spot for a cash machine, but the Khunjerab Pass ATM has been serving the small number of residents and border staff - and adventurous tourists - since 2016."

October 3, 2022

• Time is running out for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he knows it - "Putin has his back to the wall with the clock ticking ever louder."
• Hong Kong is opening up to tourism - but is it too late? - "Hong Kong has taken steps in recent days to reopen itself to the world, by first lifting its mandatory three-day hotel quarantine, then announcing a global banking summit in November. Officials hope the move will revive Hong Kong's status as an international business and travel hub, but some locals feel the change may be too late."
• King Charles watching with 'great interest' as Denmark Prince goes 'rogue' - "He told MailOnline: “Yesterday we had a Prince Joachim going rogue on TV saying how upset he was, how his children are suffering."
• Billionaire Streakers: These 17 People Made The First Forbes 400 In 1982 - And Are On The List Today.
• Covid has left a third of young people feeling life is out of control - study - "Researchers also found more than 60% of 16-25-year-olds are scared about their generation’s future."
• After chess, cheating rows rock poker & fishing - "First it was chess - now top-level US poker and match fishing have been dogged by their own claims of cheating."
• 11 of the best TV shows to watch this October - "Hugh Montgomery picks out the month's biggest small-screen offerings - from Marvel's first horror, Werewolf by Night, to the return of HBO's hit The White Lotus."
• Netflix: Every movie & TV show being taken off service in October - The Independent.
• Avoid High Streaming TV Costs on Netflix, HBO Max & More With One Trick - "Pay less each month by using this simple strategy."
• Top 10 phobias & what they reveal about the strangeness of life - "We can develop phobias about anything and everything. But their grip on our imaginations is also a clue to our evolutionary and personal histories."
• The secrets being revealed by ocean garbage patches - "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an enormous agglomeration of plastic waste floating in the world's largest ocean, but it's not the only one and now scientists are trying to work out how to clean them up."
• Sacheen Littlefeather, actor & activist who declined Marlon Brando’s Oscar, dies aged 75 - "The Native American activist died on Sunday, less than two months after the Academy apologised over her treatment at the 1973 Academy Awards."
• ‘I promised Brando I would not touch his Oscar’: the secret life of Sacheen Littlefeather - "In 1973, she made history at the Academy Awards, appearing in place of Marlon Brando, declining his statuette and making a speech about Native American rights. She has been speaking out ever since."
• Madame Wu, famed Westside restaurateur who served the stars, dies at 106 - "On a given night, Frank Sinatra and his young bride, Mia Farrow, would be enjoying a plate of Wu’s beef, stir-fried shards of flank steak with onions and oyster sauce. Mae West showed up on Sundays and faithfully ordered the cold melon soup, while Gregory Peck and Paul Newman fancied the shrimp toast and crab puffs. Princess Grace of Monaco gushed about the Peking roast duck."
• Scotland's forgotten ancient capital - "When the county of Fife's biggest town was awarded city status, it came as a major surprise to many. But Dunfermline has always been at the heart of Scotland's story."
• The Vogue Editors’ Guide to Paris - "There are plenty of Paris travel guides in existence: France, after all, is the most-visited country in the world, and its capital city is the main reason why: with world-class museums, wide open boulevards, Belle Epoque architecture, and distinct cuisine, it’s known not just as the cultural capital of Europe, but perhaps the world."
• Careyes is the private enclave on Mexico's Pacific Coast you need to know - "Clifftop Castles and Seaside Art Installations in Careyes, a Private Enclave on Mexico’s Pacific Coast."
• A local’s guide to Ghent, Belgium: artisanal beer, bargain vintage & docklands clubbing - "This Flemish city sparkles with creative cuisine, markets, cutting-edge clubs - and beer, says brewery founder Dimitri Messiaen."
• from hermÈs birkin to lady dior, stories of the most iconic bags - "Hermès Birkin. Lady Dior. Chanel 2.55. Fendi Baguette. Handbags and how they became a fashion icon, carried by celebrities from Princess Diana to Sarah Jessica Parker. Handbags were used by men in medieval times to carry coins, but were later co-opted by women and came to dominate fashion in the 20th century. From royalty to pop culture icons, It bags are synonymous with some of the most prominent women. Two fashion writers tell their stories."
• HermÈs Kelly Bag Fetches Record Price at Sotheby’s Auction - "The pearl-coloured Himalaya Retourne Kelly 25 bag fetched $346,802 at an auction in Paris last week."
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV First Drive: Better because it's bigger? - "It's a lot like the EQS Sedan, but the SUV format is sure to be more popular."
• Apple could upgrade the original AirPods Pro with a key new feature - "Adaptive Transparency for all?"

October 2, 2022

• Putin ally slams Russian generals, says low-yield nuclear weapons may be needed - "Russian forces retreat from strategic Donetsk city a day after Moscow’s annexation of the region."
• Putin’s tactical nuclear weapons could pack the same punch as atomic bombs dropped on Japan - "Russian weapon systems include 4,477 deployed and reserve nuclear warheads, with about 1,900 of these being 'non-strategic' warheads, otherwise known as tactical nuclear weapons, according to the Federation of American Scientists. But what is a tactical nuclear weapon and how does it differ from a regular nuclear weapon? Here’s what you need to know."
• King Charles will not attend climate summit on Truss advice - "King Charles will not attend the climate change conference COP27, which is due to be held in Egypt next month, Buckingham Palace has confirmed."
• The climate crisis? We’ve been investigating it for more than 100 years - "Climate warnings have been around for decades. Guardian reporting on the issue dates back as far as 1890."
• Bruce Willis denies selling rights to his face - "Bruce Willis's agent has denied reports that the film star has sold the rights to his face. Last week, it was widely reported that Willis, in the first deal of its kind, had sold his face to a deepfake company called Deepcake. Deepfakes use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology to create realistic videos - often of celebrities or politicians. For actors that can no longer act, the technology has the potential to be game-changing."
• It Costs $250,000 to Access This Private Playground - "Casa Cruz, a London celebrity hangout, opens on the Upper East Side."
• 6 of the best long autumn walks in Europe - "Now is the ideal time for hiking across Europe - and these glorious trails are all reachable without flying."
• 7 Household Items That Double as Fitness Equipment - "Find out where you have fitness equipment in disguise."
• I ditched my Garmin for the Apple Watch Ultra - "Our fitness editor swapped her Garmin for the Apple Watch Ultra - here's what happened."
• 8 houses built in impossible places - "Architecture can flirt with nature in expressive yet subtle ways. The idea in architecture is often to harmonize, not dominate, the landscapes. This can prove a challenge, however, when faced with steep slopes, cliff faces and mountainsides. Here are eight examples of houses that overcome difficult environments to offer extraordinary an experience for owners and onlookers alike."
• FIDE’s Fair-Play Commission forms the investigatory panel for the Carlsen - Niemann controversy - Chessdom.
• Archaeologists hail ‘dream discovery’ as sarcophagus is unearthed near Cairo - "The coffin of Ptah-em-wia has been found in its underground burial chamber at Saqqara, and features in a TV documentary."
• 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now - "The sheer volume of films on Netflix - and the site’s less than ideal interface - can make finding a genuinely great movie there a difficult task. To help, we’ve plucked out the 50 best films currently streaming on the service in the United States, updated regularly as titles come and go."
• The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now - "New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don’t have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We’ll do the heavy lifting. You press play."
• The Best Movies & Shows on Hulu Right Now - "We’ve handpicked the finest movies and television shows currently streaming on Hulu in the United States. Take a look."
• 50 Best TV Shows & Movies to Watch on Disney+ Right Now - "The Disney streaming platform has hundreds of movie and TV titles, drawing from its own deep reservoir classics and from Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic and more. These are our favorites."

October 1, 2022

• The turning points in Russia's invasion of Ukraine - "Seven months into the invasion, Russia controls less land than it did in the initial days of the war."
• World’s richest celebrate end of summer at $4bn Monaco yacht show - "Number of billionaires interested in superyachts said to have grown despite Russia sanctions and global economic crisis."
• King Charles III’s coin portrait unveiled by UK Royal Mint - "The image, which will first appear on commemorative £5 and 50 pence coins to honor the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II, was designed by British sculptor Martin Jennings and approved by the monarch, according to a statement from the Royal Mint. The Latin inscription surrounding the portrait reads: '· CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 5 POUNDS · 2022,' which translates to 'King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith.'"
• The Juiciest Royal Memoirs to Snap Up Right Now - "In honor of Prince Harry's upcoming tell-all, find our favorite royal reads of years past."
• Long covid: What science has learned about the loss of smell & taste - "Imagine waking up one morning after recovering from Covid-19 to find that your coffee smells like unwashed socks, your eggs reek of feces and your orange juice tastes metallic. Oddly, that’s a good thing: It’s a sign you still have a working sense of smell - even if it’s miswired in your brain."
• Messages reveal how Musk & Twitter boss fell out - "They reveal how the pair's relationship, after a good start, went dramatically south."
• Elon Musk unveils prototype humanoid Optimus robot - "The robot walked around gingerly onstage and is supposedly targeting a price of less than $20,000."
• ‘I am lonely’: controversial book reveals Anthony Bourdain’s final days - "Family and friends are upset by new biography divulging Bourdain’s moods - and texts - in the lead-up to his death."
• Issey Miyake & Off White celebrate late founders at Paris fashion week - "Parentless labels reveal collections, with Miyake’s fluid inventions repurposed for 2023."
• Nefertiti’s Undiscovered Tomb May Be Near Tutankhamun’s Burial Place, Former British Museum Curator Says - "Speaking to the Guardian, Nicholas Reeves, who formerly worked in that London institution’s Egyptian antiquities department, argued that Nefertiti may have buried in a hidden area near the burial chamber of her stepson Tutankhamun. His suggestion is still only just a theory, however, as radar scanning failed to prove it as the truth."
• FROM IPAD THE KINDLE - "The Amazon Kindle helped foster my love of reading unlike anything else (even more than my parents trying to bribe me to read with toys and sweets). Recently I decided to purchase an Amazon Kindle to replace the iPad mini as my default eReader. Here are some meandering thoughts about why I made this decision and my first impressions upon switching."
• Kanye West is apparently team socks & sandals - "Fashion forward to some, and a faux pas to others, wearing socks with sandals has been a sartorial boundary that many celebrities have transgressed."
• Amazon’s $999 dog-like robot is getting smarter - "The company is doubling down on new features for Astro, its dog-like robot, to help it better patrol the household when the owners are away."
• Magic Leap's smaller, lighter second-gen AR glasses are now available - "Magic Leap 2 is considerably more comfortable - if still expensive."
• 5 women who should have won a Nobel Prize - "It was an all-male lineup of laureates for last year’s Nobel Prizes in medicine, physics and chemistry, awards which grant the recipients entry to the most prestigious club in science."
• ‘It’s not an unsolvable case’: has the Zodiac killer finally been found? - "Author Jarett Kobek never intended to make the case the focus of his book but he may have solved the 50-year-old mystery."
• 16 best turntables of What Hi-Fi?'s lifetime - "So with the likes of Linn, Audio Technica, VPI, Pro-Ject, Michell and Systemdek making an appearance, these are the very best turntables we've heard since the first issue of What Hi-Fi? was published 46 years ago."
• JAMES BRAND’S VINYL RECORD OPENING SCALPEL, 70S AUDIOPHILE WOULD HAVE ADORED - "The excitement of putting a new record on the turntable is something only purists can relate with. And when the vinyl record you’ve been after for ages is more precious than your priced possessions, opening the brand-new vinyl without even a semblance of damage is important. Reason enough for knife experts The James Brand and vinyl pros Vinyl Me, Please (VMP) to join forces to create a stylish EDC blade for immaculately opening vinyl record packaging."
• As ‘Blonde’ Goes No. 1 on Netflix, Viewers Lash Out: ‘So Sexist,’ ‘Cruel’ & ‘One of the Most Detestable Movies’ Ever Made - Variety.
• YOU NEED TO WATCH THE MOST UNDERRATED DYSTOPIAN MOVIE OF THE 2010S ON NETFLIX ASAP - "Neill Blomkamp’s cyberpunk follow-up to District 9 is better than you remember."

September 30, 2022

• Putin declares four areas of Ukraine as Russian - "President Putin is speaking as part of a signing ceremony in Moscow to illegally annex four more areas of Ukraine."
• US points finger at Russia over gas pipeline sabotage - "US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told the BBC an investigation was being carried out into the cause of what she called 'an act of sabotage'. 'It is highly unlikely that these incidents are coincidence,' she said, without offering evidence to support the claim."
• Queen Elizabeth II died of old age, death certificate shows - "The document, published by National Records of Scotland on Thursday, says the late British monarch died at 3:10 p.m. UK time (10:10 a.m. ET) on September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Ballater, Scotland. The cause of death is listed as old age. The document is signed by the Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne. Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died peacefully aged 96."
• 10 laws & rules that don’t apply to British royals - "King Charles gets sovereign immunity and passport-free travel while Prince William, Kate Middleton and co enjoy no speed limits and tax exemptions. The new monarch is effectively exempt from the law and could even get custody of the kids of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - if he wanted."
• How do you even cheat in chess? - "Artificial intelligence and Morse code. It’s the story that has rocked chess and shown no sign of abating. The cheating scandal which has engulfed the sport, involving five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, is all anyone is talking about."
• Have you heard of butter board? New food trend explained - "'Butter board' trend looks to replace the charcuterie board."
• In the ocean’s twilight zone, a fish that could feed the world - or destroy it - "Lanternfish, the Earth’s most abundant vertebrates, may be the ultimate food source. But will catching them ruin the climate?"
• Coffee lowers risk of heart problems & early death, study says - "Especially ground and caffeinated. Drinking two to three cups a day of most types of coffee may protect you from cardiovascular disease and an early death, a new study found."
• A380 superjumbo broken up for auction of parts - "Here's how to get your hands on a piece of an Airbus A380."
• How our eyes can change colour throughout our lives - "Through apparently spontaneous change or through mishap or illness, our eyes can change colour in surprising ways."
• 11 of the best films to watch this October - "Including a second film starring Harry Styles, a biopic of Emily Brontë and a romcom starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, Nicholas Barber lists this month's unmissable releases."
• Cher steals the Balmain show at Paris fashion week - "The pop legend is the face (or elbow) of creative director Olivier Rousteing’s new collection."
• Here’s Everything Coming to Netflix in October - "Spooky season hath officially dawned, and luckily, Netflix is here to fill the October viewing void with a whole new crop of streaming movies and TV shows. See here everything that’s coming to the streaming platform next month."

September 29, 2022

• European security officials observed Russian Navy ships in vicinity of Nord Stream pipeline leaks - "European security officials on Monday and Tuesday observed Russian Navy support ships in the vicinity of leaks in the Nord Stream pipelines likely caused by underwater explosions, according two Western intelligence officials and one other source familiar with the matter."
• The most likely nuclear scenario - "With his forces retreating in Ukraine, international allies expressing concern and citizens at home fleeing partial mobilization, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reached for the threat of nuclear weapons - and revived Western fears of atomic apocalypse."
• 5,000 empty ‘ghost flights’ in UK since 2019, data shows - "A further 35,000 flights have operated almost empty, with climate campaigners calling the revelations ‘shocking’."
• Heat deaths, scorched trees & civil unrest: life on the climate frontline in 2022 - "Three Guardian reporters, based in different corners of the globe, share what they have learned while reporting the climate disaster."
• The Last, Painful Days of Anthony Bourdain - "A new, unauthorized biography reveals intimate, often raw, details of the TV star’s life, including his tumultuous relationship with the Italian actor Asia Argento. And it’s drawing criticism from many of his friends and family."
• Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 82, STRIPS four of her grandchildren of their royal titles - so they can 'shape their own lives without being limited by duties. The descendants of His Royal Highness Prince Joachim can only use their titles as Count and Countess of Monpezat' from 1 January 2023, palace announced.
• World Cup 2022: Denmark to wear 'toned down' jerseys in protest at hosts Qatar - "Denmark will wear 'toned down' shirts for the World Cup to protest against host Qatar's human rights record and its treatment of migrant workers."
• What’s the Key to Understanding Donald J. Trump? Start With Queens - "'Confidence Man,' Maggie Haberman’s biography of the former president, argues that it’s essential to grasp New York’s steamy, histrionic folkways."
• This ship tried to warn the Titanic. Now scientists have found its wreckage - "The British merchant steamship SS Mesaba sent a warning radio message to the Titanic on April 15, 1912 while crossing the Atlantic. The message was received by the Titanic - which was advertised as unsinkable - but did not reach the main control center of the vessel."
• The surprising power of internet memes - "Is there more to internet memes than meets the eye? The science of these viral mash-ups reveals why they are so effective at spreading ideas and beliefs."
• From satanic panic to billion-dollar business: how Dungeons & Dragons conquered the world - "A role-playing game born half a century ago in a Wisconsin basement has spawned an empire spanning film, TV and YouTube. How did it leave its mark on Stranger Things, ET and everyone from Stephen King to Elon Musk?"
• The scariest film you've never heard of - "Why documentary horror Häxan still terrifies, a century on. As it turns 100, this utterly chilling silent film deserves more celebration - given it set the template for The Blair Witch Project and many more horrors besides."
• Tom Hanks thinks he’s only made four ‘pretty good’ movies. Which are they? - "The actor said he sees only four of his films as better than the rest, requiring a deep dive into those he might be talking about."
• Gwyneth Paltrow on Turning 50: ‘I’ve Earned My Wrinkles’ - "In celebration of her 50th birthday, Gwyneth Paltrow sat down with Vogue to reflect on this milestone. Ahead of the celebration the actor turned wellness mogul was feeling calm, which she explained was a change from how she had felt in previous decades. Paltrow discussed how her sense of style has - and has not - changed over the years, what it’s like to see images of her younger self canonized in fashion history, and what she’s most grateful for that she did in her 20s."
• Whoopi Goldberg Will Not Shut Up, Thank You Very Much - "No matter how often she gets into trouble, she refuses to hold anything back."
• Marilyn Monroe’s Definitive Bombshell Beauty Rules, Straight From the Icon’s Mouth - "When it comes to defining the eternal allure of Old Hollywood bombshell glamour, no woman has made more of an impact than Marilyn Monroe. Though dozens of bright young actresses have sported platinum pin curls and white dresses to play the iconic star, Monroe’s own beauty routine is the stuff of legend, scoured over by countless women who remain captivated by her fresh-faced yet sultry look. Of course, few people have shed more light on her beauty philosophies and rituals than Monroe herself - and research turns up more than a few well-conceived pieces of advice. Here we break down the silver screen star’s five best secrets, in her own words."
• Ruff day? Dogs can detect if people are stressed, research finds - "Study finds stress response changes people’s ‘odour profile’ - which dogs can sniff out."
• Alzheimer’s Drug Slows Cognitive Decline in Key Study - "Biogen and Eisai reported the finding from a large late-stage clinical trial of lecanemab, a drug they are developing."
• 11 biggest announcements at Amazon’s hardware launch event - "Here’s all the big news from Amazon’s hardware event."
• Google to Make Search & Maps More ‘Immersive’ - "From more photo-based results to neighborhood 'vibe' checks, the company announced updates meant to keep two of its most popular products on trend."
• Inside The Best Bar In The World: Lyaness - "London’s Lyaness roared to victory at the 16th annual Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Ryan Chetiyawardana - a longtime darling of the hospitality world awards circuit - bested Fifty Mils, Charles H. Seoul, and the American Bar at The Stafford, as his famed cocktail cathedral was named World’s Best Bar for 2022. Lyaness, above, was also honored as the Best International Hotel Bar and Chetiyawardana received another shot of acclaim as his Washington D.C. outpost, Silver Lyan (which was awarded Best New American Cocktail Bar in 2020), was recognized as the Best U.S. Hotel Bar for 2022." YouTube 4:59 | Forbes.

September 28, 2022

• Underwater explosions detected near Nord Stream leaks - "Mystery leaks hit Russian undersea gas pipelines to Europe."
• Russia claims win in occupied Ukraine 'sham' referendums - "Moscow-installed officials in the regions are now claiming almost total support among those who took part in the disputed votes on joining Russia."
• Apple removes Russia’s largest social network from the App Store - "Apple has removed the iOS apps belonging to VK, the technology conglomerate behind Russia’s version of Facebook called VKontakte, from its App Store globally."
• Carbon bombs & Gulf Stream collapse: the most urgent climate stories of our time - "The last 12 months have produced alarming incidents of extreme weather across the globe, leading to serious ripple effects, from energy shortages to severe food insecurity. Guardian journalists are prioritising this foremost crisis of our times."
• TIME100 Next 2022 - "Meet the Emerging Leaders Shaping the Future | TIME."
• Forbes 400 2022 - "The Definitive Ranking of The Wealthiest Americans In 2022."
• The Richest Person In America - "On the tenth anniversary of his Forbes 400 debut, Elon Musk brought a decisive end to Jeff Bezos’ four-year run as America’s richest person."
• Magnus Carlsen publicly accuses Hans Niemann of more cheating - "Carlsen believes Niemann ‘has cheated more than he admitted’. Niemann says he is now ‘clean’ after cheating as a teenager."
• Mohammed bin Salman named prime minister ahead of Khashoggi lawsuit - "New role likely to grant prince sovereign immunity in case concerning journalist murdered in Saudi Arabian embassy."
• Dubai could get an enormous moon hotel - "Whether it's a blast into suborbital space or a hotel stay among the stars, space tourism entrepreneurs believe one day we'll all be opting for out-of-this-world vacations. The team behind Moon World Resorts reckon so too - sort of. They want to build a series of gigantic dome-like hotels resembling the moon, sitting here on planet Earth. More precisely, in Dubai."
• Singapore's Changi Airport is going to get a lot bigger as plans for T5 take shape - "For a decade, it went undefeated in the annual Skytrax 'World's Best Airports" awards, losing its crown to Qatar's Hamad International Airport in 2021. In 2022, it landed in third place on the list, falling behind repeat winner Hamad International and Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Now, as travelers return to the city-state and its much-hyped airport following the lifting of pandemic-related travel restrictions earlier this year, Singapore officials are focused on the future - and that includes expansion."
• Paris Hilton & other highlights at Milan Fashion Week - "Milan Fashion Week: The Italian stalwart takes a stab at rebellion. A number of risks were taken during an event that hasn't always been known for challenging the status quo."
• Style Guide: How to dress in digital fashion - "Fashion is barreling towards a digital future. In this brave new world, a cherished paycheck might no longer be spent on a scrupulously researched pair of Christian Louboutins or a long-envied Dior saddle bag - but a collection of pixels depicting these accessories. The brands breaking into digital fashion believe virtual clothes will become increasingly important as we spend more of our lives online. And that's not just in familiar spaces such as dating apps, video games and Zoom - but in the metaverse and beyond."
• Karlie Kloss: 'Fashion designers in the future won't just be sewing, they'll be coding' - "Nearly seven years into my career, I decided to take a coding class - learning Ruby, HTML and CSS. I was intrigued by the language that powers our everyday lives, so ubiquitous and yet so unknown."
• Owamni: The US' best new restaurant? - "Through The Sioux Chef, Sean Sherman and Dana Thompson use food as a guidepost to a hidden part of history, all while sparking a (r)evolution of 'true' North American foods."
• Exercise with weights linked to lower risk of early death, study says - "Older adults could benefit from routine including aerobics and strengthening activities, according to researchers."
• Italy's plan to save Venice from sinking - "Venice is at risk of succumbing to its sinking foundations and rising sea levels. To avert disaster, the city is making changes."
• 2022 Monaco Yacht Show’s Top 5 Largest Superyachts Will Take Your Breath Away - Forbes.
• Voice assistants could ‘hinder children’s social & cognitive development’ - "New research says devices such as Alexa can have a long-term impact on empathy, compassion and critical thinking skills."
• The Freewrite typewriter gets a smaller design with a dramatic price cut - "The $349 Alpha keeps the mechanical keyboard but drops the E Ink screen."

September 27, 2022

• Russia’s war in Ukraine is at a dangerous tipping point - "We are faced with a Russia that wants to project a madman image ready to lose everything - for everyone - if faced with losing in this war."
• One of world's most elusive oligarchs admits to creating Wagner - "Yevgeny Prigozhin, one of Russia’s most elusive oligarchs, now admits to founding the private military company known as Wagner in 2014, reversing years of denials about his connection to the shadowy outfit."
• Russia's gas pipeline leaking into Baltic Sea - Denmark - "Nord Stream 2 - the controversial gas pipeline from Russia - has begun leaking in the Baltic Sea, endangering naval traffic, Denmark has warned."
• NASA’s DART mission successfully slams into an asteroid - "The impact occurred at 7:14 p.m. ET greeted by cheers from the mission team in Laurel, Maryland. The DART mission, or the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, launched 10 months ago."
• What's the risk of being hit by falling space junk? - "The end of a satellite's journey usually results in a fiery descent to Earth. With more in space than ever before, predicting where and when they land will become a pressing challenge."
• Paris Fashion Week: How to watch the Spring-Summer 2023 shows - "Once again all eyes are on the French capital as fashion week kicks off today. The nine-day itinerary includes more than 100 brands presenting new Spring-Summer 2023 collections. From 26 September to 4 October."
• Milan fashion week spring/summer 2023: the highlights - in pictures - "From Gucci’s mesmerising Twinsburg, celebrating the magic of twins, to Dolce & Gabbana enlisting Kim Kardashian to curate their show, the Milan schedule presented a myriad of new ideas."
• Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen explicitly accuses rival Hans Niemann of cheating - "The statement, which was made via a Twitter post, follows Carlsen’s recent withdrawal from the 2022 Sinquefield Cup in Saint Louis after his third round defeat against Niemann and his withdrawal against the American after making just one move during the Julius Baer Generation Cup on September 20."
• Wolves & brown bears among wildlife making ‘exciting’ comeback in Europe - "Wolves, brown bears and white-tailed eagles are among the top predators making a comeback across Europe, according to a major report that looks at how some wildlife is rebounding."
• Ships are turning whales into ‘ocean roadkill’. This AI system is trying to stop it - "Whale Safe, backed by a tech billionaire, is a step forward, but not the only answer to avoiding collisions, biologists say. Collisions with ships are one of the leading causes of death for endangered whales, especially those who spend their lives near the surface, such as humpbacks."
• Putin grants Russian citizenship to US whistleblower Edward Snowden - "Former NSA intelligence contractor was given asylum in Russia after leaking secret files in 2013."
• Coins & banknotes featuring King Charles III & Queen Elizabeth II will co-circulate - "'The first coins bearing the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will enter circulation in line with demand from banks and post offices. This means the coinage of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II will co-circulate in the UK for many years to come,' Anne Jessopp, the Royal Mint Chief Executive Officer, said Tuesday in a press release."
• 'The Crown' gets a new queen - "While production of Season 6 of 'The Crown' was briefly paused after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Season 5 is still on track to start November 9. When the popular series returns to Netflix, Imelda Staunton will take over the role of the Queen from Olivia Colman who portrayed her in Seasons 3 and 4 of the royal drama."
• Why Jennifer Lopez is Hollywood's most underestimated star - "Twenty years on from her defining single, Lopez remains the ultimate 'triple threat' as actor, singer, and dancer. So why does she still not receive her dues, asks Laura Martin."
• Do Not Bring Your ‘Whole Self’ to Work - "Beware the latest fad from Human Resources."
• What is the healthiest bread? - "One of the foods many people hate to love is bread. Is there a type of bread that is more nutritious than the others? It depends on what you are looking for. Wheat breads offer more vitamins, whole grains and fiber, and they have less of a negative impact on blood sugar, which can be helpful for people who have insulin resistance."
• Why ‘digital literacy’ is now a workplace non-negotiable - "Digital skills once meant having a basic grasp of computers. Now, it means being able to work adaptably and strategically across tools, devices and platforms."
• Kim Kardashian Buys Cindy Crawford’s Former Malibu Oceanside Home For $70.4 Million - "Kim Kardashian has lived in a variety of homes, but she always has stayed close to Los Angeles with homes in Beverly Hills, Beverly Grove, Bel Air and Hidden Hills. Now she is moving about an hour away to Malibu where she bought an oceanside estate that once belonged to supermodel Cindy Crawford. At $70.4 million, it is the most expensive home sold in Malibu this year and the fourth priciest in California. Her new oceanfront property will keep her close to many other celebrities who live in the area, including Lady Gaga, Courtney Cox, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cher. It’s about an hour’s drive to Beverly Hills and Bel Air."
• Could This Be The World’s Rarest Scotch Whisky? - "A new 45-year-old single malt from Littlemill might be the rarest release of the year. Here's why."
• Audemars Piguet Flexes Bigly With Five New Complications, Including Four Tourbillons - Forbes.
• The Bridge VI 2022: Discovering This Year’s Gems At The Racing World’s Most Exclusive Garden Party - Forbes.

September 26, 2022

• Putin’s tactical nuclear weapons could pack the same punch as atomic bombs dropped on Japan - "Russian weapon systems include 4,477 deployed and reserve nuclear warheads, with about 1,900 of these being 'non-strategic' warheads, otherwise known as tactical nuclear weapons, according to the Federation of American Scientists."
• Tutankhamun’s burial chamber may contain door to Nefertiti’s tomb - "Hidden hieroglyphics could suggest the king is buried within a much larger structure housing the Egyptian queen."
• What it's like to visit Saudi Arabia now - "So the decision by the nation's leadership to blow hurricanes of fresh air through the country has turned the whole place on its head. As part of this change, Saudi is spending obscene sums of money creating new cities and tourist attractions - long-term planning for the post-oil world. In today's Saudi there is only one constant: change at breakneck speed."
• Nasa’s Dart probe to smash into asteroid in first Earth defence test - "Aim is to see whether space rocks can be deflected should one threaten humans with same fate as dinosaurs."
• Activists target superyachts in climate change protest - "Climate activists from Attac targeted the famous billionaires’ quay in Antibes on Saturday in protest at the ultra-rich destroying the planet, according to their message."
• Major marina rendezvous at Yacht Show - "For the second Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous, M3 (Monaco Marina Management) has partnered again with Blumorpho, experts in innovation for sustainable business, to organise this unique networking rendezvous, focused on actions to be taken to meet environmental challenges."
• How to start your own podcast - "Don’t worry about the equipment ... the most important thing is the idea."
• Fifty years & $500m: the happy business of the smiley symbol - "The smiley face has been co-opted by ravers, artists and fashion for decades. So how does the company that owns it keep it relevant?"
• One of Hollywood's Most Storied Estates Gets a Second Act - "The iconic Beverly Hills home of Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst, for years an oasis for film stars and power brokers, is being restored by philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen."
• How to confront a parent's dementia - "When science writer Sue Nelson discovered that her father had dementia, her world came crashing down. But new research reveals ways to support those affected."
• Beer IS good for you! - "Research suggests two pints a day may slash your risk of dementia. Experts studied drinking habits and dementia rates among 25,000 over-60s. Drinking two pints a day slashed risk of the memory-robbing condition by a third. Non-drinkers a fifth more likely to be a dementia sufferer than biggest drinkers."
• Eliud Kipchoge takes 30 seconds off his men’s marathon world record in Berlin - "Kenyan smashes his own record with run of 2:01.09."
• The Painters of Pompeii - in pictures - "The Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna presents The Painters of Pompeii, an exhibition of over 100 rare frescoes, with almost half having never left Naples since they were excavated in the 18th century." The Painters of Pompeii is at Museo Civico Archeologico, Bologna, Italy until March 2023.
• More of The Verge’s favorite coffee & tea gadgets - "For some of us, caffeine can be almost as necessary as air, but the way to prepare it can be a real point of contention among enthusiasts. Here are some of the ways we prepare and enjoy our hot liquid."
• iPhone 15 'Ultra' could replace next year's Pro Max model - "Apple reportedly has 'bigger changes' planned for its 2023 smartphone line."

September 25, 2022

• Queen Elizabeth II’s final resting place revealed in new Windsor Castle photograph - "Buckingham Palace has released a photograph of Queen Elizabeth II’s final resting place within St. George’s Chapel following her interment in Windsor on Monday. An engraved ledger stone featuring the name of the late monarch was installed in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, an annex to the main chapel, on Monday evening after a private service attended by her family. The slab is hand-carved from Belgian black marble and features brass letter inlays reading the names of her parents - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth - followed by the late Queen’s name along with that of her husband, Prince Philip. A garter star separates the two royal couples, and the years of birth and death have been inscribed next to each name."
• Queen Elizabeth: A Visual Dictionary - "The things that made the queen the queen."
• Harry's memoir U-TURN - "Duke 'requests 11th-hour rewrite to soften his bombshell £40m autobiography after nation's outpouring of grief for the Queen' amid fears the final draft 'might not go down too well' in the wake of her death."
• The country that's the world leader in flight delays - "The airports that travelers dread."
• The biggest news & trailers from Netflix’s Tudum event - The Verge.
• This architect's skyscraper became an icon. Even he was surprised - "'My beliefs haven't changed': From social housing to skyscrapers, architect Moshe Safdie is still an idealist."
• Runners & Cyclists Use GPS Mapping to Make Art - "Fitness apps and the power of live satellite tracking have allowed runners, cyclists and others to draw hearts, animals, birthday wishes - and even homages to Vermeer - across their local landscapes."
• CIA museum: Inside the world's most top secret museum - "It is the perhaps the most unusual - and exclusive - museum in the world, filled with artefacts that have shaped history. But its doors are firmly shut to the public."
• Louise Fletcher, Oscar-winning actress, dies at 88 - " Louise Fletcher, the actress who won an Academy Award for playing the villainous Nurse Ratched in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,' died Friday in France, according to her agent David Shaul. She was 88."
• ‘Like a dystopian world’: inside the booming demand for cosmetic injectables - "Experts believe Australians are at risk of serious mental and physical harm unless the industry is cleaned up and professionalised."
• iPhone 14 Pro Max drop test goes about as well as you'd expect - "Maybe a case is a good idea."
• FIDE publishes the official statement on the Carlsen - Niemann case - "After Hans Niemann defeated the World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in the third round of the Sinquefield Cup 2022, Carlsen decided to withdraw from the tournament without detailed explanations. Rumors that Magnus Carlsen suspected Niemann was cheating started spreading over social media and the controversy over the Niemann - Carlsen case is not stopping. While Niemann spoke on the case on several occasions, the World Chess Champion gave his first interview on the case two days ago saying that cheaters should not be taken lightly either online or over the board."

September 24, 2022

• Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine, say UN investigators - "Investigating teams reported evidence of executions, torture and sexual violence in civilian areas."
• The world's best airline for 2022 named - "Skytrax, a UK-based airline and airport review and ranking site, conducted more than 14 million customer surveys in more than 100 countries between September 2021 to August 2022 to find out the world's current favorite airline. This year's winner was no stranger to the podium. The newly crowned Qatar Airways has won the top prize a total of seven times since the awards were introduced in 1999."
• Tech stocks just had their worst two-week stretch since the start of the pandemic - "The Nasdaq Composite has dropped more than 5% in consecutive weeks, leaving the tech-heavy index in the red for the third quarter. Technology stocks rallied to start the quarter, but persistent inflation and cautionary commentary from the Federal Reserve dampened that enthusiasm. Tech companies that had experienced more than a decade of consistent growth are now signaling cutbacks."
• Homes for the ultra rich take off in the metaverse - "Pixel pushers: How the metaverse became real estate's new frontier."
• Aga Khan Award: $1 million prize recognizes world's best new community architecture - "A serene airport, a contemporary art museum and a series of refugee community centers are among the winners of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, a major prize honoring new buildings in 'communities in which Muslims have a significant presence.'"
• The curious case of the Irish Crown Jewels - "The theft of the Irish Crown Jewels from Dublin Castle in 1907 was Ireland's most scandalous heist - and it remains unsolved to this day."
• Is Tudor Going To Dominate The High Range Of Swiss Watches? - "As other major brands move upward, the Shield's future looks promising."
• Magnus Carlsen & Hans Niemann: The cheating row that's blowing up the chess world - "When Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann sat down to play each other earlier this month in the third round of chess's Sinquefield Cup, few could have predicted the chaos that would unfold."
• UK University Guide 2023 - Forget Oxbridge: St Andrews knocks top universities off perch - "Latest Guardian University Guide shows leading trio are in league of their own for undergraduate courses."
• The best UK universities 2023 - rankings - "Find a course at the university of your choice. Our league tables rank institutions by subject, looking at student satisfaction, staff numbers, spending and career prospects. How to use the tables. View the full guide."
• 40 of the Best Movies on Disney+ Right Now - "The best classic flicks, Marvel movies, and Star Wars sagas on Disney+."
• The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now - "New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don’t have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We’ll do the heavy lifting. You press play."
• Hollywood sign gets birthday facelift in Los Angeles - "California's famous Hollywood sign is getting a makeover ahead of its 100th birthday next year."
• Step Inside Cher’s Malibu Home - "AD100 designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard details his experience of crafting Cher’s own personal sanctuary."
• Alan Rickman’s secret showbiz diaries - "The late actor on Harry Potter, politics & what he really thought of his co-stars. After his death in 2016, Rickman left a trove of revealing journals. In this exclusive extract, he recounts his 10 years playing Professor Snape - and the many political and Hollywood dramas along the way."
• How to Set Up Your New iPhone - "Welcome to your new Apple smartphone. Here’s how to get the most out of it right out of the box."
• How to use the Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button - "The Action button adds a third - and much-needed - physical control to Apple’s biggest and baddest watch. And it’s customizable to boot."
• Mercedes-Benz’s electric G-Wagen is coming in mid-2024 - "The automaker had been toying with the idea of discontinuing the G-Wagen, but now, it’s betting that an electric version of the luxury off-roader would be able to compete in an increasingly crowded market."

September 23, 2022

• ‘It’s a 100% mobilisation’: day one of Russia’s drive to build its army - "Reports ethnic minorities may be disproportionately affected while protesters in Moscow drafted on arrest."
• Oktoberfest is back. But religious politicians in this country want it banned - "The world's largest beer festival is finally back after a two year dry spell but politicians in one country are still against celebrations returning - and it isn't because of the pandemic."
• Japan to reopen to mass tourism in October - "Japan, one of the world's last major holdouts during the pandemic, is dissolving its Covid-19 restrictions and opening the door back up to mass tourism."
• Bhutan - & its incredible cross-country trail - is open - "The central Asian nation of Bhutan reopens to visitors today for the first time since the pandemic began. This means that the country's breathtaking Trans-Bhutan Trail is now accessible to travelers. It reopened in March 2022 after 60 years, and now foreigners can experience it for the first time as flights to the Land of the Thunder Dragon restart."
• Will Macau Ever Be The World’s Casino Capital Again? - Forbes.
• Apple Releases iOS 16.0.2 With Bug Fixes for iPhone 14 Pro Camera Vibration, Copy/Paste Issue & More - "Apple today released iOS 16.0.2, addressing a number of bugs that iPhone 14 owners have been experiencing since the new devices launched. iOS 16.0.2 comes two weeks after the launch of iOS 16, and it follows iOS 16.0.1, an update made available to iPhone 14 owners on launch day. The update is available for all iPhones that are capable of running iOS 16."
• Speeding Up Your Daily Walk Could Have Big Benefits - "In the largest study to incorporate activity tracker data, picking up the pace paid dividends for long-term health."
• Fall equinox 2022: Not as 'equal' as you may think - "Twice a year, the sun doesn't play favorites. Everyone on Earth is seemingly on equal status - at least when it comes to the amount of light and dark they get. We've entered our second and final equinox of 2022. If you reside in the Northern Hemisphere, you know it as the fall equinox (or autumnal equinox). For people south of the equator, this equinox actually signals the coming of spring."
• Flu Season Is Coming. Here’s How to Prepare - "We may be more susceptible to the virus than we have been in recent years, but doctors have tips to stay healthy."
• Cancer-killing virus shows promise in patients - "A new type of cancer therapy that uses a common virus to infect and destroy harmful cells is showing big promise in early human trials, say UK scientists."
• New book reveals Trump’s business practices included once being paid with gold bars - "Former President Donald Trump’s business practices included some eyebrow-raising moments, such as once being paid with gold bars that were wheeled into his Trump Tower apartment, according to reporting obtained by CNN from a forthcoming book by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman."
• Are Mar-a-Lago & other Trump-owned properties over-valued? - "'The Art of the Deal' made Donald Trump a household name in real estate. But New York's top prosecutor is accusing the former US president of the art of the steal - alleging he grossly misrepresented the value of multiple properties he owns."
• Bosses think workers do less from home, says Microsoft - "A major new survey from Microsoft shows that bosses and workers fundamentally disagree about productivity when working from home."
• Why Marilyn Monroe is the world's most misunderstood icon - "New Netflix film Blonde debases Marilyn's legacy with its lurid depiction of her trauma and abuse. Why does popular culture so consistently do wrong by her, asks Anna Bogutskaya."
• Darling, you were dreadful! The best (& worst) big-screen performances of all time - "What makes cinema acting great - or awful? As Harry Styles raises eyebrows in two new films, our film critics name the portrayals that really blew them away."
• More People Should Watch The Best Show on Netflix - "Looking for something to watch between episodes of House of the Dragon and Rings of Power? Maybe you should check out Dark."
• Not Even the Rich Can Buy Fancy Watches - "If you’re in the market for a $25,000 Rolex, you better know a guy. And you better have $50,000."
• The "super-deep" royal diamonds revealing Earth's secrets - "The largest diamonds in the British Crown Jewels may be pieces of the ancient ocean floor, which have drifted down into the interior of our planet - then come back up again."
• The World’s Highest Apartment Is On Sale In New York For $250 Million - "Afraid of heights? This triplex residence probably isn’t for you. The Penthouse recently listed for $250 million and it’s located within Central Park Tower on 225 West 57, the highest residential building in the world on New York’s famed Billionaires’ Row."
• Apple AirPods Pro (second-gen) review: same look, better everything else - "Redesigned inside but not out, the new AirPods Pro are destined to be another hit - even if the magic is waning."
• You Can Finally Control Your Apple Watch From Your iPhone - "Your Apple Watch's tiny screen just got a lot bigger."
• 7 mistakes to avoid with your stereo amplifier - "Common gaffes that could prevent you from getting the most out of your amp - and system."
• Focal Utopia Review | What Are the Best Hi-Fi Headphones for Wild, Wired-In Sound? - "Focal’s $4,999 Utopia headphones use pure beryllium drivers to transmit musical genius."
• Spotify Makes a Bet on Audiobooks - "The streaming service that transformed the music industry is expanding into audiobooks, and will offer more than 300,000 titles on a pay-per-book model."
• NASA & Hideo Kojima team up for a Ludens-inspired watch - "Guess we can soon find out how big the Venn diagram intersection is between fans of the two."
• McIntosh makes the most gorgeous Bluetooth speaker I've ever seen - "And it's not outrageously expensive, considering..."
• Louis Vuitton Immortalises Virgil Abloh’s Legacy in a New Collector’s Book - "Priced approximately at $1200, the 360-page coffee table book charts the designer's life and legacy."

September 22, 2022

• Putin’s nuclear threats confront the world with an urgent choice - "Russian President Vladimir Putin has - with one stroke - effectively removed Russia from any position among the world’s civilized nations, a fact President Joe Biden made abundantly clear in his Wednesday speech before the United Nations General Assembly."
• Trumps inflated net worth by billions, says NY state lawsuit - "Donald Trump and three of his children have been hit with a fraud lawsuit after a New York investigation into their family company - the Trump Organization."
• New York civil fraud suit could bring down the Trump Organization - "Restrictions sought by Letitia James include bans on Trump and his children that would tear his real estate empire from his control."
• British monarchs are not supposed to have opinions. Charles III has already expressed many of his - "The death of Queen Elizabeth II marked the end of an era for the monarchy in more ways than one. She was the last senior royal from a generation that will soon seem alien to modern monarchists. During her 70 years on the throne, Elizabeth gave only one media interview which was limited to the subject of her coronation. She never publicly stated a strong opinion on any subject that could be considered political or controversial. She avoided any kind of public intervention into how the public institutions of the UK should be run."
• Princess Anne’s Influence & Workload, Rises in a Slimmed-Down Royal Family - "Often appearing at more than 400 events a year, Anne is likely to become even more central as a trusted adviser to her brother, the king."
• Denmark offers ‘loss & damage’ funding to poorer countries for climate breakdown - "Denmark ‘gets ball rolling’ at UN ahead of protests as poor nations call for greater collective commitment."
• Why your life could be part of someone else's game - "Are you being played? That's the question the author Adrian Hon poses in a new book about the 'gamification' of modern life. As Tom Chatfield discovers, game-like incentives and rewards permeate our world."
• What America's most expensive motel room looked like in 1972 - "How Holiday Inn revolutionized 20th century travel".
• 13 top video streaming services that are worth your money - engadget.
• The 'dangerous' books too powerful to read - "Forty years on from the launch of Banned Books Week, censorship is once again on the rise. To launch a new BBC Culture series, John Self considers the long and ignoble global history of book-banning."
• Alan Alda on ‘M*A*S*H’: ‘Everybody Had Something Taken From Them’ - "As the acclaimed 'situation tragedy' turns 50, the star reflects on its innovations: 'The crazy behavior wasn’t just to be funny. It was a way of separating yourself for a moment from the nastiness.'"
• Apple Watch Ultra review: an aspirational debut - "A new player has entered the multisport watch game."
• Apple will fix iOS 16's annoying copy & paste prompts - "Your iPhone isn't supposed to nag you quite so often."
• HÔtel Lambert, Une Collection PrinciÈre - Discover the thrilling series of Hôtel Lambert sales at Sotheby's.
• Magnificent Historic San Francisco Mansion Hits The Market For $12.9 Million - 1772 Vallejo St, San Francisco, California, 94123, United States at Sotheby's International Realty.

September 21, 2022

• Denmark & Germany now building the world's longest immersed tunnel - "Descending up to 40 meters beneath the Baltic Sea, the world's longest immersed tunnel will link Denmark and Germany, slashing journey times between the two countries when it opens in 2029."
• The Next Walk You Take Could Change Your Life - "Study after study after study has proved what we feel, intuitively, in our gut: Walking is good for us. Beneficial for our joints and muscles; astute at relieving tension, reducing anxiety and depression; a boon to creativity, likely; slows the aging process, maybe; excellent at prying our screens from our face, definitely. Shane O’Mara, a professor of experimental brain research in Dublin, has called walking a 'superpower,' claiming that walking, and only walking, unlocks specific parts of our brains, places that bequeath happiness and health."
• King Charles' Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph Is A Real Collector's Choice - "What's a watch fit for a king? As the newly ascended King Charles III has shown over the past few days of public mourning over the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, it might not always be the watch you expect. But for the new king, who's always been stylish, with a taste for the artisanal, the watch he's been wearing just makes sense."
• 2023 Formula 1 calendar revealed: F1 announces 24-race calendar for 2023 - "Kicking off in Bahrain on March 5 and concluding in Abu Dhabi on November 26, the season will feature a record-breaking 24 races, with China and Qatar set to return, and Las Vegas arriving as the penultimate round for a Saturday night race."
• Monaco WILL be on GP calendar in 2023 & beyond - "It had been rumoured for several days, and it has now been confirmed by the FIA that the Monaco Grand Prix will remain on the schedule next year and through at least 2025. According to the FIA on Tuesday, September 20, the Grand Prix will take place on May 28, in its usual slot at the end of the month."
• Golden Globes returning to TV in 2023 after diversity row - "The Golden Globes - dropped by its US broadcaster last year amid allegations of racism, sexism and conflicts of interest - will return to TV next year."
• Will China’s plan for a ‘green silk road’ live up to environmental promises? - "China has pledged to make its Belt and Road initiative greener, but critics say environmental guidelines ‘nonexistent’."
• Luxury fashion houses are funneling millions into the metaverse. But to what end? - "When a virtual Gucci Dionysus handbag sold online for the equivalent of $4,115 last year, it wasn't the price tag alone that made headlines - it was the fact you could have bought the real thing for $700 less."
• Vulnerable countries demand global tax to pay for climate-led loss & damage - "Poor nations exhort UN to consider ‘climate-related and justice-based’ tax on big fossil fuel users and air travel."
• Scientists have estimated how many ants there are on Earth. Clue: It’s a lot - "Ants are tiny in size but not in number. There are about 20 quadrillion ants on the Earth at any given time, a new study has estimated. That’s 20,000 trillion individuals."
• An epic food journey in the Arctic Circle - "Chef Poul Andrias Ziska of Koks restaurant honed his craft in the harsh North Atlantic but has now reimagined his signature locavore cooking for a Greenlandic terroir."
• What foods can I prepare in a microwave? - "Beyond defrosting and reheating, you may be surprised to learn that microwaves are also great for cooking green vegetables, potatoes and even eggs."
• Bryan Cranston Makes His Favorite Drink: The Cranstonian - YouTube 2:45.
• How India's lattice buildings cool without air con - "For centuries, India’s architecture featured intricate lattice structures. Now, as modern architects search for better ways to keep buildings cool, it’s making a comeback."
• Carlsen v Niemann debate rages on after world champion resigns after one move - "Both hope for a quarter-final place at the Julius Baer Generation Cup so a possible third encounter could lie in wait."
• Apple Watch Ultra: New Leak Reveals Astonishing Secret Detail - "The Apple Watch Ultra arrives on Friday, September 23. It’s the high-end Watch designed for those who love extreme sports, with a bigger display than before, buttons designed to be pressed even through the thickest gloves and lots of features. But it now appears there’s one aspect we didn’t know until now: the size of the battery. According to MySmartPrice, it’s pretty huge."
• iOS 16 review: Apple opens the lock screen - "Apple's annual upgrade brings lots of small additions that add up to a better iPhone experience."
• Apple makes the battery indicator better in new iOS 16.1 beta - "Now it looks like how it should have all along."
• Latest iOS 16.1 Beta Tweaks Battery Status Bar to Show Visual Charge Level - "Apple today released the second beta of iOS 16.1, introducing further tweaks to the battery percentage indicator that is located in the status bar."

September 20, 2022

• Queen Elizabeth laid to rest alongside husband Philip - "In the third and last procession of the day, the Queen’s coffin was taken past throngs of well-wishers lining the Long Walk to Windsor Castle for her committal service and burial at St. George’s Chapel, where she was separated from the crown for the final time. Later in the evening, she was interred together with her husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh, in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. An annex of St. George’s Chapel, it also houses the remains of the Queen’s father, her mother the Queen Mother, and her sister Princess Margaret."
• Queen Elizabeth II: from public pomp to a private family farewell - "Ceremonial splendour in London gave way to a quiet burial in Windsor as Britain said goodbye to its longest-reigning monarch."
• ‘The final farewell’: what the papers said about the Queen’s funeral - "Powerful images dominated the newspaper front pages after a nation gathered to say goodbye to its longest-serving monarch."
• Presidents, royals & VIPs arrive for the Queen’s funeral - in pictures - "Heads of state, prime ministers and world dignitaries in London for funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey."
• Brad Pitt makes surprise debut as a sculptor at Finland art gallery - "Actor appeared alongside Australian musician Nick Cave and British sculptor Thomas Houseago to reveal his first ever public art exhibition."
• Woody Allen denies reports of retirement as he shoots his 50th film - "A spokesperson refuted the claim and said he was ‘thinking about not making films, as making films that go straight to streaming platforms is not so enjoyable for him’."
• ‘Bring a bag & use refills’: how to cut down on plastic waste - "An average household throws out 3,400 plastic items a year - here’s how to shrink that and save."
• Climate change threatens health & survival of urban trees - "City-dwelling oaks, maples, poplars, elms, pines and chestnuts are among more than 1,000 tree species flagged at risk due to climate change."
• The race to recreate peat - "Is there a good alternative to peated compost? Harvesting peat is highly unsustainable - but gardeners love it. Could we replace it with something better?"
• Apple’s fixing the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera shake - "A software update should be coming next week."
• The 40-year evolution from :-) to 😂 - "At 11:44 a.m. on September 19, 1982, Scott Fahlman made internet history by stitching together a colon, a hyphen and a close parenthesis."
• From Camping To Cheese Pizza, ‘Algospeak’ Is Taking Over Social Media - "Americans are increasingly using code words known as 'algospeak' to evade detection by content moderation technology, especially when posting about things that are controversial or may break platform rules."
• Are sea waves more beneficial for meditation? - "On September 9 Experiential Yachting together with Monaco Capital of Advanced Yachting carried out a neuro-scientific experiment at the Monaco Yacht Club that compared the effects of meditation on land versus onboard small watercraft at sea, which in this case was a jet ski."
• Antarctic researchers gain insights from on high as they count seals from space - "Scientists used satellite images and more than 300,000 volunteers to count Weddell seals, a key Southern Ocean indicator species."
• The challenges of building a sustainable resort in the lowest-lying country in the world - "Many architects would kill to be given a blank slate on which to create their dream project. But when award-winning architect Yuji Yamazaki agreed to design the Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, which opened in 2018 and is made up of just 15 overwater residences, he found himself thinking about how his building could show off the island - and not the other way around."
• Volkswagen targets 75 billion euro valuation in landmark Porsche IPO - "As part of the listing, 911 million Porsche AG shares will be divided into 455.5 million preferred shares and 455.5 million ordinary shares. Up to 113,875,000 preferred shares, carrying no voting rights, will be placed with investors over the course of the IPO. The sovereign wealth funds of Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Norway as well as mutual fund company T. Rowe Price will subscribe up to 3.68 billion euros worth of preferred shares as cornerstone investors, at the upper end of the valuation, Volkswagen said."
• Peloton Row hands-on: pretty much what you’d expect - "It’s exactly what I thought a Peloton rower would be. Peloton’s stamp is all over the product design, from the red accents and the ubiquitous logo to the 23-inch HD adjustable touchscreen. This isn’t a bad thing. Peloton’s hardware has always been slick and better-suited to your home than the equipment you’ll find at the gym. The Row is big. It has a footprint of 8 feet by 2 feet and weighs 156 pounds. It’s the first thing you see when you walk into my NYC apartment, and it takes up a huge chunk of my living room."

September 19, 2022

• How to watch Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral on TV - CNN.
• Queen funeral: timeline of day’s key moments - "A guide to the proceedings of the first state funeral since Winston Churchill’s in 1965."
• Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II: UK prepares for grandest of farewells - "Royal family procession at Queen’s state funeral to include Prince George and Princess Charlotte."
• order of service for state funeral at Westminster Abbey - "The full order of service for the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London on 19 September."
• ‘Ritual is important’ - why and how we are mourning Elizabeth II - "In an extraordinary 10 days, hundreds of thousands of us have queued for hours to see the Queen lying in state, and millions more are grief-stricken. What is it about the nation that it is so viscerally affected by Elizabeth’s death?"
• 'New Elizabethan': The Queen's reign heralded a new era for architecture - "In architecture, where the palatial country houses of Elizabeth I's England were superseded by such unassertive yet inspired designs as the prefabricated schools rushed up by local government architects. Evidently, the architectural landscape of Queen Elizabeth II's United Kingdom was to be very different."
• Monkeypox: don’t touch foreigners, says China health chief, as first case reported - "Official Wu Zunyou also called for people to avoid ‘skin-to-skin contact’ with those who had been abroad recently, as well as ‘strangers’."
• China’s quarantine bus crash kills 27 people, sparks anger against zero-Covid policy - "According to authorities, the bus was carrying 47 people from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province, to a remote county 155 miles (249 kilometers) away, when it overturned on a mountainous stretch of highway and rolled into a ditch at around 2:40 a.m."
• Biden again says US would defend Taiwan if China attacks - "The US president says troops would defend the island, but the White House downplays the comments."
• US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data & storing it for 15 years - "Border officials can copy information from travelers' phones without a warrant."
• Burning world’s fossil fuel reserves could emit 3.5tn tons of greenhouse gas - "The world will have released more planet-heating emissions than have occurred since the industrial revolution, analysis found."
• Food as medicine: could prescribing fruit & vegetables become part of healthcare? - "Decades of healthy eating advice have failed to stem the tide of lifestyle-related disease. Could prescribing healthy food help?"
• She’s Come Undone (on Purpose) - "The jeans of the young and stylish are unzipped, unbuttoned and unbothered. Why?"
• Switzerland's ingenious cooling caves - "Nothing is more representative of Ticino life than its 'grottos', village taverns whose forerunners were natural caves used to store wine, cheese and meat."
• Who needs cutlery anyway? Why food is more delicious when you eat with your hands - "But just as there is an etiquette to using knives and forks (best simplified as: start on the outside and work your way in), eating with hands is no free-for-all. It is widely practised around the world, with cultures across the Middle East, Africa and Asia eating with their hands as a matter of course - but what is surprisingly common is the etiquette rules surrounding it."
• Audio-Technica’s two latest Bluetooth turntables for 2022 are here - "Audio-Technica brings portability to two different turntable stylings."

September 18, 2022

• The Queen's final journey: How mourners will get a chance to pay their respects - "London to Windsor, follow the route to the Queen's resting place."
• Glamour overload: Queen Elizabeth meets the stars - in pictures - "When stars align: the Queen has had celebrities, from Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe to Paul McCartney and Frank Sinatra, queuing up to meet her throughout her reign."
• All The Queen’s Horses: Elizabeth II’s Lifelong Passion For Racing & Riding - "At the ripe age of 3, Princess Elizabeth was heaved aboard a pony and never really looked back."
• The cowboy & the Queen who bonded over horses - "Monty Roberts' unique method of training horses impressed the Queen and formed the basis of a decades-long friendship."
• King Charles: 'I'm a self-made millionaire' - "Charles the Entrepreneur? How the new king built a top organic food brand."
• Prince Harry & Meghan Markle 'ordered to apologise for Oprah comments before funeral' - "A Royal insider has urged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to apologise for their Oprah interview which spoke about the Royal Family an 'crossed the line', before Her Majesty's funeral on Monday."
• Criticism intensifies after big oil admits ‘gaslighting’ public over green aims - "Fury as ‘explosive’ files reveal largest oil companies contradicted public statements and wished bedbugs upon critical activists."
• 'M*A*S*H' at 50: War Is Hell(arious) - "Five decades ago, 'M*A*S*H' anticipated today’s TV dramedies, showing that a great comedy could be more than just funny."
• Four cups of tea a day can help keep diabetes away, say Chinese scientists - "Black, green or Oolong teas linked to reduced risk of developing type 2 form of the disease."
• The 4-7-8 method that could help you sleep - "Falling asleep or coming down from anxiety might never be as easy as 1-2-3, but some experts believe a different set of numbers – 4-7-8 – comes much closer to doing the trick. The 4-7-8 technique is a relaxation exercise that involves breathing in for four counts, holding that breath for seven counts and exhaling for eight counts, said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, via email."
• French Spiderman climbs 48-storey skyscraper in Paris aged 60 - "Alain Robert scaled the 187-metre Tour Total to show that being 60, the retirement age in France, is nothing."
• 10 of the best breaks in France easily accessible by ferry - "From Boulogne to Brittany, these jewels within striking distance of the northern ports offer a total immersion into French culture."
• Stanley Tucci: ‘We could all potentially kill somebody. I do believe that’ - "The food-loving actor and author on playing an evil genius in Inside Man, the brilliance of Whitney Houston and running out of space for booze."
• Servants of the Damned review - "Trump and the giant law firm he actually paid. David Enrich delivers a withering study of how big law got into bed with the 45th president - Jones Day in particular."
• The best fitness gear to upgrade your workout routine - "Take your training to the next level with these tools."

September 17, 2022

• Join World Cleanup Day on 17 September 2022 - "Unites millions of volunteers, governments and organisations in 191 countries to tackle the global waste problem and build up the new and sustainable world. Lets join the hands again for a waste-free world! Annual global social action program aimed at combating the global solid waste problem, including the problem of marine debris."
• Queen lying in state: public warned of 24-hour wait to see coffin as queue stretches across London - live - "The government said entry to the queue could be paused if it reaches capacity."
• China, Europe, US drought: Is 2022 the driest year recorded? - "Europe and parts of China have experienced extreme temperatures this summer, dry conditions in Africa have put millions at risk of starvation, and the American West continues to see a persistent lack of rainfall."
• 8 cultural artifacts the British Empire took from other nations - "From the Benin Bronzes to the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Governments and activists have since called for the repatriation of these cultural artifacts. Here are 8 of the objects the British took - and their contentious histories."
• An Indian tycoon just ousted Jeff Bezos as world’s second-richest person - "Jeff Bezos just lost his status as the world’s second-richest person, dropping to No. 3 as Indian business mogul Gautam Adani’s $146.9 billion fortune rapidly climbs the ranks of Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index."
• Patagonia founder's big donation potentially saves him over $1 billion in taxes - "Shows how the wealthy aren't subject to the same rules as the rest of us."
• New Apple Leak Reveals iPhone 15 Release Shock - "This is Apple’s new ‘Pro’ strategy in a nutshell: continue to widen the gap between Pro and non-Pro devices in all categories (iPhone, iPad, Mac and MacBook) to create clear division and motivate upsell."
• The biggest change to the new iPhone isn’t the hardware - "When iPhone 14 users aren’t using their new Apple device, the screen is hardly asleep. It’ll remain lit with prominently displayed widgets such as alarms, calendar appointments and sports scores flittering with real-time updates, and be at the ready if you glance down or inevitably pick it back up. Apple is adding more customization and flexibility to the lock screen. It’ll also show, for example, the progress of takeout delivery and an Uber arriving at your home - information previously found only inside apps. (For those who find it too complicated, they can quiet any and all widgets.)"
• iOS 16 Cheat Sheet: What You Need to Know About the New iPhone OS - "What's in iOS 16? Any hidden features? Are there updates out already? CNET is here to answer those questions and more."
• Apple is too strict with copy & paste in iOS 16 - "iOS now asks if it’s okay to paste an item from one app to another. Constantly. Over and over and over again."
• For Gen Z, TikTok Is the New Search Engine - "Need to find a restaurant or figure out how to do something? Young people are turning to TikTok to search for answers. Google has noticed."
• Is Silicon Valley’s golden era coming to an end? - "Rising interest rates, dampened growth and the public’s shifting views on Big Tech are giving experts pause."
• What Is Brain Fog & How Can I Treat It? - "Researchers are just beginning to understand the cognitive dysfunction that some people experience with Covid-19 and a range of other health issues."
• Researchers confirm existence of diamond from outer space - "Meet the mystery diamond from outer space."
• Meet the designers creating every day objects & art from human hair - "There is a natural product we grow ourselves which can be used to make clothing, ropes and even building materials - and much of it goes to waste on a daily basis. But perhaps not for long. An emerging wave of designers is harnessing the power of human hair to tap into issues of the circular economy, identity and beauty through provocative objects and installations."
• ‘A Kitchen for the Kitchen’ - "The back kitchen, in essence a pantry on overdrive, has become increasingly popular among wealthier homeowners in recent years, according to architects, designers and homebuilders."

September 16, 2022

• Brits join queue as long as 14.5 kilometers as they pay respects to Queen - "The Queue to end all queues: Brits do what they do best as they pay respects to Queen."
• Why the Queen's accent changed - "What the Queen's English reveals about a changing world. The accent of the world's longest-serving monarch evolved during her long reign - reflecting enormous social shifts that occurred during that time."
• Royal gift or 'stolen' gem? Calls for UK to return 500 carat Great Star of Africa diamond - "Calls are growing in South Africa for Britain's royal family to return the world's largest known clear-cut diamond in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's death. Known as the Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I, the diamond is cut from a larger gem that was mined in South Africa in 1905 and handed over to the British royal family by South Africa's colonial authorities. It is currently mounted on a royal scepter belonging to the Queen."
• How Rich Is King Charles III? Inside The New Monarch’s Outrageous Fortune - "As the new head of The Firm, Charles now oversees some $42 billion in assets and inherited $500 million from Queen Elizabeth, including her castles, jewels, art collection and a horse farm - all of it tax-free."
• France unveils its high-speed trains of the future - "TGV unveils high-speed trains of the future. French railway company SNCF and train manufacturer Alstom have unveiled the first completed TGV M, a next-generation high-speed double-decker train that features a longer, more aerodynamic nose - perfect for hurtling across the French countryside."
• The surprising history of Sentosa, Singapore's staycation island - " It used to be known as Pulau Blakang Mati. Some translate the name politely as 'the island of woe,' but the most cited translation is 'the island behind which lies death.' Now, it's called Sentosa, from the Malay word for peaceful. Filled with theme parks, beaches, luxury resorts, casinos and other amusements, it's Singapore's primary island for staycations and is one of the city's most popular destinations for international tourists."
• Look of the Week: Anne Hathaway's 'The Devil Wears Prada' moment at New York Fashion Week - "Life imitated art on the front row of the Michael Kors show on Wednesday when assigned seating placed Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and actor Anne Hathaway next to one another in a display of PR genius."
• Roger Federer announces his retirement from the ATP Tour & grand slams - "Roger Federer has announced that he will retire from the ATP Tour and grand slams following the Laver Cup next week in London. 'I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career,' the 20-time grand slam winner said in an Instagram post."
• 10 most memorable points of Federer’s career - "To celebrate the Swiss star’s brilliant career, we select some of the most noteworthy moments from his time on tour."
• Our pets are part of the climate problem. These tips can help you minimize their carbon pawprints - "Our four-legged friends don’t drive gas-guzzling SUVs or use energy-sucking appliances, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a climate impact. In fact, researchers have showed that pets play a significant role in the climate crisis."
• How does ethereum’s ‘merge’ make the cryptocurrency greener? - "The second biggest blockchain has changed the way it validates transactions on its decentralised ledger."
• Ethereum just completed The Merge - "Here’s how much energy it’s saving. ‘A step into a more sustainable future for cryptocurrencies.’"
• New York Fashion Week: Highlights from the Spring-Summer 2023 shows - "From Lil Nas X's runway appearance at Coach to Tommy Hilfiger's collaboration with British designer Richard Quinn, here's what has caught our eye at the new season's shows."
• Swedish moose crash-test dummy wins spoof Ig Nobel prize - "An innovation to improve safety on the roads for Swedish drivers has won one of this year's Ig Nobel prizes."
• ‘I did not identify as a lesbian’: Anne Heche reflects on Ellen DeGeneres in upcoming memoir - "The late actor opens up about her relationship with DeGeneres in Call Me Anne, a memoir finished shortly before her death, to be released in January."
• Apple Watch Series 8 review: if it ain’t broke - ... don’t upgrade.

September 15, 2022

• End of Covid pandemic ‘in sight’, says World Health Organization - "Global weekly deaths down to 11,118 on 5 September - the lowest level since March 2020."
• Trump chief of staff used book on president’s mental health as White House guide - "John Kelly secretly consulted The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, according to new book by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser."
• Scientists try to teach robot to laugh at the right time - "Research team hopes system could improve natural conversations between humans and AI systems."
• Patagonia's billionaire founder gives company away to help fight climate crisis - "Patagonia’s founder is transferring ownership of the company after nearly 50 years into two entities that will help fight the climate crisis. Patagonia is a private company based in Ventura, California, that sells outdoor apparel and equipment. Yvon Chouinard founded the company in 1973."
• TechScape: Apple plays it safe with the iPhone 14 - thanks to crash detection - "Your device may be able to call emergency services if you get into trouble. It’s a genuine technological leap in a field where innovation is in short supply."
• What's the right age to get a smartphone? - "Smartphones have become near-universal among children, with up to 91% of 11-year-olds owning one. But do children miss out without a phone - or experience surprising benefits?"
• Queen Elizabeth off-duty - in pictures - "Horses, family, headscarves, dogs and more dogs: a look at the Queen off-duty."
• Jean-Luc Godard’s films teach us to demand more from the lives we’re given - "The work of the French-Swiss director, who died this week, is playful - but deadly serious about what life is for."
• 2022 Golden Goose Awards: 3 obscure scientific discoveries with outsize impact on society - "Discoveries involving a lab accident, venomous snails and a scientific instrument made from paper are some of the obscure, quirky or convoluted advances honored Wednesday with awards that celebrate research that ultimately had a big, if unexpected, impact on society."
• Behind the scenes: 10 artists' studios through the centuries - "From the Middle Ages to today, a new book offers a glimpse into the inner sanctums of artists through the centuries."
• Ferrari Unveils Its First Four-Door Car: Purosangue - "Ferrari’s new Purosangue is a four-door model with SUV-like proportions powered by a 715-horsepower V-12 engine. The Purosangue, Italian for 'thoroughbred,' is Ferrari’s first-ever production four-door model."
• Apple iPhone 14 Pro review: early adopter island - "The Dynamic Island is a potentially good idea that’s waiting for the next step."
• Text Messaging Is Cool. But Where Are Its Boundaries? - "Apple and Google have added useful features to texting apps, yet the apps still lack a major component: an effective way to set limits."
• How Wall Street’s Favorite ’80s Shirt Came Roaring Back Into Style - "With present-day Gordon Gekkos more likely to sport fleece vests and AirPods than pinstripes and power ties, now seems an unlikely time for Wall Street’s favorite shirt to mount a comeback. And yet, the contrast-collar dress shirt—also referred to as a 'banker' shirt or, when featuring pattern, a 'Winchester' - is appearing in new collections from well-established brands and upstart labels alike."

September 14, 2022

• World is 'going in the wrong direction' on climate change, new report finds - "UN chief says ‘fossil fuel free-for-all’ must end as report warns world heading in ‘wrong direction’."
• Switching to renewable energy could save trillions - study - "Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy could save the world as much as $12tn by 2050, an Oxford University study says. Researchers say that going green now makes economic sense because of the falling cost of renewables. 'Even if you're a climate denier, you should be on board with what we're advocating,' Prof Doyne Farmer from the Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School told BBC News."
• The key to a sustainable wardrobe - "Why you need a 'wellbeing wardrobe'. People are buying more clothing than ever before in some countries, but it's not sustainable. Could a 'wellbeing wardrobe' help?"
• Ukraine’s advances pose question for world: can Kyiv actually win? - "As world leaders prepare for a meeting of UN general assembly, the raging war of narratives shows no sign of abating."
• Analysis: Apple's latest products and features take aim at our greatest fears - " If you only tuned into the opening of Apple’s iPhone event this week, you might have wondered whether you were watching an emergency first responder training session. Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the annual event on Wednesday with a three-minute video depicting how the Apple Watch has saved lives by calling for help."
• Every iOS release from worst to best - ranked - "From an App Store to Lock Screen widgets." Since the debut of the iPhone in 2007, we've seen seismic changes to how we use Apple's device, from using our fingers to interact in the first version to adding widgets to our home screens. We're currently up to iOS 16, released in 2022 which features a new lock screen, and a focus on personalization and more productivity enhancements.
• The Queen of travel - "Journeys of a lifetime. She was traveling the moment she ascended to the throne, and for much of the next seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II criss-crossed the world. Newly married and still just a princess, Britain’s future monarch was in Kenya with husband Prince Philip in February 1952 when she learned of her father’s death and her new regal status. During her reign she would visit more than 120 countries, witnessing first-hand the revolutions in global travel that shrank the world as her own influence over it diminished."
• When the Queen Died, Someone Had to Tell the Bees - "A report that the royal beekeeper had informed Queen Elizabeth II’s bees of her death received some mockery, but it has been a tradition for centuries."
• Famous Private Jet Owners & The 20-Year-Old Student Who Tracks Their Every Move - "Jack Sweeney is soft-spoken, shy, and not at all affected by the attention he has received following his encounter with Musk. The billionaire offered to pay him to stop tracking his private jet travel after Sweeney launched the enormously popular Twitter account @elonjet, with almost half a million followers. Even though he turned down Musk’s cash offer to take the account down, there is a chance the two of them could eventually settle... if Musk takes him along for a ride on his jet and lets him film it."
• Forty years since the death of Princess Grace - "September 14 marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Princess Grace following a car accident the previous morning as she drove back to Monaco from Roc Agel. The tragedy shocked the world, but in Monaco itself the death of the Princess was deeply traumatic and it took many days for life to return to anything like normal, according to those who knew the Princess well."
• Russian businessman's body found in latest mysterious death - "Russian businessman Ivan Pechorin, the top manager for the Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, has been found dead in Vladivostok, the latest in a string of mysterious deaths among Russian executives."
• Jean-Luc Godard: Legendary film director dies at 91 by assisted suicide - "Film director Jean-Luc Godard, who spearheaded the revolutionary French New Wave of cinema, has died at 91. Godard burst onto the scene with 1960's À bout de souffle (Breathless), which started a run of acclaimed releases that rewrote the rules of film and influenced directors from Martin Scorsese to Quentin Tarantino."
• Jean-Luc Godard, French cinema legend, dies age 91 - "French-Swiss director Jean-Luc Godard - a key figure in the Nouvelle Vague, the filmmaking movement that revolutionized cinema in the late 1950s and 60s - has died aged 91, French media is reporting. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted a tribute to the director on Tuesday, writing the country has lost a 'national treasure.'"
• Jean-Luc Godard: Nine things about the man who remade cinema - "Jean-Luc Godard, who has died aged 91, was one of the most influential directors in the history of cinema. The French-Swiss filmmaker found fame in the late 1950s as one of the leading figures in the French movement known as the New Wave, going on to direct dozens of films in a career lasting more than half a century. Here are nine things to know."
• Jean-Luc Godard: Visionary director's life & films in pictures - "Jean-Luc Godard, who transformed cinema with his radical film-making style, has died at the age of 91. Here is a look back at some of his most seminal works."
• 9 Great Godard Films to Stream Now - "From the youthful New Wave excitement of 'Breathless' to the experimental works of his old age, Godard changed cinema."
• How to sleep in a heat wave, according to experts - "“Sleep is a vital function necessary for adaptive physical and mental wellbeing,” according to a review published Thursday in the Journal of Sleep Research, which touches on the health impact of sleeping in warmer temperatures and gives tips on how to cope. To get the best quality sleep, experts have long recommended sleeping in a cool room - between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 19.4 degrees Celsius) is best. What happens when you can’t achieve that during a heat wave?"
• Can certain foods suppress your appetite? - "Some foods promise the ability to stave off hunger pangs. Can any foods really suppress our appetite?"
• The Breakfast You Should Order, Based on Your Zodiac Sign - "Read on to hear from an astrologer about the breakfast you should order, based on your zodiac sign. Will you get pancakes, bacon and eggs, or something really exciting like huevos rancheros?"
• Rocketland: The SpaceX fans who uprooted their lives & moved to Starbase - "Worshippers of Elon Musk have flocked to the middle of nowhere in Texas to watch SpaceX’s attempts to build a space-worthy rocket - and to find friends."
• watchOS 9 is now available - "You'll need an Apple Watch Series 4 or later to access the update. As with past updates, fitness is a major focus of watchOS 9. You'll now see your heart rate zones when working out and reviewing your sleep patterns. There's also support for multisport workouts and a way to monitor your personal best performances. Additionally, you can set up to the software to remind you to take your medications. Other new features include a redesigned interface for Siri, Quick actions and a handful of new watch faces."

September 13, 2022

• iOS 16 is now available: Your guide to all the new iPhone features - "iOS 16 is now available. Here's what you need to know about its features, compatibility, and how to update your iPhone."
• IOS 16 REVIEW: UNLOCKING THE LOCK SCREEN - "Apple’s trying to turn your phone into more than just a bunch of apps."
• Emmy Awards 2022: See the full list of winners - "The 74th Emmy Awards, celebrating the best in television, were presented Monday in Los Angeles."
• The Crown sees surge in viewers after death of Queen Elizabeth II - "Viewership for Netflix series chronicling the life of the monarch rises up to 800% in the UK, with huge numbers watching in the US, France and Australia."
• Walking can lower risk of early death, but there’s more to it than number of steps, study finds - "Put on your walking shoes and don’t forget your step counter: You can reduce your risk for cancer, heart disease and early death by getting up to 10,000 steps a day, but any amount of walking helps, according to a new study. Health benefits rose with every step, the study found, but peaked at 10,000 steps - after that the effects faded. Counting steps may be especially important for people who do unstructured, unplanned physical activity such as house work, gardening and dog walks."
• How to Avoid Hurting Yourself at the Gym - "Here are the four exercises you’re most at risk of doing wrong - and what can keep you safe."
• Four health-conscious cities putting pedestrians first - "Inspired by Covid-19's long lockdowns and safety concerns, cities are implementing pedestrian-friendly initiatives and pushing for more car-free spaces."
• ‘The strain is the worst of my lifetime’: how Bill Gates is staying optimistic - "Covid and Ukraine war were major setbacks in pursuit of global development goals, philanthropist admits, but cutting back on aid would be ‘tragic’."
• Why we should forget about the 1.5C global heating target - "The goal of 1.5C by 2030 is arbitrary and now unachievable - yet working to prevent every 0.1C rise can still give us hope."
• Dining at 1,820 feet, in South Korea's highest restaurant - "The journey to the highest restaurant in South Korea starts with a whale display. The airy 123F Lounge sits on the top floor of the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, 555 meters (about 1,820 feet) above ground. The tower is the tallest building in the country - and the fifth tallest building in the world, according to its official site."
• Monkeypox fatality confirmed in Los Angeles, a possible US first - "The death is the first in the state and possibly in the country, with the individual being immunocompromised and hospitalized."
• Tommy Hilfiger returns to New York with a diverse, Warhol-inspired show - "Plus-sized model Paloma Elsesser and Native American Quannah Chasinghorse strutted in star-spangled preppiness."
• How to Argue Well - "First, know when to engage. Arguments are “easy to start and hard to end.” For a dispute to go well, it should be real, important and specific."

September 12, 2022

• China Covid lockdowns leave residents short of food & essential items - "Residents under Covid lockdowns in areas across China are complaining of shortages of food and essential items. Tens of millions of people in at least 30 regions have been ordered to stay at home under partial or full lockdowns."
• ‘Transformational’: could America’s new green bank be a climate gamechanger? - "Long championed by climate activists, the green bank would provide funding to expand clean energy use across the US."
• The Queen - a life in official portrait photos - "Some of the world’s most illustrious photographers, including Cecil Beaton, Karsh and Lord Snowdon, have photographed the Queen as princess and monarch."
• From Warhol to Lucian Freud, artists have shaped our image of Queen Elizabeth - "Picturing the Queen: How artists portrayed Queen Elizabeth II through her reign."
• Queen Elizabeth's fashion legacy - "Clothes that rallied a nation: Queen Elizabeth II's fashion legacy."
• Queen's new spaniel Lissy may not live with Prince Andrew & royal corgis - "While Prince Andrew is said to be taking care of the Queen's corgis following her passing, it remains unclear what will happen to Her Majesty's lesser-known cocker spaniel Lissy, who only joined the royal family earlier this year."
• After Queen Elizabeth II's Death, Many Indians Are Demanding the Return of the Kohinoor Diamond - "The world's most famous diamond adorned the Queen Mother's crown. Indians say it is theirs and must now be given back."
• Margrethe II of Denmark marks jubilee as Europe’s only reigning queen - "Monarch marks 50th anniversary of accession with muted celebrations out of respect for Elizabeth II."
• Brand new iPhone features that Android already has - "Innovative to iOS, old hat to Android."
• The iPhone Isn't Cool Anymore - "Once upon a time, Apple’s new-device announcements were magic. Then everyone bought an iPhone."
• Elon Musk's college sweetheart auctions off billionaire's mementos - "Holding onto an ex's stuff may prove profitable later on, at least if your ex turns out to be the wealthiest man in the world. The former girlfriend of tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is auctioning off a cache of photos and Musk memorabilia from her relationship with the billionaire. Jennifer Gwynne, Musk's college girlfriend, is selling the mementos through Boston-based RR Auction."
• Why wines taste increasingly similar - "How climate change is tweaking the taste of wine. Warming, wildfires and unpredictable weather threaten to disrupt the delicate processes that underlie treasured wines, putting the fine distinctions between grapes at risk."
• Anna Wintour Answers Vogue's 73 Questions - "This isn’t the first time that Wintour has answered 73 rapid-fire questions - her last time at bat was in 2014 - but eight years later and in anticipation of Vogue World on Monday, it seemed like high time for another walk-and-talk."
• So You Wanted to Get Work Done at the Office? - "Some are nostalgic for the silence they had at home, especially since in-office perks, aimed at luring people back, can make it harder to concentrate."
• Nine million people in a city 170km long; will the world ever be ready for a linear metropolis? - "Saudi Arabia has unveiled designs for a futuristic megastructure in the desert. But it is an idea that has preoccupied the imaginations of architects - and megalomaniacs - for generations."
• Tour Burj Al Babas, a Massive Abandoned Town of Disney-esque Castles - "What was supposed to be a luxurious urban development for wealthy foreigners has become an eerie half-finished ghost town in Turkey."
• Ikea’s Swedish House Mafia record player is actually going on sale next month - "It’ll cost you $159.99."
• Riva launches electric version of 27-foot Iseo - "Riva has launched a new electric version of its famed 27-foot Iseo. The E1-Iseo is also available with conventional power. The boat was shown by its parent company, the Ferretti Group at the Monaco Yacht Club at a private preview."
• The Unusual Cool of Saabs - "A car whose peculiarities resist utility."

September 11, 2022

• In pictures: The world reacts to the Queen's death - "People around the world are paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth II. The longest-reigning monarch in British history died Thursday, September 8, at the age of 96."
• Apple founder's daughter mocks new iPhone - "The youngest daughter of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has joined the chorus of critics reviewing Apple's latest iPhone - and she is unimpressed."
• Cave discovery shakes up our understanding of the Stone Age - "This week, prepare to have your mind blown by another tantalizing fossil find from the region that reveals just how sophisticated and knowledgeable our ancient ancestors really were."
• What all this 'Don't Worry Darling' drama is really about - "We're hard-wired to keep scrolling, and the volume of information we consume is at an all-time high, yet we cannot live on calamities alone. Years deep, we're hungry for lightness, for froth, for something to talk about that won't leave the faintest material imprint on our lives. Then, finally, that thing arrived. Don't Worry, Darling. Not everything has to matter so much."
• Jann Wenner Wants to Reveal It All - "The Rolling Stone founder talks about LSD, not reading the magazine anymore and how the Stones now look like 'Lord of the Rings' characters onstage."
• Rare signed edition of The Catcher in the Rye on sale for £255,000 - "JD Salinger did not want his friends cashing in, so inscribed copy of classic novel is one of the hardest titles for collectors to acquire."
• Amazon Kindle users can super-charge their ebook reading with secret free tool - "Amazon Kindle users need to know about a little known free tool which will help super-charge and enhance their ebook experience. You may not have heard of it but Amazon offers a free ebook tool called Reading Insights, which not only tracks your reading history but could inspire you to read even more."
• Let me watch TV on the Apple Watch Ultra - "We have the technology to view TV from our wrists, but where is the feature?"
• Sprezzatura: How this old-school art philosophy is redefining styling for men - "Sprezzatura is an old Italian philosophy on art & style that now represents the vibe in menswear."
• Why Rolex Quality Is Objectively Among The Very Best - "Setting aside the hype about availability, value, and safety, Rolex makes phenomenal watches."

September 10, 2022

• LIVE Charles III proclaimed king in historic ceremony - "Charles III swears an oath as he is proclaimed king during an elaborate ceremony at at St James's Palace."
• Will Charles III be as green a king as he was a prince? - "New king will have to eschew grand statements on climate crisis but his role does not stop him talking to the PM in private."
• The one word that defined Elizabeth II - "Duty is the one word to best summarize the reign of Queen Elizabeth II."
• The Queen's life in numbers - "Tallying an extraordinary reign."
• What will happen to the Queen's beloved corgis? - "The Queen's dogs were her beloved companions."
• Will the Queen’s death change Meghan & Harry’s new chapter? - "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have charted a path for themselves in California with King Charles’ stamp of approval."
• Annie Leibovitz Remembers Photographing Queen Elizabeth II - "Annie Leibovitz was invited to photograph Queen Elizabeth II twice, in 2007 and in 2016. She was the first American photographer to be asked by the royal family to do so, and considered it an honor. As Leibovitz wrote in her 2008 book At Work, 'It was ok for me to be reverent. The British are conflicted about what they think of the monarch. If a British portraitist is reverent he’s perceived to be doting. I could do something traditional.'"
• Multiple crises halt progress as 9 out of 10 countries fall backwards in human development, UNDP report warns - "The world must jolt itself out of its global paralysis to secure the future of people and planet by re-booting its development trajectory."
• Climate change: Six tipping points ‘likely’ to be crossed - "Current rates of warming will put the Earth at risk of crossing six 'dangerous' climate tipping points, according to a new analysis."
• Diet coke 'may be bad for your heart' as experts say artificial sweeteners - "'Should not be considered a safe alternative to sugar.'"
• The 20 Best High-Tech Everyday Carry Gear & Essentials - "Everyday carry gear has traditionally been comprised of modern takes on existing items such as knives, wallets, and keychains, however, as technology continues to play an ever-more-crucial role in our day-to-day lives, quite a few gadgets and devices have increasingly started falling under the EDC umbrella. Like regular pieces of EDC gear, these high-tech items lend themselves to daily use and provide convenience and/or utility to help streamline one’s daily grind."
• Why Apple is ditching the physical SIM card - "The days of using a paper clip to perform microsurgery to extract a tiny SIM card from a little tray in your iPhone may be coming to an end."
• World's tallest building could be surrounded by a giant ring - "Architects in Dubai dream up a massive space-age ring to encircle the world's tallest building. In Dubai, experimental architecture firm ZNera Space has proposed a conceptual design featuring a massive five-story circular structure wrapped around the world's tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa - which towers at a staggering 829.8 meters (2,723 feet), almost double the height of the Empire State Building."
• The 50 Best Movies on HBO Max Right Now - "In addition to new Warner and HBO films, the streamer has a treasure trove of Golden Age classics, indie flicks and foreign films. Start with these."
• Stream These 10 Titles Before They Leave Netflix This Month - "A bunch of movies and TV shows are leaving the streaming service for U.S. subscribers in September. These are the ones not to miss."
• Worst drought 'in living memory' threatens the world's olive oil supply - "In July, temperatures broke records to top 40 degrees Celsius (104.5 degrees Fahrenheit) across parts of France, Spain, Italy and Portugal. By early August, sweltering heat and a lack of rainfall had pushed almost two-thirds of land in the European Union into drought conditions, according to the European Drought Observatory."
• The 'walking' statues of Easter Island - "Living on a remote, barren isle bestowed with few resources, the Rapanui needed to combine ingenious design with flawless sculpting to move the massive moai without any machinery."
• 25 years of Fendi’s Baguette bag - "As Fendi’s Baguette bag turns 25, millennials and Gen Z resurrect 90s looks in search of better and simpler times."
• The most scenic railway in Europe: how an old Welsh mining line became a world beater - "A Which? survey has found that Wales has the best scenic railway, the Ffestiniog, plus two more in the top 10, which beats Switzerland and Norway."
• From Rockford, Illinois To Paris, Discover ‘Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh’ - "Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh is the testament of a relationship that changed the course of fashion history. Virgil Abloh started as Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton in June 2018. It marked the starting point of the beginning of a luxury new era including inclusivity, diversity and empowerment. The book written by his close collaborator Anders Christian Madsen offers an intimate incursion in the life of a great man born to break boundaries, not only in fashion but also in art, design, architecture and music. 'Virgil was not only a designer of genius, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful, sound and great wisdom.' Bernard Arnault."

September 9, 2022

• Queen Elizabeth II: a royal life in pictures - "A look back through the decades at Britain’s longest serving monarch."
• Queen Elizabeth II obituary - "Monarch who through her seven decades of public service became a figure of fascination by remaining steadfastly private."
• What can the world expect from King Charles III? - "Following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, Charles has ascended to the British throne after more than 70 years as the heir apparent."
• What happens now that the Queen has died - "With the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, every detail of the next fortnight has been planned and rehearsed to the finest detail - and was even signed off by the monarch herself."
• The Queen’s funeral: what we can expect over the next 10 days - "From the time of the official announcement to the Queen’s state funeral, here is the detailed countdown of events."
• Queen Elizabeth II: World leaders remember a 'kind-hearted Queen' - "World leaders and dignitaries have been paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who has died at the age of 96."
• How titles & the line of succession have changed - "Royal Family tree and line of succession. Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in British history. She had four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She died on 8 September after 70 years on the throne and is succeeded by her eldest son, Charles. Find out more about the Royal Family and the line of succession below."
• World on brink of five ‘disastrous’ climate tipping points, study finds - "Giant ice sheets, ocean currents and permafrost regions may already have passed point of irreversible change."
• iPhone 14 Pro ditches the notch for a giant hole in the screen - "It's called the 'Dynamic Island,' and it looks surprisingly cool."
• The Unexpected Power of Random Acts of Kindness - "New research shows small gestures matter even more than we may think."
• A Smartphone That Lasts a Decade? Yes, It’s Possible - "A smartphone that is made for longevity can be a real thing. Too bad that’s not how most of them are designed."
• Climate Change Could Worsen Supply Chain Turmoil - "A drought that has crippled economic activity in southwestern China hints at the kind of disruption that climate change could wreak on global supply chains."
• Forget Rome & Pisa. These villages are Italy's best-kept secrets - "8 Italian villages you may have never heard of. Travelers tend to head to the big name destinations like Venice, Florence, Rome, and even Naples when visiting Italy. But there are many equally, if not more, beautiful villages in the European country that are largely unknown, even among some Italians. In fact, Italy is dotted with over 5,000 gorgeous, under-the-radar villages with great food, pristine scenery and few residents."
• Style Guide: How to dress in digital fashion - "The brands breaking into digital fashion believe virtual clothes will become increasingly important as we spend more of our lives online."
• James Bond on Bond Street - "Sotheby's is delighted to present our cross-category James Bond sale to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the first time Bond hit the screens in 1962 wit."
• The Good Fight: The show that sums up our times - "As The Good Fight starts its final season, its creators tell Clare Thorp about their approach to a show that has offered cathartic relief in a chaotic world."
• Emmys 2022 predictions: who will win & who should win? - "Will Succession dominate again? Can Abbott Elementary upset Ted Lasso? Our picks for who will, and who should, win TV’s top awards on 12 September."
• Does trauma really make us stronger? - "The complicated truth of post-traumatic growth. We are often told about people’s capacity to thrive after trauma - but these claims may put unnecessary pressure on survivors."
• Study reveals striking differences in brains of modern humans & Neanderthals - "Results believed to be first compelling evidence that modern humans were cognitively better than Neanderthals."
• The ancient guide for uncertain times - "For many people, the world is in a state of upheaval that can feel difficult to cope with, but can the teachings of the Stoics help in these troubling times?"

September 8, 2022

• Apple’s iPhone 14 event: the 9 biggest announcements - "All the news from Apple’s Far Out event."
• Hands-on with the iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max - "A first look at the new always-on display, camera, and more."
• Apple Watch Series 8, SE & Ultra hands-on: triple the fun - "Two incremental updates and one big newcomer."
• Will the Apple Watch Ultra make Garmin the next Nokia? - "Apple begins slow-rolling its way onto Garmin’s lucrative turf."
• Apple’s new AirPods Pro hands-on: sticking close to a winning formula - "No high-res audio, but new convenient tricks and better noise cancellation."
• Steve Jobs’ friends & family just launched an archive to celebrate his life - The Steve Jobs Archive is live now.
• Chengdu, Chinese city of 21m, has Covid lockdown extended indefinitely - "No date given for end of extended lockdown in city that is a crucial supplier of Apple products."
• Pentagon halts deliveries of F-35 fighter jets after discovering a component manufactured in China - "The Pentagon says it's temporarily stopping deliveries of Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 aircraft after learning from the manufacturer an alloy made in China was in a component of the stealth fighter jet, violating federal defense acquisition rules."
• Mar-a-Lago a magnet for spies, officials warn after nuclear file reportedly found - "Former intelligence chiefs say national security officials are ‘shaking their heads at what damage might have been done’."
• France to make twice as much Champagne this year, more wine - "Champagne production in France is expected to almost double this year, with overall wine production up 16% compared with frost-ravaged 2021 output, although drought and heatwaves have curbed prospects in some regions, the farm ministry said on Wednesday. Overall wine production was projected at 44.0 million hectolitres this year, in the middle of an initial range of 42.6-45.6 million projected by the ministry last month. A hectolitre is the equivalent of 100 litres, or about 133 standard wine bottles."
• When George Clooney Met Julia Roberts (Don’t Believe the Reports) - "For their latest big-screen partnership, they play exes who take shots at each other. It’s not such a stretch to the fond insults they sling in real life."
• Angelina Jolie accuses Brad Pitt of 'waging a vindictive war' in lawsuit - "Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's battle over their winery continues. In February, Pitt sued Jolie over what his claim called the 'unlawful' sale of her stake in Château Miraval, a country estate and winery in the south of France acquired by the couple in 2008. In a countersuit filed this week, obtained by CNN, Jolie accused her ex-husband Brad Pitt of 'waging a vindictive war against her' and 'hijacking' control of the lucrative winery business they once shared."
• Jerry Seinfeld's streetwear campaign has the internet talking - "Jerry Seinfeld is known for many things but being a style icon was never among them. Unless, of course, you count the The Puffy Shirt from the Seinfeld episode of the same name - a garment that is so iconic that it now lives permanently at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. So, it came as a surprise to many that New York streetwear brand Kith chose the 68-year-old as the face of its new collection."
• Big oil companies are spending millions to appear 'green' - "Their investments tell a different story, report shows."
• Most stylish new hotels & spas for 2022 revealed - "The hospitality industry is back in full swing and the last couple of years have seen a host of exciting new hotels and spas open around the world. Some of the most spectacular new designs have been honored by architecture and design magazine Dezeen, which has just released its awards shortlist for 2022."
• US tourist fined $450 for eating & drinking on a Roman fountain - "An American visitor to Rome has been fined €450 ($450) for eating and drinking while sitting on the side of a fountain, under rules designed to maintain the 'decorum' of the city in the face of overtourism."
• Just 2 minutes of walking after eating can help blood sugar, study says - "For centuries, people in the sunny Mediterranean would get up after long, leisurely meals and take a walk, often to the town square to see neighbors and socialize. Walking is so much a part of that lifestyle it is listed as a foundation of the Über-healthy Mediterranean diet."
• Ultraprocessed foods linked to cancer & early death, studies find - "Eating a lot of ultraprocessed foods significantly increases men's risk of colorectal cancer and can lead to heart disease and early death in both men and women, according to two new, large-scale studies of people in the United States and Italy published Wednesday in British medical journal The BMJ. Ultraprocessed foods include prepackaged soups, sauces, frozen pizza, ready-to-eat meals and pleasure foods such as hot dogs, sausages, french fries, sodas, store-bought cookies, cakes, candies, doughnuts, ice cream and many more."
• Italy's debated gluten-free pasta - "Pizzoccheri: Italy's debated buckwheat pasta recipe."
• The mystery of the human sacrifices buried in Europe's bogs - "Uncannily well-preserved bodies from the ancient world occasionally surface Northern Europe's bogs. Stranger even than their remarkable preservation is the disturbing manner of their deaths."
• Get inside BjÖrk’s otherworldly head, one album at a time - "The iconic Icelandic singer reveals all about her creative process in Björk: Sonic Symbolism. Join Björk in conversations with collaborators about her sound experiences. In the podcast you’ll learn about the moods, timbers, and tempos that vibrate through each album."
• Louis Vuitton Celebrates 20 Years Of Tambour With Limited-Edition Twenty Watch - "It was in 2002 that the iconic house of Louis Vuitton introduced its first Tambour watch. Inspired by the English drum, the Tambour had a round case shape but with thicker case sides that flared out to emulate a drum and integrated highly shaped lugs that almost resemble a handle. While Louis Vuitton had begun creating watches more than a decade earlier, in 1988, the Tambour was a significant collection, as it was the first watch to make its debut since the brand opened its workshops (also in 2002). Now, 20 years later, Louis Vuitton releases the Tambour Twenty watch."

September 7, 2022

• WHAT TO EXPECT FROM APPLE’S IPHONE 14 EVENT - "Gadgets galore." Slated for September 7th, 2022 at 1:00PM ET.
• How to watch Apple’s ‘Far Out’ event - "Watch from wherever you are."
• Top Creators 2022 - "These 49 social media savants - and one dog - are redefining celebrity for our connected age." Forbes.
• How China Has Added to Its Influence Over the iPhone - "Apple is taking small steps toward India. But the production of its latest phone, set for introduction on Wednesday, shows how difficult it will be to make big changes. Gradually, China nurtured homegrown suppliers that began to displace Apple's suppliers from around the world. Chinese companies began making speakers, cutting glass, providing batteries and manufacturing camera modules. Its suppliers now account for more than 25 percent of the value of an iPhone, according to Mr. Xing."
• As China's economy slows, one industry is seeing record profits: Covid testing - "China's zero-Covid strategy of endless testing and lockdowns has hammered its economy and taken a toll on company profits, but it has delivered a windfall for test makers. Twelve of China's top Covid testing firms have recently posted huge increases in both revenues and net profits for the first half of this year. Andon Health, which supplies Covid test kits both at home and abroad, reported that its net profit skyrocketed by 27,728% in the first six months of 2022, reaching 15.24 billion yuan ($2.2 billion). It was the biggest increase recorded by any listed company in mainland China."
• Ukraine war: Putin says West's sanctions fever wrecks European lives - "Vladimir Putin has condemned Western sanctions imposed because of Russia's war in Ukraine as a fever that poses a threat to the entire world."
• FBI found document on foreign nuclear defenses at Mar-a-Lago - report - "Recovered records include material even senior Biden officials were not authorized to view, Washington Post reports."
• Why did a judge grant Trump’s request for a ‘special master’? - "Monday’s decision by a US federal judge to stop the investigation of Donald Trump’s seizure of classified documents until a “special master” reviews them has thrown the political and legal worlds into uproar - pitting those who believe the ex-president has special legal privileges against those who think he should be treated like any other citizen."
• More cases of Dengue Fever on Riviera - "A case of dengue fever has been reported in the Alpes-Maritimes and five others have been identified in the Var, according to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Regional Health Agency. All of the cases involved infections from direct tiger mosquito bites, rather than cases among travellers returning from abroad."
• Money Can’t Buy Class. Or Can It? - "In 'Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion, and Constant Change,' W. David Marx sets out to unravel the grand mysteries of identity." Solving the long-standing mysteries of culture - from the origin of our tastes and identities, to the perpetual cycles of fashions and fads - through a careful exploration of the fundamental human desire for status.
• Walk this number of steps each day to cut your risk of dementia - "Want to reduce your risk for dementia? Slap on a step counter and start tallying your steps - you'll need between 3,800 and 9,800 each day to reduce your risk of mental decline, according to a new study."
• Google Maps can now tune its eco-friendly navigation for gas, diesel & electrified vehicles - "The feature, originally launched in the US and Canada last year, will highlight routes that use less energy if they have a similar ETA to other alternate routes. Google says that starting today, it is rolling out to users in “nearly 40” European countries, including France, Ireland, Poland, Spain, and the UK. (It was introduced in Germany last month.)"
• Dutch city of Haarlem may be world’s first to ban most meat ads - "Haarlem in The Netherlands is set to ban most meat ads from public spaces because of the food's climate impact."
• An architect asked AI to design skyscrapers of the future. This is what it proposed - "Manas Bhatia has a bold vision of the future - one where residential skyscrapers covered in trees, plants and algae act as 'air purification towers.' In a series of detailed images, the New Delhi-based architect and computational designer has brought the idea to life. His imagined buildings are depicted rising high above a futuristic metropolis, their curved forms inspired by shapes found in nature. But the pictures were not entirely of his own imagination."
• ‘The real life of Athens is here’ - hidden gems beyond & beneath the Acropolis - "The Acropolis Museum’s underground lab, the ancient Hadrian aqueduct and an arts festival in an old factory offer a more personal view of the Greek capital."
• 67 New Hotels Around The World Worth Exploring This Fall - Forbes.
• Flight Attendant Says You Shouldn't do These 5 Things on Airplanes - "There are many rules of airline travel. Some are unspoken rules of etiquette, others are for safety, but generally speaking, each was created to provide passengers with the safest and most comfortable flight possible. But, as one flight attendant recently shared, some unspoken rules are meant to keep passengers healthy."
• The first phone maker to add satellite texting to its devices is... Huawei - "Your move, Apple."
• Louis Vuitton Releases 'Paint Can' Bags - "The line is said to be inspired by the late artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear line, Virgil Abloh. Made from coated canvas and cowhide leather trim, the microfibre lining complements the silver hardware of the single compartment bag."
• The story behind the world's longest outdoor escalator system - "Exploring the bustling Central business district of Hong Kong on foot can be quite the challenge. The area's hilly landscape, combined with subtropical heat and smothering humidity, would test the stamina of a mountaineer. Luckily, there's the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator - an 800-meter-long chain of moving stairs and walkways that's been dubbed the world's longest outdoor escalator system."
• The search for 'meaning' at work - "Increasingly, employees say they want their work to matter. But what actually defines a 'meaningful' job?"
• 225-million-year-old mammal is the oldest ever identified - "Brasilodon quadrangularis was a small shrew-like creature, around 20 centimeters (8 inches) long, that walked the earth 225 million years ago at the same time as some of the oldest dinosaurs and sheds light on the evolution of modern mammals, according to a team of Brazilian and British scientists."
• Omelette Arnold Bennett - "This indulgent omelette recipe is rich, creamy and perfect for a weekend treat. Fluffy eggs, béchamel sauce and smoked haddock are topped with cheese and grilled to create a crisp top."

September 6, 2022

• Chinese cities rush to lockdown in show of loyalty to Xi's 'zero-Covid' strategy - "More than 70 Chinese cities have been placed under full or partial Covid lockdowns since late August, impacting more than 300 million people, as local authorities rush to stamp out infections at all cost in the final countdown to leader Xi Jinping's expected third term."
• Dr. Gupta: This treatment for 'brain fog' from long-Covid just might surprise you - "CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on an experimental treatment for 'brain fog' that could help what some long-Covid patients experience."
• Dark matter & lithium water: 15 big issues poised to affect oceans & coastlines - "Global experts consider the impact of emerging trends on marine and coastal biodiversity. In the spirit of the annual University of Cambridge–led horizon scan of emerging conservation issues, 30 experts from around the world last year put their heads together to brainstorm and assess the potential impacts to ocean and coastal ecosystems over the next decade of a spectrum of human activities."
• Scientists hope ‘world’s loneliest tree’ will help answer climate questions - "New Zealand researchers believe the isolated spruce could reveal much about the Southern Ocean, one of the world’s major carbon sinks."
• Russia is purchasing millions of rockets & artillery shells from North Korea, source says - "The purchase indicates that the Russian military continues to suffer from severe supply shortages in Ukraine, due in part to export controls and sanctions, according to the official."
• Boris Johnson likens himself to Roman who returned as dictator - "Departing PM references Cincinnatus, who turned to farming after leaving Rome - but then returned to power."
• Enabling a demagogue: a new film traces Republicans’ capitulation to Donald Trump - "Michael Kirk’s documentary Lies, Politics and Democracy is a chilling study in how Trump subdued the Republican party."
• Elon Musk Lands The Hottest Gig in Hollywood - "Tesla's billionaire CEO just landed one of the hottest gigs. Musk has just announced that he now has a new task to accomplish: he will open a show by comedian Chris Rock, who has been in the news for several months after the Slapgate scandal."
• Stunning new 8K footage shows Titanic as it's never been seen before - "New footage has been released showing the wreck of the RMS Titanic as it's never been seen before: in full 8K quality, the highest screen resolution currently available. That's a horizontal resolution of 8,000 pixels, or twice as clear as a 4K TV. And it means there's an unprecedented level of detail and color in this latest exploration of the 110-year-old shipwreck."
• Leaked Apple Watch Pro case looks big at 49mm - "Too big for some, too small for others."
• Complete List & Photos Of All Shortlisted Watches In The 2022 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de GenÈve (GPHG) - "The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has just published the list of 2022’s shortlisted (“nominated”) watches in the runup to the eagerly anticipated red-carpet event in Geneva on November 10, 2022. The 15 regular categories for 2022 are: Ladies, Ladies Complication, Men’s, Men’s Complication, Iconic, Tourbillon, Chronograph, Mechanical Exception, Calendar and Astronomy, Diver’s, Jewellery, Artistic Crafts, Petite Aiguille (watches with retail prices between 3,500 and 10,000 Swiss francs), Challenge (watches with retail prices under 3,500 Swiss francs), and a new one called Mechanical Clock. The main prize of the evening is the Aiguille d’Or, the best watch overall among the entrants, which will be voted in the room by a smaller jury chosen from the now nearly 500 Academy members."
• Venice Film Festival: The best fashion on show - "As the 79th installment of the Venice Film Festival continues this week, there's been no shortage of celebrity fashion moments thanks to premieres like Noah Baumbach's 'White Noise,' starring Greta Gerwig and Adam Driver, the buzzy 'Don't Worry Darling' directed by Olivia Wilde featuring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh, as well as 'Blonde' - Netflix's Marilyn Monroe biopic with Ana de Armas."
• Meghan Markle wears Princess Diana's £17,800 Cartier watch & a £5,000 Cartier bangle - "Meghan Markle dazzled in an array of luxury jewellery when in Dusseldorf today. The Duchess of Sussex, 41, added a touch of glitz to her ensemble with her late mother-in-law Princess Diana's £17,800 gold Cartier Tank watch."
• Why this remote corner of Asia has been dubbed the 'last paradise on Earth' - "Indonesia's Raja Ampat: 'The last paradise on Earth'. Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the Raja Ampat Marine Protected Area Network spans over 4 million hectares and includes around 1,500 islands. Credited with having the richest marine biodiversity on Earth and a relatively remote location that has allowed it to escape mass tourism, it's no surprise that Raja Ampat is often marketed as 'the last paradise on Earth.' It's home to more than 1,600 species of fish, while some 75% of the world's known coral species can be found there."
• the slow train from France to Spain - "Our slow travel expert dodges the high-speed TGV and takes a regional train from Avignon bound for Portbou, just over the Spanish border."
• Minks were thought to be impossible to tame. Enter: The "Mink Man" - "Joseph Carter aka the 'Mink Man,' explains to 'Nightcap's' Jon Sarlin how he managed to become YouTube's top mink trainer."
• How many people can Earth handle? - "Towards the end of 2022, the human population on Earth is expected to reach eight billion. To mark the occasion, BBC Future takes a look at one of the most controversial issues of our time. Are there too many of us? Or is this the wrong question?"
• Curiosity: The neglected trait that drives success - "Exploring your curiosity can be incredibly good for your mind, with benefits for learning, creativity and even job enjoyment."
• The big idea: why relationships are the key to existence - "From subatomic particles to human beings, interaction is what shapes reality."
• DALL-E can now help you imagine what’s outside the frame of famous paintings - "OpenAI introduces native ‘outpainting’ for its AI image generator."
• David LaChapelle: ‘I’ve never seen what I do as objectification’ - "The world famous photographer, known for portraits of Britney Spears, Eminem, Tupac and Angelina Jolie, discusses his long career ahead of a new retrospective."
• ‘Picasso nearly fell over backwards when he saw her’ - Lee Miller’s son on their intense relationship - "She was a model-turned-photographer whose unflinching eye captured the horror of the Nazis. But for too long, this extraordinary woman was defined as ‘Picasso’s muse’. As a new show puts this right, her son looks back."
• Unfinish’d sympathy: can literature get over reading disability morally? - "The ‘crookednesse’ of Richard III’s back was presented by Shakespeare as an expression of his villainy while Quasismodo embodied saintly unworldliness. Are we ready to see disability without symbolism?"
• Jaws is a box office hit again, 47 years after it first hit theaters - "All it took was $3 movie tickets and 3D."

September 5, 2022

• The pleasure-based guide to life online - "The Epicurean guide to digital life. It's an Ancient Greek philosophy known for its lessons on material existence and pleasure-seeking. So what might Epicureanism say about living well on social media and the internet?"
• The most controversial PM since Lloyd George: historians on Boris Johnson - "In the pantheon of UK premiers, Johnson must claim his place as among the most scandalous, say experts."
• Russian parents & teachers urged to boycott ‘propaganda classes’ - "Activists say ‘conversations about important things’ classes will seek to indoctrinate children as young as six."
• The super-rich ‘preppers’ planning to save themselves from the apocalypse - "Tech billionaires are buying up luxurious bunkers and hiring military security to survive a societal collapse they helped create, but like everything they do, it has unintended consequences."
• 22 of the USA's most underrated destinations - "Disney World, Times Square and Yellowstone National Park can be packed to the rafters with tourists. But there are plenty of other places across the United States that continue to fly beneath the travel radar."
• Age gaps: The relationship taboo that won't die - "Societies are increasingly progressive; today, many people accept that love presents in many ways. So why do people still judge couples who are many years apart?"
• Netflix to launch cheaper ad-supported subscription tier in November - "Streaming platform reportedly brings forward low-cost option initially planned for 2023 to get ahead of similar service with ads from Disney+."
• Twitter’s edit button is a big test for the platform’s future - "Re-inventing the tweet is a hard thing to do."
• Does yoga count as exercise? - "A physical therapist helps to settle the debate: is yoga really exercise? 'Exercise includes any activity that gets the body moving or requires some physical effort, and it's undertaken with the intent of improving health or fitness,' informs Hinsley. Hinsley says yoga qualifies as exercise if it's practiced in a way that fits such a description."
• Meet The Owner Of America's Best New Cocktail Bar For 2022: Kate Gerwin - "The founder of Happy Accidents in Albuquerque, New Mexico on winning a top prize at the 2022 Spirited Awards." YouTube 3:15.
• 10 Smart Home Devices You Won't Want to Live Without - "From security-minded gadgets to better-living appliances, these devices will make your life easier."
• 12 Most Expensive Whiskies Ever Sold at Auction - "When it comes to the most expensive whisky in the world, seven-figure sums are pretty much the standard."
• 10 Best Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskies Under $100, Ranked - "Speyside whisky is one of the most revered styles on the planet. It’s also one of the most ubiquitous regional styles from a relatively small area. All of Speyside is situated inside Scotland’s Highland region, yet Speyside is home to about 50 distilleries and responsible for around 50% of all Scotch whisky made."
• Savile Row revamp could cut a swathe through the fabric of London - "Tempers flare on the Mayfair street after its biggest landlord launched plans to house cafes and office space at the iconic location."
• Ducati's Streetfighter V4 Lamborghini Is a 208 hp Raging of a Bike - "First Look: Ducati and Lamborghini Team Up on a 208 HP Raging Bull of a Bike. Aside from the 630 planned for distribution, 63 custom examples, priced at $83,000, will be reserved for Lamborghini owners."

September 4, 2022

• How Much Does That Oligarch’s Yacht Actually Cost? - "An accounting, down to the hull and the Picassos."
• How David Geffen’s Yacht Photos Became a “Status Thing” in Hollywood - "David Geffen's superyacht the Rising Sun has become a photo op for A-list stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Chris Rock, Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and even Jeff Bezos."
• Trump repeatedly called for lengthy jail sentences for those who he claimed mishandled classified information - "Speaking in 2016 about the government's decision not to charge Hillary Clinton with crimes related to their investigation into her handling of classified material and use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, then-candidate Trump repeatedly promised that his administration would strictly enforce all rules regarding classified material."
• Barack Obama: Emmy win for narrating Netflix documentary - "Former president Barack Obama won the best narrator Emmy Award on Saturday for his Netflix documentary series, Our Great National Parks."
• On the brink: how Liz Truss rose to claim the Conservative crown - "The foreign secretary will almost certainly be crowned prime minister, but her path points to problems ahead, including the cost of living crisis and spectre of Boris Johnson."
• The Only Ab Exercises You’ll Ever Need for Six-Pack Abs, According to Science - "If you want to develop a 6-pack, you need to perform the best ab exercises. In this article, we will review 12 of the best abdominal movements that can help you define your abdominal region."
• Tom Sachs Wants to Change the Way You Look at Sneakers - "On the eve of the next General Purpose Shoe release, the New York artist breaks down why he decided to make the world’s most boring shoe."
• When Bruce Lee illegally fought Chuck Norris - "Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris represent the two most fabled hardmen in history. Whilst Bruce’s fists were so fast he may as well have been called Sudden Lee, it was also rumoured for a time that Chuck Norris actually sported a third fist under his beard. In short, we’re dealing with two movie stars apparently so tough in real life that they have been mythologised as almost superhuman, even off-screen."
• K-everything: the rise & rise of Korean culture - "From music to movies, technology to food, the world has fallen in love with everything South Korean. Ahead of a big London exhibition, Tim Adams visits Seoul in search of the origins of hallyu - the Korean wave."
• The North Korean defectors who became YouTube stars - "For many of these influencers, who have fled one of the world's most isolated and impoverished nations for one of its most technologically advanced and digitally connected, this career path isn't as strange as it may seem."
• Why Did My Ex-Husband Catfish Me on a Dating App? - "A reader wading back into the dating pool is angered to have been duped by her ex, who chatted with her using a false identity for weeks." The New York Times.
• Why Is Pickleball So Popular? - "Everyone and their mother seems to be playing. What’s the draw - and is it really a workout?"
• AI won an art contest & artists are furious - "In August, Allen, a game designer who lives in Pueblo West, Colorado, won first place in the emerging artist division's 'digital arts/digitally-manipulated photography' category at the Colorado State Fair Fine Arts Competition."
• How Fake GPS Coordinates Are Leading to Lawlessness on the High Seas - "A technology enabling the transmission of fake locations to carry out murky or even illegal business operations could have profound implications for the enforcement of international law. The technology, in essence, replicates the effect of a VPN cellphone app, making a ship appear to be in one place, while physically being elsewhere."
• Is Quebec's French the 'real' French? - "The royal roots of Quebec's French. Quebecois French has long been mocked for its rough-and-tumble sound, but this version of French is more likely what 17th-Century French aristocracy spoke - including the king."
• How to create a cosy home (without buying anything new) - "In an extract from her new book, Sali Highes, our beauty columnist shares her top tips on how to create the perfect cosy sanctuary - from the power of blankets to how to save on paint."
• Why it Matters that I just saw a Google Nest Hub control an Apple HomeKit smart plug - "The Matter standard is a lightbulb moment for the smart home."
• The Very Best Time To Book A Cheap Flight? It’s Complicated - "Most travelers know that booking a flight at the last minute means paying through the nose. Travel experts, travel agents, online travel booking sites will all tell you that booking earlier is better."
• Test-Driving The Savage 2022 McLaren GT - "It's $217,555 with all options."

September 3, 2022

• Russia cuts off gas exports to Europe via Nord Stream indefinitely - "Move expected to worsen a shortage that threatens to tip the continent into energy crisis this winter. Russia won't immediately resume exports of natural gas to Europe through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline, worsening a shortage that threatens to tip the continent into an energy crisis this winter."
• Prevent tree extinctions or face global ecological catastrophe, scientists warn - "New paper issues ‘warning to humanity’ as it calls for urgent action to protect world’s 60,000 tree species."
• World's tallest outdoor elevator offers views over 'Avatar' landscape - "The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan, China is famed for its towering, pillar-like karst formations, and bears a remarkable resemblance to the floating landscape of alien-world Pandora, which plays a starring role in the movie. The 326-meter-tall glass Bailong Elevator was built onto the side of a cliff in the national park and offers stunning views of the karst formations."
• Cool reception to Meghan media blitz suggests US not yet sold on former royals - "Meghan Markle launched a US media blitz last week with a podcast and a lengthy magazine profile, but the somewhat cool reception she and husband Prince Harry are now receiving in America suggests there are still bumps in their road ahead as they seek to establish themselves as bona fide celebrities."
• Athens ranked cheapest location in Europe for city break - "Prices have fallen and a weekend in the Greek capital costs £207, compared with £218 in runner-up Lisbon."
• 15 Best Places to Visit in Mexico - "Be it windswept tropical beaches, charming cobbled towns, or the welcoming nature of its culture that has a way of drawing visitors in, Mexico delights as one of the top travel destinations in the world. According to Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism, from 2020 to 2021 alone tourist rates to the country grew a staggering 28.1 percent to round out at 31 million visitors in 2021 - and with this year’s numbers set to outpace the last, it suffices to say that interest in Mexico is only set to increase."
• A now-dry branch of the Nile helped build Egypt's pyramids, new study says - "New evidence about the Nile bolsters a long-standing theory of how ancient Egyptians managed to build the massive pyramids of Giza thousands of years ago. Researchers led by geographer Hader Sheisha at Aix-Marseille University in France used paleoecological clues to help reconstruct what Egypt's Nile river might have looked like over the past 8,000 years."
• Trump investigation: Empty folders marked classified found at Mar-a-Lago - "FBI agents found dozens of empty folders marked as classified during a search of Donald Trump's Florida home last month, a court filing shows. The document, made public by a Florida court, provides an inventory of the contents of 33 boxes recovered from the former president's Mar-a-Lago estate."
• Jane Fonda: Hollywood star having chemotherapy for cancer - "Actress Jane Fonda has revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer and is having chemotherapy. In a post to her 1.9m Instagram followers, the 84-year-old said she has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma."
• Anne Heche was trapped in burning home for 45 minutes, records show - "Newly obtained fire department radio traffic and records reveal the prolonged effort to rescue the actor after a fiery crash in California."
• 55 of Princess Diana's Best Hair Moments - "A look back at the late royal's greatest hairstyles."
• The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now - "The sheer volume of films on Netflix - and the site’s less than ideal interface - can make finding a genuinely great movie there a difficult task. To help, we’ve plucked out the 50 best films currently streaming on the service in the United States, updated regularly as titles come and go. And as a bonus, we link to more great movies on Netflix within many of our write-ups below. (Note: Streaming services sometimes remove titles or change starting dates without giving notice.)"
• The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now - "New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don’t have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We’ll do the heavy lifting. You press play."
• The British islands that disappear every day - "Located between Britain and France, the Minquiers have long been subject to the squabbles of dukedoms and governments, torn between Normans, Britons and French for 1,000-plus years. The southern-most building in the British Isles is not a crumbling castle, built to repel would-be conquerors; nor is it a lonely lighthouse, flashing a warning beacon to passing seafarers. It is a public toilet."
• The art of mashing up words to create new ones - "Ever said the words hangry, smog or mansplaining? You've been using portmanteau, as etymologist and broadcaster Susie Dent explains."
• Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky treats himself to a "little Versailles" in Essonne, France - "The billionaire bought the Château du Marais, 40 kilometers southwest of Paris, to transform it into a luxury hotel."
• TWITTER HAD A NEW PLAN TO FIGHT EXTREMISM - THEN ELON ARRIVED - "The company had an ambitious plan to fight extremism on the platform. So what happened to it?"
• Microwave your sponges & vacuum your broom: how to clean your cleaning products - "The vacuum cleaner can often be the dirtiest appliance in the house; but spring cleaning your cleaning gear can make for a more efficient, healthier home."
• MB&F Reveals $80,000 Split Escapement Evo Watch - "MB&F Combines Two Beloved Revolutionary Innovations In The Legacy Machine Split Escapement Evo Watch. Even if you are not a real watch lover and collector, you may have heard of the Swiss independent brand MB&F (Max Busser & Friends). This is the brand that has brought us such loveable timepieces as the Bulldog, the owl, and outrageous three-dimensional space-age rocket ships and aliens. Wrists almost come to life when MB&F watches are on them. Now, the relatively young brand (founded in 2005) combines two of its beloved innovations into one new horological machine: the Legacy Machine Split Escapement Evo watch."
• The George Daniels Spring Case Tourbillon Is The Most Important Watch Of The Auction Season - "It's up for grabs at Phillips this November. Here's what you need to know about this highly significant George Daniels timekeeper."
• Leica shows off its first 4K ultra-short-throw projector - "As you'd expect, it won't be cheap."
• APPLE MAPS TURNS 10 & IT’S FINALLY WORTH USING - "It’s getting there, slowly but surely."
• World's First 'Super-Quad' Is A Lamborghini V10-Powered 217-MPH Monster - "Love supercars and superbikes? Now you can blend the two."
• Kanye West’s Goyard Backpack Just Sold for 50 ETH - "Two weeks after Kanye West’s 1/1 Goyard 'Robot Face' backpack surfaced for $100,000 USD, an anonymous collective known as 'Elon.Space' has come forward stating that it purchased the limited-edition backpack for 50 ETH (approx. $100,000 USD at the time of purchase) directly from luxury consignor Justin Reed."

September 2, 2022

• UN will have 'continued presence' at Zaporizhzhia plant - "'We're not going anywhere,' the International Atomic Energy Agency chief said after a team visited the Ukrainian nuclear plant despite shelling."
• ‘All of a sudden it’s undrinkable’: why an entire US city has no clean water - "Jackson, Mississippi, lost access to safe running water after flooding – but it’s the capstone to years of problems with race a possible factor."
• The Pandemic Erased Two Decades of Progress in Math & Reading - "The results of a national test showed just how devastating the last two years have been for 9-year-old schoolchildren, especially the most vulnerable."
• Why air turbulence could be about to get a whole lot worse - "Most of us have experienced turbulence while traveling: when your plane flies through clashing bodies of air moving at widely different speeds. Severe turbulence can put even the most seasoned flier on edge and make five minutes seem like an eternity. Usually it results in nothing more than a bumpy ride, but in the worst cases it can cause damages and injuries."
• 8 top-rated travel essentials, from Air Tags to clever carry-on bags - "Let's face it, travelling can be stressful. From delays to overweight baggage, getting to a holiday destination can leave even the calmest of us feeling frazzled. While we can't prepare or predetermine all stressful situations, there are some products that can help minimise some common travel struggles. From Apple AirTags to give our baggage the best chance of being found if it should go missing to a luggage scale so you never have to unpack your overfilled suitcase in front of a queue of people again, we've found eight top-rated buys we think are worthing adding to your holiday packing check list."
• 10 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From Soap in a Can to Slip-on Sneakers - "Expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos."
• Gucci Adds Luxury to a Body Monitoring Ring - "A second iteration of the collaboration between the Italian brand and a Finnish health technology company is expected this fall."
• Research Shows That People Who Do Strength Training Live Longer - Start With These 10 Simple Workouts - "While we know that exercising regularly is crucial to overall well-being, it’s important to understand that every exercise offers different benefits. Take cardio, for example - it promotes heart health and boosts circulation. Swimming, on the other hand, is a more low-impact workout that can improve endurance and strengthen and tone your muscles. Strength training is one of the most popular types of fitness that can build muscle mass while also contributing to weight loss. And according to a recent study, it can also help you live longer. Researchers found that people who engaged in strength training one to two times per week had a lower mortality risk compared to those who did not. Ready to start lifting? Here are some trainer-approved workouts to help you get started."
• who will take over from virgil abloh at louis vuitton? - "The Great Louis Vuitton Battle. Martine Rose v Telfar Clemens v Grace Wales Bonner: who will take the crown?"
• Millennials' houseplant habit has a hidden environmental toll - "How green is your Pinterest-perfect plant collection? Just how green is your greenery? It seems logical that more plants should be beneficial for the environment - after all, they produce the oxygen we breathe. But recent research has shown that houseplants don't do as much in terms of improving air quality as initially believed. And they do have a toll on the planet, belied by their eco-friendly appearance."
• An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes - "As Apple prepares to unveil new models next week, the smart watch has found an unexpected audience: children as young as 5. Across the United States, parents are increasingly buying Apple Watches and strapping them onto the wrists of children as young as 5. The goal: to use the devices as a stopgap cellphone for the kids. With the watch’s cellular abilities, parents can use it to reach and track their children, while the miniature screens mitigate issues like internet addiction."
• These cute robots are delivering hotel room service in Asia - "These cute robots could deliver your next coffee. The stocky white cuboid resembles Star Wars' R2D2 robot in its build, but has the wide-eyed expression of Pixar's WALL-E. It's delivering drinks to patrons of the HFT Life cafe in a compartment in its 'head' which is unlocked by the customer using a PIN code sent to their phone."
• Cruise ship visits restricted to less than eight months - "As part of Monaco’s new policy on cruise ships, the embargo on visits has been extended to more than four months, from mid-November until the end of March. Previously, it was only in January and February that cruise ship visits were banned. In 2019, there were 165 port calls by cruise ships, and this is expected to fall to 137 this year."
• The inside scoop on ice cream innovation - "This traditional treat dates back centuries, but today many frozen desserts are the culmination of months of research and development."
• The dangers of being over-confident - "Some of us seem to have an over-inflated belief in our abilities. Why are we resistant to the idea we might not be good at something?"
• How Social Media Influences Our Behavior & Vice Versa - "Max Fisher’s 'The Chaos Machine' examines the psychological impacts of technology."
• LG's Styler ShoeCase Takes Sneaker Storage to the Next Level - "Filters are integrated into the cases to protect your kicks from moisture and UV light."
• The Oldest Whisky From The World’s Oldest Scotch Distillery Is Now Available For Sale - "What a monumental year it’s been for The Glenturret. Scotland’s oldest working distillery was officially established in 1763, but in 2022 it’s proving to be as relevant as ever. Back in February, the Perthshire-based producer became the world’s first Michelin Star whisky distillery. This week it announces the release of its oldest single malt to date—a stunning 50-year-old expression packaged in a specially-designed Lalique crystal decanter."
• Meet The Newest Dior Grand Bal Watches With Diamonds & Gemstones Designed To Dance - "Dior, long known for his incredible ball gowns and distinctive couture, has put a finger on the design of watches – albeit via the deceased’s design ethics - for years now. The House of Dior has been creating mechanical watches for women for several decades, regularly recalling the Dior ball gown in all its beauty. The Dior Grand Bal collection is reminiscent of the swirling of a ball gown - one in which time almost stands still but is somehow always moving. Now, the brand releases the newest Dior Grand Bal with Dior Inverse caliber that enables swirling elegance on the wrist."

September 1, 2022

• US life expectancy falls to lowest level since 1996 - "US life expectancy has fallen to the lowest level seen since 1996, continuing a steep decline largely driven by the Covid-19 pandemic."
• Russian oil tycoon decorated by Putin dies after plunging from sixth-floor hospital window - "The latest official to die in a mysterious fall. Ravil Maganov, 67, chairman of Russian oil giant LUKOIL, died after falling froma window on the 6th floor of the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow at 7.30am."
• Carbon capture is not a solution to net zero emissions plans, report says - "The technology, put forward as part of the UK’s net zero strategy, could extend the life of fossil fuel infrastructure."
• Pain, Fear, Stigma: What People Who Survived Monkeypox Want You to Know - "Seven patients share their stories of devastating symptoms, their frustration over finding care and their efforts to help each other when doctors and officials have failed."
• Why we'll soon be drinking Arctic wine - "The Arctic Circle: A new frontier for sustainable wine. Once seen as experimental and at the fringe of what's possible, a commercial wine industry in regions just below the Arctic circle is taking advantage of the warmer summers."
• Dazzling pink diamond could fetch more than $21 million at auction - "A dazzling pink diamond, described as one of the world's purest, could fetch more than $21 million when it goes under the hammer in Hong Kong in October, auction house Sotheby's said on Wednesday. At 11.15 carats, the cushion-shaped gem is called 'Williamson Pink Star', in tribute to two other pink diamonds. One is the 'CTF Pink Star', a 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond which sold for a record $71.2 million at auction in 2017. The other is the 'Williamson' stone - a 23.60 carat diamond given to Britain's Queen Elizabeth as a wedding gift by Canadian geologist John Thorburn Williamson. Worn by the monarch in a Cartier brooch, it was discovered in his mine in Tanzania. The 11.15-carat Williamson Pink Star will be sold in a single-lot auction in Hong Kong on October 5."
• The 25 Most Iconic Photographs of Princess Diana - Vogue.
• Should you feed garden birds? - "Feeding stations can be dangerous places for garden birds, but there are other ways to help them."
• Why Trump-backed Truth Social still isn't available on Google's app store - "Truth Social, the Twitter-like social network backed by former President Donald Trump, remains unavailable on Google's Android app store because of deficiencies in the app's content moderation systems, according to a Google spokesperson."
• Editing tweets is one step closer to becoming a reality. What you need to know - "Twitter said Thursday it is working on a feature called Edit Tweet that will allow users to alter their tweets after publishing them."
• He bought a movie star's home in France & paid $300,000 to fix the pool - "The home had once belonged to French actress Danielle Darrieux, who appeared in over 100 films throughout her eight-decade career, during the 1950s. The swimming pool, thought to have been built in 1938, had once been a popular hangout spot, and many recalled being taught to swim there."
• Watch: Thousands catapult tomatoes in 'world's largest food fight' - "The 'Tomatina' tomato fight returned to the streets of Spain for its 75th year using trucks loaded with tens of thousands of pounds of food."
• Blood and Honey: are we ready for the Winnie the Pooh horror film? - "The first trailer for the violent slasher that reimagines the world of AA Milne is somehow even wilder than expected."
• Mikhail Gorbachev - a life in pictures - "The last leader of the Soviet Union, who started a process of liberalisation and reform that eventually led to its dissolution, has died at the age of 91 in Russia."
• 22 Fabulous Moments From Venice Film Festivals Past - "First held in 1932 as the Esposizione d’Arte Cinematografica - then just a section of the Biennale - the Venice Film Festival is not only the oldest festival of its kind in the world, but also the most glamorous (with the possible exception of Cannes)."

August 31, 2022

• Nord Stream 1: Russia shuts major gas pipeline to Europe - "Russia has completely halted gas supplies to Europe via a major pipeline, saying repairs are needed."
• Switzerland's vanishing glaciers threaten Europe's water supply - "Switzerland's glaciers have lost more than half their volume in less than a hundred years, and the long hot summer this year has accelerated the thaw, a new study shows."
• European power prices shatter records as energy crisis intensifies - "Power prices in Europe continue to smash records, intensifying the region's energy crisis and fanning fears about access to electricity and heating as the weather begins to cool. German power prices for next year, which are considered Europe's benchmark, briefly jumped above €1,000 ($999.80) per megawatt hour on Monday before falling back to €840 ($839.69) per megawatt hour."
• Energy crisis: Ursula von der Leyen calls for 'emergency intervention' in electricity market - "The worsening energy crisis besieging Europe has laid bare the 'limitations' of the electricity market and requires an 'emergency intervention' to bring down soaring prices, Ursula von der Leyen has said."
• China places millions into Covid lockdown again as economy continues to struggle - "Key cities of Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dalian are under curbs again, amid protests and data showing factory slowdown."
• You Want an Electric Car With a 300-Mile Range? When Was the Last Time You Drove 300 Miles? - "Throughout the history of America’s love affair with the car, nothing has succeeded quite like excess. Electric vehicles are heading down that same path. Give an E.V. a big enough battery and a fast-charging network, and suddenly you have the kind of vehicle we’ve always loved in this country: big, heavy, powerful and ready to head off into the sunset at a moment’s notice."
• France is working on a program to let people lease EVs for €100 per month - "The country currently offers up to €6,000 off new electric car purchases."
• Elon Musk thinks the population will collapse. Demographers say it's not happening - "Billionaire Elon Musk tweeted, not for the first time, that 'population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming.' Climate change is a serious problem facing the planet and experts say it's difficult to compare problems. What is clear, demographers say, is that the global population is growing, despite declines in some parts of the world, and it shouldn't be collapsing any time soon - even with birth rates at lower levels than in the past."
• 'Overcoming 60 years of apartheid is not the same as marrying a white prince' - "Nelson Mandela's grandson slams Meghan Markle for suggesting South Africans celebrated her wedding the same way they rejoiced his freedom."
• Meghan of Montecito She’s left the Firm behind - Harry’s found a polo team in Santa Barbara. The kids are doing great. Now she’s ready for her next act.
• Justice Department says classified documents at Mar-a-Lago were likely 'concealed & removed' to block investigation - "US government documents were "likely concealed and removed" from a storage room at Mar-a-Lago as part of an effort to "obstruct" the FBI's investigation into former President Donald Trump's potential mishandling of classified materials, the Justice Department said in a blockbuster court filing Tuesday night. More than 320 classified documents have now been recovered from Mar-a-Lago, the Justice Department said, including more than 100 in the FBI search earlier this month."
• Trump Bragged He Had ‘Intelligence’ on Macron’s Sex Life - "The FBI seized a document with 'info' on the French president during the Mar-a-Lago raid, and that has officials in both countries hunting for answers."
• Truth Social is strapped for cash and struggling to find new users - "It’s having a hard time getting Google Play Store approval."
• In pictures: The life of ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev - "Mikhail Gorbachev, the man who would go on to become one of the most influential political figures of the 20th Century, was born into relative poverty on 2 March 1931 in the Stavropol region of southern Russia."
• Gorbachev & Reagan: the capitalist & communist who helped end the cold war - "Former Reagan administration officials pay tribute to unlikely pair who shared a determination to pull the world back from the brink of a superpower war."
• How Princess Diana's style legacy continues today - "Twenty-five years after her death, Princess Diana's wardrobe continues to inspire new generations. From TikTok users painstakingly recreating her workout outfits to fashion fans sourcing cult items worn by the late royal, her style remains as influential as ever, sparking magazine photoshoots, designer runway collections and reissues of her beloved pieces."
• Princess Diana's life in photos - "Princess Diana: Her life and legacy."
• Remember when Princess Diana danced with John Travolta at the White House? - "It was November 1985, and the unlikely partners were guests of President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan. He wore a slick black suit. She wore a midnight blue velvet gown by couturier Victor Edelstein with a sapphire and pearl choker, an outfit that has since become emblematic of the princess."
• All the reasons Leonardo DiCaprio has only dated women under 25 for the past 20 years - "He's dated everyone from supermodel Naomi Campbell to Victoria's Secret Angel Gisele Bundchen - but Leonardo DiCaprio hasn't dates anyone over the age of 25 for 20 years."
• The Himalaya's hidden 'paradise valleys' - "According to Tibetan Buddhists, their location will only be revealed at very specific moments in time when the world is under enormous stress and in danger of destruction."
• The volcano-inspired superyacht concept with a 'molten staircase' - "Measuring 262 feet (80 meters), Forge is actually devised to resemble the silhouette of a volcano on the water, and judging from newly released renderings, the effect is pretty dramatic. With an estimated price tag of up to $100 million, the vessel can accommodate up to 12 guests within its eight suites."
• Norton Retools V4SV Superbike, 'Bikes Should Be Art' Says CEO - "Britbike Brand Norton Retools V4SV Superbike, Plans Electric Model, CEO Says Bikes Should Be Art."

August 30, 2022

• Chinese thinktank makes rare public call for Beijing to ease zero-Covid policy - "In report since taken off social media, Anbound Research Center said preventing ‘economic stall’ should take priority over virus elimination."
• As Americans ditch Covid measures, pandemic worsens for the vulnerable - "Older adults, immunocompromised and the very young are paying the price for the mask-less freedom of many."
• If You’re Suffering After Being Sick With Covid, It’s Not Just in Your Head - "Long Covid sufferers who caught the virus early have entered their third year with the condition. Many told me they have lost not just their health but also their jobs and health insurance. They’re running out of savings, treatment options and hope. To add to their misery - despite centuries of evidence that viral infections can lead later to terrible debilitating conditions - their travails are often dismissed as fantasy or as unworthy of serious concern."
• Layoffs. Losses. Plunging share prices. These pandemic winners are now struggling - "Few companies flourished more amid the pandemic's economic upheaval than Peloton. With people unable (or unwilling) to go to the gym, consumers rushed to buy its exercise equipment and, more importantly, sign up for its online classes. Peloton posted its first quarterly profits in calendar year 2020 as revenue jumped 139% and the stock soared 434%. The boost was short-lived. As gyms reopened and class subscriptions and equipment sales plunged, so did the company's outlook."
• Major sea-level rise caused by melting of Greenland ice cap is ‘now inevitable’ - "Loss will contribute a minimum rise of 27cm regardless of what climate action is taken, scientists discover."
• Greta Thunberg to publish a ‘go-to source’ book on the climate crisis - "The Climate Book will include contributions from scientist Katharine Hayhoe, economist Thomas Piketty and novelist Margaret Atwood."
• More than 40% of Americans think civil war likely within a decade - "More than half of ‘strong Republicans’ think such a conflict is at least somewhat likely, poll finds."
• Inside Harry & Meghan's 'startlingly big' California mansion of 'unimaginable wealth' - "In a new interview Meghan Markle offered a peek inside the Montecito mansion she shares with husband Harry, which boasts nine bedrooms and 16 bathrooms as well as a tennis court and guest house."
• Meghan interview: It takes effort to forgive, says Duchess of Sussex - "The Duchess of Sussex has spoken of the importance of forgiveness in a wide-ranging interview with a US magazine."
• Prince Charles 'saddened' if Harry thinks relationship is lost after Meghan bombshell - "Prince Charles has reportedly been 'saddened' by a new bombshell interview after Meghan Markle appeared to suggest Prince Harry had 'lost' his father when they left the Royal Family."
• Why the Japanese love Hawaii - "The story behind Japan's enduring love affair with Hawaii."
• Eight of the most stunning opera houses in the world - "From Valencia to the Amazon, and New York to Buenos Aires, Alex Sakalis explores the stories behind the most stunning opera venues across the globe."
• Airplane business class doors offer new levels of privacy. Not everyone thinks they're a good idea - "Business class is becoming increasingly more luxurious, spacious and private. Whether it's custom-designed seat and bed cushions, bespoke fittings and fixtures, or co-branding with some of the biggest names in luxury, business really is the new first class aboard many planes."
• Did My Cat Just Hit On Me? An Adventure in Pet Translation - "Entrepreneurs are aiming to put A.I.-powered pet translation tools into our pockets."
• Why Your Social Life Is Not What It Should Be - "It turns out many of us wear ridiculously negative antisocial filters. Epley and his team found that people underestimate how positively others will respond when they reach out to express support. Research led by Stav Atir and Kristina Wald showed that most people underestimate how much they will learn from conversations with strangers."
• Drinking tea may be linked to lower risk of death, study suggests - "Data from UK Biobank suggests people who drink two or more cups of black tea a day have lower risk of mortality."
• A paradise for walkers: Germany is home to more than 150 long-distance hiking trails - "An impressive network of trails, nearly all accessible by public transport, makes it easy to plan your own adventure in the Bundesrepublik."
• Bulgari reveals eight new watches - "Bulgari Blasts The Summer Doldrums With Eight New Watches In Shades Of Gold. As if to make up for the slow trickle of watch introductions during the summer slump, Bulgari is rolling out eight new beauties today to coincide with the opening of Geneva Watch Days, and there’s a theme: gold and black - two hot colors making a comeback in watches."
• DeLorean's new car looks nothing like the one you remember. Here's why - "If you've seen the new DeLorean Alpha5 electric car, you might be disappointed that it doesn't look much at all like the famous DeLorean DMC-12 from the "Back to the Future" movies. Really, other than the gullwing doors, there's not much that clearly ties the cars together. But the Alpha5, which made its public debut recently, does resemble some DeLoreans you might not remember because none of them were ever actually made."
• Unseen Charles Dickens letters show author's awareness of fame - "The 11 letters reveal the author's reading habits, writing projects and his frustration at the loss of a Sunday postal service."
• Does whiskey have a 'terroir'? - "How whiskey is shaped by the weather and climate. Temperature, humidity and air pressure all can affect the production and taste of whiskey. Distillers are hoping to harness these elements to make the drink better."
• Too precious to put on? How to decide whether to wear an antique garment - "While the pleasure in owning clothes is usually wearing them, conservators warn that with some vintage and heirloom pieces, using them may mean losing them."
• Bentley Residences Miami Is A 61-Story Apartment Complex With An Elevator For Your Car - "Live in a luxury apartment complex, but fed up with having to leave your car in the parking lot with everyone else's? Bentley understands your concern, so is fitting a car elevator to its 61-story Miami tower. Announced in April 2021 and called Bentley Residences, the building is due to be completed in 2026, when it will become the tallest beachfront residential tower in Miami, measuring 749 feet (228 meters). Every apartment will have access to a car elevator system, which is known as the Dezervator in a nod to the British car maker’s construction partner Dezer Developments."
• 10 of the best TV shows to watch this September - "From a Lord of the Rings prequel to a controversial drama about Boris Johnson and the return of hit sitcom Abbott Elementary, Amy Charles lists this month's unmissable new releases to watch and stream."
• Introducing The BOLDR Venture Singularity In The Darkest Musou Black - "A field watch that sucks the living daylight out of its dial."

August 29, 2022

• Nuclear inspectors on their way to Ukraine power plant - "A team of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors are on their way to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine and will be there 'later this week,' IAEA Chief Rafael Mariano Grossi tweeted Monday."
• Why NASA wants to return to the moon before sending humans to Mars - "Before landing the first humans on Mars, NASA wants to return to the lunar surface -- but in a way that we've never explored the moon before. When the uncrewed Artemis I mission launches on Monday, August 29, it's just the first step toward the future of space exploration."
• Flicking the kill switch: governments embrace internet shutdowns as a form of control - "From Sudan to Syria, Jordan to Jaipur, the trend towards digital authoritarianism is deepening."
• How to Do Everything - "A guide to life, drawn from seven years of the magazine’s Tip column." The New York Times.
• The Smoke & Mirrors of Modern Fortunes - "Ronald O. Perelman made more money than most people could spend in several lifetimes and in the process reshaped the way Wall Street does business. Now his prize company is bankrupt and his beloved possessions are fading away like a mirage. Bad luck or is the old financial wizard offering a final lesson on the future of wealth?"
• 10 Classic Mercedes-Benz Cars That Are Worth Every Penny - "These Mercedes cars are already some of the coolest classics on the market, and their values will only keep climbing."
• The Underwear Economy Bares All - "Hemlines shrink in prosperous times and grow during recessions. But what of lingerie? Fashion has always known an exposed bra strap plays all markets."
• Why HBO Max is removing so many series & films - "When HBO Max launched in 2020, it was designed to be the streaming home for everything Warner Bros., DC and HBO, with plenty of stuff for the kids to watch, too. Now, suddenly, HBO Max is starting to look a little different. The service, which like CNN is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, has been scrapping TV shows and films left and right as it cuts costs, shifts strategy and prepares to merge next summer with Discovery+, its sister streaming service."
• 10 of the best TV shows to watch this September - "From a Lord of the Rings prequel to a controversial drama about Boris Johnson and the return of hit sitcom Abbott Elementary, Amy Charles lists this month's unmissable new releases to watch and stream."
• MTV VMAs 2022: Taylor Swift wins & Johnny Depp surprises in chaotic ceremony - "Taylor Swift announced a new album, Nicki Minaj shouted out female genitals and Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance in a strange, profane evening."
• ‘People want to look like action stars’: the unstoppable rise of the Marvel body - "Actors’ workouts and diets have become an integral part of the superhero journey - but is our idea of a healthy body becoming skewed as a result?"
• 23 Most Effective Skincare Products for Men - "From SPF to hydrating serums, and with scrubs in between, these products are best suited to give his skin a bit of TLC."
• 17 Best Hair Growth Shampoos That Actually Work - "Dreaming of long, luscious locks? Here, the most effective formulas for stimulating growth and improving density."
• Russia’s war stymies Monte-Carlo Gala - "Monaco’s premier fund-raising event for environmental causes will not take place as planned at the end of September due to the international situation."
• How to Make a Honey Deuce, the Most Popular Drink at the US Open - "The refreshing pink drink has been the event's trademark cocktail for nearly two decades."
• How whiskey is shaped by the weather & climate - "Temperature, humidity and air pressure all can affect the production and taste of whiskey. Distillers are hoping to harness these elements to make the drink better."
• Why ‘quiet quitting’ is nothing new - "The idea of slowly withdrawing from overworking has gone viral. This ‘quiet quitting’ has actually been happening for decades - but its newfound popularity says a lot about work now."
• Famous Churchill portrait swapped with copy in Ottawa hotel, staff doesn't notice for months - "A famous portrait of World War II-era British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was stolen from an Ottawa hotel and replaced with a copy without staff noticing for months. It took officials at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel at least eight months before they realized the photograph, which may be worth more than $100,000, had been swapped, CNN affiliate CTV reported."
• ‘Were their owners’ lives turned upside down too?’ What this tower of chairs says about Putin’s war - "Continuing our fortnightly series, we look at the enduring power of Doris Salcedo’s pile of 1,500 chairs, which seems only to gain in relevance with each new era and fresh conflict."
• ‘Every flat surface is an opportunity’: Lucinda Chambers’ unique sense of style - "The brilliantly colourful and eclectic home of Lucinda Chambers, Vogue’s former fashion director, is ‘a constant work-in-progress’."
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review: folding-screen flipper stands out from crowd - "Chic hi-tech Android flip phone has better cameras and longer battery life, losing none of its novelty."
• Bulgari Puts Record-Thinness Aside In Favor Of Power Reserve With The New Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days - "That's 192 hours, or 11,520 minutes, or 691,200 seconds."

August 28, 2022

• Elon Musk Says the World Has a Bigger Problem than Global Warming - "'Population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming,' the global CEO tweeted on August 26."
• ‘Time has run out’: UN fails to reach agreement to protect marine life - "This fifth round of discussions was meant to establish a UN Ocean Treaty that would protect biodiversity in international waters."
• The Great Wealth Transfer Is Encouraging Older Collectors to Sell Off Their Art Collections - "Over the next quarter century, some $73 trillion dollars will be passed from America’s Boomer generation to its Gen X and Millennial children in what has been dubbed 'The Great Wealth Transfer.' About half of that figure will go to just the top 1.5 percent of households, aka America’s collecting class."
• Mark Zuckerberg said he gave up running as exercise to take his mind off work because 'the problem with running is you can think a lot' - "Zuckerberg has previously extolled his love of surfing and foiling, another water sport, but he told Rogan that lately he's gotten into MMA, or mixed martial arts. 'What's a thing that's both super engaging physically, but also intellectually, where you can't afford to focus on something else? MMA is the perfect thing because if you stop paying attention for one second, you're going to end up on the bottom,' he said."
• Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data breach lawsuit ends in 11th hour settlement - "Dramatic move shows Mark Zuckerberg ‘desperate to avoid being questioned over cover-up’, says Observer journalist who exposed scandal. The lawsuit alleged that the size of the $5bn settlement was motivated by a desire to prevent Facebook’s founder from being named in the FTC complaint."
• In Just 5 Sentences, Elon Musk Gave Tesla Employees a Masterclass on How to Run Efficient Meetings - "Meetings are more expensive than you might think, and there are four simple ways to reduce their cost."
• Princess Diana's unique Ford Escort fetches $850,000 at auction - "Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 1 that was driven by the late Princess Diana fetched £724,500 ($851,070) at an auction held at Britain's Silverstone racing circuit on Saturday."
• There’s nothing new to say about the death of Diana 25 years ago. But who cares? - "For royal experts and sundry insiders, the late princess is the story that keeps on giving."
• Who Is Quiet Quitting For? - "For those not ready to make a grand exit, a softer approach may work."
• Doggie dementia risk rises each year after age 10, study finds. Here's what to look for - "It's an unfortunate reality many dog owners might have to face, especially if their dog's breed lives 10 years or more. A new study that is part of the Dog Aging Project found the risk of developing cognitive issues rises by 52% each year after age 10 in many dogs."
• Linda Evangelista & the Fantasies Fashion Sells - "In her recent Vogue cover, the supermodel embodies a ‘dream,’ but one that increasingly seems decades old."
• Vogue’s Ultimate Guide to Shopping the Best Jeans for Women - "Regardless of your preferred style or shopping habits, sticking to simple, vintage-inspired washes with minimal (if any!) distressing is the way to go for added versatility. Of course, the hundreds of options on the market can still be daunting. We’ve gone through them all and found 24 perfect pairs of the best jeans for women right now, below."
• How do you spot a fake sneaker? It's big business - 9News.
• Ready for a Night Out? Hire a Disco Nanny - "In party hot spots around Europe, agencies have popped up to provide child care at all hours of the night and day."
• Tea with Ozzy Osbourne: ‘I’ve sung that song for 55 years. I’m not going to forget the words’ - "When he stole the show at the Commonwealth Games, fans were delighted to see the Prince of Darkness back. Here, Ozzy Osbourne pours out his soul about overcoming illness, coming home - and why he owes it all to Sharon."
• What’s the real story behind James ‘Whitey’ Bulger’s violent murder? - "Recent revelations have only fed speculation that some form of plot lay behind the gangster’s brutal demise in prison."
• T-Mobile & SpaceX Starlink say your 5G phone will connect to satellites next year - to completely eliminate cellular dead zones.
• The great teddy bear shipwreck mystery - "In 1903, 3,000 teddy bears were sent by ship from Germany to America only for them to disappear. Some claim the bears were the first ever made and would now be the most valuable in the world. So what happened to them?"

August 27, 2022

• Takeaways from the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit - "The filing shows, among other things, that the documents that may have been illegally mishandled at Mar-a-Lago contained some of America's most sensitive secrets."
• FBI cites 'evidence of obstruction' in Trump Florida home search - "The FBI told a judge they expected to find 'evidence of obstruction' of justice in a search of former President Donald Trump's Florida home, according to newly released court papers."
• Covid-19 rebound is probably more common than data suggests, but Paxlovid is still effective - "As the coronavirus evolves, the number of treatment options that remain effective against new variants has dwindled. Pfizer's antiviral pill Paxlovid is one of the few that remain."
• Germany's railways offered a month of unlimited rides for $9. This happened - "Germany's decision this summer to offer unlimited regional travel for 9 euros per month - which comes to an end a week from today, on August 31 - has been a barnstorming success. Nearly 60 million tickets had been sold by the beginning of August, according to VDV, the Association of German Transporters - in other words, covering June and July."
• What we learned from Mark Zuckerberg's 3-hour chat with Joe Rogan - "In a rare and lengthy interview, Mark Zuckerberg spoke with controversial comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan about Meta's plans to release a new virtual-reality headset, his newfound love of jiu-jitsu and his company's decision to limit the reach of an article about Hunter Biden that came out in the final weeks leading up to the 2020 election."
• Princess Diana's one-of-a-kind Ford Escort goes up for auction - "A unique black Ford Escort driven by the late Princess Diana in the 1980s is due to be auctioned this weekend at Britain's Silverstone racing circuit."
• Billionaire closes main road in South Kensington, London for gardening work - "Ivy owner Richard Caring wins council permission to close part of Onslow Square, a busy ambulance and bus route, for two weeks."
• 7 books governments didn't want people to read - "The brutal attack on author Salman Rushdie in New York on August 12 has reignited discussions around censorship in literature."
• How to get (great) free books on Kindle - "If you're looking for ways to get great books for your Kindle for free, we can help. But getting good books - no, great books for free is actually possible on a Kindle, and there are several ways to do it."
• ‘I just wanted my life to end’: the mystery of Agatha Christie’s disappearance - "In 1926 the world’s bestselling author vanished for 11 days. Did she really go into hiding to frame her husband for murder? Historian Lucy Worsley reopens a case still shrouded in mystery."
• Tour 9 Minimalist Homes That Are Stylishly Tranquil - "From the bustling streets of New York City to the quiet surroundings of Lake Tahoe, these spaces are pared down and pristine."
• Everything you wanted to know (& more!) about pickleball - "Nobody quite knows why pickleball is called pickleball. Complete with its quirky name, this eccentric sport has begun to enter American mainstream culture and become the new thing. Dubbed as America's unofficial pandemic pastime, more than one million Americans have picked up a paddle in the last two years."
• New Hue bulbs have leaked & they look amazing - "Philips Hue’s new Lightguide bulbs are big, beautiful, and bloody expensive."
• Google brought back Duo (kind of) because its Meet transition is so confusing - "The Duo icon launches Google Meet (2022) but not Google Meet (original)."
• Vintage Chanel bags - the ultimate guide to buying secondhand - "Plus, a brief history of this iconic accessory. How to find vintage Chanel bags (and how to spot a fake)."
• Tom Sachs on wearing the General Purpose Shoe - "'Your sneakers shouldn’t be the most exciting thing about you.'"
• Koenigsegg’s CC850 Hypercar Sold Out in a Flash, So It’s Building 20 More to Keep Up With Demand - "The original 50-unit production lasted only a few days."
• TBT Moeris 007 - The Only Original Bond-Licensed Watch - "No watch has ever been more Bond."

August 26, 2022

• China's worst heat wave on record is crippling power supplies. How it reacts will impact us all - "The country of 1.4 billion people is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, accounting for 27% of global emissions."
• Record-breaking heat wave in Europe will be the norm by 2035, analysis shows - "The record-breaking heat wave that swept across Europe this year will become the 'average' summer by 2035, even if all countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by as much as they have pledged to, according to an analysis published Thursday."
• Dealing with drought: how fog collectors are providing trees with water in Spain - "Scientists in the Canary Islands and Portugal are collecting water from fog to enable reforestation of degraded landscapes."
• Russia burns off gas as Europe's energy bills rocket - "As Europe's energy costs skyrocket, Russia is burning off large amounts of natural gas, according to analysis shared with BBC News."
• Hot, dry summer forces early start to Champagne harvest - "Champagne grape pickers have had to start the harvest earlier this year, as climate change forces the makers of the French sparkling wine to rethink how they make the coveted bubbly."
• The 'world's coolest' streets for 2022 revealed by Time Out - "When it comes to fashion, street style has as much cachet as runway style - in fact, there are dozens of blogs and Instagram accounts dedicated to chronicling the best streetwear looks. More than a neighborhood, a single street can define a city's culture."
• 'Let's mess it up': Why more men are wearing skirts - "From Brad Pitt to Lil Nas X, more men are turning to skirts."
• It’s settled: 6.1 inches is the ideal smartphone screen size - "Is it small? Is it big? Nobody can tell."
• Paul Allen: Largest art auction ever to sell Microsoft co-founder's $1bn collection - "An estimated $1bn worth of art belonging to the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen will be sold at the largest art auction in history. The collection includes masterpieces by Botticelli, Renoir, David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein. Christie's auction house said proceeds of the November sale would be given to charity, as Mr Allen wished."
• This website tracks every plane in the sky - "Inside Flightradar24, the website that tracks every plane in the sky."
• Google 'airbrushes' out emissions from flying, BBC reveals - "Flights now appear to have much less impact on the environment than before. The company said it made the change following consultations with its 'industry partners'. It affects the carbon calculator embedded in the company's 'Google Flights' search tool."
• Why Tesla's stock is so much cheaper today - "The electric car company completed a 3-for-1 stock split after the closing bell Wednesday. So one share now costs a third of what it did a day ago. Tesla (TSLA) closed around $891 on Wednesday, which means it was trading a little under $300 Thursday."
• Hong Kong's historic Peak Tram reopens with a new look - "Hong Kong's Peak Tram, one of the city's most recognizable tourist attractions and the oldest funicular in Asia, will reopen to the public on August 27 following a year-plus-long closure. The tram, which has been ferrying locals and tourists alike to Hong Kong island's highest spot since 1888, is now in its sixth incarnation."
• 11 of the best films to watch this September - "Including a Harry Styles and Florence Pugh-fronted psychological horror, a biopic of Marylin Monroe, and Viola Davis in a period epic, Nicholas Barber lists September's unmissable releases." BBC Culture.
• Why a workout is good for your gut bacteria - "The rich microbiota flourishing inside us may play a far greater role in the way exercise improves our health than previously thought."
• People Who Do Strength Training Live Longer & Better - "A consensus is building among experts that both strength training and cardio are important for longevity."
• IT’S 2022 & MOTION-SENSING SMART LIGHTS SHOULD BE IN EVERY HOME - "The humble light switch has stuck around for centuries now. It’s time to upgrade to something more cutting-edge."
• How Can I Tell if I’m Depressed or Burned Out? - "Clinicians and researchers offer advice on how to tell the difference, and what to do about both."
• Height discrimination: How 'heightism' affects careers - "Heightism is hard to identify. Yet there’s evidence that our biases around stature help shape our careers."
• 11 Stylish White T-Shirts That Elevate the Wardrobe Staple - Robb Report.

August 25, 2022

• Ukraine: six months of war - in pictures - "As Ukraine marks 31 years since it became independent from Moscow, and six months since Russia invaded, we look back at the work of photographers covering the conflict."
• China heatwave: scorching temperatures & severe drought - in pictures - "Parts of China are enduring the worst heatwave in decades, affecting crops and power supplies as water levels reach record lows."
• France to push for private jet curbs at EU level - "France will consult its partners in the European Union on ways to regulate private jet emissions after the comings and goings of French billionaires on the fuel-guzzling planes caused a political controversy over the summer, Reuters reports."
• Elon Musk’s 9-minute jet flight from San Jose to San Francisco sparks outrage - "Elon Musk’s private jet flew from San Jose to San Francisco — a 35-mile flight that lasted a total of nine minutes, according to Twitter users who track the tech mogul’s movements. The super-short flight across San Francisco Bay took place on May 6, but Twitter users widely shared the satellite map showing the plane’s flight path over the weekend, with many expressing outrage over the carbon footprint left behind by the head of an electric car company."
• The world's first hydrogen-powered passenger trains are here - "The future of environmentally friendly travel might just be here - and it's Germany that's leading the charge, with the first ever rail line to be entirely run on hydrogen-powered trains, starting from Wednesday."
• Living without plastic in Japan - "Quitting single-use plastic in Japan. Japan is one of the world's biggest plastic waste producers, thanks to its love of packaging - but a week of going plastic-free in Tokyo reveals surprising solutions."
• How a major change to ethereum could change cryptocurrency forever - "Ethereum turning off its mining rigs and slashing the currency’s carbon emissions should be good news. But not everyone agrees."
• We Need to Talk About How Good A.I. Is Getting - "We’re in a golden age of progress in artificial intelligence. It’s time to start taking its potential and risks seriously."
• JPMorgan forces sale of Russian oligarch's megayacht - "A $75-million superyacht linked to a sanctioned Russian steel billionaire was auctioned on Tuesday in Gibraltar, court sources said, in what is understood to be the first sale of its kind since Russia invaded Ukraine in February."
• Look of the Week: At 55, Nicole Kidman remains one of fashion's biggest risk-takers - "Oscar-winning actor Nicole Kidman caught the Internet's attention this week with a new shoot for Perfect Magazine."
• How 24 British rabbits took over Australia - "What seemed like an innocent Christmas gift of 24 English rabbits in 1859 would go on to become Australia's 'most devastating biological invasion,' according to a new study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."
• Increased alcohol use linked with higher risk of cancer in new study - "People who increased the amount of alcohol they drank also had an increased risk of cancer, according to the results of a large study in Korea published on Wednesday in JAMA Network Open."
• The untold history of black bourbon - "It's become undeniable that black people - once missing from American whiskey bars and in the telling of whiskey's story - have long played a role in creating the beloved spirit."
• 12 Survival Gear Items I Always Carry In My Day Pack, Even In The City - "When you are walking in the city’s botanical gardens, survival gear is not needed, right? How about that 3-mile trail to the waterfall? Or the guided tuck-tuck tour? None of these situations require a machete and dehydrated food in a backpack the size of a Volkswagen. But I think a few small things are essential, whether I’m in an urban park for a couple of hours or spending a few hours trekking through the forest."
• 25 Best Everyday Carry Backpacks of 2022 - "When it comes to gear of any type, everyday carry or otherwise, the bag category is one of the most ubiquitous. After all, most humans need a means of transporting items from one place to another - be that your mobile technology, school books, food, supplies, or whatever else. And there’s no denying the usefulness of a traditional backpack therein. In fact, backpacks are probably one of the most commonly available pieces of EDC gear, second perhaps only to wallets."
• 10 companies that will let you work from anywhere & are hiring now - "The future of work is flexible: Even as more companies return to the office full time, remote and hybrid jobs continue to be a popular choice for people throughout the world. Eighty-seven percent of workers offered some form of remote work embrace the opportunity and spend three days a week on average working from home, a recent McKinsey survey of 25,000 Americans found."
• How long does it take to build muscle? - "How long does it take to build muscle? An exercise physiologist describes ways of speeding up the process."
• Making Matilda Djerf a Household Name - "The Swedish influencer is building a multimillion-dollar lifestyle empire catering to the TikTok generation."
• Behold the Fruit Sandwich - "In this Japanese treat, ripe, seasonal gems are enrobed in cream and nestled between slices of milk bread."
• Sonos’ next flagship speaker will play sound in nearly all directions - "Optimo 2 could become Sonos’ best-sounding speaker yet."
• Moser & Cie Unveils Streamliner Tourbillon Vantablack Gold Watch - "For those in the watchmaking know, the use of Vantablack is relatively new. Not only that, but combining this high-tech ultra-black substance with precious materials like 18-karat gold is also not the norm. But then independent Swiss watch brand H. Moser & Cie. is anything but normal. This brand is all about stepping outside the proverbial box and shaking the world up with its extremes. It did just that with the vintage-styled Streamliner that it first unveiled in early 2020 that met with a lot of raised eyebrows. Now it does it again with the Streamliner Tourbillon Vantablack 18-karat gold watch."

August 24, 2022

• War in Ukraine is a calamity - but Putinism is alive & well - "Six months have passed since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine."
• Who Will Get Rid of Putin? The Answer Is Grim - "What’s easier to imagine — Vladimir Putin suddenly declaring an end to the war on Ukraine and withdrawing his troops or a Russia without Mr. Putin that revises his policies, ends the war and begins to build relations with Ukraine and the West on a peaceful new foundation?" The New York Times.
• Ukraine marks Independence Day with wary eye on Russia - "Kyiv displays captured tanks on Independence Day as Ukrainians cast a wary eye on Russia."
• Europe's drought the worst in 500 years - report - "Two-thirds of Europe is under some sort of drought warning, in what is likely the worst such event in 500 years."
• The drying Danube River reveals explosive-laden WWII Nazi warships - "Europe's worst drought in years has pushed the mighty river Danube to one of its lowest levels in almost a century, exposing the hulks of dozens of explosives-laden German warships sunk during World War II near Serbia's river port town of Prahovo."
• Porsches & Bentleys fill Helsinki airport as Russian tourists head to Europe - "Discontent grows over Finland’s visa policy as country becomes key transit route for Russian travellers."
• Twitter whistleblower raises security concerns - "A former security chief for Twitter has turned whistleblower and testified that the company misled users and US regulators about gaps in its security."
• Slow Jogging Vs. Fast Walking: What’s the Difference? - "Believe it or not, jogging at a walking pace - or smiling pace, as Hiroaki Tanaka, Japan’s running guru and founder of the Fukuoka University Institute for Physical Activity, describes it - is more vigorous than power walking."
• Why this country drinks more tea than any other - "How new brews are stirring up Turkey's tea country."
• Your DoppelgÄnger Is Out There & You Probably Share DNA With Them - "That person who looks just like you is not your twin, but if scientists compared your genomes, they might find a lot in common."
• Bentley Batur previews brand’s future EVs... while using a W12 engine - "Bentley has just unveiled a new limited series two-door grand touring coupe, called the Bentley Mulliner Batur. Shown off during the Monterey Car Week, the Batur showcases a new design DNA that will guide the design of the brand’s future range of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), with the first due in 2025."
• Bentley's New Macallan Whisky Looks Better Than The Batur - "The Macallan has worked closely with Crewe to create a horizontal bottle inspired by Crewe's finest automobiles."
• Gruesome medieval remedies revealed in resurfaced manuscripts - "While nowadays you might have some chicken soup to fight a cold, a new project unearthing manuscripts up to 1,000 years old reveals the bizarre medical remedies recommended by those in the medieval era."
• What makes up a plane's contrails? - "These wispy man-made clouds have fascinated humans for a century, but what actually are they?"
• Dogs' eyes well up with tears of joy when reunited with their owners - "A wagging tail, a loving lick, a playful jump, a heart-melting gaze. You know when your dog is happy to see you. Now, new research from Japanese scientists suggests that a dog's eyes may well up with tears of happiness when reunited with their owner after a period of absence."
• Here’s how much Apple charges for every part to fix your own MacBook - "What Apple will sell you separately - and what it won’t."
• Rembrandt’s Night Watch paint recipe offers clues to the perfect wall filler - "Analysis of 17th-century masterpiece by Dulux scientists revealed several ways of creating the perfect impasto."
• The 'world's smallest vineyard' is selling bottles for $5,000 apiece - but doesn't want you to drink them - "At just over 200 square feet, Via Mari 10 yields only 29 bottles of red wine a year, which Masoni then prices at an eye-watering 5,000 euros (about $5,000) each. Aptly for the cost, the bottles aren't sold in a wine shop, but in an art gallery - Bonioni Arte - just a few blocks away."
• GlashÜtte Original PanoMaticCalendar Annual Calendar Pano collection - "A new complication for the brand, executed with ingenuity and superb elegance."

August 23, 2022

• Before & after: These glaciers lost an area the size of Manhattan every 10 years since 1931 - "The climate crisis is devastating the world's glaciers. As they melt, ecosystems are destroyed and local industries are ravaged - and perhaps most critically, a major source of fresh water vanishes. For the first time, researchers have used historical imagery to reconstruct a visual timeline of Switzerland's glaciers, which they found lost half of their volume between 1931 and 2016. In the past six year's alone, they lost another 12% of their volume. And in the 85 years ending in 2016, Switzerland's glaciers lost an area the size of Manhattan every ten years."
• Fauci to leave federal government in December after decades as nation's top infectious disease expert - "Dr. Anthony Fauci is departing his roles as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and as chief medical officer to President Joe Biden at the end of this year, marking the end of nearly four decades as the nation's top infectious disease expert."/li>
• Elon Musk subpoenas Twitter founder Jack Dorsey ahead of court battle - "Elon Musk has launched legal action to summon Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey to appear in court as part of his legal battle with the tech company. Mr Musk is seeking to end his $44bn deal for Twitter after alleging the firm failed to provide enough information on fake account numbers."
• Moment superyacht sinks off the coast of Italy - "Footage has emerged of the moment a superyacht completely sank into the Mediterranean Sea. The 40-metre vessel got into difficulty about 15km off the Catanzaro Marina in Italy."
• 50 of the best street foods in Asia - "Bubbling cauldrons of noodle soup, flaky flatbreads, kaleidoscopic desserts - when it comes to street food, Asia delivers big on variety and flavor."
• 20 of our favorite personalized travel accessories to take along on your next trip - "Travel is in full swing once again. While your journey might face hiccups galore - think lost luggage, delays and cancellations - your travel gear is the one thing you can and should count on. And if you’re like us, your travel must-haves could use some refreshing. When investing in new accessories - from luggage and toiletry bags to travel backpacks and packing cubes - consider upgrading to personalized items with a monogram. Not only will the pieces identify their owner without a doubt, but they’ll also keep you super organized and add some swagger to your travel ensemble."
• The dark side of being called pretty - "How your family shapes your body image. Comments about our looks from our loved ones and friends can cause lifelong insecurities. How can we teach kids to feel confident about their bodies instead?"
• Iraq's answer to the pyramids - "Egypt may have the Pyramids of Giza, but Iraq has the Ziggurat of Ur - an incredibly well-preserved engineering achievement that towers over the ruins of an important ancient city."
• How to use the back of your iPhone as a button in iOS 15 - "There's an iOS Accessibility feature that lets you trigger commands or run Shortcuts just by tapping on the back of your iPhone. It's called Back Tap, and here's what you should know. How to set up Back Tap: 1. Go to Settings, 2. Scroll down and tap on Accessibility, 3. Tap Touch, 4. Tap Back Tap."
• Artist's mysterious 'City' in the Nevada desert to open after 50 years - "'City,' a vast complex of outdoor structures and landmasses the land artist Michael Heizer began constructing in the desert of Nevada in 1970, will finally begin welcoming public visitors next month. The site's opening on September 2, more than 50 years after work at the site began, marks the fulfillment of Heizer's most ambitious and career-defining project."
• Inside the world's largest model airport & railway - "Welcome to Miniatur Wunderland. This is the world's largest model railway, home not only to a functioning miniature airport, but also tiny replicas of some of the world's most popular destinations: Venice, Machu Picchu and Las Vegas, to name just a few. Spread across several stories in an old warehouse building in Hamburg, Germany, Miniatur Wunderland is a marvel of engineering and one of the German city's most beloved tourist attractions."
• Why women feel pressured to shave - "Type 'When did women start...' into Google and one of the top autocomplete suggestions to pop up is, 'When did women start shaving?' The answer goes back centuries. Hair removal - or otherwise - has long shaped gender dynamics, served as a signifier of class and defined notions of femininity and the 'ideal body.'"
• The bathing suit silhouette is radically changing - "From Chromat to Skims, inclusive design is radically changing the bathing suit silhouette."
• The Best Of Monterey Car Week 2022 In Photos - Forbes.
• Brainrap uses cutting-edge assistive AI to listen to an artist & generate new lyric suggestions, in real-time - "BrainRap is an assistive AI which listens to an artist freestyling, singing or writing and suggests words and phrases in realtime for the artist to use via its prototype visual interface."
• Wynn Las Vegas Launches $10,000-A-Seat Dining Experience - "Here’s What A $10,000 Seat At Wynn Las Vegas, Domain H. William Harlan Dinner Series Includes. A beacon of opulence against Sin City’s skyline, Wynn Las Vegas has long appealed to luxury travelers since opening nearly two decades ago - and this fall, they’re giving high rollers yet another elite reason to seek out a reservation. Wynn Las Vegas teamed up with renowned Napa Valley wine magnate Domain H. William Harlan - behind the wineries of Harlan Estate, Bond and Promontory - to offer three exclusive dinners. Priced at $10,000 per person, each reservation is capped at 20 guests and to be hosted at a variety of intimate settings, including the two-story Encore Duplex Suite and Wynn Golf Club. "
• SUPER73-ZX E-BIKE REVIEW: LOVE & HATE CAN BE SO MUCH FUN - "One major draw of #vanlife is the pursuit of unbridled exploration. But custom vans and RVs suitable for extended off-grid living tend to be hulking monstrosities that can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. That means bringing along an alternative mode of transportation like an e-bike to scout the viability of unpaved roads and to explore nearby towns unsuitable for large vehicles."

August 22, 2022

• A grim winter will test Europe's support for Ukraine like never before - "Six months since Russia invaded Ukraine, the West's response to the crisis has remained strong and largely united - to the surprise of many. Despite years of fractured relations during the era of former US president Donald Trump and the Covid-19 pandemic, the trans-Atlantic alliance has managed to pull together and reach agreements on financial support and the donation of weapons to Kyiv, agreements to stop using Russian energy as well as sanctions designed to hit President Vladimir Putin and his cronies."
• The CDC has guided the U.S. COVID epidemic to a soft landing - "A manufactured conclusion that flies in the face of science, some experts say."
• In pictures: Drought in Europe exposes sunken ships, lost villages & ominous 'hunger stones' - "Europe has been suffering weeks of drought, with persistent heatwaves leading to evacuations and deaths."
• Wargaming a North Korean attack - "South Korea and the US are holding their largest joint military exercises on the Korean Peninsula in years to practise fighting a war against an increasingly hostile North Korea. The BBC was given rare access to the countries' joint control centre. But what is the purpose of these war games and could they backfire?"
• World's most complained about tourist attraction - "A very famous tourist attraction has landed the unfortunate title of having the most negative reviews in the world."
• Wish you weren’t here: the photos that show an hour in the life of ‘quiet’ tourist hotspots - "Travellers trek to remote destinations in search of Instagram-worthy photos. But at what cost? Photographer Natacha de Mahieu visualises the impact of overtourism."
• Pickpockets Are Most Likely to Rob You at These 10 Tourist Attractions - "Tourists can become easy targets. Once you make an impression that you’re not a local, the prices inflate, and you’re suddenly paying more for taxis and products in shops. But it goes further than rip-offs, and one of the most common problems you’ll face, especially in crowded tourist places, is pickpocketing."
• Is losing weight an important health goal? - "Accepting your body as it is and stopping all the dieting may sound great, but would doing so hurt your health?"
• What makes a message live forever? - "The messages that survived civilisation's collapse. The Sumerians, Maya and other ancient cultures created texts that have lasted hundreds and even thousands of years. Here's what they can teach us about crafting an immortal message."
• TikTok Audio Memes Are Everywhere. How Do They Work? - "Welcome to the era of the audio meme, a time when replicable units of sound are a cultural currency as strong as - if not stronger than - images and text."
• TikTok’s In-App Browser Includes Code That Can Monitor Your Keystrokes, Researcher Says - "When TikTok users enter a website through a link on the app, TikTok inserts code that can monitor much of their activity on those outside websites, including their keystrokes and whatever they tap on the page, according to new research shared with Forbes."
• ‘They said it was impossible’: how medieval carpenters are rebuilding Notre Dame - "Project leaders at Guédelon Castle tell how their woodwork savoir faire is proving a godsend for mission to restore Paris cathedral roof."
• The Fastest Roadster in the World? Bugatti Unveils the Beastly New 1,577 HP Mistral - "Bugatti is bidding adieu to its W16 engine in style. The French marque unveiled its latest hypercar on Friday - the Mistral roadster. The open-top speed machine is based on the Chiron and will be the brand’s last road-going model to feature the brawny mill that’s been a hallmark of its lineup since the Veyron’s introduction in 2005."
• Leica Creates the Biggest Ever Phone Camera Sensor - "How big can sensors get on a phone's camera? Leica has done a collaboration with a rather surprising company to give you a glimpse of the future.".
• Bioengineered cornea can restore sight to the blind & visually impaired - "Bioengineered corneal tissue for minimally invasive vision restoration in advanced keratoconus in two clinical cohorts."
• 20 Tallest buildings in Monaco - "Here you see the 20 tallest buildings of Monaco. This list only regards multi-story buildings."
• Sennheiser Momentum 4 review: tremendous noise-cancelling headphones - "The fourth-generation of the Momentum Bluetooth headphones from the renowned German audio manufacturer Sennheiser are a wholesale redesign, ditching their previous retro styling for something simpler and much more comfortable. All this with 60-hours of battery life."
• Leon Vitali, Stanley Kubrick collaborator & Barry Lyndon actor, dies aged 74 - "Vitali, who gave up acting to become the demanding director’s right-hand man, died in Los Angeles on Friday."
• HUE’S NEW SMART SWITCH IS FOR THE SUPERUSERS - "The Tap Dial is a smooth way to control your Hue lights."

August 21, 2022

• Ukrainian grain deal 'lays groundwork for permanent peace environment,' says Turkey - "Some 27 ships loaded with grain have left Ukraine's Black Sea ports since August 1 under an export deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, which has laid "the groundwork for a permanent peace environment," Turkey's Defense Minister said in a speech on Saturday."
• Russia-Ukraine: five lessons from the 19th-century Crimean war - "A century and a half ago, Russia lost a war it might have expected to win. The consequences reached far and wide."
• UN seeks plan to beat plastic nurdles, the tiny scourges of the oceans - "Billions of the pellets end up in the sea, killing turtles, whales and dolphins, and are washed up on beaches around the world."
• Scientists may have found an affordable way to destroy forever chemicals - "PFAS are everywhere and have been linked to negative health effects."
• The Final Days of the Trump White House: Chaos & Scattered Papers - "Government documents that President Donald J. Trump had accumulated were with him in roughly two dozen boxes in the White House residence. They were to go to the National Archives, but at least some ended up in Florida."
• Princess Diana's heartbreaking words to firefighter who held her hand after tragic crash - "It's almost the 25th anniversary of the tragic death of Princess Diana - and one of the emergency responders that was first one the scene after the shocking car crash in Paris revealed what she said to him."
• The Most Headline-Making Royal Looks - "Before Kate Middleton became a Cambridge, she was a Sloane Ranger with a penchant for what Mayfair’s Mahiki club had to offer. Diana, Princess of Wales, too, was not immune to killer party dresses that got the paparazzi flashing. How could they be? Princess Margaret had paved the way for them."
• Best places to go for fall: A dozen cool spots around the world - "CNN Travel talked with experts to find out how the 2022 fall travel season is shaping up as well as some of the best places to go."
• Sean Connery's own 'James Bond car' sold for $2.4 million - "A silver Aston Martin DB5 that had been owned by actor Sean Connery was sold at auction Thursday for $2.4 million. It was a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, just the sort of car that British secret agent James Bond drove in the 1960s films in which he was played by Connery. At $2.4 million, which included fees to the auction company Broad Arrow, the car fetched more than originally projected. The company had expected it to sell for between $1.4 million and $1.8 million at its collector car auction in Monterey, California. The buyer was not named."
• House of the Dragon review: It's 'pure Game of Thrones' - "HBO's big-budget Game of Thrones prequel is 'a rich, textured work, sharply written and handsomely directed', which is darker and more sophisticated than the original, writes Stephen Kelly."
• How a Diabetes Drug Became the New Weight Lost Trend for the Rich - "A pricey weight loss hack is making the rounds in certain social circles. It works, but is it worth it?"
• How the Find My App Became an Accidental Friendship Fixture - "Introduced 10 years ago, the app has slowly become a popular way to keep track of friends. But it comes with considerable privacy concerns."
• Gary Busey charged with sexual offenses at New Jersey convention - "Police say charges for US actor, 78, include criminal sexual contact at Monster Mania horror film convention last weekend."
• Game over - the Ritz takes grouse off the menu in victory for environment campaigners - Some restaurants are listening, with Corrigan’s not sourcing from intensive shoots and the Ritz not serving a Glorious Twelfth dish.
• Please, Lego, let this engineer bring your computer brick to life - "What it takes to build a tiny Lego computer."
• 5 things I wish I'd known before I bought an Amazon ereader - "Some of the things you need to know before buying an Amazon Kindle."
• The 25 Best Coffee Table Books For Your Home in 2022 - "How do you make something like a coffee table a bit more appealing to the naked eye? You top it with some visually-enticing reading material, of course. Not just any reading material will do, however. What you need is something intriguing, unique, and artistic, helping to accent your home’s natural beauty and invite guests into the living area for a quick browse."
• The Best Hotels in the Hamptons - Vogue.

August 20, 2022

• The world's rivers are drying up from extreme weather. See how 6 look from space - "The human-caused climate crisis is fueling extreme weather across the globe, which isn't just impacting rivers, but also the people who rely on them. Most people on the planet depend on rivers in some way, whether for drinking water, to irrigate food, for energy or to ship goods. See how six of them look from space."
• Diet for a hotter climate: 5 plants that could help feed the world - "As the planet warms, these five drought-tolerant and highly nutritious crops offer hope for greater resiliency."
• How Heat Waves Take a Toll on Mental Health - "Extreme heat can influence mood and raise the likelihood of a more serious mental health issue. Here’s what to know."
• Why Luxury Sneakers Are The New Social Currency - "Sneakers used to be functional and typically cheap. Now, they’re a luxury item coveted worldwide. How did this happen - and what can it tell us about the future of fashion?"
• Plenty of sleep, healthy meals & exercise are part of your routine. What's missing? - "Dr. Stuart Brown is an expert in having fun. For more than 60 years, the 89-year-old psychiatrist and clinical researcher has studied the importance of play — in young and adult humans, as well as animals of all kinds. Play is important for all of us on an instinctual level, his findings have suggested. In short, he believes we're our best selves when we're having fun."
• Bugatti hopes its last gas-only car will also be the world's fastest convertible - "Bugatti has unveiled what the French automaker hopes will be the world's fastest convertible. The 1,600-horsepower, $5 million W16 Mistral is, essentially, an open-topped version of the Bugatti Chiron supercar, though there are major design differences."
• What travel was like before the internet - "Before the internet, if you told someone you would meet them at a certain place and time, you had to: Remember what the place was. Know how to get there. Show up roughly when you said you would. It seems impossible, but it was real. This was our cruel world. For once the two of you left your respective landlines, you were both unreachable until that fateful meeting."
• Pilot shares the essential item to pack in cabin luggage - ‘your best friend’ - "Jonathan Franklin is a pilot at KLM. He shared his best packing advice with Express.co.uk and why denim can be your 'best friend'."
• Gibraltar prepares for first auction of a Russian oligarch’s detained superyacht - "Proceeds of the sale of Axioma, valued at £65m, will benefit JP Morgan rather than the Ukrainian people."
• Time to Buy: Daniel Craig’s Actual James Bond Watch Is Coming to Auction - "And more of the biggest watches hitting the block in the coming months."
• Dancing in the limelight: when world leaders take to the dancefloor - "Sanna Marin follows in a long line of politicians filmed dancing, some more enthusiastically than others."
• Linda Evangelista stars on new Vogue cover, opening up about disfiguring cosmetic procedure - "The 57-year-old revealed she had been influenced by repeated TV commercials, saying she would have refused the fat-freezing treatment if she had known that 'side effects may include losing your livelihood and (ending) up so depressed that you hate yourself.'"
• ‘#greyhairdon’tcare’: how women are embracing their grey hair - "A Canadian TV anchor was fired after her hair turned grey. But many celebrities and influencers are championing the look."
• Alec Baldwin blames assistant director & props manager for Rust shooting - "Actor gives rare interview in which he insists he isn’t to blame for Halyna Hutchins’ death, despite holding gun that fired fatal shot."
• Zulu King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini to be crowned in South Africa - "After a year-long family feud, Misuzulu ka Zwelithini is finally to be crowned Zulu king in a traditional ceremony in South Africa on Saturday."
• 34 Vogue Editors Share the Best White T-shirts - "Throughout the history of pop culture, from Marlon Brando to Kendall Jenner, the white T-shirt has been ingrained in both our lives and our wardrobes. How do you find the best white T-shirt? It might seem like a simple question, but tracking one down that checks all the boxes - from fit to comfort - is quite a feat. After all, the more minimal a clothing item is, the more its flaws become glaringly clear. No one likes the feeling of slipping on a boxy, ill-fitted white tee that is as stiff as cardboard against their skin. Finally, however, the search is over."
• Princess Diana's Best Fall Fashion Moments to Recreate - "Autumn will be here before you know it, and who better to turn to for chilly weather style cues than the Princess of Wales?"
• A pizza topping that divides the world - "Few foods divide as dramatically as ham and pineapple pizza. Depending on which side of the divide you stand, a classic dish, or a culinary crime, was born."
• Wolfgang Petersen obituary - "Versatile and ingenious director whose films included Das Boot and The NeverEnding Story."
• The game’s Bond: the making of Nintendo classic GoldenEye 007 - "The beloved shooter proved movie tie-ins didn’t have to be mediocre. Twenty-five years on from its release, its creators tell how they put Pierce Brosnan into 8 million bedrooms."
• SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP 4 REVIEW: ALMOST THERE - "The Flip 4 is refined and lovely to use, but it’s not quite finished."
• Everything New in the iOS 16 Photos & Camera Apps - "Almost all of Apple's main built-in iPhone apps were updated with new features in iOS 16, including both the Photos and Camera apps. Photo has quite a few new features including an option to get rid of duplicates and some locked folders for sensitive photos, plus the Camera app can translate text and there are functionality improvements for iPhone 13 users."
• 7 mistakes to avoid with your stereo speakers - "Avoid these issues or sound quality will suffer."
• How to send a confidential message on Gmail - "Set your messages to expire and prevent them from being shared. Compose a message. Tap the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the app, then tap Confidential mode. As with a browser, you'll have the option to set how long the message should be viewable by recipients and whether it's protected by a passcode."
• I just tried all of Gmail’s new features - here's the best & worst - "Gmail just rolled out a new look with many new features - and a new look. These are the features I liked and ones I found annoying."
• Google Search is changing, in a big way - "Google Search update should help cut through the noise. Google is readying a wide-reaching search engine update that it says will improve the quality and authenticity of results."
• Hands on - 2022 Pasha de Cartier Skeleton ADLC watch - "The Pasha de Cartier collection has a wonderful background story involving the fabulously wealthy Pasha El Glaoui of Marrakech and his request to Louis Cartier to produce a gold waterproof watch with enough panache to accompany him on any of his countless social appointments."
• How To Spot A Fake Dial In A Vintage Rolex Datejust - "Buying a vintage Datejust can be daunting... until you know what to look for. Tell-tale signs of a fake vintage Datejust dial. Learn to separate to good, the bad, and the ugly. Read all about it here."
• Why the world's most difficult novel is so rewarding - "Marcel Proust's groundbreaking 1922 masterpiece In Search of Lost Time is considered daunting and difficult by many, but has been misunderstood and is actually universally appealing, writes Cath Pound. As Shattuck notes, 'the novel unfolds a lifetime of experiences, which enlarges our understanding of love and nature, memory and snobbery.' It also offers hope to all those who think their own lives have been "wasted" because they have not yet found their own purpose in life."
• In the Footsteps of Marcel Proust - "The legendary filmmaker William Friedkin recalls his obsession with 'In Search of Lost Time,' and his attempt to see the novel in real life."
• How to Navigate the Proust-Industrial Complex - "In 'Living and Dying With Marcel Proust,' Christopher Prendergast presents an appreciation and a guide to the writer and his masterpiece."
• Lincoln replaced the steering wheel with a 'chess piece controller' in its Model L100 concept - "You see, the wheel is unnecessary as the vehicle will be driving itself."

August 19, 2022

• Why the Mar-a-Lago affidavit could become one of the most scrutinized documents in American politics - "The FBI search of Donald Trump's Florida resort and the removal of classified information raise a compelling need for maximum public disclosure given the involvement of an ex-president who's a likely 2024 candidate."
• What we do & don't know about the FBI search of Trump's home - "When Donald Trump's Florida home was searched by the FBI, it unleashed a political firestorm unlike anything in recent memory. The release of the search warrant shed light on why it happened. Now, a judge is weighing up whether to unseal a highly sensitive document that could give a clearer sense of how the search at Mar-a-Lago was justified. But this unprecedented story is complicated and many questions remain. Here's what we know so far."
• Extreme heat is slamming the world's three biggest economies all at once - "It's not just the Rhine. Around the world, rivers that support global growth - the Yangtze, the Danube and the Colorado - are drying up, impeding the movement of goods, messing with irrigation systems and making it harder for power plants and factories to stay cool."
• Apple security flaw ‘actively exploited’ by hackers to fully control devices - "The vulnerability has affected various models of the iPhone, iPad and Mac, with experts advising updating products to secure them."
• iOS 15.6.1 - Update Now Warning Issued To All iPhone Users - "It fixes two security holes already being used to attack iPhones. The first issue fixed in iOS 15.6.1 is a vulnerability in the iPhone Kernel tracked as CVE-2022-32894 that could allow an application to execute code with kernel privileges. 'Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited,' the iPhone maker says on its support page."
• As Americans flock to Europe's hot spots, here's where Europeans go instead - "CNN Travel reached out to other travel agents, experts and locals in Europe about where to go to get away from the summer masses in Italy, Spain, France and Croatia - among other European countries popular with American travelers - if you're looking to go where everyone isn't."
• Europe's most beautiful towns - "Paris, Rome, Barcelona... Europe's cities are bucket list destinations, and rightly so. But the continent's small towns are a dream, too, with all the beautiful architecture and much of the culture you'll find in the big hitters, only with fewer crowds to share them with."
• Some Of The Best, Most Liveable, Beautiful & Friendliest Places To Live - "There are a number of markers for what makes a good city. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index is one of the most comprehensive as it was originally designed as a tool for companies to work out expatriates’ relocation packages. The 2022 version rated living conditions in 172 cities based on more than 30 factors, grouped into five categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Things like congestion, crime and how city healthcare providers have dealt with Covid-19."
• Africa's highest peak gets fast internet - "Climbers ascending Mount Kilimanjaro can now document their ascents in real-time on Instagram, following a recent move by Tanzanian authorities to install high-speed internet around the mountain's slopes."
• Can Hawaii solve our food crisis? - "Hawaii's ancient land management system. The ahupua'a system of land development, in practice for more than 1,000 years, has the potential to show the world a new path to sustainability."
• The century of climate migration: why we need to plan for the great upheaval - "People driven from their homes by climate disaster need protection. And ageing nations need them."
• CRYPTO CAN’T FIX CARBON OFFSETS - BUT CRYPTO FANS ARE TRYING ANYWAY - "There’sThere’s a wonky new attempt to use controversial technology to tackle climate change: turning carbon offset credits into crypto tokens. Both carbon offsets and crypto are hot-button topics in the sustainability game."
• Sanna Marin: Finland PM partying video causes backlash - "The Finnish Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, is facing a backlash after being seen partying in a leaked video. In the footage, thought to be taken from social media, she and friends including Finnish celebrities are seen dancing and singing."
• Ukrainian ‘businessmen’ take over from Russian oligarchs in Monaco - "Reporters from Ukraine’s Pravda have been in Monaco and Cap Ferrat to investigate the Ukrainian expats who seem to be living either in the Principality or close by. Many of them are hiding from justice while others are avoiding service in the Ukrainian army. Some are Russian sympathisers while others are just visitors."
• Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie's 2016 plane incident: FBI report reveals new details - "Angelina Jolie accused Brad Pitt of injuring her and verbally abusing their children during a heated encounter aboard a private jet in 2016, according to an FBI report provided to CNN by a source."
• A Cartier Watch Does Everything A Rolex Does - "And maybe even does it better..."
• The mystery ancient toys puzzling archaeologists - "The world's oldest toys date back thousands of years - but determining whether ancient children played with them, and how, remains a mystery archaeologists are piecing together."

August 18, 2022

• Ukraine: Preparing for the worst as situation at nuclear plant ‘approaches critical’ - "Ukrainian emergency rescuers attend an exercise in case of a possible nuclear incident at Zaporizhzhia's nuclear plant."
• China fires rods into the sky to make it rain, as it faces worst heat wave on record - "China is seeding clouds to replenish its shrinking Yangtze River."
• Cigarette butts: how the no 1 most littered objects are choking our coasts - "An estimated 4.5tn tobacco filters are littered each year and many end up in oceans with deadly consequences."
• Five countries, five meals - tackling the food inflation crisis - "Food is becoming more expensive, and sometimes scarcer, all over the world. Everywhere people are having to adapt to the new circumstances, and sometimes this means changing what they eat."
• Are indoor vertical farms really ‘future-proofing agriculture’? - "Heralded as the next step in food production, this practice is gaining ground in the US. But are they really a greener alternative to traditional farming?"
• New York City's 9/11 Tribute Museum closes its doors for good, citing financial losses during the pandemic - "The museum opened in 2006 and provided information about 9/11 and the 'unprecedented rescue and recovery operations and the rebuilding of both Lower Manhattan and of people's lives,' according to their website."
• Venice mayor slams 'idiots' for surfing on Grand Canal - "Tourists fined for surfing up Venice's Grand Canal."
• Travel guru Rick Steves never checks a bag. Here are the 25 things he always packs in his carry-on - "Steves spends four months out of the year traveling Europe for work, and he only brings a carry-on bag. Steves' must-haves include hemp shorts, Bose headphones, Patagonia pants, and bags he designed."
• iOS 15.6.1 now available with bug fixes & performance improvements - "As iOS 16 beta testing continues ahead a public release next month, Apple is still refining iOS 15. The company has now released iOS 15.6.1. The update includes bug fixes and performance improvements, and Apple has not provided any more specific information on the exact changes."
• Gentler Streak for Apple Watch adds new Workout Views before watchOS 9 release - "Gentler Streak, the Apple Watch app that brings a more compassionate perspective on your workouts, has just received another big update, this time with new Workout Views, which will be one of the main features that watchOS 9 plans to introduce later this fall."
• Experts say it's about how often you exercise, not how much - "A sports science professor said the four-week study found 'if you're just going to the gym once a week, it's not as effective as doing a bit of exercise every day at home'."
• Everyday Carry: Mission Ready - "Black and gunmetal colorways have long been used by makers of military and everyday carry gear, chosen for their ability to bestow an item with a decidedly tactical and aggressive aesthetic."
• Anna Wintour Takes You Inside the September Issue - "Vogue’s September issue always makes a statement, but this year’s cover story was both groundbreaking and news-making. In a new video, Editor In Chief Anna Wintour walks Vogue Club members through the issue, which - just in case you haven't heard - features Serena Williams and her daughter Olympia on the cover. 'This time our cover is making news - even its own bit of history, especially for tennis obsessives like myself,' Wintour says, referring to Williams’s announcement that she will be retiring from tennis after this fall’s US Open."
• 10 Chanel Bags That Every Bag Lover Should Know - "The 411 on the brand’s most famous and intriguing bags."
• The fashion leaders 'embarrassed' to be in the industry - "They're growing a new fashion empire built on responsible values. But Ganni's co-founders still suffer from climate guilt. The Danish brand heads open up about the complexities of being climate-conscious in the fashion industry, sharing that they are striving for B Corp certification as part of the brand's future-proofing efforts."
• Hanae Mori, renowned Japanese fashion designer, dies at 96 - "Nicknamed ‘Madame Butterfly’, Mori was the first Japanese designer to make it in the world of French haute couture."
• Amazon Kindle update is removing a key feature for loads of users - "No more buying books on the device."
• Ranked: The 50 best books of the past 100 years - "On the 100th anniversary of Ulysses, our jury of authors and critics pick the finest novels published since Joyce’s classic - how many have you read?"
• Review: Jared Kushner’s ‘Breaking History’ Is a Soulless & Very Selective Memoir - "In this lengthy book, Kushner recounts the time he spent in the White House during his father-in-law’s term."
• Prince of Qatar Flaunts $6 Million Bugatti Divo, Causes Mayhem in Monaco - "The Prince of Qatar was out for a drive along the Casino Square in Monaco, with bodyguards close to the car and 2 Audi SQ7 SUVs driving close by. The entire place was buzzing, and for good reason. When you show up in a 1 out of 40 vehicle, you get that kind of reaction."/li>
• Rolls-Royce Cullinan Yachting Edition Is The Rolex Of SUVs - "Carlex Design knows a thing or two about how to improve the interiors of even the world's most exotic cars. While Carlex often limits its handiwork to interiors, this particular Cullinan received a complete makeover both inside and out. This is not the first Yachting Edition from the company; a Land Rover Defender with similar trim and coloring was revealed previously."
• The best mouse for MacBook Pro & Air in 2022 - "Apple's Magic Mouse isn't your only option as the best mouse for MacBook."
• Segway Just Dropped a Batsh*t SuperScooter GT Series with Dual 1500W Motors - "It’s not too often that you see someone wearing a motorcycle helmet when riding a scooter. That being said, a helmet like that is pretty much required when you’re riding the new Segway SuperScooter GT Series. Why, You ask? Because this scooter can go from zero to 30 miles per hour in just 3.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 43.5 miles per hour, just like its fellow two-wheeled big brothers. Strap yourselves in, we’re joining the scooter gang."

August 17, 2022

• China's worst heatwave in 60 years is forcing factories to close - "China's Sichuan province has ordered all factories to shut down for six days to ease a power shortage in the region as a scorching heat wave sweeps across the country. Sichuan is a key manufacturing location for the semiconductor and solar panel industries and the power rationing will hit factories belonging to some of the world's biggest electronics companies, including Apple (AAPL) supplier Foxconn and Intel (INTC)."
• Russia Fights Efforts to Declare It an Exporter of ‘Blood Diamonds’ - "As a major diamond producer, Russia earns billions of dollars that other nations say help finance war. The clash exposes the many loopholes in regulation of conflict diamonds."
• American Airlines agrees to purchase 20 supersonic jets - "American Airlines is placing a bet on a future in which supersonic jets might return to the skies, shuttling passengers on some routes at speeds roughly twice as fast as current commercial aircraft."
• ‘I’m buying Manchester United’: Elon Musk ‘joke’ tweet charges debate over struggling club’s future - "Billionaire’s claim was welcomed by fans unhappy about the team’s current American owners - but he quickly clarified he wasn’t serious."
• How to make sure your private messages stay private - "Last year, Facebook-parent Meta effectively pushed back its timetable for rolling out end-to-end encryption by default across its various social platforms, with an executive saying the privacy-enhancing change would not happen until sometime in 2023."
• Car tires are disastrous for the environment. This startup wants to be a driving force in fixing the problem - "Every time a driver brakes, accelerates, or turns a corner, their car tires wear down a little. Most car owners replace their tires every five or so years because of this normal wear and tear - but the environmental consequences are extreme. Around 6.1 million metric tons of tire dust end up in our atmosphere and waterways annually. It's one of the most common microplastic pollutants in our oceans - and it's even been found in remote places like the Arctic."
• How to get to sleep the night before an early call or big event - "You're catching a 5 a.m. flight tomorrow. Your boss, a true early bird, has set an unbearably early weekly meeting. School is starting, and you have to rise and shine to goose the family into gear. The clock has rolled back, and suddenly you're climbing out of bed in the dark. Those are the nights you crawl into bed early and beg for sleep - all too often in vain."
• The Art of Choosing What to Do With Your Life - The New York Times.
• Copenhagen Fashion Week SS23: the key collections - in pictures - "Scandinavian style is lauded for its sustainability and minimalism - but that’s only half the story. The youngest fashion week on the calendar, Copenhagen looks set to be the next big thing. Here are 15 designers making headlines at this year’s event."
• Hand luggage rules: 5 everyday essentials banned from hand luggage - "Hand luggage rules can be a headache, especially for passengers looking to save money by travelling without checked baggage. Under mandatory security rules, there is a selection of everyday essentials you may have to leave behind."
• Top 5 Most Expensive Gucci Items Ever Sold In The World - "One of the world’s most glorious brands when it comes to luxury, style, and comfort packed into one box is the Italian brand Gucci. For years, the brand has worked towards setting a trademark in the industry as the most high-end distributor of products."
• Designed to Last: 10 of the world's most ingenious buildings - "Why abandon buildings once they're no longer needed? A new book reveals the best projects finding new uses for factories, grain silos and market halls. For BBC Culture's new series Designed to Last, here are 10 of the most ingenious - and inspiring - spaces around the globe."
• How France has lost its mustard - "Why there's no 'Dijon' in Dijon mustard. France is facing a widespread dearth of Dijon mustard, which news outlets wasted no time in attributing to the war in Ukraine. But the story is a whole lot spicier than that."
• ‘Ask all the time: why do I need this?’ How to stop your vacuum from spying on you - "Even if you’re not gadget-obsessed, the odds are you’ve got at least one smart device at home. So how do you limit the internet of things from listening in?"
• Stop drinking, keep reading, look after your hearing: a neurologist’s tips for fighting memory loss & Alzheimer’s - "When does forgetfulness become something more serious? And how can we delay or even prevent that change? We talk to brain expert Richard Restak."
• Paul Newman Rolexes Could Fetch $600,000 At Auction - "More Paul Newman Rolexes? Two Watches The Actor Gave To A Hollywood Stuntman To Be Auctioned By Sotheby’s. The three watches will go on view for the first time in Monterey, California from August 17-20 as part of Sotheby’s flagship Monterey auction, followed by an international tour with stops in Dubai, Hong Kong, Geneva and Los Angeles."
• Inside The World’s First Michelin-Starred Whisky Distillery - "Just seven months after The Glenturret Lalique restaurant opened it's doors, it has received a Michelin star, making it the first Scotch whisky distillery in the world to receive such a coveted award. A visit to the fine dining location, situated within the famed Glenturret distillery, clearly shows us why the team received a star in such a short period of time."
• The new USB Rubber Ducky is more dangerous than ever - "The beloved hacker tool can now pwn you with its own programming language."
• Adidas’ new solar headphones can also be charged by your bedroom light - "The RPT-02 SOL wireless headphones also feature 80 hours of stored playtime."
• A New Brushstroke Analysis Reveals Vermeer Was Not the Painstaking Perfectionist Art Historians Long Thought - "Experts at the National Gallery of Art discovered underpaintings on two of the artist’s canvases."/li>
• This collector wears two luxury watches & owns 5000 more - "Sydney collector Paxton Wong bought his first Omega Seamaster when he spied it in a shop window with the wrong price tag. Since then, he’s found a way to share his horological passion."
• The Spec Sheet: The Only Thing Missing From This '007' Omega Seamaster Is Daniel Craig's Wrist - "Behold the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Titanium 007 Edition, the watch worn by Daniel Craig in his swan song as the suave agent of MI6 (Craig even had a hand in designing the watch). We chose this one for HODINKEE '90s Week because its very design stems from the decade, while the nuances are decidedly mid-century-inspired. It's a real renaissance watch."
• iOS 16: Everything New With Notes & Reminders - "This guide highlights all of the new features in the iOS 16 Notes and Reminders apps."

August 16, 2022

• Justice Department asks not to disclose affidavit behind Mar-a-Lago search - "Unsealing the document could reveal the scope of the inquiry against Donald Trump, whose team is rattled by recent events."
• If Trump gets convicted of the Espionage Act, he faces a 10-year prison sentence, legal analyst says - "The statute 'that puts him in the most danger is far as I know right now, is 18 U.S.C. §§ 793, that's a portion of The Espionage Act, for which each violation carries a maximum penalty of 10 years,' said Lisa Rubin, legal analyst with the Rachel Maddow Show."
• Response of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet to past & future climate change - "The East Antarctic Ice Sheet contains the vast majority of Earth’s glacier ice (about 52 metres sea-level equivalent), but is often viewed as less vulnerable to global warming than the West Antarctic or Greenland ice sheets. However, some regions of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet have lost mass over recent decades, prompting the need to re-evaluate its sensitivity to climate change."
• Laurene Powell Jobs’ Charitable Foundation Taps California Environment Chief To Lead $3.5 Billion In Climate Change Giving - Forbes.
• The hunt for a universal Covid-19 vaccine - "The first Covid-19 vaccines that work on all variants might be available as early as 2024."
• Shoppers rush for the exits as Shanghai Ikea goes into lockdown - "Panicked shoppers rushed for the exits at an Ikea branch in Shanghai on Saturday after city health authorities ordered the store to lock down after a close contact of a Covid-19 case was traced to the location."
• CDC: Gorgeous island nation in Asia now at 'high' travel risk for Covid - "The CDC added three new destinations on Monday to its 'high' risk list for Covid-19, including an Asian island nation in the Pacific beloved by tourists for its stunning beaches. The Philippines, a country of 7,000 tropical islands featuring stunning oceanic scenery, delicious food and people renowned for their hospitality, joins Russia and mountain-trekker favorite Nepal in the "high" risk group, also called Level 3. Locations at Level 3 now account for almost 130 of the roughly 235 places monitored by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - more than half of all listings."
• What Types of Exercise Do You Need to Reduce Dementia Risk? - "Several large studies have confirmed that vigorous exercise, walking and even doing household chores can greatly benefit the brain."
• Johnny Depp made $650 million but couldn't pay for his lavish lifestyle, ex-manager says - "Depp has earned over $650 million in his career, including paydays averaging $20 million per picture. However, he also had huge spending habits, ranging from the purchase of an island to $30,000 a month on wine. Here is a breakdown of Depp's wealth and how he's reportedly spent it."
• The world's most breathtaking clifftop hotels - "When it comes to what makes a hotel truly spectacular, a cliffside setting is hard to beat. There can be little doubt then that some of the most breathtaking properties in existence happen to be perched dramatically on top of cliffs."
• The world's most alarming airplane landings - "When an airport was built on the mid-Atlantic island of St. Helena (above), it was initially dubbed the 'world's most useless' airport."
• Can the Groucho ever be cool again? Not if money is all that matters - "The Soho club used to be the place to see and be seen. But that was 30-odd years ago."
• Mads Mikkelsen says ‘amazing’ Johnny Depp might return to Fantastic Beasts - "Mikkelsen, who replaced Depp as Gellert Grindlewald, said he was a ‘big fan’ and speculated about his return after Amber Heard case."
• Tesla's 'full self-driving' feature may have finally met its match - "Tesla's foil isn't a silver-haired US Senator, world-class autonomous driving experts, or some of the country's preeminent safety advocates. They've all warned that 'full self-driving' isn't really full self-driving. The technology is designed to navigate local roads with steering, braking and acceleration, but it requires an attentive human driver who's ready to take control and correct the system, which 'may do the wrong thing at the worst time,' Tesla warns."
• Sacheen Littlefeather: Oscars apologises to actress after 50 years - "The Academy has apologised to Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist and actress booed off stage at the Oscars nearly 50 years ago. She appeared on live TV in 1973 to refuse an Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, who had won the best actor prize for The Godfather."
• The 'illusion of knowledge' that makes people overconfident - "It’s easy to think you’re a font of knowledge. And while you may have plenty of skills and expertise, it’s quite likely you know less than you think."
• is the lululemon belt bag really worth the hype? - " The Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag Was the Perfect Accessory for My Two-Week Hawaiian Honeymoon. I can’t imagine ever traveling without it again."
• Here’s everything still to come from Apple in 2022 - 9to5Mac.
• iCloud Shared Photo Library: Here’s how it works in iOS 16 - "Apple is bringing a major change to the Photos app with iOS 16 that makes it much easier to share important photos and videos with loved ones. Going beyond the Shared Albums feature that’s been available for years, iCloud Shared Photo Library lets you automatically or manually share your photo library and also directly from your camera."
• Hyper’s 245W charger & battery pack now available to all - "The release of the two accessories follows a successful release of the two accrowdfunding campaign."
• Samsung's 55-inch Odyssey Ark: Taking gaming monitors to a whole new dimension - "With a 165Hz mini LED display, six speakers and two remotes, what else do you need?"
• 'Attract less attention' Shopping bag 'hack' to beat hand luggage rules - "Hand luggage rules can be a headache to navigate, however, one expert has a 'cheeky' hack which he says could help you sneak more onboard without attracting too much 'attention'. If you have a few addition items you can't fit into your bag, 'it's a bit cheeky' you can try and carry them through the airport in a shopping bag."

August 15, 2022

• Mar-a-Lago - & its owner - have long caused concerns for US intelligence - "Revealing an airstrike over 'beautiful' chocolate cake. A trespasser from China carrying flash drives and electronics. Cellphone photos of the 'nuclear football' briefcase. And now, classified documents recovered during an FBI search. Mar-a-Lago, the stone-walled oceanfront estate Donald Trump labeled the 'Winter White House,' has long been a source of headaches for national security and intelligence professionals. Its clubby atmosphere, sprawling guest-list and talkative proprietor combined into a 'nightmare' for keeping the government's most closely held secrets, one former intelligence official said."
• Is Donald Trump the First President to Have a Run-In With the Law? - "A historian looks back at other moments presidents have been investigated for potential criminal activity."
• The nuclear football is a lot like a Denny's menu - "'In a fit of pique, [Trump% decides to do something about Kim Jong Un, there's actually very little to stop him. How accurate is that?' 'It's entirely accurate - at least once a launch order is given.'"
• Europe's drought could signal the death of river cruising - "Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the pandemic-snarled water, Europe is having another cataclysmic summer. This time, it's not pandemic red tape, but what looks set to be the continent's worst drought in history."
• Marshall Islands: Covid-19 cases surge - "Covid-19 infection numbers have surged in the Marshall Islands, just days after the Pacific nation recorded its first local spread of the virus."
• India Independence Day: How DIY loudspeakers powered Gandhi's freedom fight - BBC News.
• Elon Musk ‘fearful’ of Amber Heard’s ‘true colours’: ‘Knows she's crazy’ - "Elon Musk reportedly fears Amber Heard’s emotions and is petrified of having to clean up her messes after ‘fits of rage’."
• Amber Heard ‘orchestrated’ Johnny Depp’s chopped finger incident - "Amber Heard has just come under fire allegedly having had malice and forethought regarding the incident with Johnny Depp’s finger."
• Elon Musk wants to cut this ‘terrible habit’ from his morning routine: ‘I suspect a lot of people do [this]’ - "'I have a bad habit - which I suspect a lot of people do - of immediately checking my phone [in the morning],' Musk said on the show. 'It’s a terrible habit, actually.'"
• How to Watch Elvis - Stream Baz Luhrmann's Elvis - "The Elvis biopic starring Austin Butler is now available on demand."
• Remember when Robin Williams had rock hard abs? - "Remember when Robin Williams threw on a set of rock hard abs? The buttoned-down shirt was from Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring-Summer 1996 collection, 'Pin Up Boys,' and featured an unmistakably chiseled male torso rendered in red and white halftone dots."
• Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: Tributes for India's 'stock market king' who died at 62 - "Often called India's Warren Buffett, Jhunjhunwala had an estimated net worth of around $5.8bn, according to Forbes magazine. He had the reputation of being a risk-taker in his investments, many of which paid off spectacularly."
• Your iPhone may soon have more ads - "Potentially coming to Maps, Podcasts, and Books."
• iOS 16 Supported Devices: Will Your iPhone Get the Future Update? - "Only certain devices will support iOS 16. Find out if yours is on the list."
• Make Your Apple Watch Work Better by Changing These Settings - "Updating your activity goals and unlocking your watch with your iPhone are just a couple of changes that can make your Apple Watch more useful."
• Did Proust write the greatest novel of the 20th Century? - Marcel Proust's groundbreaking 1922 masterpiece In Search of Lost Time is considered daunting and difficult by many, but is actually universally appealing and rewarding.
• How our ancestors survived the doomsday asteroid - "Sixty-six million years ago, our distant ancestors lived through perhaps the most violent event in Earth's history. How did a band of small, insignificant mammals scuffling in the shadows survive the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs?"
• What the Marble Arch Mound architects did next: a skyscraper shaped like Albania’s national hero - "A building with the aquiline profile of a 15th-century warrior is the latest proposal by MVRDV to transform Tirana, the capital of Albania. But not everyone is happy with the Dutch firm’s plans."
• The Princess review - the Diana documentary that’s packed with ironic (& twisted) detail - "From TV commentators calling Camilla and Diana ‘friends’ to Robert Kilroy-Silk’s take on the royal, this programme’s archive footage shows society’s sordid relationship with her."
• Is it time to end cats’ right to roam? - "Pet cats kill songbirds by the million, as well as rodents and other wildlife. But how much of a threat do they really pose, and should they be kept indoors? Expert opinion is divided."
• PHILIPS HUE PLAY SYNC BOX & GRADIENT LIGHTSTRIP REVIEW: WHOLLY UNNECESSARY, TOTALLY DELIGHTFUL - "Leveling up your home theater experience."

August 14, 2022

• A disastrous megaflood is coming to California, experts say - "It could be the most expensive natural disaster in history."
• Europe’s rivers run dry as scientists warn drought could be worst in 500 years - "Crops, power plants, barge traffic, industry and fish populations devastated by parched waterways."
• Vanuatu, one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, launches ambitious climate plan - "The Pacific country has committed to 100% renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030."
• Climate activists fill golf holes with cement after water ban exemption - "Climate activists in southern France have filled golf course holes with cement to protest against the exemption of golf greens from water bans amid the country's severe drought."
• Why Steve Jobs Chose This Designer’s Turtlenecks - "The real beginning of the fashion-technology love affair and its legacy lies with Issey Miyake, who died last week."
• Howard Carter stole Tutankhamun’s treasure, new evidence suggests - "100 years after the discovery of the tomb of the boy king, a previously unpublished letter backs up long-held suspicions."
• 'The Netflix effect': Why Western women are heading to South Korea in search of love - "Hit Korean television shows like "Crash Landing on You" and "Goblin," were selling more than men with beautiful faces and chiseled bodies like their stars Hyun Bin and Gong Yoo. They were offering a glimpse into a world where men were romantic and patient, an antithesis to what the women saw as the sex-obsessed dating culture of their home countries."
• Sean Bean: ‘I used to read scripts from the end to see if I was still in them’ - "The actor, who is about to star opposite Nicola Walker in new BBC drama Marriage, talks about chemistry, crying and being killed off."
• Bryan Cranston On Breaking Into The Spirits Industry - "The Breaking Bad star on why he started the Dos Hombres mezcal brand with costar Aaron Paul, how their chemistry changed after the series, and how they’re giving back to the community where it’s produced in Oaxaca, Mexico."
• What forensic testing reveals about revolver in on-set Actor Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting - "The gun used in the fatal shooting on the 'Rust' movie set could not have been fired without pulling the trigger, according to an FBI forensic report obtained Friday by ABC News."
• 28 Iconic Photographs of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco - "It is easy to describe Grace Kelly’s life as a fairytale: she was a one of the great beauties - and talents - of the Golden Age of Hollywood before leaving California behind to marry the dashing Prince Rainier of Monaco. Yet it’s a notion that Princess Grace herself dismissed: 'The idea of my life as a fairy tale is itself a fairy tale,' she once said."
• Unique Cartier ‘Cheich’ Watch Could Fetch $400,000 In Sotheby’s Paris Auction - "It will appear in public for the first time in 40 years as the top lot in Sotheby’s Paris Fine Watches auction. Online bidding will open September 16 with the final live sale on September 30. This hybrid bidding model has been used by the auction house since the coronavirus pandemic. Its estimate is $200,000 - $400,000."
• Bohemia Beach Is Having Another Day in the Sun - "Three recent books revisit the Outer Cape, long an inspiration for writers like Mary McCarthy, who lampooned the area as 'the seacoast of Bohemia.'"
• Kanye West's 1-of-1 Goyard "Robot Face" Backpack Surfaces for US$100,000 - "Bought in 2010 with Amber Rose in tow, the custom piece now finds itself on Justin Reed’s website again."

August 13, 2022

• FBI removed highly classified documents from Mar-a-Lago - "Judge unseals Trump Mar-a-Lago search warrant."
• 3 ways to know if you need a monkeypox vaccine & how to get one, according to experts - "The monkeypox vaccine Jynneos is in short supply in the US. Monkeypox is not as infectious as COVID, and vaccination is only being recommended for certain groups of people right now. Here's how to know if you qualify, and where to get jabbed if you do."
• Ecovado could be a greener alternative to 'green gold' - "Our love of avocados comes at a significant cost to the environment: approximately 2,000 liters of water are used to grow just one kilogram of avocados, while forests are cleared to make space for avocado trees. That's why London-based researcher and designer Arina Shokouhi decided to develop an eco-friendly avocado alternative. Called the 'Ecovado'."
• Take a global tour of the world's best frozen treats - "Whether it's in Asia, Europe, the United States or South America, it's safe to say that the frozen treat tends to be a favorite indulgence for anyone of any age, though it's hard not to picture a child holding a cone on a hot day, with the melting substance dripping down their arm."
• The 'lipstick index' says people buy more makeup when times get tough - "Here's where it comes from - and whether it can really predict a recession. The lipstick index is the theory that sales of 'affordable luxuries' rise during economic downturns. The phrase was coined in the early 2000s by Leonard Lauder, heir to Estée Lauder cosmetics. It played out during the 2008 recession and the pandemic, and it seems to be happening now too."
• Anne Heche - a life in pictures - "The US actor and director has died at the age of 53, a week after a car crash in LA."
• Streaming: the best Marilyn Monroe films - "Ahead of Netflix’s biopic of the Hollywood star, what better time to catch up on her deft, joyous screen performances, from Some Like It Hot to The Misfits."
• New super yacht goes up in flames off Spain - "The recently-delivered 44m super yacht Aria has been destroyed by fire off the coast of Formentera, Spain. The 20 million-euro vessel belonged to Italian motor parts tycoon Paolo Scudieri, who is the Ambassador for Tourism of Monaco."
• How to pick the best MacBook so you’re not overspending for what you don’t need - "Apple has five MacBook computers to choose from, which might be a little daunting if you’re in the market for a new laptop as we hit back-to-school season. There’s the new MacBook Air, for example, but Apple also sells its older 2020 MacBook Air. Then there are three different MacBook Pro computers to pick from."
• iOS 16: The complete guide to the next big iPhone update - "iOS 16 was announced at WWDC in June. Here's what you need to know about the new features, release date, and compatibility."
• The Latest iOS 16 Beta Update Brings Back This Much-Missed Feature to the iPhone - "You'll once again be able to check out your iPhone's battery percentage in the status bar - from anywhere on your device."
• How to Unlock an iPhone Without a Passcode - "Learn how to unlock an iPhone without a passcode before you're stuck. You never know when these methods will come in handy."
• Why you should really stop charging your phone overnight - "Do you plug in your phone every night right before you go to bed? Here's what you should be doing instead."
• Apple Watch Series 8: Apple May Have Just Revealed Its Brilliant Upgrade - "The next Apple Watch is expected to launch in September, with a record three new models planned, it’s believed. Now, a patent which has emerged with remarkable timeliness shows a body temperature sensor which has been predicted to be the key upgrade in this year’s models."
• WEMO’S STAGE SCENE CONTROLLER IS THE LIGHT SWITCH EVOLVED - "A souped-up smart button for Apple’s HomeKit smart home. Enter the Belkin Wemo Stage Scene Controller with Thread for Apple HomeKit. An elegant and reliable way to use physical controls to run your smart home, this $50 smart switch can do much more than a standard switch. Tap one of its three buttons to control any connected HomeKit device - from opening the shades and playing the radio to locking the front door and turning on smart lights. Even better, one press can do all these things at once, and a second press can turn it all off. See if your standard Decora can do that."

August 12, 2022

• Report that FBI sought nuclear documents sharpens Trump showdown with Justice Department - "A report that FBI agents searched for classified documents related to nuclear weapons at Donald Trump's Florida resort could explain the urgency of the unprecedented operation at the home of an ex-President and takes his showdown with the Justice Department to a grave new level."
• Donald Trump does not oppose US bid to unseal Mar-a-Lago search warrant - "In a statement, Mr Trump said he was encouraging its 'immediate release' - but repeated his claim the search was unnecessary and politically motivated."
• Zaporizhzhia nuclear workers: We're kept at gunpoint by Russians - "Staff at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have described to the BBC being kept at gunpoint while Russian troops use it as a military base."
• CDC ends recommendations for social distancing & quarantine for Covid-19 control, no longer recommends test-to-stay in schools - "In new guidelines released Thursday, the agency no longer recommends staying at least 6 feet away from other people to reduce the risk of exposure - a shift from guidance that had been in place since the early days of the pandemic."
• How do you manage Omicron BA.5 symptoms, including a sore throat? - "While a sore throat has always been a symptom of Covid, experts said that it is becoming more common, and sometimes more severe, with the BA.5 subvariant of Omicron - now, the dominant strain of Covid in the United States."
• Three cases of monkeypox in Monaco - "Monaco’s health authorities have reacted quickly to the appearance of monkeypox in the Principality, and an ‘adequate’ stock of vaccine has been obtained."
• 'I am a different person after having monkeypox' - "The 'traumatic experience' of US monkeypox patients. The US declared monkeypox a public health emergency late last week. It follows weeks of concern that more needs to be done to contain the virus."
• Even low levels of air pollution can damage health, study finds - "US researchers looked at Canada to see how people in cleanest areas were still experiencing ill health."
• Is dark chocolate really good for you? - "We've long been told that chocolate isn't good for us. But the darker the bar, the more surprisingly good it could be for health."
• The Tom Collins Is The Most Refreshing Way To Drink Gin - "What’s not to love about a simple, classic cocktail like the Tom Collins? It’s basically a spiked and sparkling lemonade, served in a Collins glass, obviously, which immediately inducts it into the summer cocktail hall of fame. This fizzy cocktail is as old as it is iconic, having made its first appearance in print in 1876 in the Bar-Tender’s Guide by famed father of American mixology Jerry Thomas. It hasn’t changed much since its inception, meaning that it's probably perfect the way it is."
• 20 of the most beautiful villages in Italy - "Fabulous food, amazing art, rich language, dramatic and gorgeous landscapes - we all know what makes Italy so special. Perhaps best of all are the scenic small towns and villages, where it's possible to enjoy all these while surrounded by picturesque coastline, mountains, valleys, rivers or volcanoes."
• Twilight of the A-list: has the 21st century killed off the movie star? - "Brad Pitt’s new film is fizzling out. Meryl Streep is doing TV. Only Tom Cruise fills cinemas - and, in the age of superheroes and streaming, his days may be numbered. So, what does the future hold for Hollywood’s big beasts?"
• Luxury watches: Entry-level is the new battleground - "It’s not enough to rely on the loyalty of the wealthiest customers. Swiss watchmakers and luxury brands are working hard to develop entry-price watches for a new generation of customers."
• The surprising benefits of gossip - "Gossip is often dismissed as universally bad. But little moments of chatter can make a big impact."
• How a Sleep Scientist Falls Asleep - "A sleep expert shares her tips to prepare for a restful night."
• The A380's biggest supporter is asking Airbus to build a new super jumbo - "The A380 super jumbo has many supporters around the world, but none quite as vocal and powerful as Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, by far the largest operator of the aircraft. The Dubai-based airline purchased nearly half of all A380s ever produced and now has 118 in its fleet, about 80 of which are currently flying."
• The Gabon woman who went from teacher to bamboo bike maker - "Walking for miles to get to school put huge strain on her pupils - particularly the women - so Grace Mabika decided to make pedal power accessible for all."
• The best iPad accessories you can get right now - "Make your iPad work harder for you with a few accoutrements."
• HOW NOKIA RINGTONES BECAME THE FIRST VIRAL EARWORMS - The Verge.

August 11, 2022

• Elon Musk's antics may finally be catching up to him - "It seems the Elon Musk mystique - whatever combination of wealth, carefully cultivated charm and A-plus lawyers that have helped him emerge unscathed from countless scandals - is starting to unravel. Here's the deal: Federal regulators just announced that Musk's private space tourism company, SpaceX, will no longer receive nearly $900 million in subsidies that it was awarded last year because the company 'failed to demonstrate that [it] could deliver' the internet service it promised."
• Never Before in American History: The F.B.I. Searches a Former President’s Home - "The search of former President Donald J. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate is a high-risk gamble by the Justice Department, but Mr. Trump faces risks of his own."
• Can eating fish ever be sustainable? - "Finding sustainable seafood can be complex. Jocelyn Timperley digs into out how to make the most environmentally-friendly choices."
• Vegetarian women more likely to fracture hips in later life, study shows - "Research suggests some vegetarians may not get sufficient nutrients for good bone and muscle health."
• Nights are getting way too hot to handle - "It’s a ‘neglected’ climate risk, researchers say. Summer nights are getting increasingly dangerous thanks to climate change. By 2100, the risk of death from excessively hot nights is expected to grow six-fold compared to 2016 - even under the most optimistic predictions of future global warming, according to a new study published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health."
• Let's talk about Covid-19 boosters - "There's been a lot of talk about Covid-19 booster shots in recent weeks. It makes sense - with colder months just around the corner in the northern hemisphere, public health authorities across the world are getting ready for a potential spike in coronavirus cases."
• North Korea leader Kim Jong-un 'suffered fever' during Covid outbreak, says sister - "North Korea's Kim Jong-un suffered from 'fever' during the Covid pandemic, his sister has said - in what appears to be the first suggestion he had the virus."
• China overtakes the US in scientific research output - "Between 2018 and 2020 China published 23.4% of the world’s scientific papers, eclipsing the US."
• Russian billionaire daring to speak out about Putin - "Boris Mints is one of a few rich Russian businesspeople to speak out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin."
• Crypto is making a comeback - "Is the crypto winter finally over? (And in the scorching heat of summer no less?) Bitcoin prices have stabilized around the $23,000 to $24,000 level after plunging below $20,000 in June."
• WhatsApp is letting us slink off with dignity intact, at last - "On Tuesday, WhatsApp announced new privacy features that will allow users to leave group chats without sending notifications to all members - and to control who sees when they are active on the app. These features are a reminder to all of us that we need to be more thoughtful about the ways in which we're letting technology control our lives."
• Change These Default Settings & Be Happier With Your Tech - "Simple steps can make your smartphone, computer and TV work better for you."
• Coke's latest bizarre flavor is here - "Coca-Cola's latest experimental, limited-time flavor is here. It's called ... wait for it ... Dreamworld. And it tastes like ... dreams?"
• Domino's tried to sell pizza to Italians. It failed - "Seven years after its debut in the country, the American pizza giant has formally shut its stores after it failed to win over locals who preferred homegrown options, according to a report by Milano Today."
• The 'pasta revolution' sweeping Italy - "Cacio e pepe en vessie: A new (old) twist on cacio e pepe. On the shores of Lake Garda, Italian chef Riccardo Camanini is bringing ancient Italian recipes - like cacio e pepe - into the modern day at his restaurant Lido 84."
• 6 Fall Denim Trends We're About to See Everywhere - "Fall is coming in hot and so are the new fall denim trends that will have a hold on the season to come. While jeans are 100% the mainstays in our closets, they're certainly not immune to the ebb and flow of the trend cycle. The big themes to know? Jeans are getting longer and baggier, waistlines are dipping lower, and the proclivity towards the early aughts is only growing stronger."
• How Bolivia’s ruthless tin baron saved thousands of Jewish refugees - "He has been described as ‘the worst kind of businessman’, but we now know that industrialist Moritz Hochschild also rescued as many as 20,000 Jews from the Nazis."
• Tehran museum unveils western art masterpieces hidden for decades - "‘Deviant’ works by artists including Picasso and Warhol return to display at exhibition in Iranian capital."
• Why Glenmorangie Rebranded - "When LVMH purchased Scottish whisky distillery Glenmorangie in 2004, for a cool for £300 million ($362 million), it didn’t seem entirely in-line with the company’s portfolio. While the Moët Hennessy empire was already packed with many award-winning and respected liquids, Glenmorangie felt a tad, well, traditional, in comparison. And it showed in the numbers; profits fell as the blended companies found their flow—only to be lifted after a minor rebrand in 2007."
• Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a fashion-forward foldable with minor improvements - "Still flipping, still $999."
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 hands-on: It's what you don't see that makes the difference - "This year, Samsung’s focusing on refining the Z series, and that’s not a bad thing."
• Galaxy Watch 5 & Watch 5 Pro hands-on: Barely-there updates (& one new design) - "Besides the debut of the larger Pro edition, little about the Galaxy Watch 5 line feels new."

August 10, 2022

• 60% of European Union & UK land is now facing drought conditions - "An area bigger than Alaska and Texas combined - is under either drought warnings or alerts, according to the European Drought Observatory."
• Bill Gates: We’re on the Verge of a Remarkable Moment for Congress & the Country - "Mr. Gates, a co-founder of Microsoft, is also the founder of Breakthrough Energy and the author of 'How to Avoid a Climate Disaster'."
• China battles Covid outbreaks in tourism hubs of Tibet & Hainan - "Mass testing in Tibetan cities of Lhasa and Shigatse after 21 infections, as millions are put under lockdown in tropical Hainan and tourists stranded."
• Newly identified Langya virus tracked after China reports dozens of cases - "Virus, which causes symptoms including fever, fatigue, cough, loss of appetite and muscle aches, is believed to have spread from animals to humans."
• Olivia Newton-John's most fashionable moments, from red carpets to music videos - "he enduring image of Olivia Newton-John may always be one of permed hair, bare shoulders and black spandex on the set of 'Grease'. But the late actress and singer, who died Monday aged 73, was a fashion icon before - and long after - the blockbuster musical."
• France whale: Rescue operation begins to save beluga stuck in Seine - "A beluga whale stranded in the Seine river in France has been lifted from the water in the first stage of an ambitious rescue operation. The four-metre (13ft) whale - a protected species usually found in much colder Arctic waters - was stuck in the river, north-west of Paris, for a week."
• Homes needed for 4,000 beagles rescued from breeder in US - "Nearly 4,000 beagles are looking for new homes after what is thought to be one of the biggest ever dog rescue efforts in the US. The dogs were being bred at a facility in Virginia that then sold them on to laboratories for drug experiments."
• What it's like on the world's shortest flight - "The journey, made two to three times daily, connects Westray, an island on the edge of Scotland's northerly Orkney archipelago, to the smaller, even more remote island of Papa Westray. This, according to Guinness World Records, is the world's shortest scheduled airline service, a trip that covers just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) in less time than it takes most passenger airplanes to reach cruising altitude. On a good day, with favorable winds and light luggage, it takes 53 seconds."
• Swapping salt for substitutes reduces risk of stroke & heart conditions - study - "High blood pressure contributes to around half of all heart attacks and strokes in the UK."
• The language that doesn't use 'no' - "Nepal's Kusunda language has no known origin and a number of quirks, like no words for 'yes' or 'no'. It also has only one fluent speaker left, something linguists are racing to change."
• A good year for Champagne - drought problem elsewhere - "The Champagne region is set for a good harvest with output seen above the five-year average, helped by rainfall in June and limited vine disease, it said."
• SAMSUNG’S ALL ALONE AT THE FOLDABLE PARTY - "Four years into folding phones and Samsung is the king of the party."

August 9, 2022

• ‘The new normal’: how Europe is being hit by a climate-driven drought crisis - "Water shortages across the continent, from France through Italy, Spain and beyond, are creating a critical situation."
• FBI executes search warrant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago in document investigation - "The FBI executed a search warrant Monday at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of an investigation into the handling of presidential documents, including classified documents, that may have been brought there, three people familiar with the situation told CNN."
• Photos show handwritten notes that Trump apparently ripped up and attempted to flush down toilet - "Newly revealed photographs reveal two occasions on which former President Donald Trump apparently flushed documents down the toilet. Maggie Haberman, a New York Times reporter and CNN contributor, is publishing the new images in her forthcoming book, 'Confidence Man,' and the images were earlier posted by Axios. CNN has previously reported how Trump flouted presidential record-keeping laws and would often tear up documents, drafts and memos after reading them."
• 'Grease' co-stars, friends & fans pay tribute to Olivia Newton-John - "Hollywood icons joined fans worldwide to mourn the loss of Olivia Newton-John, the Australian singer and 'Grease' star, who died Monday at her ranch in Southern California at age 73."
• Dame Olivia Newton-John obituary - "Singer and actor with a girl-next-door reputation whose career rocketed after her starring role as Sandy in Grease."
• Olivia Newton-John: a life & career in pictures - "The singer, actor and activist has died at the age of 73. One of the world’s best-selling recording artists, she achieved global recognition in 1978 playing Sandy in the film adaptation of Grease. We look back at her life and career."
• Issey Miyake: Japanese fashion designer dies aged 84 - "Known for his innovative styles and perfume, Miyake built a global fashion brand, which included designing Steve Jobs' famous black turtle neck jumpers." Miyake was asked by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to design his iconic turtle neck jumpers and reportedly made 100 of them, at $175 each.
• The September issue is here! - VOGUE.
• The Richest Countries In The World: Tiny Luxembourg At The Top - "Most of the countries at the top of a new list of the wealthiest in the world are not among the biggest or the mightiest. Many, in fact, are among the smallest: Consider Luxembourg, which tops the list published by Global Finance. Singapore, Ireland, Qatar, Macao and Switzerland follow the world’s only grand duchy. The indicators of a nation’s wealth can vary from one ranking to another - thus the differences among them - but often include a country’s Gross Domestic Product, or GDP (goods and services produced by a country during one year), the GDP per capita (the average amount of money that each person in a country earns in a year) or the gross national income, or GNI."
• Just 2 Minutes of Walking After a Meal Is Surprisingly Good for you - "A new paper suggests that it takes far less exercise than was previously thought to lower blood sugar after eating."
• Earth broke the record for the shortest day since atomic clocks were invented - "If you feel like there's less time in the day, you're correct. Our planet's rotation measured in at 1.59 milliseconds short of the normal 24-hour day on June 29, according to the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service, an organization in charge of global timekeeping."
• It’s official: Monaco’s air quality currently ‘poor’ - "The main cause of the poor air quality is ground-level ozone, a combination of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) heated by sunshine. VOCs are found in petrol. The main source of the pollutant is vehicle exhausts."
• The Best - & Most Anticipated - TV Shows of 2022 - VOGUE.
• The Problem With Wine Bottles - "They may be a perfect container for aging wine, but glass bottles contribute enormously to climate change."
• Billionaires are funding a massive treasure hunt in Greenland as ice vanishes - "A band of billionaires, including Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates, among others, is betting that below the surface of the hills and valleys on Greenland's Disko Island and Nuussuaq Peninsula there are enough critical minerals to power hundreds of millions of electric vehicles."
• I won the $1.6BILLION Powerball lottery jackpot - here is how I picked my numbers to scoop 1 in 292 million win - "A woman who won the $1.6billion Powerball lottery jackpot has revealed how she picked her lucky numbers."
• Why I'll Never Travel Without an Apple AirTag in My luggage again - "I used a $29 Apple AirTag to track my luggage on 2 buses and a plane and I'll never travel without one again."
• 20 Years at 30,000 Feet: A Flight Attendant Answers Readers' questions - "Does the cabin crew ever get scared in the air? Is there a secret flight attendant code? How do I survive a flight with my toddler? An industry insider answers."
• Why nothing lives forever - "Why do we die?"
• 26 Underrated Fashion Stars Who Deserve All the Praise - "What makes such an icon, you ask? That would be someone who’s not only cultivated a signature fashion look and stuck to it over the years, but also someone who has never made their outfits feel stale or too repetitive in the process." VOGUE.
• Average Pull-Up & Chin-Up By Weight, Gender & Experience Level - "Check out the average one-rep max pull-up and chin-up for your weight and how you stack up against your peers."
• 23 Best EDC Backpacks: Top Everyday Carry Bags For Men - "The best everyday backpacks serve as a compact home away from home. Inside are all your everyday essentials - everything you need to stay on the move from morning ‘til evening."
• Peter McKinnon’s Swiss Army Camera Tool - "Peter McKinnon’s Nifty Camera Tool." The multi-purpose tool is equipped with everything you would need to efficiently manage your camera out in the field in a compact, lightweight and stealthy Swiss army knife designed package.
• Anne Heche remains in critical condition as police continue to investigate her car crash - "Investigators obtained a warrant for a blood draw on the day of the incident. They are still awaiting those results, Hernandez said. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be referred to the LA City Attorney's office, Hernandez added."
• Brad Pitt has 'secret list' of Hollywood actors he will never work with again - "Hollywood star Brad Pitt allegedly keeps a top secret list of the 's**t actors' he refuses to film with - according to his Bullet Train co-star Aaron Taylor-Johnson."
• Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Stopped Body Building & Became An Actor - "Arnold Schwarzenegger's transition from body building to acting may seem clandestine, but the reason for his career change is actually quite simple."
• Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk: ‘Without CPR I’d have been dead in minutes’ - "Actor opens up about on-set heart attack and reunion with Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul ahead of Breaking Bad prequel’s finale."
• Dramatic photos cast Europe's ancient castles in a new light - "In his latest book, 'Stone Age: Ancient Castles of Europe,' writer and photographer Frédéric Chaubin set out to disrupt the familiar stereotypes, using prose and photography to link the medieval with the Modernist."
• Inside one of Hawaii's most photographed homes - "A vacation home in Hawaii that Justin Bieber rented for two weeks in 2015 at $10,000 per night for his entourage is headed to the auction block August 15 with a $5.99 million reserve, meaning the minimum price the seller is willing to accept for the home."
• Take a tour of Michael Jordan's Chicago mansion that's been on the market for 10 years & why he can't sell it - "Michael Jordan has tried to sweeten the pot by cutting the price nearly in half and throwing in a complete set of Air Jordans with the purchase of the house."
• WhatsApp: Mark Zuckerberg reveals new privacy features - "Users will be able to leave group chats silently, control who can see their online status and block screenshots on View Once messages."
• Battery percentage finally returns to iOS 16 & it’s hideous - "Apple released the iOS 16 beta 5 today and with it comes the long-awaited return of battery percentage to the status bar. Unfortunately, it’s ugly as hell and unreadable to boot."
• How to Use Lockdown Mode in iOS 16 to Make Your Phone More Secure - "Whether you want to turn off link previews or block unwanted FaceTime calls, here's what you need to know. Lockdown Mode is disabled by default but can be enabled on an iPhone by going to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Lockdown Mode."

August 8, 2022

• Now should I worry about monkeypox? Our medical analyst explains - "Monkeypox is spreading in the United States and around the world. There are at least 26,000 infections documented in over 80 countries. The World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting more than 6,600 infections, just two months after monkeypox was first detected in this outbreak, and on Thursday, the Biden administration officially declared monkeypox to be a public health emergency in the United States."
• Why Extreme Heat Is So Bad for the Human Body - "Heatstroke happens when the body reaches a core temperature of at least 104° F, which can lead to organ failure, brain damage, and even death."
• Another court case fails to unlock the mystery of bitcoin’s Satoshi Nakamoto - "As Craig Wright’s legal tussles pile up, the world is no closer to knowing who the currency’s inventor really is."
• Tesla shares are about to get a lot cheaper with three-for-one stock split - "Tesla officially announced a three-for-one stock split, meaning the company's stock price - which has jockeyed between $600 and $1,000 for a year - is about to get more affordable for investors. The stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis on August 25th."
• International Cat Day - "Celebration which takes place on 8 August of every year. It was created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. It is a day to raise awareness for cats and learn about ways to help and protect them."
• Discovered in the deep: meet Casper the ghostly octopus - "First spotted in Hawaii in 2016 more than two miles beneath the surface, scientists are slowly learning the cephalopod’s secrets."
• Siri or Skynet? How to separate AI fact from fiction - "Determining the way artificial intelligence is used and governed will be one of the century’s key political battlegrounds. Here’s what everyone needs to know."
• London museum to return 72 Benin treasures to Nigeria - "Horniman museum is first government-funded institution to hand back artefacts looted by British forces in 1897."
• What should I do if my luggage is delayed, lost or damaged? - "A recent report from the US Department of Transportation shows an increase in the number of "mishandled" bags. (Any baggage that is lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered is considered mishandled.) In May 2021, 0.38 out of 100 bags enplaned were mishandled. That figure went up to 0.56 per 100 bags enplaned in May 2022."
• ‘There’s a raw energy’: Hydra, artists’ haven, still casts its spell - "The Greek island has attracted creatives for over 8o years, from Henry Miller to Leonard Cohen and Jeff Koons."
• Europe's remote, lost-in-time villages - "Life in Târnava Mare has barely changed in centuries, offering a precious insight into the age-old traditions that are still going strong in its Saxon villages."
• How This Luxury Vacation Club Anticipates Your Every Desire - "In addition to luxe residences and amenities, Exclusive Resorts pairs families with a personal ambassador to ensure each vacation is a one-of-a-kind experience."
• Everything We Know About The White Lotus Season Two - "The second season will be titled White Lotus: Sicily and will feature a new cast."
• Netflix was overvalued, now it's becoming what it's always been - "Netflix is not in deep trouble. It's becoming a media company."
• The Best Copper Pots & Pans to Add to Your Cookware Collection - "It's time to upgrade your stockpots and saucepans to something with a little more flair - enter copper and its lightning fast heating capabilities."
• 11 Best Tennis Sweaters to Wear On & Off the Court - "If tennis skirts were the wardrobe must-have of summer, then these knits will no doubt be the trend of fall."
• Girlbosses: The women being demonised on screen - "Few stereotypes are more derided than the 'girlboss', a term used to refer to women focusing on self-empowerment at others' expense. Now, from TV shows like HBO's Industry and Succession to films like I Care A Lot and Don't Look Up, popular culture is weighing in, says Laura Martin."
• THE FIRST THREAD MOTION SENSOR ADDS MUCH-NEEDED RELIABILITY TO THE SMART HOME - "A smart home without sensors and automations is basically a remote-controlled home. Using your voice or an app to turn lights on isn’t much easier (and in some cases is harder) than flicking on a light switch. Smart is when lights just turn on as you walk into a room. But when you walk in and they don’t turn on, that’s worse. This common smart home frustration is something the Eve Motion Sensor ($39.99), with its shiny new Thread protocol on board, promises to fix."

August 7, 2022

• There’s Just One Drug to Treat Monkeypox. Good Luck Getting It - "Doctors who want to prescribe tecovirimat, or Tpoxx, must navigate a gantlet of bureaucratic hurdles that experts say could be quickly lifted."
• Biden tests negative for Covid after 'rebound' case - "US President Joe Biden has tested negative for Covid-19 days after getting a second bout of the virus, his doctor says."
• Covid lockdown strands 80,000 tourists in 'China's Hawaii' - "Around 80,000 tourists are stranded in the popular resort city of Sanya on China's tropical Hainan island after authorities announced lockdown measures to stem an outbreak of Covid-19."
• Zaporizhzhia: Real risk of nuclear disaster in Ukraine - watchdog - "The warning comes amid reports of Russian shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The UN's nuclear watchdog has called for an immediate end to any military action near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, warning of a 'very real risk of a nuclear disaster'."
• A Harvard nutritionist shares the No. 1 food she eats every morning to help her brain ‘stay sharp’ & ‘age well’ - "Eating the right 'brain-boosting foods' can significantly decrease your risk of developing neurological problems, improve your mental health, and help you stay sharp and focused."
• 10 moves, 10 minutes & no equipment to build ab muscle & core strength - "This bodyweight abs workout only takes 10 minutes to train your core and improve stability."
• Tiffany's sells out custom Cryptopunk 'NFTiff' pendants for $50,000 each - "On Friday, Tiffany & Co debuted and quickly sold out a limited collection of 250 custom jewel-encrusted pendants for holders of CryptoPunks, a popular early non-fungible token collection."
• It's the little things: The only pan every cook needs - "I have a kitchen stuffed to the rafters with all sorts of cookware. As a professional recipe developer and food writer, I can claim it's for work. But my cast-iron skillet is the pan I use more often than any other. A cast-iron pan is one of the most versatile and reliable pieces of kitchen equipment for any cook, and unlike most electronic kitchen must-haves, it can last for generations. (I'm looking at you, air fryer.)"
• How Swatch Went From Disrupter To Iconic Brand - "There's no such thing as having too many Swatches - and trust us, there are plenty to choose from."
• Visualizing Which Countries Drink the Most Beer - "Where do people drink the most beer? China ranks number one due to its sheer size, and the Czech Republic comes out on top, per capita."
• Passengers should 'avoid' 2 items of clothing for free upgrade 'Will enhance your chances' - "Travel experts at Forbes Advisor shared their advice on how to increase the chances of being upgraded on a flight including what passengers should wear to impress the crew."
• Photographer transforms into eclectic characters inspired by thrifted nametags - "British fashion photographer and director Nadia Lee Cohen's self-portrait series imagines 33 different characters and their posessions based on nametags she collected at thrift shops and flea markets."
• BEST EDC DESIGNS YOU NEED IN YOUR TOOLBOX - "EDCs are the living embodiment of 'big things come in small packages'. EDCs are the kind of smart little tools that are always great to have in your backpack or tool kit. You never know when one of them could come to your rescue, helping you out of the trickiest situation, or to even pop open a bottle of beer, when you need to unwind after work. These little superheroes can make a world of difference while completing tasks - whether big or small. And, we’ve curated the best EDC designs we’ve seen in a while! From a fully-functioning balisong-style pocket knife to a unique bottle opener inspired by Chinese architecture - these are the EDC designs you definitely need by your side."
• Werner Herzog: ‘I was never, contrary to rumours, a hazard-seeking, crazy stuntman’ - "The German director, famed for making films about people at the fringes of society, has written a novel about another one: a Japanese soldier who carried on fighting the second world war for 29 years after it ended."
• Actor Anne Heche reportedly in critical condition after car crash in Los Angeles - "Collision near the home of actor known for films including Donnie Brasco left her vehicle ‘engulfed in flames’."
• Discoveries in Pompeii reveal lives of lower & middle classes - "Archaeologists are enriching our knowledge about those who were ‘vulnerable class during political crises and food shortages’."

August 6, 2022

• Top scientist admits 'space telescope image' was actually a slice of chorizo - "A French scientist has apologized after tweeting a photo of a slice of chorizo, claiming it was an image of a distant star taken by the James Webb Space Telescope."
• Why Monkeypox Vaccine Shortage May Threaten the Immunocompromised - "People with H.I.V. and other immune-system problems may need the full two-dose regimen, researchers say. But the shots, particularly second doses, are hard to come by."
• Water restrictions to be tightened in France - "Christophe Béchu, France’s Minister of Ecological Transition, said on Friday that more than 100 municipalities have no natural water supplies and are being provisioned by water tankers."
• Climate Crisis Chronicles, Vol. 1 - "‘How do you even begin to fight a fire that big?’"
• In Defense of Daydreaming - "Letting your mind wander can benefit the brain, researchers say."
• What the 'golden age' of flying was really like - "Cocktail lounges, five course meals, caviar served from ice sculptures and an endless flow of champagne: life on board airplanes was quite different during the "golden age of travel," the period from the 1950s to the 1970s that is fondly remembered for its glamor and luxury."
• The diamond-inspired superyacht concept with an on-board 'waterfall' - "Real diamonds shouldn't float in water. But this brilliant new superyacht concept with an on board cinema, helipad and three integrated pools, is clearly an exception to the rule. Designed by Italian studio Gabriele Teruzzi Yachts & Design, the Stella del Sud concept was inspired by the famous Cartier 128 carat diamond it takes its name from."
• 'Bring me his head' - the spy sent to get Bin Laden - "Obituary: Gary Schroen, the CIA spy sent to get Osama Bin Laden. On 19 September, 2001 - with the ruins of the World Trade Center and Pentagon still smouldering from the 9/11 attacks - CIA officer Gary Schroen stepped into his boss's office and received a set of orders: 'Capture Bin Laden, kill him, and bring his head back in a box on dry ice'."
• Beaches, mountains, ancient towns & low prices? Albania has it all - "Depsite its dark 20th-century past, the country is now a traveller’s paradise of amazing landscapes, coast and historic cities."
• Amazon bought iRobot to see inside your home - "With Roomba’s maps, Amazon’s vision of ambient intelligence in the smart home is suddenly attainable."
• Stream These 9 Titles Before They Leave Netflix in August - "Of the many movies leaving the streaming service for U.S. subscribers this month, these are the ones most worth checking out."
• A.I. Is Not Sentient. Why Do People Say It Is? - "Robots can’t think or feel, despite what the researchers who build them want to believe."
• Social capital: measurement & associations with economic mobility - "Social capital - the strength of an individual’s social network and community - has been identified as a potential determinant of outcomes ranging from education to health."

August 5, 2022

• One miscalculation away from nuclear holocaust - "'Humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation,' United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres said this week."
• how climate breakdown is supercharging toll of extreme weather - "Guardian analysis shows human-caused global heating is driving more frequent and deadly disasters across the planet, in most comprehensive compilation to date."
• Scorched Britain: the July heatwave in pictures - "With July 2022 being one of the driest on record, we look at how the country has been affected."
• Something is making the Earth spin faster & days shorter - "A negative leap second may be needed to correct clocks, but Meta believes that could be 'devastating.'"
• "Don't Blame Me": Taylor Swift Rep Refutes Private Jet Usage Claims - "A representative for the singer says her Dassault Falcon 7X is often on loan. Thus, blaming Swift for its emissions is 'blatantly incorrect.'"
• Monkeypox: US declares outbreak a public health emergency - "The decision will speed up the distribution of vaccines, treatments and federal resources to curb the spread of the virus. Cases have topped 6,600 in the US, according to health officials."
• What puts someone at risk of catching monkeypox? - "As monkeypox spreads across the United States, it may be giving people flashbacks to the days of wiping down counters and groceries to get rid of the coronavirus. But for most people, the risk of getting monkeypox remains low. Almost all cases in the current outbreak - 98 percent - have been in adult men who have sex with men."
• The lost nuclear bombs that no one can find - "The US has lost at least three nuclear bombs that have never been located - they're still out there to this day. How did this happen? Where could they be? And will we ever find them?"
• Is K2 the new Mount Everest? - "K2 just had its busiest climbing season ever. The world's second highest mountain, K2 in Pakistan, has welcomed a record-breaking number of climbers this year amid a post-pandemic surge of summit fever."
• French mayor wants Mont Blanc climbers to pay €15,000 rescue & funeral deposit - "Anyone wanting to summit Europe's tallest peak, Mont Blanc, may soon have to put up a €15,000 (about $15,300) deposit to cover possible rescue and funeral costs under plans announced by a local mayor fed up with the 'contempt' of risk-taking climbers. Jean-Marc Peillex, mayor of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, a town on the French side, says too many unqualified climbers are gambling with their lives on the mountain, where recent hot weather has made conditions more treacherous."
• ‘Underweight’ beluga whale in France’s River Seine near Paris prompts rescue effort - "Drones used to track mammal in ‘worrying’ health amid struggle to guide it back to Channel."
• The Best Investment Watches of 2022, From Rolex to Patek Philippe - "Here are the most collectible models from watchmaking's holy trinity: Patek Philippe, Rolex and Audemars Piguet."
• Saint-Tropez suffers scourge of muggings as Monaco stays safe - "The reputation of Saint-Tropez, in particular, is being stained by a growing incidence of audacious watch thefts, local prosecutor Michael Darras said in court this week. Thieves target individuals wearing expensive watches and rip them from their wrists, often causing injury. 'The teams of thieves are very well organised,' Mr Darras said."
• Spend a day in Monaco with Charles Leclerc - "Ferrari Formula 1 driver and local superstar Charles Leclerc has won the internet over again, this time as a result of his very own ‘day in the life’ vlog, in which he takes his fans along with him for a day his home country of Monaco."
• Why Brad Pitt is the 21st Century's ultimate film star - "In his latest film Bullet Train, and throughout his career, Brad Pitt's wry, self-referential humour has earned him a unique and enduring status in Hollywood, writes Caryn James."
• Twitter says Musk is ‘conjuring’ excuse to escape takeover deal - "Twitter rebuts billionaire’s lawsuit and his arguments for abandoning the takeover as legal standoff heats up."
• This is a great time to be an airline. It's the worst time to be a passenger - "US airlines just had one of the most lucrative quarters in history. Passengers are suffering for it. The record revenue many airlines reported in April, May and June came via very high airfares and packed airplanes. A series of service disruptions caused by staffing shortages has made flying even worse."
• Massive queues in Moscow as shoppers take last chance to shop at H&M - "Retailer halted operations in Russia after invasion of Ukraine but has reopened for limited time to sell remaining stock."
• Does Vitamin B6 Boost Mental Health? - "Here’s what we know about this essential vitamin’s effects on well-being."
• The public garden growing deadly plants - "The Poison Garden at the Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, England, is home to more than 100 toxic, intoxicating and narcotic plants. And it's open to public."
• ‘Walking’ forest of 1,000 trees transforms Dutch city - "Spectacle of leafy ash, oak and elm ambling through Leeuwarden’s streets offers vision of a greener future."
• Mapped: The Salary You Need to Buy a Home in 50 U.S. Cities - "Depending on where you live, owning a home may seem like a far off dream or it could be fairly realistic. In New York City, for example, a person needs to be making at least six figures to buy a home, but in Cleveland you could do it with just over $45,000 a year. This visual, using data from Home Sweet Home, maps out the annual salary you’d need for home ownership in 50 different U.S. cities."
• US couple transforms abandoned Italian house into dream home with an elevator - "The couple, from Montgomery County in the US state of Maryland, were among those who snapped up a historical dwelling in Sambuca, situated deep in the heart of Sicily, after local authorities put 16 abandoned homes up for auction with prices starting at a symbolic one euro -- roughly $1."
• New Gmail Attack Bypasses Passwords & 2FA To Read All Email - "Among the best practice items for Gmail security protection, strengthening your login credentials and enabling two-step verification are high on the list, as I mentioned in an article over the weekend. But what if I were to tell you that security researchers have now uncovered evidence of one likely state-sponsored attack group that has found a way to bypass even these protections?"

August 4, 2022

• 'Never seen anything like it': One of planet's most powerful volcanic eruptions - "Tonga eruption blasted enough water to fill 58,000 Olympic pools into the Earth's atmosphere, NASA says."
• Iceland volcano was so beautiful, I had a little cry - "A volcano has erupted in Iceland near the capital Reykjavik."
• Record coral cover on parts of Great Barrier Reef, but global heating could jeopardise recovery - "Fast-growing species of branching and plate-like corals push cover up but are also the preferred prey for crown-of-thorns starfish."
• The curious case of the Covid-19 rebound - "The condition grabbed international attention last week when US President Joe Biden tested positive for the virus six days after testing negative following his first bout of the illness."
• French government orders laser weapon prototype for Paris Olympics - "The French Ministry of the Armed Forces announced in June that it has ordered one prototype of an anti-drone laser weapon system, called HELMA-P, to be deployed for the 2024 Paris Olympics."
• Monaco Yacht Show announces first list of superyachts for 2022 show - "On Wednesday, August 3 the Monaco Yacht Show published the first list of superyachts that will be exhibited in the Principality’s Port Hercule as part of the upcoming show next month."
• Seawater-Powered Superyachts: Baglietto, Sanlorenzo & Lürssen’s Big Plans for Hydrogen Yachts - "The race to build a zero-emission superyacht is on. Three of the biggest and most successful superyacht building companies have announced plans to incorporate hydrogen fuel cell technology into their yachts, including a seawater-powered system. This promises zero emissions, less waste and less damage to the marine environment. Superyachts are amongst the worst greenhouse gas emitters that you can own. A typical vessel with a permanent crew can emit as much as 7,020 tons of CO2 a year; up to 1,500 times more than a typical family car at 1.5 to 4.6 tons of CO2."
• Elon Musk’s father says he isn’t proud of his son - "When asked if he’s proud of his son’s accomplishments, Errol Musk says: ‘No ... we are a family that have been doing a lot of things’."
• Elvis Presley’s Private Jet, Harley-Davidson & Lincoln Continental Go Up for Auction - "Elvis Presley was not only the king of rock and roll, but also the king of bling. Presley was a fashion trendsetter back in the day, and he left behind an impressive collection of jewelry and other personal belongings, a portion of which will be auctioned off later this month."
• Marilyn Monroe’s estate defends Ana de Armas over biopic accent criticism - "Cuban-Spanish actor’s accent in movie Blonde disparaged but ABC says she ‘captures Marilyn’s glamour, humanity and vulnerability’."
• Pig to human heart transplants are the future. Are we ready for it? - "Xenotransplantation promises to solve organ shortage and to reshape how we think about human longevity, but also raises a host of question."
• Are you a subject, consumer or citizen? - "Citizen future: Why we need a new story of self and society. Are you a 'subject', a 'consumer'... or a 'citizen'? The authors Jon Alexander and Ariane Conrad argue that our societies need a new narrative, and it starts by ditching the stories sold by authoritarianism and consumerism."
• Netflix's biggest epic yet - "The Sandman: How an 'unfilmable' comic made it to Netflix. It's considered one of the great comic book series of all time, and now it's finally made it to the small screen. So ends an agonising journey, creator Neil Gaiman tells Stephen Kelly."
• 4 Helpful iPhone & Android Tricks You May Not Know About - "Keeping up with new software features can be a chore, but here are a few tools from recent updates that may be useful - and potentially lifesaving."
• How to change the side panels in Gmail’s new view - "You can have one or two side panels, depending on how you use Gmail."
• The Best Shoes to Wear to the Airport - VOGUE.
• The 6 Designer Bags Everyone Is Buying Second-Hand - VOGUE.
• A Chance To Own An Actual James Bond Worn Omega Seamaster 300M 007 Edition - "The very watch worn by Daniel Craig in the 2021 James Bond No Time To Die movie."
• Polish institute classifies cats as alien invasive species - "A respected Polish scientific institute has classified domestic cats as an 'invasive alien species,' citing the damage they cause to birds and other wildlife."

August 3, 2022

• US sanctions Putin's reputed girlfriend - "The US Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned Russian President Vladimir Putin's reputed girlfriend as part of a series of measures targeting Russian elites in the Biden administration's latest attempt to punish the Kremlin for its ongoing war in Ukraine."
• As Biden Mulls Sanctions, Three Theories On How Putin Makes His Millions - "According to Swedish economist Anders Aslund, the author of the 2019 book Russia’s Crony Capitalism, Putin has recruited family, childhood friends, bodyguards and others to hold his money. He estimates that each person has between $500 million and $2 billion and that his net worth is anywhere between $100 billion and $130 billion."
• Specially Designated Nationals & Blocked Persons List (SDN) Human Readable Lists - "As part of its enforcement efforts, OFAC publishes a list of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries. It also lists individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. Collectively, such individuals and companies are called 'Specially Designated Nationals' or 'SDNs.' Their assets are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them. View more information on Treasury's Sanctions Programs." U.S. Department of the Treasury.
• Business Retreats & Sanctions Are Crippling the Russian Economy - "As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters into its fifth month, a common narrative has emerged that the unity of the world in standing up to Russia has somehow devolved into a 'war of economic attrition which is taking its toll on the west', given the supposed “resilience” and even “prosperity” of the Russian economy. This is simply untrue."
• How the New Climate Bill Would Reduce Emissions - "A major climate and energy package announced last week in a deal by Senate Democrats would put the United States much closer to its goal of cutting global warming pollution in half by 2030, several new independent analyses have concluded."
• Golf legend turned down almost $1 billion offer to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf series - "Tiger Woods turned down an offer worth approximately $700-$800 million to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, according to the tour's CEO Greg Norman."
• Dogs in Tokyo cool down with wearable fans - "Sweet Mommy, a Tokyo-based maternity clothing apparel company, is making wearable fans for pets. The battery-powered fan is designed to help pets stay cool as Japan faces unusually high temperatures."
• How cheetahs will be brought from Africa to India - "Next week, a group of cheetahs are finally expected to make a long journey from Africa to their new home in a sprawling national park in India."
• Women may not live longer than men after all - study - "‘Substantial chance’ married or university-educated men outlive women without spouse or high school diploma."
• North America's sacred trio of foods - "In Quebec, the tale of the 'three sisters' isn't just a myth about cooperation; it's a message from Wendat ancestors that teaches modern people about ancient, life-sustaining food. They're crops: corn, squash and beans."
• Spain warns heatwave threatens olive oil production - "Weather also threatens output in Italy and grain across Europe as Ukraine war pushes prices higher."
• Why You Should Never Use A Metal Knife To Slice An Avocado - "Since stainless steel knives contain copper and iron, says Allrecipes, these metals activate the enzymes in avocados that cause the fruit's flesh to turn brown in the presence of oxygen. Slicing into an avocado with a metal knife speeds up the browning process, which can lead your avocado to go bad prematurely."
• Man who threw away £150m in bitcoin hopes AI and robot dogs will get it back - "Computer engineer who accidentally discarded hard drive consults Newport council over scheme."
• Louis Vuitton’s ‘200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries’ Exhibition in Photos - "Louis Vuitton’s New LA Exhibition Showcases 200 Trunks Designed by BTS, Lego, Supreme and More. Running until September 6, the exhibition on Rodeo Drive includes 200 Louis Vuitton trunks that have been reimagined by 200 visionaries."
• iPhone Users: Remember to Clear Your Cache Regularly - "A simple trick to make your iPhone run faster is clearing the cache. If you don't clear your cache, the data stored in your web browsers gets cluttered over time and might slow you down."
• First Drive: Rolls-Royce’s New Phantom Shows Us Why It’s the Ne Plus Ultra of Luxury Sedans - "On the roads of the French Riviera, we pilot the aesthetically enhanced Series II and have never been so pampered."

August 2, 2022

• This giant 'water battery' under the Alps could be a game-changer for renewable energy in Europe - "Switzerland has unveiled its latest renewable energy innovation: a giant water battery. Beginning operations last month, the water battery, called Nant de Drance, is a pumped storage hydropower plant that provides the same energy storage capacity as 400,000 electric car batteries."
• Gazprom daily gas output in July lowest since 2008, analysis suggests - "Output last month of Russian firm was down 14% on June, sharpening fears Moscow could provoke energy crisis in Europe."
• Should we be wooried about monkeypox? - "What is monkeypox and why is it spreading? The virus that causes monkeypox was first discovered at the end of the 1950s, but there are signs it has undergone changes in the past three to four years that have enabled it to pass between humans more easily."
• The fall & rise of Thailand's most famous beach - "Tourism killed Thailand's most famous bay. Here's how it was brought back to life. Resurrecting paradise: Maya Bay, a beautiful cove in Thailand's Andaman Sea, began welcoming tourists on January 1, 2022 for the first time since 2018 following a massive rejuvenation program. Today, boats are forbidden from entering the bay."
• Call for hippos to join list of world’s most endangered animals - "New classification would mean a total ban on international trade in the animal’s body parts, as climate crisis and poaching hit populations."
• The best public swimming pools around the world - "From Bondi to Berlin and Copenhagen to Cornwall, swimming pools - particularly outdoor ones - are always in demand. Dominic Lutyens dives in and explores the pool's past, present and future."
• First Russian-owned super yacht goes to auction this month - "The 72-metre Axioma is likely to be the first seized super yacht to be auctioned, with the sale planned for August 23. Supposedly worth $75 million, she will be sold with no reserve by the Admiralty Court in Gibraltar."
• From the Rolex Yacht-Master to Breitling’s SuperOcean, 8 Watches Designed for the High Seas - "With August vacations seconds away from kicking off, you might be dreaming of kicking back on azure seas and golden sands or jet-setting to Mediterranean destination ports. If that’s the plan for this annual summer sojourn, consider adding one of the latest yacht-friendly timepieces to your wrist. These 2022 debuts blend high-end precision with functions and styling and are perfect companions for sailing and motor yachts excursions alike."
• From Die Hard to The Raid: Guardian writers on their favourite action movies - "As Brad Pitt’s new thriller Bullet Train arrives in cinemas, Guardian writers have picked their most exciting action films of all time."
• Cover your hide: how to care for leather clothing - "How to clean, what products to use, and when to take it to the professionals: experts share their tips for making leather last longer."
• Is This The World’s Rarest Scotch Whisky? - "In December of 2021, a single bottle of Ladyburn from the 1966 vintage - featuring a Bailey portrait of John Lennon as its label - was sold at auction for just over £80,000."
• Spotify’s paying customers will soon get separate play & shuffle buttons - "You won’t see the combined play / shuffle button on your playlists anymore."

August 1, 2022

• Japan is open to travel. So why aren't tourists coming back? - "The country currently only permits leisure tourists to come in organized groups rather than as individuals. For many in the West, who prefer spontaneity and don't want to follow a strict itinerary, that issue was a dealbreaker."
• Flight attendant shares travel tip to sit together without paying - ‘never pay’ for a seat - "Many budget airlines will charge passengers to choose a seat. But how can passengers sit together without paying?"
• Visitors to the world's tallest tree face $5,000 fines - "Hyperion, certified by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest living tree, is officially off-limits to visitors. California's Redwood National Park issued a statement last week that anyone who is caught near the tree can face up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine."
• What is monkeypox & how do you catch it? - "Cases of monkeypox - a rare, little-known disease - are being investigated in European countries including the UK, as well as in the US, Canada and Australia."
• Slow response to monkeypox exposes ‘tired, overworked’ US health agencies - "Virus has taken hold amid ragged system ravaged by years of underfunding, messy bureaucracy and Covid."
• Single servings at low prices: how Unilever’s sachets became a scourge - "Plastic in the Depths: Multinational denies dropping plan to recycle plastic sachets - and leaving developing countries with a toxic headache as they end up in landfill or the ocean."
• Heatwaves put classic Alpine hiking routes off-limits - "Routes that are usually safe at this time of year now face hazards as a result of warmer temperatures."
• Why you need to worry about the ‘wet-bulb temperature’ - "Scientists think we need to pay attention to a measure of heat and humidity – and it’s edging closer to the limits of human survivability."
• $2,245.62 a second: ExxonMobil scores enormous profit on record gas prices - "Including one-time items, both earned hundreds of millions more: ExxonMobil's net income reached $17.9 billion, while Chevron brought in $11.6 billion. ExxonMobil's net income came to $2,245.62 every second of every day of the 92-day long quarter. On that basis, Chevron earned $1,462.11 per second."
• How HermÈs’ Oran Sandal Retains Its Status As One Of The Most Desirable Accessories - "While handbags are often our most exalted accessories (spurred on by the fact that we literally hold them like trophies) footwear is less likely to reach certified style icon status. Generic types of shoes and sandals are regularly cited as must-wears, however it’s far rarer for one individual shoe, or sandal, to ascend the upper echelons of fashion’s most fabled. Yet one shoe has risen to take the mantle: Hermès’ Oran sandal. A simple slider-style mule, decorated modestly with a cutout leather H initial. Since its inception 25 years ago, the Oran has become one of the most desirable shoes - indeed accessories - in the world."
• It's official: Jennifer Lopez's flared jeans are this season's must-have denim trend - "While visiting the Louvre Museum on Tuesday, the 'Maid in Manhattan' star rocked a pair of US$328 Frame Le Baggy Palazzo jeans, which she paired with a Dior sweater, an Hermès Birkin bag, and a pair of sky-high Dolce & Gabbana platform sandals."
• Man wins another huge lottery prize at the same location where he won $1 million - "Indeed, Kevin Miller of Montague, Massachusetts, is lucky for life. He recently won $25,000 a year for life in the multistate lottery game Lucky for Life. The win comes six years after winning a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery's 'Cadillac Riches' game, state lottery officials said."
• Ireland's priceless treasure hidden by monks - "One of the most exciting archaeological finds in the history of Irish art was unearthed on Tipperary's Derrynaflan Island by a man and his son using metal detectors."
• After 350 years, sea gives up lost jewels of Spanish shipwreck - "Marine archaeologists stunned by priceless cache long hidden beneath the Bahamas’ shark-infested waters."
• 11 of the best TV shows to watch in August - "Game of Thrones and Rogue One get prequels, Industry returns, and Steve Carell stars as a therapist held captive by a serial killer."
• Max Verstappen pulls away in F1 standings after victory at Hungarian GP - "For Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, packing the bags for Formula One’s annual summer break will be a joy: buckets and spades and doubtless a spot of Scandi-noir crime fiction hurled in with abandon. They carry the joie de vivre of drivers who will take a deserved rest after claiming the top three places at the Hungarian Grand Prix."
• From 5-Star Meals to Luxe Showrooms, Business Jet Builders Are Rolling Out the Red Carpet for Clients - "Finding a design studio that matches the sophistication of the $75 million business jet you want to build can be a tricky proposition, since the designers are typically located inside aircraft manufacturing facilities and assembling a jet remains a noisy, industrial activity. But a number of bizjet manufacturers are looking to change that, investing big in an overlooked part of the design process: the client experience."
• Inside the world’s most OTT superyachts: from IMAX theatres, helipads & hospitals, to ski rooms, golf driving ranges & priceless works of art by Leonardo da Vinci - "From Beyoncé and Jay Z to Donald Trump campaign donor Robert Mercer, the ultra rich are looking for extra perks, and modern boatbuilders are pulling out all the stops. It’s one thing to own a yacht with a sunbathing deck and a swimming pool - quite another to have one that can sail through ice and has its own ski room."

July 31, 2022

• ‘Soon it will be unrecognisable’: total climate meltdown cannot be stopped, says expert - "Blistering heatwaves are just the start. We must accept how bad things are before we can head off global catastrophe, according to a leading UK scientist."
• Kylie’s 17-Minute Flight Has Nothing on the 170 Trips Taylor Swift’s Private Jets Took This Year - "The pop star landed at number one on a new report that tries to track the carbon emissions of celebrity private jets."
• The Default Tech Settings You Should Turn Off Right Away - "These controls, which are buried inside products from Apple, Google, Meta and others, make us share more data than we need to."
• President Joe Biden tests positive for Covid-19 again - "President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 again Saturday morning, per a letter from presidential physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor, in what is likely a 'rebound' Covid-19 positivity that the doctor noted is 'observed in a small percentage of patients treated with Paxlovid.'"
• Prince Charles accepted £1m from family of Osama bin Laden - "Prince had meeting at Clarence House - and seven-figure donation from Saudis followed."
• So, Prince Harry's memoir is done - but what's likely to be in it? - "Ghostwritten book, with interviews conducted mostly during 'peak rage', expected to be published by end of year."
• Princess Diana’s Rare Moments In a Little Black Dress - "Princess Diana was known for her cheerful prints, but one of her most famous dresses of all time was black. Known as the 'revenge dress', the Christina Stambolian LBD Lady Di wore to the Serpentine Gallery’s summer party in June 1994 was equal parts glamorous and daring."
• Breaking History: A White House Memoir by Jared Kushner - "Jared Kushner was one of the most consequential presidential advisers in modern history. For the first time, he recounts what happened behind closed doors during the Trump presidency." Amazon.com.
• Why a Vogue Cover Created a Controversy for Olena Zelenska - "Is the magazine romanticizing war, or is the first lady weaponizing glossies?"
• Can We Resist the Age of the Algorithm? - "To resist, our culture needs less Netflix and more Miranda Priestly."
• Visualizing the World’s Largest Oil Producers - Visual Capitalist.
• Saudis want to build a 106-mile-long building that will act as a city - "Future or fantasy? Designs unveiled for one-building city stretching 106 miles in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has unveiled designs for its ambitious urban project 'The Line,' touted as a one-building city in the desert which will stretch over 106 miles and ultimately house 9 million people."
• 25 of the Best Revenge Movies of All Time - "Horror, romance, and thrillers all get their due in the cultural canon - but the best revenge movies of all time are a genre unto themselves. Revenge movies capture a deep cut of emotions: the painfully human desire for payback, and the extreme, crazy, and sometimes obsessive lengths a character will go to to get it."
• Sotheby’s $6.1 Million Sale of a Rare Dinosaur Skeleton Has Sparked Outrage Among Scientists - "The skeleton is one of the most valuable dinosaurs ever sold."
• Why you should reach out to old friends - "Thinking of reaching out to old friends but nervous it will be awkward or that they won't appreciate it? You should make those phone calls or send a text or email, according to new research. A study published July 11 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people often underestimate how much their friends and old acquaintances appreciate hearing from them."
• Why Do I Sweat So Much in My Sleep? - "There are many possible reasons you might wake up in a pool of perspiration. Here’s how to tell when it should be cause for concern."
• Meet the people lured by Sicily's cheap homes - "When dozens of towns across Italy started selling crumbling buildings for the cost of an espresso, people from all over the world were prompted to grab a slice of the action - and for many different reasons."
• Shades of grey: a Danish restoration brings a dull home to life - "Two families joined forces to open up a large apartment near Copenhagen."

July 30, 2022

• Cold showers & no lights: How one German city is fighting Russia's energy battle - "The German city of Hanover has banned hot water in public buildings and has introduced measures to reduce heating and energy usage as Europe faces a potential natural gas crisis this winter."
• Monkeypox: First deaths outside Africa in Brazil & Spain - "Brazil and Spain have reported their first monkeypox deaths."
• Three Pressing Questions About Monkeypox: Spread, Vaccination, Treatment - "Containing the outbreak, scientists say, will depend on better understanding the virus’s transmission and how well available tools work."
• Will Smith addresses Oscars slap in new video - "Will Smith is 'deeply remorseful' about slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards in March. Smith posted a video to his verified Instagram account on Friday that began with the words on screen, 'It's been a minute.'"
• Elon Musk countersues Twitter over $44bn deal amid fresh legal action by shareholder - "Musk’s 164-page filing is under wraps for now, as Twitter shareholder launches separate action to force entrepreneur to close the deal."
• Donald Trump’s Great Escape: How The Former President Solved His Debt Crisis - "The 45th president was chained to money-losing real estate and drowning in debt when he left office. Now, magically, he is flush with cash and free to deal - thanks to a little help from powerful friends."
• Watching Trump Play Golf: Decent Drives, Skipped Putts, Lots of Sweat - "The former president’s barge-ahead style and whim for scooping up shots too hard to make wouldn’t fly on the LIV Golf series, which his Bedminster club is hosting this weekend."
• Chris Xu: Who is Shein’s mysterious billionaire founder? - "Very little is known about China’s king of fast fashion who has rapidly become one its richest men."
• Hitler's watch sells for $1.1m in controversial sale - "A watch said to have belonged to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler has sold for $1.1m (£900,000) at an auction in the US. The Huber timepiece, which sold to an anonymous bidder, shows a swastika and has the initials AH engraved on it. Jewish leaders condemned the auction ahead of the sale at Alexander Historical Auctions in Maryland."
• 20 Vintage Pictures of Jackie Kennedy in Honor of Her Birthday - "To mark what would have been her 92nd birthday - and to celebrate her timeless appeal as a fashion icon - here, Vogue pays tribute to the late Jackie Kennedy Onassis."
• Dior accused of 'culturally appropriating' centuries-old Chinese skirt - "Dior is facing accusations of cultural appropriation after Chinese social media users - and protesters outside one of the label's Paris stores - claimed that a $3,800 skirt was inspired by a centuries-old traditional garment."
• Jackpot for Friday's Mega Millions now $1.28 billion, second-largest jackpot in game history. Here are the six numbers - "The winning numbers for Friday's Mega Millions drawing worth $1.28 billion were 13-36-45-57-67 with a Mega Ball of 14."
• One ticket in Illinois won the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot of an estimated $1.28 billion - "The chase for the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot is over - because a single ticket has claimed the whole estimated $1.28 billion. One ticket bought in the Chicago area hit the top prize in Friday night's drawing, according to the Illinois Lottery, securing the third-largest jackpot of any US lottery game and ending a buildup that began when Mega Millions last drew a jackpot winner in mid-April. If the holder chooses a lump-sum cash option, the ticket will yield a one-time payment of an estimated $742.2 million. Otherwise, the roughly $1.28 billion prize will be spread over annual payments."
• Notre-Dame Cathedral on track to reopen in 2024 - "The Notre-Dame Cathedral is on track to open its doors to worshippers and the public in 2024, says France's culture minister. The 13th Century Paris monument caught fire in April 2019, sparking a vast outpouring of emotion. Since then, a huge restoration project has been carried out aiming to restore it to its previous design."
• Apple TV Plus’ new thriller Surface keeps you completely in the dark - "The first three episodes are nothing but question marks."
• Ana De Armas Transforms Into Marilyn Monroe in the Latest Trailer for Blonde - "In the pantheon of ill-fated 20th-century blondes, Marilyn Monroe might be the only character more difficult to portray than Diana, Princess of Wales, so interest in Andrew Dominik’s adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’s 2000 novel has been enormous from the start. Ahead of its much-delayed 2022 release on Netflix, here’s a summary of every major talking point about the film so far."
• How Streaming Stars Pay the Price of Online Fame - "Stars on Twitch, the video game streaming platform, invite viewers into their homes virtually. What happens when one shows up in person?"
• Free AI tool restores old photos by creating slightly new loved ones - "It works wonderfully, but there's a risk of a 'slight change of identity.'"
• Four Fitness Facts to Fuel Your Workout - "Things to keep in mind for when you’re low on motivation."
• How to Find Out Who You Are - "The worst advice you can give to people trying to find themselves is to look within."
• The forest of dilapidated mansions - "Yucatan's lost hacienda trail. Hundreds of plantations once symbolised the peninsula's wealth but were abandoned in the 1950s after a sudden downturn of fortune. Over the years, the jungle has taken them back."
• World’s Best Bar 2022: London’s Lyaness Wins Top Honor At The 16th Annual Spirited Awards - "London’s Lyaness roared to victory at the 16th annual Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Ryan Chetiyawardana - a longtime darling of the hospitality world awards circuit - bested Fifty Mils, Charles H. Seoul, and the American Bar at The Stafford, as his famed cocktail cathedral was named World’s Best Bar for 2022."
• Inside A $35 Million New York Penthouse - "Manhattan’s Puck Building, located at the intersection of Nolita, the Bowery, Soho and Greenwich Village, was built between 1886 and 1893, an example of the German Rundbogenstiel (round-arch) style of architecture designed by Albert Wagner. The building is owned by Kushner Properties, the company of Charles Kushner and his son, Jared, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump."
• Rolls-Royce begin testing upcoming electric car on CÔte d’Azur - "Having completed extreme condition testing in the Arctic circle, the first ever electric Rolls-Royce has begun testing on the windy roads of the Côte d’Azur."

July 29, 2022

• Scientists say temperatures are getting 'hotter faster' than their tools can calculate - "The UK's recent heat wave was the Great British Bake Off that no one wanted - and it was made at least 10 times more likely by human-caused climate change, a new analysis shows."
• Will naming heatwaves save lives? - "Faced with increasingly dangerous and sometimes fatal temperatures, nearby Los Angeles is among the cities that is considering naming heatwaves - like storms - in a bid to raise public awareness of the dangers and help local officials roll out measures to mitigate the impact of extreme heat, such as opening air-conditioned shelters or activating a 'heat action plan'."
• The town with the cleanest air in the world - "In Svalbard, there's a village where the atmosphere is ultra-clean, Wi-Fi is banned, and all buildings go unlocked in case you need to hide from polar bears - but as Anna Filipova discovered, big changes are in the air."
• Surprise Deal Would Be Most Ambitious Climate Action Undertaken by U.S. - "The $369 billion climate and tax package forged in a surprise deal by Senate Democrats would be the most ambitious action ever taken by the United States to try to stop the planet from catastrophically overheating."
• How climate change is melting the Alps’ glaciers - in pictures - "Most of the world’s mountain glaciers are retreating because of the climate crisis, but those in the European Alps are especially vulnerable. Smaller and with less ice cover, this year they are on track for their highest loss of mass in at least 60 years of record keeping."
• How to Live With Covid When You Are Tired of Living With Covid - "The BA.5 surge is a reminder that we need to take precautions to avoid illness, slow the relentless cycle of new variants and minimize the disruption to our daily lives."
• San Francisco declares emergency as monkeypox cases rise - "California city has recorded 261 cases so far and declaration will allow authorities to mobilize more staff and resources."
• U.S. offers reward for information on alleged Russian interference in elections - The U.S. State Department said it was offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on alleged Russian interference in American elections.
• Rewards for Justice - Reward Offer for Information on Russian Interference in U.S. Elections - U.S. Department of State.
• Why Apple can't quit China - "For close to two decades, Apple and China have been inextricably linked. The world's most populous country not only accounts for the bulk of Apple's device manufacturing but also a significant portion of its sales."
• Viktor Bout: the Lord of War at centre of Griner & Whelan prisoner swap - "Moscow has never forgotten the arms dealer who reportedly keeps a photo of Vladimir Putin in his US cell. Merchant of Death, Lord of War, the Bill Gates of Arms Dealing: Viktor Bout’s nicknames speak for themselves."
• This company claims its boats can save Venice - "Swedish company Candela thinks that its electric boats can help fight 'moto ondoso' - the damaging phenomenon of waves bashing against the buildings and sidewalks from the wakes of boats being driven around the city."
• Is Pilates as Good as Everyone Says? - "The strength and flexibility workout is having a moment. What can - and can’t - it do for us?"
• 10 of the best films to watch this August - "This summer's unmissable releases include Brad Pitt on a bullet train, Jane Fonda as a dragon and Idris Elba as a djinn, writes Nicholas Barber."
• The myth of Marilyn Monroe: how her ‘sex bomb’ image buries the truth - "Six decades on, the spectacle of Marilyn Monroe’s tumultuous life and death still holds us in its grip. With a major new biopic on the way, her biographer sorts fact from fiction."
• This Personal Shopper Will Help You Find the Sauciest Vintage Pieces - "Serena Morris, who is based in Los Angeles, creates hyper-specific mood boards of yacht babes or vacation girls and writes mini odes about the likes of Kimora Lee Simmons and Kidada Jones’s era at Tommy Hilfiger. Most recently, Morris has launched a personal-shopping arm of @shes__underrated, offering up her discerning sense of style to clients searching for frisky vintage pieces."
• Gorgosaurus: Ancient dinosaur skeleton sells for $6m at auction - "It was offered up by Sotheby's and sold at the firm's natural history auction in New York City on Thursday."
• The Anatomy of a Sneaker Explained - "Everything You Need to Know About the Parts of Your Shoes & How They Work."
• The ancient French town of floating gardens - "Carved out of the River Somme's marshy hinterland, the Hortillonnages is made up of 110km of slender canals that have led Amiens to be dubbed "the Venice of the North"."
• Chess: Magnus Carlsen in Olympiad action as world No 1 targets record rating - "The newly retired world champion will aim for a high score at Chennai to boost his chances of reaching the 2900 target which has twice narrowly eluded him."
• Bicycle graveyards: why do so many bikes end up underwater? - "Every year, thousands of bikes are tossed into rivers, ponds, lakes and canals. What’s behind this mass drowning?"
• Piaget Goes Green With New Polo Skeleton & Date Watches - "It’s no secret that green has become the new blue this year when it comes to watch dials. Make no mistake, blue is still a beloved color, but watch brands are recognizing the soothing effect green has. It reminds us of nature, life and Earth - something everyone is trying to protect these days. As such, it comes as no great surprise that Swiss watch brand Piaget would opt to bedeck its beloved Polo watches in vibrant green."
• Pixel Buds Pro review: Google’s best earbuds yet - "Active noise cancellation is finally part of the equation."

July 28, 2022

• China's Wuhan shuts down district of 1 million people over 4 asymptomatic Covid cases - "The Chinese metropolis of Wuhan has shut down a district of almost a million people after detecting four asymptomatic Covid cases, as the original epicenter of the pandemic takes no chances in preventing another outbreak under China's stringent zero-Covid policy."
• 'Lulo Rose' may be largest pink diamond found in 300 years - "At 170 carats, this may be the largest pink diamond found in 300 years."
• What it's like inside Boeing's new 777X - "Described as "the world's largest and most efficient twin-engine jet," the Boeing 777X was originally scheduled to enter into service in 2020, but the launch of the jetliner has been beset by delays. Now expected to debut in 2025, the airplane's most striking exterior feature is undoubtedly its folding wingtips - a first for commercial aviation."
• The Democratization of Airport Lounges - "No longer just for the flying elite, these havens from chaos are easier to get into now, with the crowds to prove it."
• Gmail’s new look is now rolling out to everyone - "It’s not that different."
• Swimwear has undergone a radical redesign - "From Chromat to Skims, inclusive design is radically changing the bathing suit silhouette."
• Saudi Arabia wants to build a 106-mile-long building that will act as a city - "Saudi Arabia has unveiled designs for its ambitious urban project 'The Line,' touted as a one-building city in the desert which will stretch over 106 miles and ultimately house 9 million people. The Line is a proposed 200-meter wide (656 feet) building acting as a vertical city, designed to sit 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level. It will span 34 square kilometers (13 square miles), according to the press release."
• Huge new bridge redraws map of Adriatic coast - "New Croatia bridge redraws map of Adriatic coast. The launch of the 2.4 kilometer (1.5 mile) cable-stayed structure is being hailed as a historic moment for the country, with hundreds of people turning out to be the first to cross on foot as the bridge opened to pedestrians and then to motorists. Up until now, both residents and tourists had to cross through Bosnia-Herzegovina when traveling to and from the region of Southern Dalmatia to the mainland, which meant they were subject to border checks, bringing about traffic delays and leaving some of those in the Adriatic region feeling isolated."
• Reduce your risk for dementia by improving your diet & activity levels, studies say - "Eating more natural, unprocessed food, keeping active and having a good social life are all ways you can fight off dementia as you age, according to two new studies published Wednesday in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology."
• Luxury balloon will ride to the edge of space - "Take a look at the 'world's only carbon-neutral spaceship'. The space tourism race is now firing on all rockets, but one company is hoping to carve out a niche as 'the only carbon-neutral, zero-emission way' to travel to the edge of space. Florida-based Space Perspective plans to take passengers up to 100,000 feet for suborbital adventures in a pressurized capsule suspended from an enormous high-tech version of a hot-air balloon. New images released July 27 show the latest patented capsule design for its Spaceship Neptune craft."
• Why clock time is not 'real' - "The super-clocks that define what time it is. How do we know the time... precisely? The question is more complex than it first appears."
• The ambitious quest to map every cell in our body - "The human body has 37 trillion cells. If we can work out what they all do, the results could revolutionise our healthcare."
• James Lovelock, Whose Gaia Theory Saw the Earth as Alive, Dies at 103 - "A British ecologist, he captured imaginations with his hypothesis and was essential to today’s understanding of man-made pollutants and their effect on the climate."
• 7 apps I can't live without for Android & iOS - "These are the apps I immediately go to when I set up every new phone."

July 27, 2022

• Putin's troops shoot down their OWN helicopter in Kherson after it mistakenly attacked them - "The Ka-52 'Alligator' helicopter, which costs an estimated £12million, was gunned down in Kherson, Ukraine's General Staff revealed. The Ukrainian military bosses joked it was a 'gesture of goodwill' from the invading forces."
• New studies agree that animals sold at Wuhan market are most likely what started Covid-19 pandemic - "Scientists from around the world used mapping tools and social media reports to do a spatial and environmental analysis. They suggest that although the 'exact circumstances remain obscure,' the virus was probably present in live animals sold at the market in late 2019. The animals were held close together and could easily have exchanged germs. However, the study does not determine which animals may have been sick."
• Setting the Record Straight on Covid Variants & Reinfections - "The blitz of Omicron variants has felt like one long wave. And many questions have arisen amid the tumult. Are we seeing the emergence of entirely new coronavirus variants that are impervious to immunity from vaccines and previous infections? If we keep getting reinfected, is it inevitable that most of us will end up developing long Covid? In short, the answer is no."
• IMF says global economy is edging towards recession - "Fund cuts forecasts as US, China and eurozone stall and inflation beats expectations."
• How much exercise you need for your longest life, according to a new study - "Exercise more than the recommended amounts for the longest life, study says."
• Ghee: The purest food on Earth? - "Ghee had fallen out of favour as saturated fats were considered unhealthy. But now, Indians are finding their way back to this ingredient that's so integral to their cuisine."
• How to Cope With Financial Stress - "Experts share tips on how to feel empowered and manage stress as prices continue to rise."
• Our toxic love affair with plastic & how we can fix it - "When it first emerged in design, plastic embodied progress, glamour and convenience."
• Air pollution is ‘likely’ to raise dementia risk, find UK government experts - "Cognitive decline in older people more likely to be accelerated by exposure to emissions, finds review of 70 studies."
• Russia to pull out of International Space Station - "Russia says it will withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024 and build its own station instead."
• Buzz Aldrin's moon jacket sells for sky-high $2.8m - "Adorned with a US flag and Nasa logo, Mr Aldrin wore the white in-flight jacket while speeding through space in Apollo 11's command module Columbia. The jacket was sold by New York Sotheby's and becomes the most valuable American space artefact ever sold at auction."
• Nord Stream 1: Why is Russia cutting gas supplies to Europe? - "The news has already caused international gas prices to leap again and renewed fears of shortages. The Russian government is being accused of using gas as a political weapon. The Nord Stream 1 pipeline stretches 1,200km under the Baltic Sea from the Russian coast near St Petersburg to north-eastern Germany. It has been open for 10 years and pipes a maximum of 170m cubic metres of gas per day from Russia to Germany."
• Largest diamond in 300 years unearthed in Angola - "The Australian site operator named the 170-carat stone The Lulo Rose."
• Apple’s Stunning New London Store Showcases Company’s Focus On AR - "Inside Apple Brompton Road, the newest Apple Store: It’s gorgeous. The familiar light colors and appealing surfaces, attractive wooden tables mounted with every Apple product. It has trees, along the windows and through the store, adding an outside-in feel to the whole thing. The 12 Sicilian ficus trees at the front look inviting and welcoming, and touch on how Apple is evoking a sense of location here."
• Bhutan - & its incredible cross-country trail - welcoming tourists back - "Bhutan is one of the world's most mysterious countries. Visiting the Land of the Thunder Dragon can be challenging, but there's new incentive to finally cross it off the bucket list in 2022, as its breathtaking Trans Bhutan Trail is open to travelers for the first time in 60 years."
• Iceland's best geothermal bathing pools - "Spellbinding vistas punctuated by plumes of steam are commonplace while driving Iceland's winding fjords and gravel roads. Marking the country's geothermal activity, this form of energy also ushers in the tradition of soaking in Iceland's geothermal hot pools - an activity revered by locals and tourists alike. From natural, stone-lined craters to luxuriously designed tubs, there's countless soaking spots for every type of visitor, whatever the weather."
• 'Always, always pack it': Flight attendant's crucial packing tip - what to carry on plane - "A flight attendant has highlighted an item she tells travellers they should 'always, always, always' pack when they travel by plane."
• 8 of the Cheapest Countries to Retire Around the World - "Where to retire cheaply abroad - and how much you could save in each destination."
• The 10 Best Travel Experiences in the U.S. - "These are the 10 best travel experiences in the U.S. right now, according to the latest TripAdvisor report."
• Portrait of Bravery: Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska - VOGUE.
• Kyiv Nightlife Comes Back Amid Urge for Contact. ‘This Is the Cure’ - "Frenzied raves. Crowded bars (with free therapy). And of course, cuddle parties. Nightlife is returning to Ukraine’s capital. But revelers still have to reckon with guilty feelings. Plus curfew."
• Why It Matters That J. Lo Is Now J. Aff - "'A woman taking her husband’s last name feels to me like a submission - a gesture that doesn’t say 'I belong with him' so much as 'I belong to him."
• Catastrophising: How toxic thinking leads you down dark paths - "Expecting the very worst to happen in any given situation can harm mental health. How do we stop these toxic-thinking spirals?"
• Average Bench Press By Age, Weight, Gender & Experience Level - "Check out how you stack up against the average bench press for your gender, age, weight, and experience level."
• Fast-food restaurant founder buys ticket for $810 million lottery for all 50,000 employees - "The Mega Millions lottery jackpot grew to an estimated $810 million Tuesday and players are testing their luck nationwide - including Todd Graves, the founder of fast-food restaurant chain Raising Cane's. At $2 a ticket, Graves spent $100,000 and bought 50,000 tickets Monday, one for each of his 50,000 employees at the chicken chain with locations in 35 states."
• See All the Nominees for the 2022 MTV VMAs Here - "Next month, on August 28, the MTV Video Music Awards - better known as the VMAs - will return with all the showstopping spectacle the ceremony is known for. There are already plenty of high-profile performances rumored for the night - which will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey - alongside the handing out of accolades to the year’s best and most impactful music videos."
• The best smart home gadgets you can buy right now - "From smart speakers to robot vacuums, here are the best devices to make your home more connected."
• Italian police ‘find’ Leclerc’s stolen Richard-Mille watch - "For those who can’t recall the unfortunate incident, Leclerc was recognised while out with friends, and obliged to sign autographs for a group of fans. However, not everyone was a true fan of the Monegasque, in that moment the watch was stealthily swiped from the driver’s wrist. The watch in question being a one-of-one Richard Mille RM 67-02, completed in the colours of the Principality."
• Introducing The GlashÜtte Original Pano Matic Calendar - "The Pano Matic Calendar is built around Glashütte’s new in-house Calibre 92-09 and 92-10 movements. The two are virtually identical, but the 92-10 is customized with special visual elements for the skeletonized platinum version of the watch. Both are rhodium-plated, with 28,800 beats per hour. They feature silicone balance springs, which remain consistent when exposed to magnetic fields or temperature changes. They also have an impressive 100-hour power reserve, more than twice what you’ll get from typical automatic movements."
• Hands-On Review - The 2022 Cartier Santos-Dumont with Lacquered Cases Are In For The Win - "The iconic square wristwatch made for the Brazilian aviation pioneer returns with sleek and stylish lacquered bezels."
• Zenith watches join Rolex & Patek on waitlists as sales surge - "Customers seeking to buy Zenith brand watch models including the Chronomaster Sport and Defy Skyline are now having to join waitlists as sales for the Swiss brand surge. The Zenith models join brands like Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe with watches where demand outstrips supply, forcing customers to join waiting lists with retailers. Zenith watch sales are also rising overall, Tornare said, with sales in the first 7 months of the year up about 45% compared with last year’s record performance, which was highest since the storied Swiss brand was acquired by LVMH in 1999."
• Rolls-Royce’s Latest Phantom Is The Most Imaginative Crafted Bespoke Collection - "The Phantom is rarely wholly redesigned. These magnificent motor cars are imagined to last way beyond fashion cycles, each personally tailored to be kept, cherished and passed through generations. Yet, given the speed of technology and material change, the grandest maker of grand luxury transport tends to give its pinnacle product mid-life touch-ups — new expressions that are almost always client-driven."

July 26, 2022

• Endemic Covid-19 Looks Pretty Brutal - "100,000 annual deaths may be as good as it gets."
• Russia to further cut gas supply to Europe - CNN World.
• Napping regularly linked to high blood pressure & stroke, study finds - "'This may be because, although taking a nap itself is not harmful, many people who take naps may do so because of poor sleep at night. Poor sleep at night is associated with poorer health, and naps are not enough to make up for that,' said clinical psychologist Michael Grandner in a statement."
• Disney VIP world tour will produce 6.2 tonnes of carbon for each guest - "Travellers on ‘bucket list adventure’ costing $110,000 will emit 20 times more than poor people do in a year."
• Freezing point climbs to record high above Swiss Alpine summits - "Weather balloons rise to 5,184 metres before finding freezing point amid record heatwaves."
• 'I was quite young & innocent': Kate Moss opens up in rare interview - "Kate Moss opens up about the 'painful' side of modeling."
• Freya the walrus sinks boats & captures hearts in Norway - "The enchanting but unwittingly destructive 600kg marine mammal, named after a Norse goddess, has taken up residence in Oslo fjord."
• The big idea: should we be using data to make life’s big decisions? - "Faced with tough choices, people usually fall back on gut instinct or seek the advice of friends. Now, there’s an alternative."
• Lego’s new Minifigure Factory lets you create a $12 minifig of yourself - "Customize your very own minifigure."
• Ready or not, the Glassholes are coming back - "Is the world finally prepared for hands-free cameras?"
• A mind-reading combat jet for the future - "During World War II, Spitfire pilots described their plane as so responsive it felt like an extension of their limbs."
• The 20 best easy Mediterranean recipes - "Dishes that read like poetry: pomegranate fattoush, burrata on bruschetta, huevos a la flamenca, strawberries in moscatel with sandcakes. Twenty delicious and easy recipes from the north and south of the Mediterranean."
• Paul Sorvino, 'Goodfellas' & 'Law & Order' star, dead at 83 - CNN Entertainment.
• David Warner: a life in pictures - "The British actor has died at the age of 80. His long career spanned Shakespeare on stage to Star Trek on screen - here we look back at the highlights."
• Yacht where Princess Diana spent her final summer on sale for £10m - "The 64-metre-long boat was the setting of Princess Diana's fatal romance with Dodi Fayed."
• Step Inside Extravagant $433m LÜrssen Superyacht Ahpo - "Sleek, modern, aerodynamic looking exteriors mean the first thing you notice about superyacht Ahpo is not its 115 metre length, but the gorgeous silhouette and obvious pedigree."
• Why the Classic Riva Aquarama Is Still the the Most Beautiful Runabout Ever Made - "There are boats that look cool for a year. Others have such classic looks that can be reinvented from generation to generation. Then there are a handful that stand the test of time. The Riva Aquarama is one of those. Carlo Riva’s creation, celebrating the 60th anniversary of its launch in August, was an instant hit when it arrived in 1962."
• Rolls-Royce puts the Phantom back on its lofty pedestal - "A mid-life refresh ensures the flagship Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II is at the top of its game, a last hurrah for traditional engines before an electrified future."
• Test-Driving The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX - "Minutes after driving a historic 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, widely recognized as the world's first practical automobile, I'm behind the wheel of the all-new VISION EQXX prototype, which is the world's most advanced and efficient vehicle. My remarkable experience - from benzene burning to emission-free electric - is a 140-year leap of technical innovation courtesy of celebrated automaker Mercedes-Benz, which has brought me to Germany to study and drive its record-setting teardrop-shaped prototype."
• Gordon & MacPhail Introduces One Of The Oldest Scotch Whiskies Ever Released - "Famed Scottish independent whisky bottler and maker Gordon & MacPhail will release a rare bottling of ultra-aged whisky from the Milton Distillery. The expression, among the oldest released by Gordon & MacPhail and among the oldest Scotch whiskies ever released, is the latest edition to the company’s Private Collection range of ultra-aged rare whiskies."
• Should You Get a MacBook Air or iPad Pro? - "A few years ago, asking whether one should get a laptop or a tablet for professional work would be a ludicrous question."
• Apple Watch ‘Pro’ will reportedly introduce first redesign since 2018 - "The wearable may also offer multiday battery life."
• Jorts Have Taken Over - "Jorts are everywhere on the runway as well." VOGUE.
• Your Next Pair of Canvas Sneakers Should Come With a Serious Dose of Indie Cred - "5 low-key footwear brands making the trusty summer beater feel exciting again."
• The 16 Best Nike Shoes of All Time That You Can Shop Right Now - "Nike is undoubtedly one of the most popular sportswear brands on the market, largely due to its history of innovative footwear designs that continue to stand the test of time."

July 25, 2022

• Jonas Vingegaard Wins Tour de France, Completing His Sudden Ascent to Top - "Vingegaard, 25, won cycling’s most prestigious race on his second attempt, setting up a new rivalry with the two-time champion he dethroned, Tadej Pogacar."
• Plastic in the depths: how pollution took over our oceans - "So much plastic pours into the sea every year that species are now endemic to it. A new Guardian series looks at where it comes from, the harm it does and what can be done about it."
• France energy: Air-conditioned shops will be told to shut doors to cut waste - "Shops in France will be ordered to close doors when using air conditioning and limit neon lighting in a bid to cut energy waste, a minister has said."
• Elon Musk denies affair with Google co-founder Sergey Brin's wife - "Tesla boss Elon Musk has denied having an affair with Nicole Shanahan, the wife of Google co-founder, Sergey Brin."
• Chess robot breaks seven-year-old boy's finger during Moscow Open - "A robot broke a seven-year-old boy's finger during a chess match in Moscow last week, Russian news outlets report."
• Chess robot grabs & breaks finger of seven-year-old opponent - "Moscow incident occurred because child ‘violated’ safety rules by taking turn too quickly, says official."
• Ukraine conflict: How are drones being used? - "Thousands of drones are being used in the Ukraine war - to spot enemy positions, launch missiles and direct artillery fire."
• The mysterious inner life of the octopus - "Octopuses are problem-solvers, mischief-makers and notorious escape artists. They also appear to have a rich inner life - so what is it like to be an octopus?"

July 24, 2022

• Four Things Nations Can Do to Conserve Energy - "European Union officials have called on countries in the bloc to sharply reduce their natural gas consumption. These are some of the strategies they could use."
• How to talk to a denier - "What can you do when the people closest to you believe climate change is a hoax?"
• Travel chaos is ‘the new normal’ after Brexit, British tourists are warned - "Anger over lack of cash for Dover upgrade as Tory candidates vie to blame France for delays."
• 15 Simple Tricks to Help You Sleep in the Heat - VOGUE.
• I stopped using my phone to wake up. Here's what happened - "Why you should reinstate the classic alarm clock."
• It's Never Too Late - "10 Insightful Tips From People Who Prove It’s Never Too Late. Let their stories be your inspiration as you set resolutions for 2022."
• It’s Never Too Late to Pick Up Your Life & Move to Italy - "Holly Herrmann vowed to move to Italy when she was 20. Her dream came true 38 years later."
• Covid in China: Xi Jinping & other leaders given domestic vaccine - "The news was released as part of a campaign to increase vaccination rates, especially of boosters."
• Inside Movie Stars’ Salaries: Joaquin Phoenix Nabs $20M for ‘Joker 2,’ Tom Cruise Heads to Over $100M & More - Variety.
• The 32 Best (and Most Anticipated) Movies of 2022 - VOGUE Culture.
• Are cats or dogs smarter? - "Both are domesticated, but is one smarter? Is there any truth to the saying that 'cat rule, dogs drool'?"
• Say goodbye to your favorite Italian beach break - "It's the Italian dream: sprawling on one of the Mediterranean's best beaches, drink in hand, moving only to eat some freshly caught fish or pick up another glass of local wine. From December 31, 2023, beachside concessions - whether that's a beach club renting out sunbeds, a bar or a restaurant - will be put out to tender, in a move that 'puts the dolce vita lifestyle at risk,' say those who work in the industry."
• Queen Elizabeth’s Jaw-Dropping Collection of Royal Jewels Is on Display at Buckingham Palace - "Holding onto precious jewelry has been the royal family’s jam for generations. Now a new UK exhibition is putting those skills - and the heirlooms they’ve culled - on full display. The show, organized by the Royal Collection Trust, showcases pieces from Her Majesty’s extensive prized jewelry collection. The exhibition, entitled 'The Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Accession,' opened to the public on Friday inside the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace."
• What, Exactly, Was the Connection Between Victoria’s Secret & Jeffrey Epstein? - VOGUE Culture.
• A Look Back at Julia Roberts’s Best Hair Moments of All Time - "There’s hair, and then there’s Julia Roberts hair. The Oscar-winning actor may be celebrated for her million-dollar smile, but over the years she’s proved that her shape-shifting mane will always make a statement."
• Summertime & Denim’s Easy! 15 Jeans You Can Wear & Now - "Everyone from Louis Vuitton to Molly Goddard styled jeans within their summer collections for the 2022 season - and that doesn’t come as a surprise. After all, there’s no wardrobe staple that embodies casualness like a pair of jeans and there’s really no better time to embrace a relaxed wardrobe than during the summer season. Put the two together, and voilà! You have a case for the summer jean."
• Ranked: The 20 Countries With the Fastest Declining Populations - "Visualizing Population Decline by Country. The following table ranks countries by their rate of population decline, based on projected rate of change between 2020 and 2050 and using data from the United Nations."
• Legendary golf photographer chooses his greatest images - "An accidental master: The rise of legendary golf photographer David Cannon."
• High Noon at 70: the politically loaded anti-western adored by US presidents - "Loved by both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, the 1952 convention-defying film is like a political Rorschach test."
• 15 Greatest Sex and the City Episodes of All Time - VOGUE.
• Kate Moss ‘sick & angry’ at being made a scapegoat for taking cocaine - "The British supermodel talks candidly on BBC radio’s Desert Island Discs about her drug use, defending Johnny Depp and being ‘objectified and scared’."
• Cadillac reveals its $300,000 Celestiq EV - "Although this is a show car, the production version is expected to be nearly identical."

July 23, 2022

• WHO declares monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern - "The decision was announced Saturday morning after WHO convened its second emergency committee on the issue on Thursday. 'I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern,' WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Saturday morning."
• How Koreans fell in love with an American World War II era personality test - It's as if Seoul is infatuated. Stroll through the South Korean capital and amid the sea of traditional Hangul characters it's hard not to notice the same four letters of the Latin alphabet cropping up again and again: MBTI.
• Boom Supersonic unveils new design for Overture supersonic jet - "Nearly two years after rolling out ts prototype supersonic demonstrator, the XB1, Boom has unveiled a major new design for its much anticipated Overture airliner, which will fly at twice the speed of today's subsonic commercial jets and is expected to carry its first passengers in 2029."
• These European Train Journeys Are The Ultimate Grand Tour - "The European Grand Tour Returns With Iconic Rail Journeys Aboard VSOE."
• Scotch whisky guide: These 6 regions of Scotland produce the world’s best single malts - "Which single-malt whisky shall we pour? Here's a look at Scotland's six whisky regions and the characteristics of the spirits they produce."
• Taste Test: Romania’s First Whiskies Show the Carpathian Distillery Has a Promising Future - "The country makes its debut with three expressions to try with the launch of Carpathian Single Malt, the first whisky - they spell it like the Scots - to be produced in the country."
• Amber Heard & Johnny Depp each file notice of appeal in defamation case - "Amber Heard took a first step toward appealing the verdict in the defamation case with her ex-husband Johnny Depp and he did the same."
• Google fires engineer who said AI tech has feelings - "Last month, Blake Lemoine went public with his theory that Google's language technology is sentient and should therefore have its "wants" respected."
• Louis Vuitton's Updated "LV Archives" Set of Socks Will Set You Back $2,000 - "Made from a lightweight cotton, polyester, and elastane blend, the colorful socks see various graphics that play with collegiate, floral, and cartoon themes as well as a reimagined Damier pattern. The set comes in a monograph acrylic presentation box and is priced approximately at $1,990, which translates to $330 a pair."
• This crazy Yamaha concept turns your smartphone into a turntable - "You can already turn your smartphone into a guitar amp and a recording studio, so why not a turntable? Enter the Yamaha Design Lab TurnT - a hipster-friendly portable speaker that has a 'stylus' but doesn't actually play vinyl. Rather, it plays virtual vinyl platters displayed on your phone's screen."
• How long should you stay at a job? - "The case for job hopping. Traditional thinking is that employees should stay at a company for the long term - or at least a few years. But many workers swiftly switching roles are earning greater career riches."
• How TikTok can help you get better at studying - "A growing group of educational influencers can help."
• Linda Evangelista settles cosmetic procedure lawsuit - "Former supermodel Linda Evangelista says she has settled a lawsuit over cosmetic procedures which she claimed ruined her career. The 57-year-old Canadian fashion model sued cosmetic company Zeltiq Aesthetics, a unit of Allergan Aesthetics, for $50 million last year, alleging she became a recluse after a CoolSculpting treatment to reduce fat left her 'brutally disfigured.'"
• Gaga for goo goo: Wellington named the global capital of baby talk - "Residents of the New Zealand city have the world’s most extreme vocal changes when speaking to babies, a study has found."
• Rare original copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio sells for £2m - "400-year-old edition of playwright’s first collected book of plays including Macbeth and Twelfth Night auctioned at Sotheby’s."

July 22, 2022

• Biden had received a second booster. Here’s why it wasn’t enough to prevent infection - "President Biden’s coronavirus infection is a stark illustration that the Covid vaccines, powerful as they are, are far from the bulletproof shields that scientists once hoped for."
• Japan urges ‘highest level of vigilance’ as Omicron subvariant drives record Covid surge - "People in Okinawa asked to avoid non-essential outings amid new wave of infections driven by highly transmissible BA.5."
• Monkeypox has made its way to Monaco - "A first case of monkeypox has been discovered in the Principality, Dr Olivia Keïta-Perse, head of the epidemiology and hygiene department at the Princess Grace Hospital said on Thursday evening. Transmission is by close contact, skin to skin or mucous membrane-to-mucous contact. Transmission can also be by air droplets. On July 5, there were 577 confirmed cases in France, 387 in the Paris region. The vast majority of cases were in men, with only three women and a child contaminated, according to Public Health France."
• A 17-minute flight? The super-rich who have ‘absolute disregard for the planet’ - "Kylie Jenner is far from the only celebrity to make short hops using private jets despite mounting concerns over the climate crisis."
• Nasa images show extreme withering of Lake Mead over 22 years - "The pictures from 2000, 2021 and 2022 offer a new view into its dramatically low water levels, now at just 27% capacity."
• Russia 'looting' steel bound for Europe & UK - "Russia is looting $600m worth of steel from plants and ports in Ukraine, according to the boss of Ukraine's largest steel firm Metinvest."
• Amber Heard files to appeal Johnny Depp’s $10M win in defamation case - "Lawyers for Heard, 36, filed the 'notice of intent to appeal' Thursday in Fairfax County, Virginia, court, records show."
• World's worst airports for delays & cancellations this summer - "These airports are the world's worst for delays and cancellations this summe. Anyone who's been to an airport recently can see that demand for travel is back in a big way. What's not back with a vengeance are the resources needed to handle the crush of air travelers. Add summer weather to staffing issues at airports and airlines and you have a perfect storm of delays and cancellations."
• Tips For Traveling With Only Carry-On Luggage - "If you’ve been following the news, you likely have heard that airports worldwide have been having issues regarding limited staff, which has led to delays, cancelations, and even a backlog of checked luggage. Knowing that, you may decide to fly only with a carry-on to avoid checked baggage fees and risk losing your bag. These tips can help you efficiently get everything you need into your carry-on for a stressless flight."
• The newest superfood is good for humans & the planet - "When most of us read the words 'plant-based diet,' we tend to think of foods such as kale salads and grain bowls or trendy meat replacements. But there is one nonmeat option that's gaining traction as the newest superfood: seaweed."
• The sustainable superfood of the future - "Why I prefer eating grasshoppers to beef. For most people in Europe and the US, the idea of eating crickets and grasshoppers can seem revolting, but they are a popular snack in parts of Africa and Asia. Not only are they packed with nutrients but they are less harmful to the climate too."
• How Much Money Is Enough? Not As Much As Americans Might Think, Study Says - "'The results suggest that sustainable goals of limiting wealth and growth "may actually be more consistent with human ideals and aspirations than (is) commonly believed.' This study was published at the same time as simultaneous research by an independent organisation that studies inequality in French society, L’Observatoire des Inégalités. That study determined that to be considered rich, a person must have a revenue of €3,673 per month ($3,903)."
• Can thinking young delay ageing? - "Can you delay ageing by refusing to act your age? When old age starts depend on where you live in the world. But it may also partly depend on how you view ageing. Can you delay it with a positive attitude?"
• Humphrey Bogart ignored Ingrid Bergman on Casablanca set in 'gin-fuelled' feud - "Humphrey Bogart became a household name after starring in the iconic movie Casablanca in 1942. But while he was filming the movie, he simply refused to speak to his on-screen lover, Ingrid Bergman. It got to the point where she begged him to have dinner with her."
• CNN gets first look at a captured Russian drone. See what was found inside - "Western technology used in drones is helping Russia to track and kill Ukrainian forces."
• iOS 15.6 & iPadOS 15.6 now available to all users, here’s what’s new - "The update includes an option to restart, pause, rewind, and fast-forward a live sports game that's in progress, plus it addresses an issue that could cause the Settings app to continue to display that device storage is full even when it's not."
• You Don't Have to Be Brad Pitt to Appreciate His Low-Key Adidas Kicks - "Bullet Train actor Brad Pitt stepped out for the Parisian premiere of his latest film in a louche suit and pair of Gucci x Adidas Gazelles."
• He climbed the world's 14 highest peaks. Twice - "Nepali Sherpa breaks his own climbing record. A 47-year-old Nepali sherpa has set a climbing record by scaling all the world's 14 peaks that are higher than 8,000 meters (26,247 ft) for a second time, his agency said on Thursday. Sanu Sherpa, from Sankhuwasabha district in east Nepal, reached the top of Pakistan's Gasherbrum II, which at 8,035 meters is the 13th highest, on Thursday morning, his Pioneer Adventure hiking company said in Kathmandu."
• One man has photographed 13,000 different species - "Joel Sartore, an American photographer and founder of the National Geographic Photo Ark, a personal effort to document every species in captivity around the world. Sartore has photographed 13,000th species in 16 years. His ultimate goal is to photograph 20,000."
• Bare walls can be an eyesore. Here’s what to plant to soften & hide them - "We can’t keep ripping up and starting again just because something offends our aesthetic sensibilities."
• Just hot air? For all the Farnborough talk, zero-carbon flying remains years away - "Record heat reaffirms urgency to decarbonise, but technical challenge is far greater for aviation than for most other parts of economy."
• I think Dakota Johnson’s kitchen changed my life - "The ‘Persuasion’ star’s kitchen became a viral sensation in 2020, unveiled in an instantly viral video for Architectural Digest in March 2020. For Adam White, though, it inspired a new way of looking at home furnishings, interior design, and the world itself. Seriously."
• James Bond grave tour: Visiting spot where Daniel Craig's 007 perished in No Time To Die - "James Bond Tombstone Tour review. Stunning trip to the Faroe Islands with a breathtaking hike up to the No Time To Die filming location where Daniel Craig's 007 died - as led by The King of Kalsoy, who worked on the 2021 blockbuster finale."
• Leica Oskar Barnack Award - presented almost continuously since 1979, recognizes photography expressing the relationship between man and the environment. It was known as the Oskar Barnack Award when presented by World Press Photo between 1979 and 1992, and has been known as the Leica Oskar Barnack Award while presented by Leica Camera since 1995.

July 21, 2022

• Biden Tests Positive for Covid - "President Biden, who is fully vaccinated and twice boosted, was 'experiencing very mild symptoms,' according to the White House."
• CIA chief says no intelligence that Putin is in bad health - "There is no intelligence that Vladimir Putin is unstable or in bad health, the director of the CIA has said."
• The Russians Just Shot Down One Of Their Own Best Jets - "Russian air-defense troops just shot down one of the most sophisticated warplanes involved in Russia's wider war in Ukraine."
• Video shows Russian tank blown to pieces by Javelin anti-tank guided missile - "Video shows how the tank is caught in the missile system's crosshairs before the projectile soars through the air and meets its target."
• EuroMillions: UK ticket-holder claims £195m record jackpot - "It eclipses the wealth of Sir Tom Jones, who is worth £180m according to the 2022 Sunday Times Rich List."
• £187m of Windsor family wealth hidden in secret royal wills - "Contents of dozens of royal wills have been kept private by judges in special hearings closed to the public."
• Biographer Tom Bower claims Meghan married Prince Harry to become famous - "His book is called Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors."
• Covid vaccine figures lay bare global inequality as global target missed - "Only one in seven people in low-income countries are fully vaccinated with poorest pushed to the ‘back of the queue’."
• Greenland shed 6 billion tons of water per day last weekend - "The amount of Greenland ice that melted last weekend could cover West Virginia in a foot of water."
• A380 superjumbo to test experimental open fan engine - "This Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger jet, has been recruited as a demonstrator to trial new cutting-edge open fan engine architecture which could help cut carbon emissions by up to 20%."
• Who Will Make Apple Fashionable Now? - "With the metaverse looming, a shift in designer could make a big difference."
• A US flyer tracked his lost luggage back to London & was told by American to go pick it up from the airport - even though he was 4,000 miles away in North Carolina - yahoo!.
• global lost luggage crisis mounts - "Some are calling it the summer of lost luggage as suitcases get caught in a conveyor belt-shaped vortex that only seems to grow."
• At Ivana Trump’s Funeral, a Gold-Hued Coffin & the Secret Service - "On Wednesday afternoon, when a funeral was held for Ms. Trump at an Upper East Side Catholic church, former President Donald J. Trump, along with his current wife, Melania, was there, seated in the front row, across from their three children: Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr. The Trump Organization had handled the funeral arrangements, and the coffin had a gold hue. The Secret Service stood by."
• Magnus Carlsen will not defend his World Chess Championship title in 2023 - "Magnus Carlsen says he will not defend his World Chess Championship title in 2023 against Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi. The five-times winner is not retiring but promising 'to be the best in the world' even if that means taking no part in chess’s showpiece event."
• A Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII Isn’t Just a Car, It’s a Lifestyle - "The only car where the driver’s seat is the worst place to be - because it’s all about the back."
• A Complete Guide to This Weekend’s Sneaker Releases - "Two of the most anticipated sneaker releases of 2022 will be up for grabs this week."
• A Chocolate Cake for the Queen of ASMR Eating - "A surprising online discovery leads to an unlikely friendship and a heartfelt cake recipe."
• This designer is turning balloons into fine furniture - "South Korean artist, Seungjin Yang, makes candy-colored, bulbous chairs, stools and benches with a twist - his pieces are made out of actual blow-up balloons. Since graduating in 2013 from Hongik University in Seoul, Yang's main design endeavor has been fashioning sturdy, structurally sound furniture from the rubber party favors/unexpected medium/unusual material."
• Brad Pitt's linen skirt is drawing attention - "On Tuesday, the star was in Berlin for the film preview of his new action flick "Bullet Train" while the city saw highs in the mid-90s. Pitt kept it cool by wearing a head-to-toe linen look featuring a brown skirt, matching jacket and a salmon button-up shirt left attentively half-open."
• 19 of the Best Celebrity Wedding-Guest Dresses to Inspire Your Own Look - VOGUE.
• How the Tamara Ecclestone £25m diamonds case was cracked - Over 14 days, cell site data pinpointed them in Golders Green, London Bridge, New Bond Street, Chelsea, Fulham and Orpington.
• How Abu Dhabi became the world's hottest cycling city - "Cycling vacations usually conjure up images of pedaling across the French countryside, a baguette lashed to the handlebars, or perhaps a breezy ride along the flat and friendly bike paths that weave their way through cities like Copenhagen or Amsterdam. But that could soon be changing. A two-wheeled revolution is beginning to gather pace in Abu Dhabi, with huge investment propelling both residents and visitors into the saddle for cycling experiences that are like nowhere else on Earth."
• World's oldest male giant panda in captivity dies in Hong Kong zoo - "The panda, called An An, was euthanized at the age of 35 - the equivalent of a human living till 105."
• Suspected FabergÉ egg found on Russian oligarch’s superyacht, US investigators say - "What could be a priceless Fabergé egg has been found on board a Russian oligarch’s superyacht seized by US authorities, one of the more curious items unearthed in sanctions-led investigations so far."
• Onboard The Yacht Being Dubbed The ‘Ferrari’ Of The Seas - "Almost two decades after the launch of the wallypower118, Monaco-based shipyard Wally is back with its biggest head-turner yet. Launched during the Venice Boat Show, the eye-catching wallypower58 was the most talked about boat on the water - and for good reason, as I was to discover."
• Tesla sold 75 percent of its Bitcoin - "The automaker reported $2.26 billion in profit this quarter."
• Porsche Taycans will charge faster & go farther with latest update - "The changes are available for free to all Taycans ever manufactured (2020-2022 models), as Porsche again shows the benefits of the software upgrade path paved by Tesla."
• Michael Mann’s Damaged Men - "In 'Ferrari,' his first film since 2015 - and in 'Heat 2,' his first ever novel - the director returns to his great theme: outsiders with a brutal determination to win."
• The Jewish Deli: An American Tale Told in Pickles & Pastrami - "'I’ll Have What She’s Having,' a traveling exhibit on the Jewish delicatessen, looks back at a vibrant institution fueled by immigration and irresistible food."
• Personality Test: Your Favorite Number Reveals These Personality Traits - "Number Personality Test: What your favorite number says about you? Know interesting personality traits based on your favorite number between 0 to 9."

July 20, 2022

• UK smashes its hottest-day record, 100 million Americans under alerts in global heat emergency - "Heat waves across multiple continents have dashed records, threatened public health and buckled infrastructure, in what scientists say are signs of the climate crisis' impact on day-to-day weather. Americans are used to switching on their air conditioners any time temperatures near 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). But in the UK, record-shredding heat this week has brought life to a pandemic-esque standstill. Temperatures in the UK breached 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time on Tuesday, making it the country's hottest day on record."
• Over 100m Americans under heat warnings as wildfires rage in 12 states - "Blazes have scorched over 3m acres as temperatures expected to reach 100F in much of the Plains and Mississippi Valley."
• In pictures: Western Europe swelters in heatwave - "Much of Western Europe has been facing sweltering weather, with extreme heat warnings issued and record temperatures tumbling."
• Anger in China after officials break into homes in hunt for Covid contacts - "Officials in Guangzhou apologise for ‘violent’ behaviour after 84 homes broken into during search for possible close contacts."
• Old cars forced off road as Europe’s clean air zones nearly double - Low-emission zones, now in 320 cities, are increasing as EU battles pollution health emergency.
• How to tell if your flight is going to be delayed - the secret word your pilot will use - "With flights regularly being delayed and cancelled at the moment, it's helpful to know if you'll be spending an hour or two on the runway."
• Flight attendant issues stark warning to people who fall asleep on planes - "Tourists who fall asleep on aeroplanes should avoid resting their head on the window, a flight attendant has warned today."
• What Kim Kardashian really eats! - "The health-conscious star tucked into an array of salads, arancini, pizzas and fish dishes, before finishing off her feast with chocolate cake and Nutella pizza."
• The world's most powerful - & worst - passports for 2022 - "A trio of Asian passports offer their holders greater global travel freedom than those of any other countries, according to a new quarterly report released by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners."
• The 10 darkest moments of the Queen's reign - "Her reign has had lows as well as highs."
• Secrecy of royal wills questioned by senior officials, documents reveal - "Papers from 1970s and 1980s warn practice of sealing wills was ‘haphazard’ with ‘slender’ legal basis."
• Crypto is making a big comeback. Will it last? - "There are hopes that the worst for crypto might be over. Bitcoin has gained more than 15% in the past week, and two other top cryptos have surged even more."
• The Worst Foods & Drinks for Your Teeth - "When assessing how likely a given meal, snack or drink is to harm your dental health, there are two main things to consider, experts say."
• Inside Bentley Residences, Miami’s Most Anticipated Luxury Living - "Coming to Sunny Isles Beach, Florida in 2026, Bentley Residences is set to bring the legendary automobile company’s design sensibility and timeless appeal to the Miami coast. Brought to life in collaboration with Dezer Development and Sieger Suarez Architects, the property will feature 216 private luxury residences inspired by Bentley’s creative process. Joining Miami’s existing Porsche Design Tower, Dezer Development’s latest project translates the craftsmanship that goes into creating the perfect vehicle into a physical, immersive space where every choice is made in the name of comfort."
• Sables & Minks & Chinchillas Galore: Ivana Trump’s Opulent Style - "Ivana Trump's Style Defined the 'Greed Is Good' Era."
• Mad Men at 15: how the genius advertising drama foresaw the death of the American dream - "From the micro-aggressions toward Black, female and LGBTQ characters to its depiction of a worrying narcissist named Donald, this forward-thinking drama was a warning from history."
• Saif Gaddafi: London life of former playboy who could lead Libya revealed - "A cache of emails and documents sheds light on the would-be ruler’s activities at a time when he was entering public life."
• Private jet use is more popular than ever & first-time buyers are driving record sales - "Business has been booming for some time for major private jet manufacturers, to the extent that firms have been unable to keep pace with skyrocketing demand since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Data from Transport & Environment shows that private jets are up to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes per passenger, and up to 50 times more polluting than trains."
• Lotto curse - Brits whose lives were destroyed when they became millionaires - "It seems like it would be the answer to many of life's problems, but a high-profile lottery win can quickly become a nightmare - as it did for these Brits after their numbers came up."
• We Lose One Crucial Feature of Consciousness While We Sleep, an 8-Year Study Reveals - "When we dream, something mysterious happens within our brains - we experience something similar to being awake, and yet also very different to being awake, and scientists are still trying to unpick exactly what's going on in that in-between state."
• How our brains cope with speaking more than one language - "How language mess with our brain. Speaking a second or even a third language can bring obvious advantages, but occasionally the words, grammar and even accents can get mixed up. This can reveal surprising things about how our brains work."
• Why Nikon & Canon have given up on DSLRs - "New tech makes mirrorless cameras unstoppable. The biggest news in the camera industry this month is that Nikon is reportedly halting development of new SLR cameras, marking the end of a 63-year run. From now on, it will focus exclusively on mirrorless Z mount models like the Z6, Z50 and recently-launched Z9 flagship."
• Nikon Z9 review: A versatile camera with solid 8K video recording - "All with no physical shutter."

July 19, 2022

• The World's 50 Best Restaurants | The best restaurants in the world - "Geranium, Copenhagen. The World's Best Restaurant 2022."
• Graphic shows all the changes in global temperature since 1850 - "Heat waves are becoming more intense because of the rise in global temperature, which has devastating effects on landscapes, ecosystems and even the human body. Climate experts explain why this matters and what can be done to stabilize the planet's temperature."
• Women more at risk from heatwaves than men, experts suggest - "Researchers try to explain findings that mortality rates in extreme heat are higher for females."
• Humanity faces ‘collective suicide’ over climate crisis, warns UN chief - "António Guterres tells governments ‘half of humanity is in danger zone’, as countries battle extreme heat."
• Tourists stuck in China resort city after Covid lockdown - "More than 2,000 tourists have been stranded in a Chinese coastal city after a surge in coronavirus cases."
• Towering waves in Hawaii crash into homes, barrel through wedding venue - "A strong winter storm in the South Pacific produced the swell which headed for the islands, bringing waves more than 20ft high."
• Why Don't Homes in Britain Have Air Conditioning? - "Temperatures topping 100 degrees are difficult to endure anywhere, but it’s particularly dangerous in Britain, where few homes are equipped with air conditioning."
• The ancient technique that turned this desert green - "Greener pastures: Can ancient eco-engineering help fix our degraded landscapes?"
• Louis Vuitton & Nike “Air Force 1” by Virgil Abloh Digital Drop - "Nine mid-top and low-top editions of the Louis Vuitton and Nike 'Air Force 1' by Virgil Abloh will be available exclusively online on July 19th."
• Pagani puts electric plans on hold in favour of V12 flavour - "After four years of research into developing an electric car, Pagani have arrived at the conclusion that creating an EV is simply not worth it, nor would the final product be exciting enough."
• Record-setting ring weighs nearly a pound & contains 24,679 diamonds - "A ring has made its way into the Guinness World Records for the most diamonds set in one ring. The sparkler is encrusted with more than 24,000 diamonds and weighs nearly a pound. Each stone was hand-placed and took nearly 3 months to complete. The one-of-a-kind ring broke the previous record set two years ago."
• The best way to brush your teeth - "Brushing your teeth effectively lowers your chances of getting a host of chronic diseases, as well as keeping your teeth and gums healthy. But the majority of us are doing it wrong."
• Why Shakespeare's Richard III became a controversial villain - "The notorious monarch is one of the Bard's most iconic characters. But the truth about him is increasingly contested, as is the depiction of his disability, writes Tracey Sinclair."
• Judge broke promise to let Polanski go free in rape trial, sealed testimony says - "Los Angeles judge privately told lawyers he would imprison film director, ‘reneging’ on pledge, according to ex-prosecutor."
• Meet Anne-Sophie Pic, Star Chef Of Lausanne’s Beau Rivage Palace & The Only Female Chef With Three Michelin Stars In France - "Switzerland has always had strong patriarchal roots, but nowadays, life for women is finally changing for the better. After 600 years, the first female ever appointed to the role of night watch in Lausanne now calls out loudly on the hour. Just down the hill at the famous Beau-Rivage Palace, three women are at the helm: the general manager, the head of sales, and the chef."
• Apple Just Revealed An Amazing iPhone Upgrade In New Patent - "A new patent shows that Apple has been working on adding lasers to a future iPhone, and also to Apple Watch."
• 74-Acre Green Gables Estate In Silicon Valley Seeks $125 Million - "A total of seven houses make up the estate’s residential structures, including the English manor-inspired main house. Sitting atop the property’s central hill with views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the nearly 10,000-square-foot home has retained much of its turn-of-the-century elegance, with thatched roofs, muntin-paned French doors and furnishings selected by renowned New York designer Elsie de Wolfe."

July 18, 2022

• Can Planting a Trillion New Trees Save the World? - "To fight climate change, companies and nonprofits have been promoting worldwide planting campaigns. Getting to a trillion is easier said than done."
• France braces for record temperatures as wildfires rage across Europe - "Thousands evacuated as above 40C forecast for some French regions on Monday and more lives lost in soaring heat in Spain."
• The Astrology Of Princess Diana Will Blow Your Mind - "The Astrology Of Princess Diana Shows That Her Personality Was Both Irresistible & Incredibly Complex."
• The best destinations to visit in 2022 & the best airlines to get there - "This week in travel news, Time Out and TIME have both announced their annual lists of must-visit destinations, while AirlineRatings.com has named the world's best airlines for 2022."
• The downside of a plastic-free life - "Do single-use plastic bans work? The problems caused by plastic waste are rapidly increasing around the globe, but it still serves a useful purpose in food packaging. Can plastic still be a green option?"
• New documentary unearths troubling links between Victoria's Secret & Jeffrey Epstein - "he cultural phenomenon that was pre-2020 Victoria's Secret, with its televised lingerie catwalks and salacious TV ads, may be at times hard to fathom in a post-#MeToo world. What was once a multi-million-dollar fantasy of womanhood - exclusively svelte, athletic models in lace-trimmed thongs or diamante push-up bras, each framed by a pair of 12-foot-high angel wings - quickly became a parody so gauche it's hard to imagine it was ever taken seriously. But 'Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons,' a new Hulu documentary out today, explores exactly why and how it was."
• 10 scenic & remote museums & galleries that are worth the trip - "Some museums require more than a plane and a taxi ride to be reached, but repay you with memories lasting a lifetime. CNN Style has picked some of the best, all nestled off the beaten track, offering stunning natural beauty and artistic value."
• What happened when I stopped hurrying & discovered the joy of slowing down? - "'What is this life if, full of care, / We have no time to stand and stare?'"
• WAF Awards 2022: See the world's best new architecture - "In photos: The world's best new buildings."
• Why we keep dating people like our ex - "Exes share unique similarities to current partners, while our dating history can even be used to determine how attractive we are."
• Lily Safra, Star-Crossed Socialite & Philanthropist, Dies at 87 - "Lily Safra, a Brazilian-born socialite and philanthropist who led a star-filled, star-crossed life with enough jet-setting ups and tragedy-filled downs to fill a dozen Danielle Steel novels, including the bizarre death of her fourth husband, the banker Edmond J. Safra, died on July 9 at her home in Geneva. She was 87."
• The beloved 'snack of wealth' made on Delhi's streets - "Some vendors say moonlight and dew are the magic ingredients, but modern developments are moving this beloved sweet treat off the streets and into fine-dining restaurants."
• A new Shakespeare plot: garden of Bard’s daughter to be recreated - "Remedies used by healer Susanna Hall and her doctor husband will be planted at Stratford home."
• Putin signs law prohibiting crypto payments in Russia - "Russians will no longer be able to use cryptocurrencies and NFTs to pay for goods and services."
• BEYERDYNAMIC FREE BYRD EARBUDS REVIEW: SOARING SOUND & LONG BATTERY LIFE - "For a first effort, there’s a lot to like about Beyerdynamic’s $250 buds."

July 17, 2022

• top 20 Covid symptoms, in descending order - Top symptoms that could be Covid are a sore throat or a cough, according to data from 17,500 people who said they had tested positive for the virus this week.
• China's Economic Covid Slump - "The country’s continued lockdowns are having consequences on its ability to do business."
• The significance of Biden's fist bump with crown prince - "It was a striking photograph. The US president and the man he'd called a pariah, bumping fists in the gilded splendour of Jeddah's royal palace."
• Why it is so hot - in under 60 seconds - "A heatwave is sweeping across Europe with and is expected in Britain next week."
• Newsnight photographer claims to have picture of Prince Andrew that would rock the Monarchy if it was ever made public - " A photographer working for the BBC during Prince Andrew's car-crash Newsnight interview claims to have taken a shocking picture of the Royal that would shake the monarchy if it ever became public."
• How easy is it for the royals to escape their duties & go away on holiday? - "What happens when the royals go on holiday?"
• Ivana Trump Died of Blunt Force Injuries After Falling Down Stairs, Medical Examiner Determines - "The businesswoman's sudden and tragic death has been ruled an accident."
• Are You a Buffet Smuggler or a Stacker? 5 Types of Breakfast Buffet Behaviours - "How you approach the breakfast buffet at a hotel says a lot more about you than you think."
• The 15 Best Air Jordan Sneakers of All Time - "The GOATs. Period."
• 90% Of Louis Vuitton’s Latest LV Trainer Is Constructed From Recycled Materials - "94% of the shoe’s outsole is made out of recycled polyurethane."
• Victoria’s Secret & What’s Sexy Now. How Victoria's Secret Is Trying to Rebrand - "A rebranding and a new documentary have the lingerie company back in the cultural cross hairs."
• Webb telescope's first photos reveal unseen aspects of the universe - "Astronomers and space enthusiasts have waited for Webb's debut for decades. When US President Joe Biden released the first high-resolution image on Monday, and NASA unveiled the rest a day later, it felt like the entire planet came together to marvel at them. And the observatory's scintillating journey is just beginning."
• ‘Bees are really highly intelligent’: the insect IQ tests causing a buzz among scientists - "We all know these busy insects are good for crops and biodiversity, but proof is emerging that they are also clever, sentient and unique beings."
• Zenith’s Defy Extreme E ‘Island X Prix’ Special Edition - "Extreme E, the electric off-road motor racing series now in its second season, kicked off in Sardinia last week, with the final doubleheader races held July 9 and 10. And as Official Timekeeper and founding partner, Zenith concurrently unveiled its Defy Extreme 'E Island X Prix' Special Edition timepiece (20 pieces), which is based on the Defy Extreme Carbon."

July 16, 2022

• Global Peace Index Map - The Most & Least Peaceful Countries - "Produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the Global Peace Index (GPI) is the world's leading measure of global peacefulness."
• A hypothetical weather forecast for 2050 is coming true next week - "Two years ago, forecasters in the UK conducted an interesting thought experiment: What will our forecasts look like in 2050? The climate crisis is pushing weather to the extreme all over the world, and temperatures in the northern latitudes have been particularly sensitive to these changes. So meteorologists at the UK Met Office - the official weather forecast agency for the UK - dove in to the super long-range climate models in the summer of 2020 to see what kind of temperatures they'd be forecasting in about three decades."
• Elon Musk's famous family includes a model, several millionaire entrepreneurs & secret twins. Here are the members of the Musk family tree - "Elon Musk has had a wild life, but he's not the only member of his family to launch businesses, make millions, or achieve fame."
• How do the rich & famous protect their homes? - BBC News.
• 12 of the Most Compulsively Watchable True-Crime Documentaries on Netflix Now - VOGUE.
• Streaming: the best lost-in-the-wilderness films - "The Lost City, Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum’s remote island romp, joins classics from The African Queen to Fitzcarraldo."
• 11 of the world's most dangerous hiking trails - "Hiking is often derided by adrenaline addicts as somehow lesser than more hardcore mountain experiences like climbing or skiing. But as these challenging trails show, putting one foot in front of the other isn't always the easy option."
• US & Russia agree to fly each other’s astronauts to the ISS as tensions thaw - "Nasa and Roscosmos made the announcement of integrated flights shortly after the Russian space program leader was replaced."
• Drivers warned over surprising £5,000 fine for wearing sunglasses - "Driving experts have said that even though sunglasses are often an important accessory for any driver, some styles can restrict vision while driving. Some lenses can be tinted too dark and restrict vision during daylight. Bulky frames can also cause blind spots."
• Monte-Carlo Diary: The menace of cruise ships - "Cruise ships are tolerated in Monaco because of the sizeable port fees they pay and also because their passengers help keep open a small number of not very good restaurants on the Rock."
• I've lived in Singapore for 20 years & there are 7 things tourists should never do when visiting the city-state - "The city-state is full of cultural norms and laws that might seem unusual in other countries."
• We benchmarked the base M2 MacBook Air’s storage & (surprise!) it’s slow - "If you want the faster SSD, you’ll have to pay for it."
• It’s Now Harder to Get a Bio-plastic $250 MoonSwatch Than a Breguet or Blancpain - "It’s more difficult to find the $250 MoonSwatch in stores than a $13,000 Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, as demand for the budget-priced timepiece collaboration between Omega and Swatch continues to outstrip supply."
• The pollution caused by rocket launches - "Rocket launches are an integral part of our 21st-Century world. But how do we stop their polluting exhausts accelerating climate change?"
• Sotheby’s Sold a Jean ProuvÉ Table for $1.6 Million Last Month - But Didn’t Mention It Might Contain Asbestos - "An eagle-eyed antique dealer realized there was more to the 'Granipoli concrete' table than met the eye."
• VENTJE VW CAMPERVAN REVIEW: ‘WORK FROM HOME’ FROM ANYWHERE - "A home office in disguise."
• The Most Incredible Features Of Jeff Bezos' $500 Million Mega Yacht - "The 417 feet long (127 meters) ship is called the Y721 and it is reportedly made by Oceanco, a custom ship builder that produces some of the world's largest and most luxurious boats."
• The Best Royal Wedding Dresses in History - "At the end of every fairy tale, we’re almost always served the same image: a princess in a white gown, walking down the aisle. So is it any wonder that throughout history, real-life royal wedding dresses have utterly enraptured the minds of the public?" VOGUE.
• 73 Outfits Prove That Lady Gaga Is Fashion’s Ultimate Shapeshifter - "Vogue is taking a look back at some of the star’s best ensembles over the years—the best 73 of them, to be exact."
• You'll have to fight me to separate me from these Razer sunglasses this summer - "A surprisingly useful accessory for summertime dog walks."
• Curators Discover a Rare Chinese ‘Magic Mirror’ - One of Only Three Known in the West - in the Depths of the Cincinnati Art Museum’s Storage - "Magic mirrors, also known as transparent or light penetrating mirrors, were first created in China during the Han dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE), according to the museum. 'When light is projected on them, the mirrors appear transparent and reveal characters or a decorative design.'"
• 8 Grand Historic Homes You Can Book on Airbnb, From Castles to Manors - "As summer travel picks up in earnest, so does the desire to explore a world previously closed off to us during lockdown. To help inspire your next trip, here are eight of the most enthralling historic homes listed on Airbnb."

July 15, 2022

• The $100 Trillion Global Economy in One Chart - "Visualizing the $100 Trillion Global Economy in One Chart. Surpassing the $100 trillion mark is a new milestone for global economic output."
• Extreme heat around the world in videos, photos & graphics - "From wildfires to glacier collapses, a flurry of extreme heat events has led to deaths and disrupted lives since the start of July."
• The 10 Worst Airports in Europe for Delays Right Now - "London Heathrow may be in the news, but it’s far from the worst offender."
• You Won’t Live Longer by Diet or Exercise Alone, Study Says - "Sprawling new research showed that healthy eating and regular workouts do not, in isolation, stave off later health issues. They need to be done together."
• No amount of alcohol is healthy if you're under 40, global study says - "Global study finds surprising results for alcohol consumption. No amount of alcohol is healthy if you are younger than 40, mostly due to alcohol-related deaths by auto accidents, injury and homicide, according to a new global study."
• Text Your Friends. It Matters More Than You Think - "New research says most of us underestimate the power of the casual check-in."
• Here are the highlights from Twitter's lawsuit against Elon Musk - "It's not every day that a major corporate lawsuit features a poop emoji, but then again it's not every day that one of the world's most influential social media platforms sues the world's richest man to make him buy it."
• The dark side of being an influencer - "The dark side of being a content creator. Being a social media influencer is one of the top career picks for young people today. But the path is filled with pay gaps, burnout, unpredictability and more."
• Meryl Streep’s One Weird Trick - "Streep is always putting on the glasses to read the newspaper, or taking them off as she stops reading the newspaper."
• Ivana Trump, an ex-wife of former President Trump, dies at 73 - "Ivana Trump died after 'falling down staircase of NYC townhouse."
• Let Them Have Couture - "Balenciaga's latest experiment attempts to open up the mysterious world of Parisian haute couture."
• Inside a US$150 Million Bel-Air Mansion - "Honey Co-Founder George Raun Lists Bel-Air Mansion For $150 Million."
• Can you spot all the hidden circles in this optical illusion - "If you can spot the 16 circles here, you’re spot on."
• What does the Queen’s legal immunity mean? - "Exemptions have been written into law to protect the monarch as a private citizen - but are they necessary?"
• This 33-year-old mom makes $760,000 a year in passive income - "Lives on a sailboat: ‘I work just 10 hours a week’."
• Legendary Cartier Cheich Heads To Sotheby's Paris In September - "One of only four examples made and the only one presented as prize for the Cartier Challenge."
• Dress to impress: clothing rituals from across the world - in pictures - "From New York drag queens to voodoo rituals in Benin and Togo, a new exhibition looks at the influence of clothes on the way we live."
• 'Gangnam Style' at 10: How Psy's smash hit sent Korean culture global - "‘It was a little crazy’: Psy on 'Gangnam Style', 10 years on."
• Photos of '90s offices evoke a bygone era - "Wires, watercoolers and off-white walls: A portrait of '90s offices."
• Egypt's Red Sea resort that's making waves - "On the shore of the Red Sea, the forward-thinking town of El Gouna was founded with a mission: to do its part to protect the environment."
• The UFO sightings that swept the US - Seventy-five years on from the first mysterious sightings in the US, the flying saucer makes its return in Jordan Peele's new film Nope. Nicholas Barber looks back at one of the most haunting objects in popular culture.
• Aston Martin raises £650m as Saudi Arabia takes a stake - "British manufacturer has been unable to generate cash to invest in new models and electric technology."
• NOTHING PHONE 1 REVIEW: SOMETHING ELSE - "A good midrange phone underneath a whole lot of hype."
• APPLE’S NEW MACBOOK AIR M2 IS THE START OF A WHOLE NEW AIR-A - "New design, new display, new processor, new price."
• PatrÓn & Lalique Just Dropped a New Tequila Collab That Whiskey Drinkers Will Love - "Inside the beautiful decanter is a blend of 14 different tequilas aged between four and eight years."
• Here's the Porsche 992 GT3 RS on the Streets of California - "We shouldn’t have to wait much longer to meet the new naturally-aspirated icon."
• Every Car In Sylvester Stallone's Personal Collection - "With more than 90 acting credits, the Italian Stallion has worked for more than five decades now and amassed quite the car collection."

July 14, 2022

• prime day deals today 2022 - Amazon.com.
• Royal-Approved Sunglasses Brands to Shop This Prime Day - "The styles beloved by Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are at a major discount on Amazon right now."
• Russian Towns Get Ukrainian ‘Twins’ in PR Drive, Political Deflection Tactic - "A few days after the announcement that St. Petersburg would officially be twinned with occupied Mariupol, St. Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov visited the devastated Ukrainian port city seized by Russia after three months of bloody fighting." The Moscow Times.
• Spectacular Supermoon sightings around the world - "Photos of the supermoon, thunder moon, buck moon on July 13, 2022."
• Global recession risk rising as economic outlook ‘darkens significantly’, IMF says - "Cost-of-living crisis ‘only getting worse’ says IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, predicting a tough 2022, and ‘even tougher 2023’."
• BA.5: The 'worst variant' is here - "Nearly two-and-a-half years since the coronavirus pandemic began, the most infectious and transmissible variant yet has arrived."
• How worried should I be about BA.5, on a scale of 1 to 10? We asked 4 leading COVID experts for their rating - "There's a new coronavirus variant traveling around this summer at a record clip. The BA.5 subvariant of Omicron is reinfecting people at a record clip, causing alarm. If you're up to date on shots and know where to get treated, there's no need for off-the-charts panic."
• 2022’s Most Fashionable Travel Essential? An Apple AirTag (Now on Sale) for Your Luggage - "If your Instagram feed is populated with scenes from your coworker’s Italian coastal getaway or your cousin’s trip to Portuguese wine country, it’s probably also peppered in with a few tales of lost luggage. If Instagram is reality, it seems that lots of bags are getting lost. But the app is also telling us our summer packing list should start with a piece of tech: Apple’s AirTag. Good timing then that Apple AirTags on Amazon are now on sale for Prime Day."
• 100% pure rip-off? New Zealand voted second-worst place to move to - "Cost of living too high and pay too low, say survey respondents, though natural environment, climate and sporting life are appreciated."
• Spain to make some train journeys free of charge from September 1 up until the end of the year - "Public transport prices on state-owned service across Spain have already been slashed in half in response to rapidly rising energy and inflation rates. Now the government has announced further 100% discounts. As of September, passengers will be able to travel across various trains operated by public train network Renfe for absolutely nothing."
• Netflix turns to Microsoft to help build its new ad-supported service - "The streaming giant hopes a less expensive offering will boost subscription numbers, which have dropped for the first time in a decade."
• Bill Gates funnels $20 billion to foundation & plans to drop off list of wealthiest people - "Bill Gates is moving $20 billion of his wealth into the endowment of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is ramping up its spending in the face of global challenges including the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. 'I will move down and eventually off of the list of the world's richest people,' Gates wrote in a blog post Wednesday. 'I have an obligation to return my resources to society in ways that have the greatest impact for improving lives. I hope others in positions of great wealth and privilege will step up in this moment too.'"
• How colours mess with your brain - "How your favourite colour affects how you think. Our world is awash with a rainbow of colours, but certain shades can have a surprising impact on our ability to concentrate, our mood and even the flavours we experience."
• Personality Test: Your Favorite Color Reveals These Personality Traits - "Color Personality Test: Which color do you love the most? Red or blue or green or yellow or black or white? Know what your favorite color says about you. Check out bonus colors: Pink, Purple, and Orange."
• THE WORLD'S GREATEST PLACES OF 2022 - "50 extraordinary destinations to explore." TIME Magazine.
• World's best airlines for 2022, ranked by AirlineRatings.com - "Qatar Airways' decision to remain operating through the pandemic meant that it became the world's largest international airline and posted a huge profit - the only major airline to do so. Hot on the heels of Qatar Airways is Air New Zealand, an airline that's topped AirlineRatings' list six times in recent years, and last year also came in at number two."
• 7 Amazing Facts About The Sea Of Stars In The Maldives - "If you want to try swimming amongst the stars, then you’ll love the phenomenon that is the “Sea Of Stars”, due to its glowing blue waves, on one of the islands in the Indian Ocean."
• See 7 supersonic passenger-jet concepts that will connect cities in as little as one hour - "Fly up to 9 times faster than the speed of sound. The Concorde was a supersonic commercial airliner, flying passengers at 1,350 miles per hour. High costs, safety concerns, and loud sonic booms forced the plane to retire in 2003. Several companies are trying to reintroduce supersonic air travel with new ultra-high-speed jet concepts."
• The 10 best-selling Scotch whiskies worldwide last year - "Not a single malt in sight..."
• EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SNEAKER COLLABORATIONS (& MORE) - "Considering how long sneaker culture has been around, sneaker collaborations are a relatively new phenomenon. When the Stüssy x Nike Huarache LE - the sneaker many credit as being the original sneaker collaboration - was released in 2000, it was a wild new approach, which saw retailer and brand join forces to create a special version of an existing sneaker."
• Spanish beach town to fine tourists €750 for urinating in the sea - "The city council in Vigo, Galicia, has passed legislation banning 'physiological evacuation on the beach or in the sea', slapping a fine of €750 on anyone caught short while in the shallows."
• How duck 'soldiers' became this 300-year-old winemaker's secret weapon - "Outside Cape Town on the banks of the Eerste river, Vergenoegd Löw The Wine Estate has repurposed a centuries-old practice by marshaling a battalion of ducks to keep its vineyard free of pests."
• Kevin Spacey pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges - "Oscar-winning US actor, 62, pleads not guilty to fives charges at Old Bailey in London."
• Tom Courtenay: ‘I told Daniel Craig I turned down Bond because of the gym work’ - "The celebrated actor answers your questions about the train scene in Doctor Zhivago, the joy of working on The Royle Family, and his love of the ukulele."
• Mark Fleischman: Ex-Studio 54 club owner dies by assisted suicide at Dignitas - "Mark Fleischman, who owned legendary New York nightclub Studio 54 in the 1980s, has died by assisted suicide in Switzerland, his former business partner has said."
• Monty Norman, composer of the James Bond theme, dies at 94 - "Monty Norman, a British composer who wrote the theme tune for the James Bond films, has died. He was 94. A statement posted Monday on Norman's official website said: 'It is with sadness we share the news that Monty Norman died on 11th July 2022 after a short illness.'"

July 13, 2022

• Vladimir Putin to Be Called 'Ruler' of Russia Under New Proposal - "A pro-Kremlin party is calling for Vladimir Putin to be referred to as Russia's 'ruler' rather than as the Russian 'president,' in order to move away from a job description derived from a foreign language."
• Dangerous heatwaves engulf parts of China, US & Europe - "At least 86 Chinese cities issue alerts, while temperatures soar in south-west and central US and Iberian peninsula."
• As Sixth Covid Wave Hits, Many New Yorkers Shrug It Off - "Once among the most vigilant, New Yorkers respond to a highly transmissible new wave of Covid cases with the most New York of attitudes."
• Twitter Sues Musk After He Tries Backing Out of $44 Billion Deal - "The question of whether Elon Musk must buy Twitter, as he agreed to do in April, is headed to a court in Delaware."
• What Are Spam Bots & Why They’re an Issue in Elon Musk’s Twitter Deal - "Bots can tweet at people, share tweets, follow and be followed by other people. And there are good bots and bad."
• It’s Time to Stop Living the American Scam - "Enough with the busywork already. We’ve been 'productive' enough - produced way too much, in fact. And there is too much that urgently needs to be done: a republic to salvage, a civilization to reimagine and its infrastructure to reinvent, innumerable species to save, a world to restore and millions who are impoverished, imprisoned, illiterate, sick or starving. All while we waste our time at work."
• Is Chocolate Good for You? - "Studies suggest that cocoa might benefit health, but it’s unclear how that may translate to a typical bar of chocolate. Many small, short-term human trials, have found that dark chocolate or standardized cocoa supplements or drinks can modestly lower blood pressure and improve blood cholesterol and the health of blood vessels in adults."
• France to cut nitrites in food after agency confirms cancer risk - "France said on Tuesday it intends to cut the use of nitrites in food after the national health agency confirmed they raise the risk of cancer, falling short of a full ban feared by processed meat makers who use it in products such as ham and sausages."
• Emmy nominations 2022: The full list by category - "'Succession' and 'Ted Lasso' dominate major categories in Emmy nominations."
• Mickey Rourke Slams Tom Cruise on ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’: “He’s Irrelevant” - "Mickey Rourke is not flying high over the popularity of Top Gun: Maverick. During an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the actor ripped into Top Gun star Tom Cruise, blasting his return to the film franchise and proclaiming he’s not impressed by Cruise’s filmography."
• The Power of Talking to Yourself - "'External self-talk,' as it’s clinically known, gets a bad rap. But it can be great for pushing through all sorts of obstacles."
• Apple Ends Consulting Agreement With Jony Ive, Its Former Design Leader - "Three years after promising to work 'long into the future' with the man behind its candy-colored computers, Apple and Mr. Ive are through."
• HRH Prince Charles & Sir Jony Ive on designing for a better world - "Founded and led by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Sir Jony Ive the Terra Carta Design Lab celebrates young designers developing high-impact, low-cost solutions to the climate crisis."
• Red Cross Ball will be on Casino Square - "Presided over by HSH Prince Albert, the 73rd Monaco Red Cross Ball takes place on Friday, July 18, on Casino Square for the second time since its creation."
• One-percenters take to the air - "Flying accounts for about two percent of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions, but some passengers’ impact is far greater than others. In a week when the great and good are flying into the World Economic Forum at Davos we have decided to take stock."
• Carbon Offset Emissions Calculator for Private Jet Flights - "Calculate how much carbon emissions your private jet flight is producing and buy carbon offsets from a choice of organizations to compensate for it."
• 7 Street Style Trends to Lift From the Fall 2022 Haute Couture Shows - VOGUE.
• From Gucci to Khaite, 10 Adidas Sneaker Collabs to Know & Shop - VOGUE.
• Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything looking flat? - "Size, setting and narrative all play a role. Egyptian art is easily recognizable, but many cultures used similar approaches to represent people and objects."
• A Physique Coach Shared His Simplest 'Do Nothing' Advice for Burning Fat - "Paul Revelia breaks down the approach that he says will help you lose weight—and help you keep it off."
• Lock screen: The ultimate guide - "What's the Lock screen, how do you use it, and how do you change it to make it your own? Here's how to do all that, plus more!"
• How to Recover Deleted Photos from an iPhone - "It can be heartbreaking to discover a favorite picture on an iPhone or a photograph from a recent shoot has been unexpectedly deleted. The good news is that there are several ways to recover deleted photos, some quite simple and most can be done directly from the iPhone itself."

July 12, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war live news: dozens killed in Chasiv Yar strike; 80% of Donetsk residents have fled, governor says - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 139 of the invasion - "The death toll from a Russian missile attack on Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine rises to 34; Kyiv warns Russia will step up fight in Donbas."
• The Uber whistleblower: I’m exposing a system that sold people a lie - "Mark MacGann says he has decided to speak out about firm to ‘right some fundamental wrongs’."
• Elon Musk's bumpy road to possibly owning Twitter: A timeline - "A board seat accepted and then rejected. A stunning $44 billion takeover offer with uncertain financing. And a surprise early morning tweet putting the deal on hold, temporarily. Even by the standards of Twitter, a company that has known plenty of chaos and dysfunction in its history, the weeks-long effort by billionaire Elon Musk to buy the company has proven to be uniquely tumultuous - and there's no clear end in sight."
• Rotterdam Won’t Dismantle Bridge to Allow Jeff Bezos’ Superyacht Through - "The Dutch city faced an uproar as it considered dismantling a section of a 95-year-old bridge. Now the boat’s builder has decided not to apply for a permit."
• Hong Kong to electronically tag Covid patients as it adopts China’s health code system - "Those in home isolation will be forced to wear a bracelet tracking their movements as territory introduces China-style QR code system."
• Nearly $2tn of damage inflicted on other countries by US emissions - "Research puts US ahead of China, Russia, India and Brazil in terms of global damage as climate expert says numbers ‘very stark’."
• Quiet flows the Po: the life & slow death of Italy’s longest river - "The legendary waterway is drying up. Travelling its length, Tobias Jones uncovers its fascinating history."
• India to surpass China as most populous country in 2023, UN report says - India is set to surpass China as the world's most populous country in 2023, with each counting more than 1.4 billion residents this year, a United Nations report said on Monday, warning that high fertility would challenge economic growth. The world's population, estimated to reach 8 billion by November 15 this year, could grow to 8.5 billion in 2030, and 10.4 billion in 2100, as the pace of mortality slows, said the report released on World Population Day.
• James Webb telescope takes super sharp view of early cosmos - "The first full-colour picture from the new James Webb Space Telescope has been released - and it doesn't disappoint. The image is said to be the deepest, most detailed infrared view of the Universe to date, containing the light from galaxies that has taken many billions of years to reach us."
• The power of eccentric rituals - "Superstitious learning: Can 'lucky' rituals bring success? We love to mimic to the routines and rituals of the rich and famous - but they may be no more insightful than random behaviours."
• Time Out lists the world's best cities for 2022 - "Edinburgh, Scotland came in at No. 1, thanks to its stunning views and creative, welcoming atmosphere."
• Comparing the Cost of Living Around the World - "This graphic compares the cost of living and purchasing power of 578 cities worldwide, using New York City as a benchmark for comparison."
• 3 ways to avoid checking your bag at the gate - "If you’re flying soon and want to minimize your risk of having to check a bag, here are three things you can do."
• Heathrow implements summer 2022 capacity cap - "Our assessment is that the maximum number of daily departing passengers that airlines, airline ground handlers and the airport can collectively serve over the summer is no more than 100,000."
• Bernie Ecclestone to be charged with fraud over more than £400m of undeclared assets - "Now 91 years-old, Ecclestone amassed an estimated fortune of 2.5 billion pounds over his 40 years at the helm of the world’s most prestigious motorsport until it was taken over by US group Liberty Media in 2017. Ecclestone left his emeritus position within F1 in 2020."
• Tahiti started the overwater trend in the 1960s. Then this country perfected it - "The most incredible overwater villas in the Maldives."
• Bluetooth audio’s biggest upgrade in years is coming soon to headphones - "First announced in 2020, the LE Audio spec has now been completed."
• How an increasingly popular supplement landed a man in the hospital - "A British man's overdose on vitamin D is a cautionary tale for people who are considering adding supplements to their lives."
• Judi Dench recalls director telling her she had 'wrong face' for film - "Even Dame Judi Dench encountered some doubters on her journey to the big screen."
• French FÉcamp 'precious blood' relics recovered after abbey theft - "The Catholic Church was shocked last month when an ornate golden artefact said to contain drops of Jesus's blood was stolen shortly before an annual celebration in northern France."
• How does wildlife find garden ponds? - "If you build a pond, wildlife will find it. But how?"
• Piet Mondrian & the six lines that made a masterpiece - "A 1922 painting by Piet Mondrian challenged art history, defining a new era, writes Deborah Nicholls-Lee, as two exhibitions celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth."
• The world's oldest sourdough? - "The search for the oldest sourdough starter spans continents and countries, science labs and libraries, and involves everyone from the Ancient Egyptians to Jesus Christ."
• ‘Fire is the perfect villain’ - how the Notre Dame blaze became an explosive film - "Name of the Rose director Jean-Jacques Annaud has turned the Paris fire into a thrilling drama. He talks about the desperate race to rescue the crown of thorns - as molten lead fell like satanic rain."
• FIND A GRAVE - "World’s largest gravesite collection." Over 210 million memorials created by the community since 1995. Website that allows the public to search and add to an online database of cemetery records. It is owned by Ancestry.com.
• Dior v Valentino: row breaks out after Rome show allegedly blocks boutique - "Dior reportedly demands €100,000 compensation from Valentino after Spanish Steps show ‘hampered’ access to store."
• Treasure or Trash? Huge Unclaimed Baggage Event Makes NYC Debut Sunday - "For the first time ever, the nation's only retailer for lost luggage will host a one-of-a-kind silent auction in New York City this weekend - and it is all for a good cause."

July 11, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war live news: dozens remain trapped after Russian strike; Zelenskiy says Donetsk attack purposely targeted civilians - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 138 of the invasion - "At least 15 people dead after Russian missile attack on eastern Ukrainian town; residents in two southern regions urged to evacuate as Ukraine prepares to launch counteroffensive."
• Uber broke laws, duped police & secretly lobbied governments, leak reveals - "More than 124,000 confidential documents leaked to the Guardian. Files expose attempts to lobby Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz and George Osborne. Emmanuel Macron secretly aided Uber lobbying in France, texts reveal. Company used ‘kill switch’ during raids to stop police seeing data. Former Uber CEO told executives ‘violence guarantees success’."
• What are the Uber files? A guide to cab-hailing firm’s ruthless expansion tactics - "Trove of documents leaked to the Guardian cast light on firm’s operations at height of its global rise."
• Macau shuts all casinos in bid to contain worsening Covid outbreak - "More than 30 closed for a week - with extension thought likely - and dozens of city zones locked down in gambling hub."
• Adding salt to food at table can cut years off your life, study finds - "Research involving 500,000 Britons reveals link to earlier death for those who always season their meals."
• What's next for Twitter now that Elon Musk wants out? - "New York Times reporter Lauren Hirsch said there has been an interesting confluence of events since news of Musk's offer first broke. The stock market 'basically dropped off the cliff,' including shares of Tesla, which Musk was presumably relying on to fund much of the deal."
• Why Bluetooth is still headache-inducing two decades later - "Bluetooth is said to borrow its name from a ninth century Scandinavian king, Harald 'Blue tooth' Gormsson, who was known for his blueish-gray dead tooth and also for uniting Denmark and Norway in 958 AD. Early programmers adopted 'Bluetooth' as a code name for their wireless tech that connects local devices, and it eventually stuck."
• Why Campbell Soup hated, then embraced, Andy Warhol's soup can paintings - "Sixty years ago today, the pop artist Andy Warhol unveiled a wall of 32 Campbell Soup can paintings at a Los Angeles gallery, one for each flavor of soup then in production."
• How Better Call Saul bettered Breaking Bad - "The greatest prequel ever made? When Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan signed up to make a spin-off series, he wasn't sure it would work. So how did it actually improve on its predecessor? Stephen Kelly finds out."
• The digital nomad visas luring workers overseas - "More than 25 countries have now launched visa programmes for digital nomads, enabling these travellers to work legally, longer and more freely."
• 52 Places for a Changed World - "The 2022 list highlights places around the globe where travelers can be part of the solution." The New York Times.
• 14 most extravagant celebrity private jets - from Kim K to Elon Musk - "Billionaires are no strangers to the high life - especially in the case of private jets. Although owning at least one is a staple asset for many of the world’s wealthiest, not all jets are created equal, and some are inevitably more impressive than others - and of course come with different price tags. So, which billionaires own the most extravagant rides?"
• 11 Types Of Whiskey Explained - "When deciding if you should drink whiskey or whisky, it comes down to who makes your favorite selection. The location defines how you will spell the liquor. Scotch from Scotland does not use the 'e,' nor does Canada, Japan, or India. Ireland and America both include the 'e' in their whiskey."
• A Flight Attendant's Tips on Surviving Travel Now - "‘A One-Hour Layover Is Not Enough Anymore’. In two decades of flying, things have never been as stressful as they are now, a cabin insider says. Here, her tips from 30,000 feet for avoiding airline chaos this summer."
• The empire the Aztecs couldn't conquer - "The P'urhépechas were the only indigenous group in Mexico the Aztecs failed to conquer - but despite that feat, they were nearly lost to history."
• The Cayman Islands’ Only Five-Star Hotel Is Back After A Massive Renovation - "While the Cayman Islands closed for international tourists during much of the pandemic, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman took the opportunity to spend those two years renovating across its sprawling 144 acres."

July 10, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war live news: Zelenskiy dismisses ambassadors; six killed in strike on Donetsk apartment block - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 137 of the invasion - "Canada grants sanctions exemption to let Russian turbine part for Nord Stream 1 pipeline return to Germany; Zelenskiy sacks host of ambassadors."
• Cask of scotch whisky bought for record £16m in private sale - "Collector in Asia buys 88 bottles of single malt produced at Ardbeg distillery on island of Islay in 1975."
• US dollars will go further on European vacations right now - "The euro is plummeting. For American tourists, that means European vacations are more affordable in dollars than they've been in two decades. So while airfare and other travel costs are rising, the strong dollar might help offset those increases for lucky Europe-bound Americans."
• How Many Children Does Elon Musk Have? - "Name-change documents filed in Texas show that the outspoken entrepreneur recently fathered twins with Shivon Zilis, a director at one of his companies."
• ‘It’s been a hell of a ride’: John McEnroe on learning to lose & being the rock star of tennis - "As a film about his life is released, the former bad boy of tennis reflects on how he went from villain to hero."
• ‘The Golden Age of Thrifting Is Over’ - "A glut of fast fashion has made its way into local thrift stores, making it hard for women who have been purchasing secondhand for decades to find quality garments they can wear."
• When the Czarinas Ruled the Front Row - "A group of Russian women were once the hottest things at couture, embraced not just by fashion, but by the watching world. Where are they now?"
• When the Results of a DNA Test Change the Family Tree - "Tens of millions of Americans have taken DNA tests, and stories of them linking up with unknown family, often separated by closed adoptions, have been a feature of news reports for years. Some, like my friend, learn of 'misattributed parenting,' or what is known as an NPE, for Non-Paternity Event."
• Met Exhibition Brings Back the Color to Ancient Sculptures - "Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color reminds us, once again, that our view of the ancient world is whitewashed."
• How To Park A $50 Million Superyacht Like A Boss - "A video posted to Instagram is giving people a look at what it's like to park a $50 million dollar superyacht in Monaco. Parking a $50 million superyacht should be a doddle. Especially with all that fancy technology. But human skill is still needed, a video out of Monaco recently showed. All your questions about parking a superyacht, answered."
• The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now - "New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don’t have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We’ll do the heavy lifting. You press play."
• Hollywood bids farewell to three greats united by mafia films & friendship - "Tony Sirico, Ray Liotta and James Caan helped to define the modern mob movie."
• The sustainable cities made from mud - "The ancient material that cools homes. Mud buildings are remarkably good at keeping us cool in summer and warm in winter, and withstanding extreme weather. In the search for more sustainable buildings, architects are returning to this overlooked, age-old construction material."
• The Magnificent Ambersons at 80: Orson Welles’ powerful but cursed drama - "The multi-hyphenate’s follow-up to Citizen Kane was a nightmare production and a box office disappointment but remains a fascinating film about America."
• The waterlily that changed architecture - "An amazing true story of elegant structures, aquatic plants and the Crystal Palace."

July 9, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war: Ukrainian soldiers arrive in UK for training; battle to retake Kherson - live News - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 136 of the invasion - "Luhansk governor says Russian forces shelling indiscriminately, Kyiv criticises Moscow at G20 summit, US sends Ukraine more artillery systems."
• What happened in the Russia-Ukraine war this week? Catch up with the must-read news and analysis - "Putin declared victory in Luhansk, Ukrainian troops reclaimed Snake Island, and Zelenskiy lays out a $750bn recovery plan."
• Russia's McDonald's replacement runs low on fries - "A shortage of the correct variety of potatoes means diners will have to find a different side dish to accompany their burgers and nuggets."
• Hummus supplies to dip as weather & Ukraine war cause chickpea shortage - "Drop in chickpea crop could have serious impact on countries such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan."
• Musk tells Twitter he wants out of deal to buy it. Twitter says it will force him to close the sale - "A lawyer representing Musk claimed in a letter to Twitter's top lawyer that he is ending the deal because Twitter (TWTR) is 'in material breach of multiple provisions' of the original agreement, which was signed in April, according to a regulatory filing Friday evening."
• Boris Johnson Delivers His Resignation Speech - "Spitting Image. YouTube, 1:14."
• Dead solar panels are about to become a lot more valuable - "In the coming years, recyclers will hopefully be able to mine billions of dollars worth of materials from discarded solar panels, according to a new analysis published this week. That should ease bottlenecks in the supply chain for solar panels while also making the panels themselves more sustainable."
• Queen's dinner rule: Item she bans grandchildren from having at table - 'she won't allow!' - "One of the things she won’t allow at the table with her grandchildren and indeed her great-grandchildren is mobile phones at mealtimes."
• Louis Vuitton reclaims top spot in Vogue Business Index 2022 - "Louis Vuitton unseats fellow LVMH brand Dior as number one on the Vogue Business Index ranking, as Chanel returns to the top five for the first time since Winter 2020."
• Why You Should Invest in Chanel Bags - "Turns out, they may aid you in navigating the uncertain economic climate. Investments aren't just typically what you think of. There are many alternative investments such as vintage cars, fine art, wine, and luxury goods."
• Hottest moments from the Paris couture shows - "Paris Haute Couture Week: Clothes for the 1%, thrills for everyone else. For the super rich, couture fashion is a chance to indulge, to splurge, to flex. For the rest of the world, it's an opportunity to watch the spectacle, escape into another world and ogle at the excess of it all."
• 17 Times Celebrities Married Normal People - "'I got lucky,' Matt Damon once said of his bride, Luciana Barroso. 'I fell in love with a civilian.'"
• Emily Ratajkowski's Style Evolution - "Click through the gallery to see Emily Ratajkowski’s sleek style evolution."
• What it's like to land on the world's shortest commercial runway - "Flying into Saba isn't for the faint hearted. The vertiginous slopes and sea cliffs of this five-square-mile island in the Caribbean don't leave much space to land a plane. But Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, clinging to Saba's only bit of flat land, is proof that it can be done. With a strip of asphalt just 1,300 feet long (about 400 meters), only 900 feet of which are 'usable,' the runway is not much longer than an aircraft carrier."
• They were on a luxury cruise, then the coughing began - the ship that became a global Covid pariah - "When passengers boarded the MS Zaandam in March 2020, they were preparing for the holiday of a lifetime. Within days they would be confined to their rooms on a liner that no country would let dock. How long would their ordeal last?"
• Upside-down bikinis: the trend made popular by Love Island & the Kardashians - "Searches for the style rose 203% within the last month, says shopping app Lyst."
• Apple's New Lockdown Mode for iPhone Fights Hacking, Spyware - "Apple will be offering a new "Lockdown Mode" for its iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. It's designed to fight advanced hacking and targeted spyware like the NSO Group's Pegasus."
• Apple AirTags: 5 Uncommon Places to Put Them - "Put your AirTags to use and save yourself some hassle by knowing where these things are at all times."
• Max Verstappen: ‘I don’t mind who I beat as long as I come out on top’ - "Relaxed and philosophical Red Bull driver on his competitive spirit, learning to understand losing and the satisfaction of victory."
• George Clooney’s Infamous Nippled Bat Suit Just Went Up for Auction - "The infamous suit actor George Clooney wore in the 1997 film Batman & Robin was just listed through Heritage Auctions with an opening ask of $40,000."
• Scientists reveal the secrets of Ancient Roman wine-making - "Ancient Romans seem to have used local grapes and out-sourced tar pitches while making wine, a new study reveals."

July 8, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war live news: Putin dares west to defeat Russia on battlefield; Ukraine ‘will not be broken’, Zelenskiy says - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 135 of the invasion - "Vladimir Putin warns Russia has barely started its campaign in Ukraine and dares the west to try to defeat it on battlefield."
• Putin says war could continue until "last Ukrainian is left standing" - "'Today we hear that they want to defeat us on the battlefield. Well, what can I say? Let them try,' Putin said during a meeting with the heads of the State Duma party factions that aired on state media television Russia-24."
• UN warns of ‘looming hunger catastrophe’ due to Russian blockade - "The UN World Food Programme director has warned that ‘50 million people in 45 countries are now just one step from famine’."
• Updated Covid Shots Are Coming. Will They Be Too Late? - "The government has greenlit new vaccines to defend against the latest Omicron variants. But the shots won’t arrive until the fall, and cases are rising now."
• Zero Covid holds danger for China's Xi - "After the initial outbreak in Wuhan, the country has been kept inside a giant Covid protection bubble, shielding the population from the high death rates experienced elsewhere, but it has come at a cost - and growing political risk."
• How a dirty flip-flop could cause catastrophe in Australia - "Australian officials are becoming increasingly concerned about what they'll bring home and are considering advising travelers to leave their flip-flops - known as thongs in Australia - in Bali. Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is rapidly spreading through cattle in Indonesia, and on Tuesday the first cases were confirmed in Bali, a popular tourist destination with direct flights to seven Australian cities."
• Microplastics detected in meat, milk & blood of farm animals - "Particles found in supermarket products and on Dutch farms, but human health impacts unknown."
• The secret stretch of coastal France that's nicer than Nice - "Think of the south of France and postcard images of the lavender fields of Provence and tony spots with yachts - Nice, Cannes and St. Tropez - likely spring to mind. But look at a map of France and trace a finger down from Paris to the Mediterranean Sea and you'll land in the region of Occitanie, where the department of Aude and the coastal city of Narbonne and surrounds offer up a very different, more relaxed view of the country's south."
• 14 Must-Have Experiences In France After You’ve Seen Paris - "Can one even come to France without visiting Paris? The ideal trip to France includes spending time in the City of Light and experiencing these unforgettable things to do and then heading out to explore the other marvels that France has to offer. These 14 magnificent must-have experiences in France offer a glimpse into French culture, history, and her natural beauty. Each experience listed below can be done as a stand-alone exploration of France or used as a jumping-off point for further travel in the area."
• Sacha Baron Cohen defeats Roy Moore’s $95m lawsuit over ‘pedophile detector’ - "Republican former Senate candidate had sued British comedian over appearance on TV show judges ruled was ‘clearly comedy’."
• 26 Maximalist Decor Ideas That Just Work - "Don't mistake being a maximalist with having a cluttered space. Maximalist rooms are artfully decorated with a 'more is more' philosophy, whether this involves displaying an expansive collection, mixing and matching a variety of colors and patterns, or filling a wall with artwork. As designer Chad Graci says, 'Maximalism wants bold, bold, BOLD. Pattern, color, scale, and drama are all working together to be noticed and that, in a way, makes this style work.'"
• AirPods Pro recall: How to check if yours are eligible for replacement - "If your AirPods Pro see noise cancellation not working, loss of bass, crackling and static, or an increase in background sounds, they may be covered under the AirPods recall."
• Researchers: Improving Eyesight May Help Prevent Dementia - "New Dementia Prevention Method May Be Behavioral, Not Prescribed. As experimental drugs prove ineffective against increasing dementia cases in the U.S., researchers argue that improving eyesight can have an effect."
• How to Prevent Memory Loss - "A Neurologist’s Tips to Protect Your Memory. A new book by a renowned brain expert says there are a few simple things we can do to prevent memory decline as we age."
• The Complete Guide to Memory: The Science of Strengthening Your Mind - "A comprehensive guide to understanding how memory works, how memory forms, the mind-body connection, and more! In the busy, information-filled world in which we live, it’s often easy to forget things and hard to keep track of how details get stored in our brain. The Complete Guide to Memory serves to provide a one-stop resource that covers the essentials on memory." Amazon.com.
• How bad teeth shape your health - "The far-reaching consequences of bad teeth. The state of your teeth and gums has a wide-ranging impact on your health, from your risk of Alzheimer's, to diabetes and cardiovascular disease."
• 'Leisure, pleasure & good taste': How nautical fashion captivated the world - "Nautical-inspired fashion has a long, varied history which has stood the test of time, and has endured as a trend loved by luxury and high street designers for decades."
• The Godfather star James Caan dies aged 82 - "Actor who played Sonny Corleone in the groundbreaking 1972 epic engineered a comeback after his career went off the rails in the early 1980s."
• James Caan: a life in pictures - "American actor James Caan has died at the age of 82. We look back at a career which included classics such as El Dorado, The Godfather, Misery and Elf."
• Sandra Bullock’s top 20 films - ranked! - "With the imminent release of Bullet Train, we count down the queen of transit movies best white-knuckle rides, along with the romcoms, thrillers and comedies that have made her a star for almost 30 years."
• ‘You can’t be the player’s friend’: inside the secret world of tennis umpires - "New technology was supposed to make umpiring easy. It hasn’t worked out that way."
• Scotland’s Newest Golf Resort Is Your Home For The Golf Trip Of A Lifetime - "There is no shortage of great courses to play across all of Scotland, but relatively few have lodging, and oddly, what is rarer than a new course is a new resort. There are far more choices for exceptional golf than exceptional lodging when visiting the Birthplace of Golf, and that is why Dundonald Links is such a game changer for golf travelers."
• HYDROW WAVE REVIEW: I CAN’T BELIEVE I LOVE ROWING NOW - "The new $1,495 rower is meant to save space and money."
• World's Blackest Paint Meets A Porsche 911 & The Results Are Wild - "A Japan-based company recently decided its black Porsche 911 Turbo was not black enough, and so the company had its Porsche resprayed in the blackest black currently available for purchase."

July 7, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war live news: Lavrov to attend G20 meeting; Snake Island and Odesa hit by rockets - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 134 of the invasion - "Russian attacks intensify in Donetsk; civilians continue to flee from Sloviansk as Moscow’s forces press towards the eastern Ukrainian city."
• Mikhail Khodorkovsky: What comes after Vladimir Putin is one of my biggest concerns - "Once Russia’s richest man, the oligarch-turned-dissident talks to Samuel Lovett about the current state of war in Ukraine, stopping Vladimir Putin’s war machine, and succession in the Kremlin."
• Breaking: Boris Johnson to resign as Conservative leader - "Boris Johnson is to stand down as Conservative Party leader after losing the support of his ministers and MPs, the BBC understands."
• Beijing imposes mainland China's first Covid vaccine mandate in face of Omicron subvariant - "From July 11, people will need to show proof of vaccination to enter a wide range of public places in the Chinese capital, including cinemas, libraries, museums, gyms, stadiums and training centers, a city health official told a news briefing Wednesday."
• Holidaymakers warned of rising coronavirus cases at European destinations - "Increases reported in countries including Greece, Spain, France and Germany as Omicron variant BA.5 spreads."
• Nice makes masks compulsory on public transport again - "It came as no surprise on Wednesday morning when the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, announced that masks will be needed again on public transport from next Monday, July 11."
• Global dismay as supreme court ruling leaves Biden’s climate policy in tatters - "Biden’s election was billed as heralding a ‘climate presidency’ but congressional and judicial roadblocks mean he has little to show."
• Europe wants a high-speed rail network to replace airplanes - "Breakfast in Paris, lunch in Frankfurt and dinner in Vienna - all without the hassle and frustration of flying."
• Europe's island that swaps nationalities - "Pheasant Island, located between France and Spain, bizarrely changes countries twice a year. But why?"
• This Rare Scotch Whisky Was Just Named Best in the World - "Founded in 2000, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition bills itself as the "the oldest and largest competition of its kind," and over the weekend, the annual event revealed the winner its 2022 'Best in Show:' a limited-run bottle from a small Scotch distillery, Benromach 40 Year Old Single Malt."
• The Foods That Keep You Hydrated - "Water doesn’t have to come in eight 8-ounce glasses daily. Fresh fruits and vegetables, and various beverages, are viable sources of hydration."
• The Sleep Debt Collector Is Here - "Recent studies in humans and mice have shown that late nights and early mornings may cause long lasting damage to your brain."
• Find out EXACTLY What Diet & Training is Best For You! - V Shred.
• How much does a Tour de France bike cost? - "It's no secret that pro riders get the very best available, but exactly what would that cost to replicate?"
• Crocs, but make it (high) fashion: Would you buy these designer clogs from MCM? - "The German luxury fashion house announced a collaboration with the brand behind the well-known foam clogs, which will see them redesigned with a 'maximalist' twist."
• The art of choosing sunglasses - The Spectator.
• A Guide to James Bond’s Sunglasses & Eyeglasses - "Sunglasses have forever had the power to make almost any man look cool. While sunglasses had not become a staple of James Bond style until the second half of the Pierce Brosnan era, they are now an indispensable part of the character’s look as well as an easy opportunity for product placement. Bond has worn many different styles of sunglasses over the years, both following trends and returning to the classics."
• Throwback: Kate Upton's 'Body Paint' Swimsuit Photos - "Here are some of Kate Upton's top 'Body Paint' photos with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue."
• Apple is building a Lockdown Mode to fend off cyberattacks on high-profile users - "The feature is designed for a 'very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security.'"
• The inside story at Meta as it moves beyond Facebook - "Land of the Giants explores the social media juggernaut in a moment of transformation."
• Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman & Dua Lipa Walk the Runway at Balenciaga Couture 2022 - VOGUE.
• Kim Kardashian walks Balenciaga show at Paris Couture Fashion Week 2022 - "Held at the original Balenciaga couture salon on Wednesday, Kardashian walked the show in a full-length black gown with sweetheart neckline, built-in gloves and boots - a signature silhouette of the label. It was a family affair on the front-row, too, with her daughter North West and mother Kris Jenner also present."
• ‘A truce with the trees’: what the centuries-old instruments of the Kronos Quartet can tell us - "The all-renewable materials used in these pieces reflect a time of magnificent culture - a global gathering from before the climate crisis."
• The octopus’ brain & the human brain share the same “jumping genes” - "A new study has identified an important molecular analogy that could explain the remarkable intelligence of these invertebrates"
• bespoke rolls-royce phantom series II revives the opulence of the belle epoque - "First launched in 2017, the eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom is a testament to timeless design. Series II introduces a new expression of the car but only with the lightest of design touches, embellishments and adaptions led by Felix Kilbertus, Rolls-Royce Head of Exterior Design."
• Driving The Original Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost - "'Seasoned citizen that I am, I understand a half-century can disappear in the blink of an eye. The two Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts I experienced this past week had survived remarkably intact to the century mark, yet both are driven thousands, even tens of thousands of miles each year, crossing continents as readily as running down to the Busy Bee diner for eggs and bacon. These two Henry Royce masterpieces, which I experienced at the Rolls-Royce Owners Club national meet, helped establish the high standard that contemporary Goodwood Rolls-Royces must match.'"
• Breitling, Westime Create Exclusive Navitimer Beverly Hills Limited Edition Watch - "Swiss watch brand, Breitling, and luxury watch retailer, Westime, have partnered to create a boutique exclusive timepiece: the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 Beverly Hills Limited Edition, available at three Breitling boutiques in Southern California, operated by Westime."

July 6, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war live news: Donetsk governor urges evacuations amid Russian offensive - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 133 of the invasion - "Russian forces hit targets across Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk province; governor of urges 350,000 civilians to evacuate."
• Swiss give cool reply to Ukraine’s call to seize Russian assets - "Switzerland has given a cool response to calls from Ukraine’s prime minister to use frozen assets of ultra-wealthy Russians to help fund his country’s $750 billion reconstruction project."
• CDC puts Nordic favorite & 2 other places on 'high' risk list for Covid-19 - "Representing three continents, the three destinations added to the list on Tuesday are: Guatemala, Morocco and Sweden."
• Canada to throw out 13.6m AstraZeneca Covid vaccine doses amid lack of demand - "Government pledged to donate millions of doses to other countries but they were ‘not accepted’ despite fresh rise in coronavirus cases around the world. Following concerns in the first half of 2021 about rare but potentially fatal blood clots caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine, Canada focused on using its ample supplies of the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna."
• Snow at one of world’s highest observatories melting earlier than ever before - "Peak at Sonnblick in Austrian Alps has melted more than a month before previous record time."
• Arabs believe economy is weak under democracy - "Arabs are losing faith in democracy to deliver economic stability across the Middle East and North Africa, according to a major new survey."
• Uncovering the giant waterlily: A botanical wonder of the world - "A plant giant has been named new to science at Kew after spending 177 years hidden under the surface of our collections."
• David Hockney: ‘My era was the freest time. I now realise it’s over’ - "The artist pops in from Normandy to talk us through a show of his great paintings, discuss his old hometown Bradford becoming City of Culture - and reveal why Harry Styles was tricky to paint."
• How Being on the Water Affects Your Eye Health, According to Experts & the Best Polarized Sunglasses for Protection - "Not all sunglasses are created equally, nor can all sunglasses handle the bright, glare-y conditions that come with bodies of water. The sun's rays are one thing, but whether you're an avid angler, paddler, or just heading out for a casual beach day, you're gonna want to make sure you have a pair of polarized sunglasses handy."
• Is Makeup Messing Up My Sunscreen? - "There’s good news and bad news when it comes to sun protection and cosmetics."
• The “Best Ferrari Ever Built” Is Heading to Auction - "1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider at RM Sotheby's Auction. The Ferrari 410 Sport Spider was driven by Formula 1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio. The 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider will go for auction in Monterey, California this August."
• Is Drinky Bird The Ultimate Perpetual Clock? - "'Lisa, in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!' - Homer Simpson."
• Richard Mille Sets A New Record For The World's Thinnest Watch With The RM UP-01 Ferrari - "Mere months after Bulgari claimed the title, there's a new record-holder in town."
• Britain's vanishing rare fruit - "The UK's heritage apple renaissance. An alarming 81% of traditional apple orchards have vanished from Britain, but activists are planting British heritage varieties in community plots in all shapes and sizes."
• Travelers drink tea out of antique bowls worth $25,000 - "Japanese tea house lets visitors drink from $25,000 antique bowls."
• The best streaming boxes & sticks you can buy - "From dongles to set top boxes, there’s an option for every budget."
• 2022 Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae: An Exclamation Mark To Close An Era - "The all-new 2022 Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae is the end - the last of the naturally aspirated V12 supercars. After the production run of 350 coupes and 250 roadsters (likely all spoken for at far above the asking price), the Italian factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese will stop production. Forever. While there have been more than a dozen unique variants of the Aventador since its introduction in 2011, the Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae is best described as having all the standard features of the Aventad."

July 5, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war live news: Russian forces targeting Donetsk cities next, Luhansk governor warns - live news - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 132 of the invasion - "Vladimir Putin hails Russian victory in the battle for Luhansk; Ukraine lays out a $750bn ‘recovery plan’ for its postwar future."
• Russia releases photo of cosmonauts holding Luhansk flag on ISS - "Trio were praised in February for wearing yellow uniforms in apparent show of support for Ukraine."
• Spain & Portugal suffering driest climate for 1,200 years, research shows - "Effects of human-caused global heating are blocking vital winter rains, with severe implications for farming and tourism."
• New Zealand faces new Covid wave as experts say moving on from pandemic is ‘wishful thinking’ - "Signs that Omicron surge is becoming ‘more intense’, with cases rising steadily and more people in hospital than at any time since April."
• Paris' Eiffel Tower is reportedly badly in need of repairs - "The Eiffel Tower is riddled with rust and in need of full repairs, but instead it is being given a cosmetic 60 million euro paint job ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, according to confidential reports cited by French magazine Marianne. The wrought-iron 324-meter (1,063 ft) high tower, built by Gustave Eiffel in the late 19th century, is among the most visited tourist sites in the world, welcoming about six million visitors each year."
• A Refreshing Look at Egypt's Ancient Pyramids - "A downpour, a dust storm and an encounter with a lively dig team offered a photographer a new perspective on the country's celebrated tombs."
• What Becomes a Star Most? For Tom Cruise, It's Control - "Cruise has all of the qualities you want in a movie star and none of the qualities you expect of a human being. As a screen presence, he is singular; as a person, he is inscrutable."
• Chinese F1 star says safety device saved his life during horrific crash - "Formula One driver Zhou Guanyu has credited his car's halo protection device for saving his life after he was involved in a horrific high-speed crash during the first lap of Sunday's British Grand Prix."
• Could you land a plane in an emergency? - "It's a nightmare scenario: the pilot of your flight is incapacitated and someone has to get in their seat and land the plane. Could you do it?"
• Why container ships probably won't get bigger - "The biggest container ships ever built ply the world's oceans. Can they get any bigger?"
• Frenzy at 50: The most violent film Hitchcock ever made - "1972's Frenzy was a serial-killer thriller more graphic and shocking than anything Hitchcock had directed before. Was it the movie he had always wanted to make, asks Mark Allison."
• The crab dish with a shameful history - "The taste of Tobago in just one dish. While most of Tobago's food specialties – such as shark and bake, doubles and callaloo - originated in Trinidad, crab and dumpling is quintessential Tobago."
• The Mai Tai is one of the most famous tiki drinks in the world. But what's in it? - "One of the world's most popular cocktails also happens to be one of the most misunderstood. With a spirited history that dates back to the early 20th century, the Mai Tai is not the sugary, overly-sweet cocktail it so often is interpreted as. Instead, it's a well-balanced boozy sip straight from the tiki era."
• 11 Stunning Homes Built Into Nature - "From Albert Frey's house built into a mountain to John Lautner’s iconic Sheats-Goldstein residence in L.A., these structures take the term ‘back to nature’ to another level. If there is one architect who arguably pioneered the concept of building cool houses into natural landscapes, it’s Frank Lloyd Wright. The serene Fallingwater home in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, made a serious case for living in nature, and since the house was erected in 1935, plenty of architects have taken a page from Wright’s book."
• Sustainable Scotch Whisky is the Future - "Bruichladdich is creating a new kind of whisky production; one that's sustainable and embodies a devotion to the planet and its people. Just a glance at the bottle housing Bruichladdich’s The Classic Laddie should clue you in to the fact that this is a brand completely disinterested in holding on to tradition for tradition’s sake. Without ever compromising on the quality of their whiskies, the team at Bruichladdich are wholeheartedly devoted to sustainability, terroir (meaning authenticity, place and provenance), transparency, and the barley and people of Islay, the island their distillery calls home. They’re determined to pave the path to a new kind of whisky production; one that’s progressive, sustainable and embodies a devotion to the planet and its people."
• London Gets a Glimpse Inside the Tiffany Archive - "More than 400 pieces from the jeweler, including the treasured Tiffany Diamond, are on view in a free exhibition."
• Dust off your vinyls with a classic turntable that features Bluetooth - New York Post.
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra has a Leica camera with a massive 1-inch sensor - "With this new Leica partnership, Xiaomi has picked up where Huawei left off."
• Widow of James Bond's body double wins £800,000 High Court inheritance battle with her stepson - "Mr Paul, who died aged 64 in 2019 following a fall while on holiday in Spain, had only left his wife of 23 years around £1,000 worth of household items."

July 4, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war latest: leaders gather to work out ‘Marshall plan’ to rebuild Ukraine; Zelenskiy vows to retake Lysychansk - live news - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 131 of the invasion - "Ukrainian forces retreat from Lysychansk as Zelenskiy vows to regain the key eastern city with the help of long-range western weapons."
• Turkey detains Russian-flagged grain ship from Ukraine - "A cargo ship carrying grain from a Russian-occupied region of Ukraine has been detained by Turkish customs authorities, according to Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey."
• France’s new wave of coronavirus infections expected to peak end-July - "A new wave in France of COVID-19 infections fuelled by emerging variants of the disease should peak towards end-July, the French government’s top scientific adviser Jean-François Delfraissy said."
• Why more air travel chaos is on its way - "Now is the summer of our discontent, Shakespeare didn't exactly write in 'Richard III,' but for airline travelers in the US and Europe that's exactly what this summer is shaping up to be."
• 647 people drown each day. Here's how to avoid being one of them - "There are an estimated 236,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide, according to the UN's World Health Organization. That comes out to an average of 647 people per day."
• These 7 Movies Always Make Me Feel (Sort Of) Patriotic - "'The Fourth of July is upon us once again, and while this holiday is traditionally reserved for BBQs and beach days, I'm frankly still wiped from Pride. (As it turns out, going out every night for two weeks straight will take a toll once you pass the age of 19.) With that in mind, I'm planning a massive movie marathon for this weekend, and I know I'm not the only one; below, find a list of seven patriotism-adjacent movies that mostly refrain from veering into gross, jingoistic territory.'"
• 8 of the best TV shows to watch this July - "From a Resident Evil series to new sitcom Uncoupled, with Neil Patrick Harris as a suddenly-single gay man in his 40s, Amy Charles lists this month's best shows to watch and stream."
• 10 Unforgettable Moments From Bob Dylan’s Career - "Bob Dylan is undeniably one of the most influential musicians to ever live. From Robert Zimmerman, a teenage rebel, to the winner of the Nobel Prize, Dylan can be whatever he chooses to be—and come out the other end as an icon. With his enduring legacy continuing to inspire countless generations, his life is chock full of memorable moments. We’re here to walk you through some of the freewheelin’ troubadour’s most iconic songs and performances across his decades-long career."
• Official Guide to the Hamptons - "It’s officially peak season in the Hamptons, the East-end enclave where fashionable New Yorkers flock to escape the sizzling city and have some fun in the sun. And there’s certainly a lot to be had: the Hamptons is known for everything from beaches to art museums to hedges that grow higher than summertime temperatures. Geographically speaking, it spans from Southampton to Long Island's tip, Montauk—aka the end of the world, per Instagram." VOGUE.
• Stuffed into a shoebox, seized by the FBI: the amazing fates of Hollywood’s greatest dresses - "Kim Kardashian caused outrage recently by wearing a gorgeous souffle silk that once adorned Marilyn Monroe. But what happened to other magnificent outfits - and why did no one realise their eye-popping value?"
• Behind the Scenes of Pitti Uomo 102 - "We've been attending the semi-annual menswear gathering for a decade. Here we follow Jim and Max through Florence."
• The History Behind the Louis Vuitton Nike Air Force 1 by Virgil Abloh - "The Louis Vuitton Nike Air Force 1 first previewed in Summer of 2021 on the Maison’s Spring/Summer 2022 runway. In total, Abloh designed 47 bespoke pairs of LV sneakers for the collection. Fusing the trainer’s classic codes with the insignia and materials of Louis Vuitton, Abloh’s Nike Louis Vuitton sneakers seamlessly connect the rich histories of both iconic brands. Every pair of LV sneakers was made by Louis Vuitton in Fiesso d’Artico, marking the first time in the AF1’s 40-year history that the model was crafted outside of a Nike factory."
• Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim Museum & this 12-year-old boy's dog house - "Famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed iconic buildings like the Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania and the Guggenheim Museum in New York - and he also designed a dog house for a 12-year-old boy who sent him a letter."
• Daphne du Maurier: Novelist who traced past to a French debtors' jail - "Dame Daphne du Maurier, the English novelist who died in 1989, was fascinated by her French heritage."
• My Jet Broker Blows Whistle On Scandalous Brokerage Practices Within Private Jet Market - "My Jet Broker is blowing the whistle on the many tricks and tactics that brokers and private brokerage companies use to increase the added-on broker fee without clients being aware."
• Best Mini Projectors for iPhones - "Remember when 'home projector' meant a gigantic reel-to-reel machine that made loud flickering sounds, smelled funny, and cost a small fortune? No, probably not, but trust us on that one. We’ve come a long way. A good projector today can fit into your pocket, and can also easily connect to that supercomputer called an iPhone, which also fits in your pocket. Two pockets, two great devices, total entertainment."
• MAGSAFE CAMERA LENS CONCEPT TURNS YOUR IPHONE 13 INTO A PROFESSIONAL MIRRORLESS CAMERA - "Probably the most incredible interpretation of the iPhone’s MagSafe feature."

July 3, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war: Lysychansk could fall, Zelenskiy adviser admits; three killed in blasts in Russian city near Ukraine - live news - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 130 of the invasion - "Blasts in Russian city near Ukrainian border; Ukraine rejects Russian claim Lysychansk surrounded; UK condemns exploitation of war prisoners."
• Australia surpasses 10,000 Covid deaths as authorities warn of another wave of infections - "Federal health minister Mark Butler says new BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants increase the risk of reinfection."
• Saunas, sleeping pods, gyms: Amazing airplane cabin innovations - "Airplane cabin innovations from saunas to sleeping pods."
• Elvis Presley’s Childhood Home Is Up for Auction - "Presley lived in the blue-planked home from 1943 to 1944. It was originally located at 1241 Kelly Street in East Tupelo, Mississippi, up until five years ago. In 2017, the house was carefully taken apart and preserved for later reassembly. Presley’s former home is being auctioned by a Chicago-based high-end memorabilia firm called Rockhurst Auctions. The minimum bid for the Presley home is set at $25,000. The estimated value of the house is between $50,000 to $75,000."
• 40 Ultra-Rare Supercars Are Heading to Auction This Weekend, From Ferrari to Porsche & More - "Collecting Cars will hold the aptly named Supercar Sunday sale on July 3."
• The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now - The New York Times.
• Is your smartphone ruining your memory? A special report on the rise of ‘digital amnesia’ - "‘I can’t remember anything’ is a common complaint these days. But is it because we rely so heavily on our smartphones? And do the endless alerts and distractions stop us forming new memories?"
• Memory games: how to boost your brain power - "When it comes to recall, it’s very much a case of ‘use it, don’t lose it’. Here’s how you can improve yours, at any age ..."
• 20 Summer Bedding Ideas to Help You Sleep Soundly on the Hottest Nights - VOGUE.
• The 13 Best Sneakers For Standing All Day, According To Podiatrist Guidelines - "You may not think twice about your shoe selection each morning outside of how well they match your outfit. Yet, if you're spending an extended amount of time on your feet each day, you'll likely wish you gave it a little more thought. Selecting a supportive, high-quality sneaker for a long day can make or break your comfort levels and preserve your back, knees, and hips, which are subject to suffer from inadequate shoe cushioning."
• Why Zhang Daqian is outselling Van Gogh - "Zhang Daqian may not be a household name in the West, but in China - and the global art market at large - he is on par with the likes of Warhol and Monet."
• The Oldest Photograph of the Acropolis - "French photographer and draughtsman Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey took the first picture of the Acropolis in 1842."
• Early human ancestors one million years older than earlier thought - "Fossils from South African cave are 3.4 to 3.6m years old and walked the Earth at same time as east African relatives."
• At a Luxury Shirtmaker in India, Obsessing Over the Tiniest of Details - "Master tailors at 100Hands spend up to 35 hours on each shirt, joining a tradition long dominated by European centers like Savile Row."
• Copenhagen’s Noma, the World’s Most Critically Acclaimed Restaurant, Lost Money Last Year - "René Redzepi’s game-changing restaurant didn't turn a profit for the first time since it closed its old location."
• Adele stands by decision to cancel Las Vegas residency: It wasn’t ‘good enough’ - "Adele has no regrets when it comes to canceling her Las Vegas residency in January, saying the show simply was not up to her standards."

July 2, 2022

• Russia-Ukraine war: explosions rock city of Mykolaiv - latest updates - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 129 of the invasion - "Ukraine nuclear plant surveillance systems restored; at least 14 Russian arms companies ‘have not been sanctioned’; warning on war’s environmental cost."
• What happened in the Russia-Ukraine war this week? Catch up with the must-read news & analysis - "The grim search for survivors of the Kremenchuk shopping centre airstrike; Ukraine repels Russian forces from Snake Island; war returns to Kyiv."
• Inside Trump's rage on January 6 - "Accounts of Trump angrily demanding to go to Capitol on January 6 circulated in Secret Service over past year."
• ‘Condemning everyone alive’: outrage at US supreme court climate ruling - "Limiting the Environmental Protection Agency at a time when fossil fuel emissions need to be curbed is ‘devastating’."
• India bans single-use plastic to combat pollution - "India on Friday imposed a ban on single-use plastics on items ranging from straws to cigarette packets to combat worsening pollution in a country whose streets are strewn with waste."
• Pearl Harbor water poisoning: US military families say they continue to fall ill - "When second world war-era storage tanks leaked into Hawaiians’ water supply in December thousands got sick."
• Coronavirus & summer travel: how to stay safe on holiday - "With infection rates rising again in the UK, should you test before you fly - and do you need a mask?"
• This was the worst first half for the market in 50 years & it’s all because of one thing - inflation - "A multitude of factors conspired to generate the stock market’s worst first-half since 1970, all centering on inflation. Besides the damage to the big stock market averages, there has been carnage everywhere. Some hope lies ahead: When the S&P 500 plunged 21% in the first half of 1970, it promptly reversed those losses to gain 26.5% in the second half."
• Crypto Meltdown Claims Rolex & Patek Philippe as Victims - "Prices for the most popular secondhand luxury watches have peaked. It’s the latest sign that the bling boom might not last."
• Missing Cryptoqueen: Is Dr Ruja Ignatova the biggest Bitcoin holder? - "The scammer disappeared in 2017 as her cryptocurrency OneCoin was at its height - attracting billions from investors. Fraud and money-laundering charges in the US have led to her becoming one of the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives."
• Are Some Processed Meats Worse for You Than Others? - "Most health experts agree that 'processed meats are more harmful than nonprocessed meats.'"
• Borsch soup in Ukraine added to Unesco endangered heritage list - "The UN's cultural agency has added the cooking of borsch - a soup usually made with beetroot and potatoes - in Ukraine to its list of endangered intangible cultural heritage."
• ‘We want it to come alive’: architect’s plan to transform Notre Dame area - "Bas Smets’ project, featuring trees and a cooling system, aims to create a more pedestrian-friendly space around Paris landmark."
• ‘Better than we dared imagine’: Sydney Opera House unveils its ‘miracle’ new concert hall - "After two years of renovations, a room once blighted by poor acoustics and outdated machinery can now accommodate musicians previously turned away, with a push of a button."
• Victoria Beckham Recalls Being Forced to Weigh Herself on TV - "Victoria Beckham opened up about being forced to weigh herself in front of a live TV studio audience in the 1990s. 'Can you imagine doing that nowadays?'"
• Jerry Hall reportedly ‘heartbroken’ after end of marriage to Rupert Murdoch - "Hall was waiting in UK for Murdoch to join her when he sent email saying marriage was over, say reports."
• This man & his dog spent seven years walking around the world - "Very few people attempt to walk around the entire world, and even fewer actually manage to complete the journey. On May 21, 2022 Tom Turcich, from New Jersey, became the 10th person on record to achieve this remarkable feat, while his four-legged companion Savannah was the first dog to do so."
• $450 million Hong Kong Palace Museum opens with trove of Forbidden City treasures - "Beijing's Palace Museum, located in the heart of the Forbidden City, contains the world's largest collection of Chinese art, spanning nearly 5,000 years of history. Now, more than 900 of those treasures are on display at the new Hong Kong Palace Museum - a 'gift' from the central government to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the city's handover from British to Chinese rule."
• Venice reveals details of its €10 tourist entry fee - "The countdown has begun. From January 16, 2023, visitors to Venice - that jewel in Italy's tourism crown - will have to pay for the privilege."
• Ducati's first electric motorcycle is designed for MotoE racing - "The V21L has 150 horsepower and a top speed of 171 MPH."
• How to survive the inevitable CD revival - "For better or worse, the compact disc could be making a comeback."

July 1, 2022

• Tour de France 2022: stage-by-stage guide to this year’s race - "This year’s Grand Départ is in Copenhagen, with two further stages in Denmark before the race works its way through eastern and southern France."
• The first time I’ve enjoyed cycling in a city: my Tour de Copenhagen - "With the Tour de France heading to Denmark for the first time, I tasted the cycling and culinary pleasures of the capital - and tried out Stage 1 of the route."
• Russia-Ukraine war: missile strikes kill 17 in Odesa; Zelenskiy hails ‘significant’ Snake Island victory - live news - The Guardian.
• Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 128 of the invasion - "Russian forces withdraw from Snake Island in Black Sea; ten dead after Russian missile strikes multi-story apartment building in Odesa."
• Snake Island: Why Russia couldn't hold on to strategic Black Sea outcrop - "This tiny, rocky outcrop in the north-west of the Black Sea was seized by Russia on the first day of its invasion of Ukraine, and it has played an outsized role in the war ever since."
• North Korea blames Covid-19 outbreak on 'unusual items' near South Korea border - "North Korea on Friday claimed its Covid-19 outbreak began when two residents touched 'unusual things' near the South Korean border, according to state media."
• What five more years of zero-Covid China could look like - "Those dismayed by China's zero-Covid policy were likely also shocked that Beijing's Communist Party chief Cai Qi reportedly said this week the city might keep the policy in place 'for the next five years.'"
• This country is charging $200 a day just to visit - "Bhutan sets reopening date - and increases daily tourist tax."
• The Smart Traveler’s Survival Playbook For Summer Flight Cancellations - "Flying Fourth of July weekend or later this summer? Pack your patience and this game plan."
• Steve Jobs Knew iPhone Would Be Iconic. More Than 2 Billion Phones Later, He Was Right - "We all knew it was coming. Reporters, analysts, industry insiders and fans had been speculating about Apple making a phone for nearly a year by the time Steve Jobs walked onto the Macworld Expo stage on a cold January morning in San Francisco in 2007. What we didn't know was how much the iPhone would revolutionize the very way people live and work."
• Casting of Rodin's 'Thinker' fetches $11.1 million at Paris auction - "A casting of Auguste Rodin's 'The Thinker' sculpture, one of the most iconic works of art in the world, sold for 10.7 million euros ($11.14 million) at a Paris auction on Thursday. The auction house, Christie's, had estimated the casting, one of roughly 40 authentic outstanding ones, would fetch between 9 and 14 million euros. The record for a Rodin 'Thinker' was set at a Sotheby's auction in New York in 2013, when one sold for $15.3 million."
• 11 of the best films to watch this July - "Taika Waititi's Thor is back, Jordan Peele is directing a new film with Daniel Kaluuya and Where the Crawdads Sing is adapted for the big screen - here are this July's unmissable releases."
• AI made these stunning images. Here's why experts are worried - "A million bears walking on the streets of Hong Kong. A strawberry frog. A cat made out of spaghetti and meatballs. These are just a few of the text descriptions that people have fed to cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems in recent weeks, which these systems - notably OpenAI's DALL-E 2 and Google Research's Imagen - can use to produce incredibly detailed, realistic-looking images."
• The workout that beats HIIT for better heart health, according to a new study - If you're looking for a cardiovascular activity that will get your heart pumping and improve daily life, running or interval training may immediately come to mind. To maximize your workout, however, you may want to give Nordic walking a try, new research suggests. Patients with coronary heart disease who did Nordic walking for 12 weeks had a greater increase in the ability to perform everyday activities than those who did interval training, a study said.
• Is this the end of shampoo? New ways to clean your hair - "Oily roots? Dry ends? A new breed of ‘no shampoo shampoos’ purport to clean your hair without the chemicals. But do any of them actually work?"
• Pandas evolved their most perplexing feature at least 6 million years ago - "Giant pandas are notoriously fussy eaters. They only munch on bamboo and each day spend 15 hours eating up to 99 pounds (45 kilograms) of the stuff. But their ancestors, like most bears, ate a much wider diet that included meat, and it was thought that modern pandas' exclusive diet evolved relatively recently. However, a new study finds that pandas' particular passion for bamboo may have originated at least 6 million years ago - possibly due to the plant's wide, year-round availability."
• Bison attacks woman at Yellowstone National Park - "A visitor to Yellowstone National Park in the US state of Wyoming has become the second person in just three days to be attacked by a wild bison."
• The Norwegian library with unreadable books - "Some of the world's most celebrated authors have written manuscripts that won't be published for a century - why? Richard Fisher visits the Future Library in Oslo to find out."
• Machu Picchu: Inca site ‘has gone by wrong name for over 100 years’ - "Peruvian historian and US archaeologist say the pre-Columbian town was called Huayna Picchu by the Inca people."
• Salmonella halts production at world’s biggest chocolate factory - "Contamination found at plant in Belgium run by Swiss group Barry Callebaut."
• Sneaker News - since 2006. "Sneaker News is a sneaker media outlet that provides daily coverage of the most coveted sneaker releases and the newest sneakers on the market. In addition to providing regular updates on the very latest, Sneaker News provides useful resources to assist consumers worldwide in making purchases. Sneaker News is considered to be the most trusted and authoritative voice in the world of sneakers. In addition to attracting over 20 million monthly readers, Sneaker News boasts the largest sneaker community on social media, with over 12 million members across Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and email."