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Professional classes stand in way of tax on the super-rich | Phillip Inman
The article argues that affluent Generation X and baby-boomer professionals are a powerful obstacle to tax reform aimed at the very wealthy. Its author says their defence of property, pension and inheritance advantages helps preserve a complex tax system that discourages work and investment while allowing the super-rich to avoid a larger contribution. It suggests…
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Paramount Skydance just paused its Warner Bros. Discovery merger, possibly until June 2027
Paramount Skydance has agreed to delay its proposed $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery while a lawsuit brought by 12 US state attorneys general is heard. The pause follows a judge’s order on 20 July and is significant because opponents argue the deal would further concentrate ownership in the American media industry. The merger…
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The downsides of switching from Android to iPhone
The article outlines potential drawbacks for Android users moving to an iPhone, arguing that familiar habits and workflows may not transfer smoothly despite iPhones’ performance, build quality and hardware-software integration. It highlights reduced flexibility in notifications, less consistent back navigation, a different typing experience, fewer customisation options and comparatively slower charging as the main adjustments.…
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10 Classic Movies That Are Good, Not Great
Collider presents a subjective list of classic films it considers good rather than great, arguing that widespread acclaim does not guarantee every viewer will find a film fully engaging. – ‘Opening Night’ (1977): praised for Gena Rowlands’s performance, but criticised as overlong and insufficiently compelling. – ‘Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles’ (1975):…
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DAVID MARCUS: Brave new world of prediction markets can make us all inside traders
The article argues that the rapid growth of prediction markets could expose ordinary participants to insider-trading risks, as people can wager on an expanding range of real-world events. It contends that markets run by companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket may make privileged information more valuable and harder to regulate. The author contrasts today’s broad…
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Hour by hour, how a genetically modified version of the Black Death would wipe out life across the world
The article presents a hypothetical, hour-by-hour scenario in which a genetically modified form of the bacterium associated with the Black Death is deliberately introduced into Los Angeles. It depicts the infection spreading unnoticed at first before causing a rapidly escalating public-health emergency, using the scenario to illustrate the potential consequences of a highly transmissible engineered…
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Moment Ukraine backseat gunner shoots down Russian drone from open cockpit – as Putin’s Russia is hit by new wave of long-range strikes
Footage has emerged showing a Ukrainian serviceman shooting down a Russian drone with a firearm while positioned in the open backseat of a vehicle, highlighting the improvised air-defence tactics being used against Russia’s ongoing drone campaign. The video comes as Russia faces a fresh wave of long-range strikes, part of the continuing exchange of attacks…
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National Guard unveils $292M plan to house service members for DC deployment
The US National Guard has awarded a $292 million contract to provide apartment-style accommodation for troops deployed in Washington, DC. The move is intended to create a longer-term housing arrangement for the continuing mission, replacing reliance on hotels as thousands of personnel support local public-safety operations. The General Services Administration awarded the task order to…
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As ‘The Odyssey’ thrives at the box office, franchise fatigue hits summer with bombs like ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Moana’
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ is reported to be performing strongly at the global box office, contrasting with a difficult summer for several franchise-led films including ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Moana’. The article frames this divide as evidence of growing audience fatigue with familiar intellectual property, while suggesting that event films with a distinctive creative identity can still…
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King of the Hill’s showrunner breaks down the biggest changes in season 15, and season 16 plans
King of the Hill’s 15th season is presented as more emotionally layered than the original series while retaining its quiet, grounded humour. Showrunner Saladin Patterson says the revival has moved beyond season 14’s focus on Hank and Peggy readjusting after years in Saudi Arabia, instead exploring challenges associated with later life. The new season includes…