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Revealed: The top baby names in England and Wales as Muhammad takes top spot for boys for third year running and Olivia is most popular girls name
The Office for National Statistics has released its annual list of the most popular baby names in England and Wales, with Muhammad topping the boys’ rankings for the third consecutive year and Olivia leading the girls’ list for a fourth year. The figures reflect wider demographic and cultural shifts, and the persistence of Muhammad at…
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Business strategist reveals why iconic Aussie retailer General Pants is teetering on the edge of collapse and how it could win back shoppers
Australian youth fashion chain General Pants has closed almost 20 stores as it grapples with serious financial difficulties, prompting a business expert to warn that the retailer must overhaul its strategy if it is to survive. Founded in 1972 and now the last brand run by parent company Alquemie Group, the chain has been kept…
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Hollywood stuntmen sue film company for £200,000 after ‘unauthorised’ 18-second clip featuring them was used in Sir Elton John’s farewell tour
Two British stunt performers, Theo Morton and Douglas Robson, have launched a High Court claim seeking £200,000 from MARV Bespoke Productions Limited, the film company behind the 2017 movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle. The pair say an 18-second clip featuring them — showing Sir Elton John beating up villains in a feathered 1970s suit and…
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VW faces protests in Germany over proposed job cuts and factory closures
Volkswagen’s proposal to cut up to 100,000 jobs and close factories was formally put to its supervisory board on Thursday, prompting protests at 18 of the carmaker’s German sites, including its Wolfsburg headquarters. Organised by the IG Metall union, the demonstrations targeted plants across the group’s brands and marked a major test not only for…
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Bendita Film Sales Boards Locarno-Bound ‘Donkey Princess,’ From ‘The Wolf House’ Directors León & Cociña (EXCLUSIVE)
Bendita Film Sales has acquired the international sales rights to “Donkey Princess,” the third feature from Chilean directing duo Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña, which is set to have its world premiere in the main International Competition at the Locarno Film Festival, placing it in contention for the Golden Leopard. The deal renews the Tenerife-based…
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“Yes were supposed to tour but I had to say, ‘Sorry, I’m not finished.’ They wanted to make money, so it did not go down well. But I was mentally wrecked”: Why Jon Anderson drove himself mad making Olias Of Sunhillow
In a 2016 interview with Prog magazine marking the album’s 40th anniversary, former Yes singer Jon Anderson reflected on the intense self-imposed pressure he faced while making his 1976 debut solo album, Olias Of Sunhillow. Anderson recorded the entire album largely alone in his garage/home studio in Buckinghamshire, playing every instrument himself and painstakingly synchronising…
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Beat legend, ‘boy lover’: how should we reckon with Allen Ginsberg’s complex legacy?
As institutions mark the centenary of the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg’s birth, this Guardian feature examines how his celebrated literary reputation sits alongside the most troubling part of his record: his association with the North American Man/Boy Love Association (Nambla). The piece matters because it asks how admirers and cultural bodies should reckon honestly with…
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Bob McCourt Exiting ‘Got Talent’ Maker Fremantle After 28 Years
Bob McCourt, chief operating officer of commercial and international at Fremantle, the production company behind Got Talent, is leaving the business at the end of July after 28 years. His departure, reported exclusively by Deadline, comes amid a restructure at the London-based company, and it is not yet known whether he will be replaced. His…
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Neo-Nazi protesters gather outside Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium for Indian Prime Minister’s ‘rockstar’ speaking event – as 30,000 buy tickets
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia was met with far-right protests in Melbourne, as demonstrators gathered outside Marvel Stadium ahead of a large “Melbourne Meet Modi” speaking event. The visit is significant both for the strong diaspora turnout — around 30,000 people bought tickets to the sold-out function — and for the hostility…
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PlayStation says it will stop making physical games – and that should worry us all
Sony has quietly announced that it will end production of physical PlayStation games in 2028, a move the article argues signals a troubling shift in the games industry towards a download-only model. The decision matters because it removes consumer choice — the ability to buy discounted, secondhand or shareable games — and because it lands…