-
Remembering When NBC Presented Its Own Alternative to MTV in 1983
Friday Night Videos, launched by NBC in July 1983, was one of the most notable network television responses to MTV’s rise as a cultural force. While MTV had debuted two years earlier and was gradually spreading across cable systems, NBC’s late-night offering brought music videos to a national broadcast audience who might otherwise have had…
-
FIFA backs off World Cup private equity pitch after global fury: 5 things to know
FIFA has abandoned a proposal to bring private investors into a new commercial company managing revenues from the World Cup and other major tournaments, following strong opposition across football. The retreat matters because the plan had raised concerns about governance, the future ownership of football’s most valuable competitions and FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s leadership. -…
-
Born 101 Years Ago Today in Tennessee, the Leader of the World-Famous Vocal Quartet Who Backed Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, and Jim Reeves
Gordon Stoker, born in Gleason, Tennessee, on 3 August 1925, would have turned 101 today. He led the Jordanaires, the world-famous vocal quartet whose backing harmonies supported Elvis Presley from 1956 to 1970 across live shows, recordings and films, and who also lent their voices to country classics by Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, George Jones…
-
Remi Wolf Returns New Single ‘Twiggy’
Remi Wolf has released her new single ‘Twiggy’, marking her first new music in two years and following a surprise live debut of the track during Hayley Williams’ Newport Folk Festival set last weekend. Written during a retreat in Big Bear, California with close collaborators after a long stretch of touring, the song sees the…
-
‘Family stress’ forces Scotland boss Fukofuka to step down
Scotland Women’s head coach Sione Fukofuka has stepped down from his role, citing the strain of being separated from his family, who remain in Australia. Forwards coach Dave Butcher will take interim charge as the team prepares for the upcoming WXV Global Series, with Scotland’s next match against Canada in six weeks. Fukofuka, who was…
-
Martin Clunes accuses ‘pious’ council officers of failing to enforce planning rules after traveller row
Actor Martin Clunes has accused council planning officers of being “pious” and failing to enforce planning rules, following a dispute involving travellers. The row appears to centre on how local authority officers have handled enforcement action, with Clunes publicly criticising their approach as inadequate. The article’s full details were not available beyond the headline, so…
-
Zee Shareholders Approve $330 Million Capital Raise Before Indian Regulator Bars Company From Markets
Zee Entertainment Enterprises shareholders approved a $330 million (INR3,143.5 crore) promoter fund infusion and a new employee stock option plan at an extraordinary general meeting, only for India’s securities regulator to bar the company and two senior executives from the markets the following day. The timing is awkward for Zee, as the Securities and Exchange…
-
For Republicans planning post-Trump future, one race in Washington is worth watching
Washington’s 4th Congressional District, the state’s most conservative seat, is holding a Republican primary on 4 August 2026 that has become a proxy battle over the party’s direction after Donald Trump eventually leaves the political stage. The contest, triggered by the retirement of incumbent Dan Newhouse, pits a Trump-endorsed “America First” candidate against a bipartisan-minded…
-
The DOJ is increasingly charging ICE protesters with criminal conspiracy
The US Department of Justice is increasingly bringing federal conspiracy charges against people protesting against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, rather than relying solely on lesser public-order offences. Legal experts warn that these charges, which carry significant prison terms, risk sweeping up largely peaceful demonstrators alongside those accused of more serious conduct, raising concerns…
-
Over 4 million people are no longer receiving food aid amid sweeping changes to SNAP
More than four million people have lost access to food assistance in the United States over the past nine months, following sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) introduced under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed in July 2025. The law tightened work requirements, reduced eligibility for refugees and asylum seekers, and…