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Berlin Philharmonic/ Petrenko/ Hadelich review – flawless musical beauty
The Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Kirill Petrenko, delivered a highly acclaimed second Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall, pairing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with soloist Augustin Hadelich and Scriabin’s rarely performed Third Symphony. The review praises the orchestra’s exceptional clarity and precision, noting that achieving such polished, transparent sound live in the Royal Albert Hall’s…
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Common cholesterol drug linked to lower dementia risk when started early
A large observational study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress found that people with type 2 diabetes who started taking statins soon after diagnosis had a lower relative risk of developing dementia over the following decade. This matters because statins are already widely recommended for cardiovascular protection in diabetes patients, and the findings…
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s school warning letters reignite privacy battle they ‘cannot control’: experts
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to enrol their children, Archie and Lilibet, at a private school in the Cotswolds has reignited concerns over their ability to protect the family’s privacy in the UK. According to royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, parents at schools the couple approached received letters reminding them of privacy rules regarding high-profile…
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Nearly impossible? How Fairphone built the ethical, repairable Fairphone Gen 6+.
Fairphone, a Dutch smartphone maker newly entered into the US market, has released the $650 Fairphone Gen 6+, a device engineered for longevity and easy self-repair rather than the sealed, glued-together designs typical of most modern handsets. CTO Chandler Hatton says the company’s aim is to let owners “fully own” their device, countering an industry…
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The best recent poetry – review roundup
The Guardian’s poetry critics round up five notable recent collections, spanning debut and established voices working across translation, illness narratives, ecological form and historical memory. – Fetch by Colin Bramwell (And Other Stories, £14.99) – a lyrical debut from the award-winning translator of Fernando Pessoa into Scots, exploring the gap between languages and blending Scots…
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Why AI food looks like that
Restaurants, cafes and food brands are increasingly using AI-generated images to advertise their food, producing a wave of bizarre and unappetising results, from noodle-like pastries and stringy chicken to burgers and burritos riddled with strange lumps and holes. Experts say this “AI slop” phenomenon reveals fundamental weaknesses in how image-generating AI models work, which matters…
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Ted Cruz names ‘most powerful Democrat’ as he warns socialist rise has paralyzed bipartisanship
Senator Ted Cruz has said Democrats are so afraid of their party’s progressive wing that meaningful bipartisan cooperation, particularly on energy permitting reform, is unlikely before November’s midterm elections. Speaking at an energy affordability summit hosted by the Club for Growth and Arnold Ventures, the Texas Republican argued that mainstream Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader…
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Reform’s new donation scandal proves Farage’s party is completely out of control
A sting operation by Channel 4 caught Nigel Farage and two senior Reform UK aides on video appearing to celebrate a potentially illegal foreign donation, exposing what commentators describe as deep dysfunction at the heart of the party. Reform’s initial response was to attack the journalists involved rather than address the substance, before policy director…
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Britain longest serving female prisoner who spent nearly 40 years behind bars for murdering her love rival is back in jail just weeks after she was released
Maria Pearson, Britain’s longest-serving female prisoner, has been recalled to prison just weeks after her release in July, having apparently breached a licence condition. Pearson, now 70, served almost 40 years for the 1986 murder of her ex-boyfriend’s new partner, Janet Newton, a case that had made her the UK’s “forgotten inmate” after nine failed…
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Sam Altman apologizes for ‘messy’ GPT-6 Astra rollout that’s locked out paying users
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has apologised for a “messy rollout” of the company’s new GPT-6 Astra model, after paying subscribers found themselves locked out following its launch. The staggered release prioritised enterprise customers with access to OpenAI’s Daybreak cybersecurity platform, leaving many Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise subscribers frustrated at being made to wait, particularly…