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‘American Idol’ Renewed for Historic 25th Season as ‘Idol Across America’ Returns
American Idol has confirmed its 25th season, with the “Idol Across America” audition phase set to launch on Tuesday, 25 August. This is a landmark milestone for the long-running singing competition, which continues to search for new talent across the United States following Hannah Harper’s win over Jordan McCullough in the most recent series. Judges…
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BBC cancels Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo
The BBC has axed three long-running entertainment shows – Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo – as part of efforts to make £500m of savings over the next three years. The main Mastermind series will continue with Clive Myrie as host, but its celebrity spin-off will end after one more already-filmed series,…
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Willie Nelson Lashes Out at AI Data Center Construction in Texas: ‘Loud, Water-Thieving, Light Polluting’
Country music legend Willie Nelson has publicly criticised plans to build a large AI data centre near his hometown of Abbott, Texas, warning it would harm the local community and environment. In an open letter posted to X, the 93-year-old singer, who owns a home and farmland in the area, described such facilities as “loud,…
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Captain who led campaign against yacht club commodore after suspecting him of dodging barge mooring fees for his 80ft Dutch houseboat is cleared of harassment
A boat captain who led a campaign accusing his yacht club’s commodore of dodging mooring fees for an 80ft Dutch houseboat has been cleared of harassment. The captain suspected the commodore of avoiding proper barge mooring charges and organised opposition against him, prompting a harassment complaint that has now been dismissed. Beyond the headline details,…
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The Gavel: An attempt to take down super PACs
Maine is defending a voter-approved law that would cap donations to super PACs, as the case reaches the First Circuit Court of Appeals. The challenge matters because a ruling for the state could reopen the legal basis for unlimited political donations and potentially lead to Supreme Court review. Nearly 75 per cent of Maine voters…
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“I feel like shooting people!” In the run-up to 1988’s US presidential election, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck had some outrageously dark and violent thoughts
Ahead of the 1988 US presidential election, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck revealed in an interview that he had been gripped by outrageously dark and violent thoughts about the prospect of a Republican victory. He described feeling murderous impulses, including saying “I feel like shooting people”, reflecting the despair many liberal-leaning Americans felt as polling day…
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Sheffield Palestine campaigners condemn West Bank killings near twin city
Sheffield Palestine campaigners have condemned reported killings in the West Bank near the city’s twin city. The article’s full text was unavailable, so no further claims or circumstances can be verified. The headline links the response to Sheffield’s relationship with its West Bank twin city, indicating that events there have prompted local political and community…
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‘Blankety Blank,’ ‘Celebrity Mastermind’ & ‘Live At The Apollo’ All Canceled By The BBC Under Sweeping Content Cuts
The BBC has cancelled three long-running entertainment shows — Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo — as part of a drive to save £500 million ($664 million) amid a deepening funding crisis at the broadcaster. The corporation called the decisions “difficult” and “really tough,” noting the cuts had been targeted at the…
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Trump has singled out us Canadians for special treatment in his tariff war – there is no choice but to get nasty | Matt Gurney
Canadian journalist Matt Gurney argues that Donald Trump has singled Canada out for unusually harsh treatment in his tariff war, and that Prime Minister Mark Carney has no political option but to respond firmly. The piece contends that while Trump has hit dozens of countries with tariffs, Canada has faced disproportionately severe measures alongside repeated…
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‘Tip of the iceberg’: NJ illegal voting scandal explodes with more key systems at risk
A senior New Jersey Republican lawmaker says the state’s automatic “motor voter” registration scandal is widening, with thousands more non-citizens reportedly discovered on sensitive government systems beyond the voter rolls. State Senator Kristin Corrado, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, claims she repeatedly flagged inadequate safeguards in the automatic voter registration process to state…