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The 1985 song Rod Stewart said he played better than the original: “I brought the chorus alive”
Rod Stewart said his 1985 cover of Tom Waits’s “Downtown Train” improved on the original by making its chorus more vivid and singable. The claim reflects Stewart’s approach to covers: he treated familiar songs as material to reshape around his own voice, rather than trying to reproduce them faithfully. Waits’s recording centres on the song’s…
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Three migrants die as overcrowded dinghy capsizes off northern France
At least three migrants died and dozens were seriously injured when an overcrowded dinghy capsized off Wissant, near Calais, on Monday morning. French prosecutors have opened criminal investigations into the recent Channel tragedies; the latest deaths bring this year’s reported toll to at least 24, including women and children. The article says smugglers have been…
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‘Harry Potter’ Producer David Barron Backs AI Adaptation Of ‘The Call Of The Wild’
David Barron, a prominent British film producer with credits on six Harry Potter films, is entering the generative artificial intelligence sector by producing an AI adaptation of Jack London’s 1903 novel The Call of the Wild. The film, written and directed by Simon Rumley and produced at nmatic studio, is being positioned as the first…
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Rod Stewart says 2027 UK and European tour will be his last
Rod Stewart, aged 81, has announced that his 2027 UK and European tour, titled The Final Encore, will mark the end of his touring career after more than six decades of performing. The legendary singer, who began touring in the early 1960s, stated the commitment will “most definitely be my last,” though he has not…
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Child aged two is euthanised in Netherlands in first case of its kind
A two-year-old child in the Netherlands has become the first known non-infant under 12 to be euthanised. Born prematurely at 26 weeks, the child suffered from severe brain damage, cerebral palsy, visual impairment and medication-resistant epileptic seizures that caused unbearable suffering. This case represents a significant development in one of the world’s most permissive euthanasia…
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Honor’s Magic 9 Pro Max has a big camera and a bigger battery
Honor has launched its Magic 9 flagship phones in China, with the 9 Pro Max combining a redesigned camera island, Arri video features and an unusually large battery. It is the first Honor flagship since the company announced its Arri collaboration, making the phone an early example of how that partnership will shape its cameras.…
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Streeting says farmer’s account covers only part of RAF Fairford security operation
A farmer in Gloucestershire foiled a suspected Iranian terror plot targeting RAF Fairford after discovering three white vans blocking a road and alerting police to masked men fleeing the scene. The incident has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of UK security operations and whether intelligence services had advance knowledge of the plot, particularly as…
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Swiss reject ‘pro-Russian’ bid to toughen country’s neutrality in referendum
Swiss voters have overwhelmingly rejected a referendum proposal to strengthen the country’s neutrality, with 70 per cent voting against the measure and majorities in all 26 regions opposing it. The proposal, championed by the right-wing populist Swiss People’s Party, sought to prevent Switzerland from joining international sanctions unless authorised by the United Nations—a move that…