WE NEED TO TALK about death. Brits have long been diffident about mortality. Our coffins are not carried aloft in crowded streets. Our women don’t ululate. Our chaps don’t fire Kalashnikovs skywards. And open caskets are strictly for the morbid and superstitious Irish. We are similarly reluctant to confront the ephemeral nature of our businesses. I am referring here to our large corporations. (Most small business founders I know are in a constant existential battle against their creditors and the HMRC.) For some time, our mega-cap companies have been following strategies seemingly conjured by Hindu holy men. Capital markets days typically lead off with slides that resemble the great cycle of life. Instead of facing the awkward fact that their core business is in inexorable — though profitable — decline,…

In a quiet South San Francisco office, a biotech outfit that once promised to unlock ancestry secrets through a spit tube has hit a financial wall, thrusting the genetic records of millions into an uncertain spotlight. This week, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Missouri federal court, aiming to sell its assets—including a trove of DNA from 15 million customers—after years of cash struggles and a bruising data breach. For those who mailed in their saliva, it’s a sobering turn, as a firm once pegged at $6 billion now scrambles for a buyer amid a storm of privacy concerns. This filing isn’t a small blip. The firm’s collapse follows a 2023 hack that exposed nearly 7 million users’ records, a blow that dented trust and piled on…

Much as we all hope to find the home of our dreams when we are house hunting, in most cases, a compromise is called for. Some requirements, however, are non-negotiable. This was certainly the case when, in 2015, Amy Maynard and her former husband, Charlie, decided that with two young children in tow – Lottie and Theo, then three and 11 months respectively – it was finally time to move out of London after many hectic years. “We hoped to enjoy a slightly slower pace of life, and give our children the sort of rural childhood we’d enjoyed,” says Amy, an interior designer. “I grew up in Winchelsea in Sussex and we wanted to be closer to family, so it made sense to relocate there – it was finding the…

For years, Russia has been Europe’s greatest enemy, trying everything short of war to divide the continent, bring down democratic governments, and support Kremlin-friendly leaders. Using money, disinformation campaigns, and election meddling, Russia has backed and boosted illiberal, nationalist, pro-Russian, anti-European Union, and authoritarian forces for years. Now, the world’s most powerful leaderxs — U.S. President Donald Trump—and the world’s richest man—Elon Musk—are aligning the world’s greatest superpower with Europe’s greatest enemy by actively supporting the same farright movements, attacking the same democratic governments, and flooding the European information space with the same kind of disinformation, often including Kremlin talking points virtually word for word. It is unfathomable enough that Washington, Silicon Valley, and Moscow are now partnering to make Europe safe for the toxic mix of autocracy and oligarchy that has…

On the eve of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship season, McLaren announced they’d be celebrating their World Constructors’ Championship in the 2024 season with the release of limited-edition versions of their Artura and 750S supercars. Recognising McLaren’s first F1 Constructors’ Championship in 26 years and the ninth in the storied team’s history, the special cars are dubbed the ‘MCL38 Celebration Edition’, in honour of the F1 chassis that achieved eight pole positions and six race wins last season in the hands of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. FROM 1998 TO 2024 Back in 1998, when McLaren won their last Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship, they also did the ‘double’, with Mika Hakkinen winning the Drivers’ Championship. Hakkinen was victorious in eight of sixteen races that season, which combined with a…

Katy Perry has commented on the outlandish rumour supposedly linking her to child beauty queen, JonBenét Ramsey. Some online conspiracy theorists firmly believe that the pop singer is actually JonBenét – and that the six-year-old’s 1996 murder was all a hoax. While the theory has existed for several years, a new AI-generated video shared to Instagram brought it back to the public conscious last week. The video showed JonBenét morphing into Katy, 40. Katy weighed in on the viral post, replying: “wait am I.” Her vague response only further fuelled conspiracy theorists, with one fan writing: “I’ve always thought this.” However, others felt the video was in “poor taste”. “Let her precious soul rest in peace people,” read one reply. JonBenét’s death has stumped investigators for almost 19 years. She…

1 Middle Earth marvels A heli-tour of New Zealand’s supremely beautiful Fiordland with Alpine Luxury Tours will leave guests wanting for nothing. Expect outstanding aerial vistas of forest-clad valleys and glacier-fed lakes as you soar over Fiordland National Park before disembarking at World Heritage-listed Milford Sound in search of seals and dolphins. Touch down on a mountain peak for a picturesque pit stop, then enjoy exclusive access to the waterfalls and hanging glacier made famous by The Hobbit. EE alpineluxurytours.co.nz 2 Global conqueror Geoffrey Kent is Abercrombie & Kent’s pioneering founder, and in 2026 the trailblazer is hosting an incredible private jet journey around the world. Kicking off in the Cook Islands, the 24-day extravaganza takes guests to Australia to sip world-class wines in Adelaide’s vineyards and explore the untamed…

The Peruvian tour coordinator gestured to the posters behind her desk, each promoting popular destinations: Amazon River cruises, Incan ruins, lush Andean rain forests. For 15 minutes, she did her best to convince my husband, Kevin, and me to reconsider our plan to hike El Misti, a 19,101-foot dormant volcano outside Arequipa, Peru’s second-largest city. “We are not responsible if something happens,” she said, looking pointedly at me. I tried to look invincible—my warrior pose—as Kevin and I signed a waiver acknowledging the risks of scaling El Misti: altitude sickness, frostbite, rockslides, noxious gases and even death, none of which the tour company wanted to be responsible for. I sensed the tour promoter viewed us as two middle-aged Americans who might not understand what they were getting themselves into. “We…

“This is a more vibrant version of the traditional eggs Benedict. I am not a hollandaise person. I am a fresh herbs person!” Molly Yeh’s EGGS BERNADETTE ACTIVE: 30 min l TOTAL: 30 min (plus 12 hr refrigerating) l SERVES: 2 FOR THE BEET SMOKED SALMON 1 15-ounce can sliced beets (not pickled), drained Kosher salt1 teaspoon sugar1 lemon, sliced8 ounces skinless hot-smoked salmon, flaked FOR THE HERB SAUCE ¼ cup fresh basil¼ cup fresh parsley1 tablespoon fresh dill1 tablespoon fresh mint3 scallions, trimmed and halved2 cloves garlic¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if neededJuice of ½ lemonFine salt and freshly ground pepper TO ASSEMBLE 4 large eggs2 English muffins, halved, toasted and butteredFlaky salt and freshly ground pepperFresh dill, for garnishLemon wedges, for serving 1. Make the beet smoked salmon: Add the beets to a small bowl.…

When the Debut arrived on the market many years ago, it represented both the bottom rung of the Pro-Ject range and pretty much the cheapest fully functional turntable on the market. It’s a mark of how much of a journey it has undergone that not only is it far from the most affordable model that the company makes, but those below it now have tiers of their own. The T1 models replaced the Essential range (which in turn was the first real sub-Debut series Pro-Ject made) in 2020 and the company has now updated the three models to become the T1 EVO family. These models all share the same basic platform, which is recognisably similar to the original T1. This is still a belt-driven, unsuspended turntable that, unusually for Pro-Ject,…

Kishani Perera has made a career out of designing environmentally healthy homes that are good to live in and to look at. The California designer, who herself practiced veganism for decades, considers reading the “ingredients” lists for paint, textiles, furniture, and finishes as important as reading the labels on foods. So when she set out to design this new Los Angeles home for an eco-conscious family, she studied every word on every label of every piece she brought in so that her clients could be sure their house is 100-percent vegan. “Something may look good from the outside, and then you’ll discover wool strapping on a sofa or a milk product in a paint color,” Perera says. “It was my job to be thorough and not miss a single surprising detail.” It…

“Do you know where your children are?” Once, that was among the most chilling things you could ask a parent, said Sarah Ditum on UnHerd. Now, “parents know exactly where their children are: at home, probably in their bedrooms”. The after-school time that previous generations spent being anti-social in the park, at a youth club, or lost in books, is now spent on screens. Teenagers typically spend almost five hours a day on social media. So parents know where their children are; but they are anxious, because they have very little idea of what they are doing – whose cruel or unsavoury opinions they may be reading, what misinformation they may be absorbing, and what horrific images they may be seeing. That abiding fear – that our children are living…

Picture this: the deep blue expanse of the Pacific stretching endlessly before you, the sun climbing above the horizon, and a reel screaming as a monster Yellowfin Tuna makes a break for it. This is the thrill that awaits with Hidden Gem Boats, one of Fiji’s premier sportfishing charter operators. With two top-tier vessels-Momo Gem II and Looney Tunes-Hidden Gem offers everything from halfday reef fishing excursions to week-long explorations of the region’s most pristine and untouched fishing grounds. Their home base? Port Denarau Marina, just outside Nadi and a quick hop from the international airport, making access to this angling paradise as easy as stepping off the plane. The Fishing: Big, Bold, and Unforgettable Whether you’re an experienced angler chasing the fight of a lifetime or a first-timer looking…

CYGNET BAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Perched on the rugged tip of the Dampier Peninsula, 200km north of Broome, lies Cygnet Bay, with azure waters that are home to some of the most dramatic tidal movements on the planet. Here, you can see the awe-inspiring Giant Tides; a natural phenomenon that creates whirlpools and cascading water formations, and even a waterfall in the middle of the ocean. This is also a place of deep cultural significance. The waterfall-reef experience celebrates the Bardi Jawi people, the traditional owners of the land and sea surrounding Cygnet Bay, whose rich traditions, knowledge of the land, and ancient pearling practices will add an invaluable dimension to your visit. The area is also home to the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, a business which has been run by…

“Watch out for that bat behind you,” warned Luca Messina, a civil engineer who moonlights as a speleo-archaeologist with Sotterranei di Roma, Undergrounds of Rome, a local group whose members explore the darkest recesses of the Eternal City. I ducked as the winged mammal swooped past my ear, then flitted beyond the beam of my headlamp and disappeared in the void ahead. “Don’t worry about those insects,” Messina added, nodding to walls hewn 2,300 years ago, and which I now saw were crawling with spider-like crickets called Dolichopoda. “They aren’t dangerous.” Messina and I were standing in a sepulchral stretch of the Aqua Anio Vetus, one of the superbly crafted aqueducts that once channeled water into ancient Rome, built beginning in 272 B.C. and dry for nearly 1,500 years. To some,…

DIFFICULTY RATING You will need: ■ Clay of choice – earthenware or stoneware. Preferably a smooth body of any colour but be aware that surface colour will be brighter on a white background■ General tools and ribs■ Newsprint paper – pencil – sharp cutting knife■ Underglaze or slip colours of choice■ Brushes for application of the above■ Sgraffito tools – can simply be a pin if nothing else is available 1 Begin by forming two equal amounts of clay into balls, the weight of each being entirely dependent on the amount you feel capable of pinching and the size of pebble you want to make, but we are beginning with 200g for each half. 2 Holding the first ball in one hand, press down into its centre with the thumb…

If your man is struggling to get or keep an erection, it needn’t be the end of your sex life. ‘It’s a common problem,’ says consultant urologist and andrologist Professor Suks Minhas*. ‘At some stage in their lives, most men face a degree of erectile difficulty or some form of sexual dysfunction.’ But there’s plenty that can be done to improve it. Follow our expert advice to turn things around in the bedroom. Why it happens Also known as impotence, the correct medical term is erectile dysfunction (ED). The reasons for ED are varied, but ageing plays a part. ‘Testosterone levels start to fall around the age of 40, which can affect erections,’ says Professor Minhas. Other culprits include furring of the arteries and cardiovascular disease, plus conditions such as…

On March 19, 2025, the European Union fired a double-barreled salvo at two of America’s tech titans, charging Alphabet’s Google with violating its landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA) and ordering Apple to loosen its grip on iPhone and iPad ecosystems. Reported by Reuters, this escalation marks a pivotal moment in the EU’s ongoing crusade to tame Big Tech, spotlighting Google’s search and app store practices while pressing Apple to let rivals into its walled garden. For tech enthusiasts and everyday users, it’s a clash of giants with stakes that could reshape how we interact with the digital world. The European Commission’s actions—two charges against Google and a directive for Apple—signal a tougher stance under the DMA, a 2023 law designed to curb the dominance of tech gatekeepers. With fines looming…

Picture a sun-soaked stretch of Arizona desert, where a sprawling plant hums with the pulse of tomorrow’s tech, silicon wafers gleaming under the watchful eyes of engineers. Nvidia’s chief, Jensen Huang, let slip a blockbuster vision to the Financial Times, unveiling plans to pour hundreds of billions into U.S.-made silicon over the next four years. For tech buffs, gamers, and industry watchers, it’s a tale of a titan doubling down on American soil, betting big on a future where artificial intelligence drives everything from chatbots to self-steering autos. This isn’t a quiet pivot. Huang pegged Nvidia’s total electronics spending at half a trillion dollars through 2028, with a hefty chunk—potentially $250 billion to $300 billion—flowing to stateside plants. It’s a seismic shift for a company that’s leaned hard on Taiwan’s…

“WHAT fresh Hell is THIS?” Liz B. wondered during a four-mile run on a chilly December night five months after giving birth. She was 2.7 miles into an out-and-back route when she realized she’d leaked a little urine. “It happened on and off the rest of the way home,” says the 36-year-old from central Ohio, who prefers not to use her full name when talking about urinary incontinence, which affects 25 million adult Americans. This was not how she had envisioned her postpartum life. Liz, a physical therapist who works with stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury patients, had been a runner for nearly her whole life. Her father, who just ran his 91st marathon at the age of 77, had taken her out for jogs when she was a toddler,…

Today’s customers are overloaded and overwhelmed by too much information, so making any decision is a challenge. You may think this is important only to your marketing and sales teams, but in reality, no matter how great your product or technology might be, you won’t succeed if your whole company doesn’t understand your target customer’s decision process. Everyone on your team needs a regular update on the latest insights for salespeople, like those found in the classic book Heart and Sell, by sales training expert Shari Levitin. Its 10 best insights: 1| Success requires continuous learning and improvement. 2| Emotions drive customer decision making. Your business’s ability to uncover and capitalize on customers’ emotional motivators will dictate your success. 3| Every salesperson must have a repeatable process. So too must every business. Put…

In this series we will be covering the most popular roads to travel in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The popularity of certain roads has come about over the years thanks to the amazing wildlife sightings they produced. It is commonly known that wildlife has territories they roam, which then become home for these animals – and it is therefore not surprising that some of the big cats are named by frequent visitors to the Park. There are even WhatsApp groups for some of the leopards and sightings are posted there. This series will start with a map of the area/road we cover, so next time you book for a stay, maybe choose the road, then the rest camp or camps – which we will include in each article. Keep…

I’ve just arrived back from Brazil and wow, it’s as good as Africa for wildlife! Photographing birds like tanagers and hummingbirds have always pushed my skills, equipment and tools, but it’s not until you combine these subjects with low light shoots and fast shutter speeds, that they become a real challenge. And yet on this trip I was really reminded of how new camera technologies have advanced in the few years since I was last here. Our sensors are exponentially better than they were a few short years ago, and denoising technology makes what were previously unthinkable ISOs possible. Here are five key points to consider or help you when low light shooting. 1 A NEW CAMERA HELPS, BUT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS I use the Sony A1 and depending…

DON'T OBSESS ABOUT LOOKING ‘PUT TOGETHER’ It's a state of mind rather than a styling trick. I feel more put together when I feel good in what I'm wearing – it can be an off-duty look, a good workout outfit, fitted jeans or a structured but fluid blazer. I've recently been reaching for tailored trousers. Toteme has a beige cotton pair, which is the ideal hybrid between weekend and work pants. I pair them with a With Nothing Underneath blazer, knits and T-shirts. FALL BACK ON TRIED-AND-TESTED OUTFIT FORMULAS My whole life revolves around outfit formulas, between travel, my job, the kids and their drop-off/playground/school rhythm, I couldn't really function if I had to think twice before getting dressed. Here are some I wear on repeat: ■ High-waisted denim with…

There’s no doubt that the newly released Snow White film is a visual spectacle. Almost 2,000 costumes featured in the shoot, filling a space the size of an aircraft hangar at Pinewood Studios in Slough. But hidden away in a cupboard under lock and key was the film’s most important outfit: a blue and yellow dress – and 13 identical copies – worn by the titular heroine. Security around the live-action version of Disney’s famous animated movie was paramount – there were to be no sneaked peeks. Sandy Powell, the film’s Academy Awardwinning costume designer, knew she would have to pay homage to the iconic look of the original 1937 animation. “If you take on a Disney film, you know what you’re doing,” she says, and she should know –…

If you’re a gym newbie, don’t worry, it’s common to feel anxious about mastering the equipment, wearing the right gear to fit in and wondering whether people are judging you. You’re not alone as a 2019 study found this is experienced by 31% of gym goers, so here are our tips to help you to own the gym on your next visit. Home start: trying a few online workouts in the comfort of your own lounge is a great way to build your confidence and to gain an understanding of the basic terminology and techniques. It’s a group thing: joining a class full of other people takes the spotlight off you, provides instruction on what to do, when and how, plus encourages social interaction making your sweat session more fun.…