Author: Liam Porter

Netflix‘s surprise deal at Cannes Lions that it would carry the TF1 channels in France immediately reverberated around the globe. When you are talking about the preeminent subscription streaming service getting into linear TV with a major broadcaster, one can understand why. “Holy shit,” texted one broadcast TV veteran Wednesday morning, sharing a link to The Hollywood Reporter’s story on the blockbuster deal. It’s tempting to wonder if Netflix’s deal with TF1 will be a template for future maneuvers (based on the company’s history, it will be), but there are ample reasons to think that while similar deals may be…

Simon KingLead Weather PresenterPA MediaThe UK has recorded its hottest day of the year with temperatures passing 30C, as amber heat health alerts are in place across the whole of England.A temperature of 30.1C was recorded at St James’s Park, London – higher than the previous record of 29.4C in Suffolk on 13 June.It comes as a heatwave approaches the country, with temperatures expected to rise to 33C this weekend.The heat alerts, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) until 09:00 BST on Monday, warn that increased pressures on health and social care services are likely, including increased demand.Temperatures…

Tottenham Hotspur have been fined £75,000 by the Football Association following homophobic chanting by their fans during a 3-0 win at Manchester United last September.The chanting was said to have taken place in the 49th and 79th minutes of the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford.Immediately after the game, Spurs condemned “abhorrent homophobic chanting” as “simply unacceptable” and vowed to take the “strongest possible action”.The FA has confirmed the fine for “two breaches of FA Rule E21 in relation to crowd control misconduct”.That rule governs the behaviour of supporters at matches.

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the UK tax myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.Small businesses in the UK failed to pay 40 per cent of the corporation tax they owed in 2023-24, leading to claims that His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs has “lost control” of the sector. Although the overall “tax gap” between the amounts due and collected reduced in the year, the sum owed by smaller companies rose from £12.3bn to £14.7bn, figures published by HMRC on Thursday showed. Small businesses — defined as companies with turnover below £10mn and fewer than 20 employees — accounted…

Alison FrancisSenior science journalistWatch: the fine art of an exquisite 2,000 year-old Roman jigsawArchaeologists have pieced together thousands of fragments of 2,000-year-old wall plaster to reveal remarkable frescoes that decorated a luxurious Roman villa.The shattered plaster was discovered in 2021 at a site in central London that’s being redeveloped, but it’s taken until now to reconstruct this colossal jigsaw puzzle.The frescoes are from at least 20 walls of the building, with beautifully painted details of musical instruments, birds, flowers and fruit.The art is revealing more about the affluence of the area where they were found – described by the team…

Double the number of households in Britain will get £150 off their energy bills this winter as the government changes the rules on who qualifies for the Warm Home Discount.Anyone on means-tested benefits will automatically see the money knocked off their bills no matter what size of property they live in. However, the cost could be covered by raising fees on all customer bills through the standing charge, unless savings can be found by suppliers.While debt charities and energy groups have welcomed the move, some say the scheme still leaves out some of those most at risk, including those on…

There are certain museums around the world that go beyond their role of housing artefacts and somehow seem to act as portals to the past. The Frick Collection in New York and Marcel Proust’s cork-lined bedroom at the Musée Carnavalet in Paris both hum with a timeless energy that transcends the exhibits on display. The Little Museum of Dublin is also such a space.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.Within seconds of ascending the stairs of this beautiful four-storey Georgian townhouse at 15 St Stephen’s Green, a different…

Amazon said on Thursday that it would invest about $233 million in its India business to further build out its operations infrastructure, develop new tools for its delivery network, and work on employee safety and well-being programs. The company said the investment helps it double down on its efforts to deliver to all pin-codes in the country. “This investment will enhance processing capacity, improve fulfilment speed, and increase efficiency across the company’s operations network,” Amazon said in a blog post. As part of the investment, the company will continue work on some initiatives to support its contractors and employees, including…

How Supreme Court Trans Health Care Ruling Will Affect KidsThe Supreme Court has decided to uphold a state ban on gender-affirming care for minors in U.S. v. SkrmettiBy Allison Parshall edited by Dean VisserHundreds of trans people, activists and supporters rally outside of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, DC on December 04, 2024. Supreme Court of the United States hears the United States versus Skrmetti case. Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesThe U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors in the case US v. Skrmetti. In a 6–3 decision…

A summer of festivals lies ahead of us, and while hitting a muddy field with a tent, a pair of wellies and a sense of optimism is all about living in the moment, it’s a brave soul who doesn’t attempt at least a modicum of pre-planning.As anyone who’s ever attended a weekend festival will know, there’s a knack to deciding what to take (and what to leave behind), dressing to impress while travelling light, and keeping your spirits intact in all weathers.To make sure you’re covered this festival season, we asked three veterans who’ve been to almost 100 festivals between…