phlboss code
Ireland blamed Northern Ireland Office for ‘damaging leaks’, records showMaulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the National President of All India Muslim Jamaat on Sunday issued a fatwa against New Year celebrations, discouraging Muslims from celebrating it, instead urged them to focus on religious practices that align with their faith. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for According to Razvi, the fatwa was issued by Chashme Darfta Bareilly urged both young Muslim men and women to refrain from partaking in the New Year festivities. "The young men and women who celebrate New Year have been instructed in this fatwa that celebrating New Year is not a matter of pride and neither should this celebration be celebrated nor should it be congratulated," Razvi said, emphasizing that the New Year marks the beginning of the Christian calendar, or the "English Year." He further stated that such non-religious practices are strictly "prohibited for Muslims." Razvi continued, urging young Muslim people to avoid participating in New Year celebrations, stressing that Muslims should instead focus on religious practices that align with their faith. "New boys and girls have been instructed not to celebrate New Year... Muslims should avoid celebrating New Year," he said. Meanwhile, Bareilvi amid reports of author Salman Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verses' being available for sale over three decades after it was "banned" in the country, had voiced his opposition and said that the "ban should continue". Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program He said there should have been dialogue with people demanding a ban before allowing the sale of the book. "There should have been dialogue because there is a Muslim perspective," he said. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, also echoed similar views. He expressed concern that the availability of the book could "harm the social and religious fabric of the country". "I request the government that in the manner in which the then government had imposed a ban on the eighties, this ban should continue," he said. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Tweet Facebook Mail Popular podcast host Joe Rogan has hit back at the verbal broadside against him by ABC Chairman Kim Williams who described the American media figure as "deeply repulsive". Kim Williams was speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday when he was asked about the "Rogan effect" and the podcaster's stunning appeal to young men. The ABC chairman answered with a tirade against Rogan, accusing him of exploiting "people's vulnerabilities". READ MORE: Donald Trump's presidential Cabinet picks targeted in bomb threats Kim Williams, chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, at the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday. ( Photo: Alex Ellinghausen) (Alex Ellinghausen) "I am not a consumer or enthusiast about Mr Rogan and his work," he said. "(But) I think that people like Mr Rogan prey on people's vulnerabilities. They prey on fear. "They prey on anxiety. They prey on all of the elements that contribute to uncertainty in society, and they entrepreneur fantasy outcomes and conspiracy outcomes as being a normal part of social narrative." Williams continued with his diatribe about the man behind The Joe Rogan Experience . "I personally find it deeply repulsive ... to think that someone has such remarkable power," he said. "I'm also absolutely in dismay that this can be a source of public entertainment, when it's really treating the public as plunder for entrepreneurs that are really quite malevolent." READ MORE: Your guide to saving more in the Black Friday sales Podcaster Joe Rogan hit back at criticism of him by the ABC chairman. (AP) Overnight Rogan responded in a message on X, posting the words "LOL WUT", accompanied by a clip of Williams' harangue. Rogan's backing of Donald Trump on the eve of this month's US election sparked debate about the influence of new age media. The podcaster is largely followed by young men, a demographic that overwhelmingly voted for Trump. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .
Sweet Earth Holdings Co. ( OTCMKTS:SEHCF – Get Free Report )’s share price was up 38.1% on Friday . The company traded as high as $0.15 and last traded at $0.14. Approximately 7,004 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 19% from the average daily volume of 8,681 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.10. Sweet Earth Stock Performance The company’s fifty day moving average is $0.04 and its 200-day moving average is $0.03. About Sweet Earth ( Get Free Report ) Sweet Earth Holdings Corporation cultivates, processes, and sells hemp cannabidiol (CBD) products in the United States and internationally. The company offers CBD and hemp infused facial products, including CBD hydration creams, oat and honey cleansers, and soothing CBD lip balms; and botanicals and essential oils, such as balancing CBD jasmine oils, soothing CBD bath salt soaks, invigorating CBD neem and turmeric scrubs, and aloe-infused CBD hand sanitizers for body and skin care. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Sweet Earth Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sweet Earth and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .No. 9 SMU aims to improve playoff odds vs. Cal
Alberta’s Technology Minister Nate Glubish says he’s hoping to see $100 billion worth of artificial intelligence data centres under construction within the next five years. Such centres are filled with computer servers used by companies like Meta to develop and train large-scale artificial intelligence models. Glubish says Meta, as well as other major companies including Google and Amazon, are on the hunt for space to build more facilities, and he wants Alberta to be an option. He says landing some data centres would create jobs and bring in much needed new tax revenue for the province. Glubish also says that since Alberta’s electricity grid regulations allows for off-grid power generation, he thinks the province is an ideal location. He says allowing for off-grid power connections where power generators supply data centres directly also means there’s less risk for Albertans, as there wouldn’t be major drains on the electrical grid.SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Colin Smalls scored 23 points as American held off the University of Albany 81-77 at the Puerto Rico Classico tournament on Sunday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Colin Smalls scored 23 points as American held off the University of Albany 81-77 at the Puerto Rico Classico tournament on Sunday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Colin Smalls scored 23 points as American held off the University of Albany 81-77 at the Puerto Rico Classico tournament on Sunday. Smalls went 8 of 11 from the field (5 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Eagles (3-4). Elijah Stephens scored 20 points while shooting 7 of 10 from the field and 6 for 9 from the line and added five rebounds and six assists. Matt Mayock shot 6 for 8, including 3 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 17 points. Justin Neely led the Great Danes (5-2) in scoring, finishing with 20 points and seven rebounds. Byron Joshua added 17 points and six rebounds for Albany (NY). Kheni Briggs also recorded 14 points. The Great Danes ended a five-game winning streak with the loss. American went into halftime ahead of Albany (NY) 39-30. Smalls put up 12 points in the half. American used an 8-0 run in the second half to build a 19-point lead at 65-46 with 10:27 left in the half before finishing off the win. NEXT UP American plays Saturday against UPR-Mayaguez, and Albany (NY) visits Georgetown on Saturday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. AdvertisementMarquee Raine Acquisition Corp. ( OTCMKTS:MRACU – Get Free Report )’s share price shot up 3% on Friday . The company traded as high as $11.14 and last traded at $11.14. 800 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 98% from the average session volume of 48,791 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.82. Marquee Raine Acquisition Stock Up 3.0 % The company has a fifty day moving average of $11.14 and a 200-day moving average of $11.14. About Marquee Raine Acquisition ( Get Free Report ) Marquee Raine Acquisition Corp., a blank check company, intends to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or related business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The company was founded in 2020 and is based in New York, New York. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Marquee Raine Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Marquee Raine Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Sweet Earth (OTCMKTS:SEHCF) Stock Price Up 38.1% – Here’s What HappenedGT investigates: How will American special operations team intervene in S.China Sea?Yorkshire's only working windmill is well worth a visit
351,000... and counting: bumper Boxing Day Test breaks record for cricket crowd in AustraliaBRIAN Dowling has thanked his "incredible team" as he reached a major TV milestone. The 46-year-old joined The Six O'Clock Show as a main-stay host exactly one year ago today. Brian and his co-host Katja Mia took over for Karen Koster and Greg O'Shea after they both stepped down. The dad-of-two took to Instagram to mark the special day as they reached the one year mark on TV. The Kildare native shared some stunning photos of himself and Katja sitting on the iconic green couch on set together. Brian certainly dressed for the occasion wearing a brown suede blazer, black t-shirt, black trousers, funky pattern socks and black loafers. While Katja looked glamorous in a pair of denim straight leg jeans, an eye-catching pink blazer and matching pointed toe heels. Brian reflected over the past year and thanked his loyal viewers as he captioned his post: "This evening Katja and I turned 1 year old. "It’s been a whole year since we hosted The Six O'Clock Show together. "Time certainly flies when you are having so much fun. "We love what we do and thank you so much to all of you who decide to join us every evening LIVE on the telly. "We never take for granted what we do and we get to work with such an INCREDIBLE team. BRING ON 2025!!!" Katja also wrote: "ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY with my fabulous partner in crime Brian! So grateful that we get to do what we do." While Brian's husband Arthur Gourounlian paid a special tribute on his social media saying: "Happy one year anniversary you beauties. "You both rock The Six O'Clock Show. We adore you." Brian's friends and fans all flooded his comment section with love and support. Sarah wrote: "Living the dream, happy anniversary guys." David commented: "What a duo! Congrats to both of you legends." Aoife remarked: "You’re both amazing, happy anniversary." Brendan added: "Massive congrats, you’re both the absolute best (and maddest!)."
Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, GallupST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The St. Petersburg City Council reversed course Thursday on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of the Tampa Bay Rays’ ballpark, initially voting narrowly for approval and hours later changing course. The reversal on fixing Tropicana Field came after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark. Just two days before, the Pinellas County Commission on its share of the new stadium bonds, leaving that project in limbo. “This is a sad place. I’m really disappointed,” council chair Deborah Figg-Sanders said. “We won’t get there if we keep finding ways we can’t.” The Rays say the lack of progress puts the new stadium plan and the future of Tropicana Field in jeopardy. “I can’t say I’m confident about anything,” Rays co-president Brian Auld told the council members. The Trop’s translucent fiberglass roof was ripped to pieces on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton swept ashore just south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the ballpark, with a city estimate of the total repair costs pegged at $55.7 million. The extensive repairs cannot be finished before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays made a deal with the Yankees to New York’s spring training home across the bay in Tampa. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB wants to give the Rays and Tampa-area politicians time to figure out a path forward given the disruption caused by the hurricane. Assuming Tropicana Field is repaired, the Rays are obligated to play there for three more seasons. “We’re committed to the fans in Tampa Bay,” Manfred said at an owners meeting. “Given all that’s happened in that market, we’re focused on our franchise in Tampa Bay right now.” The initial vote Thursday was to get moving on the roof portion of the repair. Once that’s done, crews could begin working on laying down a new baseball field, fixing damaged seating and office areas and a variety of electronic systems — which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration. The subsequent vote reversing funding for the roof repair essentially means the city and Rays must work on an alternative in the coming weeks so that Tropicana Field can possibly be ready for the 2026 season. The city is legally obligated to fix the roof. “I’d like to pare it down and see exactly what we’re obligated to do,” council member John Muhammad said. The city previously voted to spend to the unroofed Trop. Several council members said before the vote on the $23.7 million to fix the roof that the city is contractually obligated to do so. “I don’t see a way out of it. We have a contract that’s in place,” council member Gina Driscoll said. “We’re obligated to do it. We are going to fix the roof.” The council had voted 4-3 to approve the roof repair. Members who opposed it said there wasn’t enough clarity on numerous issues, including how much would be covered by the ballpark’s insurance and what amount might be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They also noted that city residents who are struggling to repair their homes and businesses damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton are dismayed when they see so many taxpayer dollars going to baseball. “Why are we looking to expend so much money right away when there is so much uncertainty?” council member Richie Floyd said. The new Rays ballpark — now likely to open in 2029, if at all — is part of a larger urban renovation project known as the Historic Gas Plant District, which refers to a predominantly Black neighborhood that was forced out to make way for construction of Tropicana Field and an interstate highway spur. The would transform an 86-acre (34-hectare) tract in the city’s downtown, with plans in the coming years for a Black history museum, affordable housing, a hotel, green space, entertainment venues, and office and retail space. There’s the promise of thousands of jobs as well. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, a prime mover behind the overall project, said it’s not time to give up. “We believe there is a path forward to success,” the mayor said. ___ AP MLB:
Vice President Sara Duterte —Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said the sudden change in her security detail left her confused, noting the lack of any planning made known to her either by the military or the police. At a press conference in Zamboanga City, Duterte said she would decline from making any further comment for now regarding the major shake-up of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG). She said she would like to see first the final arrangements to be made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. “I’d like to hold [my] comment on that because from what I observed, they keep changing their minds and lines about the matter,” Duterte told reporters. READ: Brawner: It’s not true that I will take over VP Duterte’s security group “The AFP would say it will be the PNP [who will take charge of my security], then you have the police saying otherwise. They are not good at planning, which is why it’s confusing.” “My advice to them: Sit down, plan everything before making any statements about it so no one will catch you lying.” She maintained that the threats to her life—a matter she first mentioned during the hot-tempered online press conference she called in the wee hours of Nov. 23—were “very serious.” It was in the context of revealing this supposed threat that she also disclosed having hired a hit man to have President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez killed in case the plot against her succeeds. Citing a “diametric contrast,” she noted that while the threats to her life was being ignored by the authorities—“baliwala”—her statements about the Marcoses and Romualdez were quickly considered a “national security concern.” On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation issued a subpoena asking Duterte to appear on Nov. 29 and shed light on her open threat to the first couple and the House leader. The NBI said she was being investigated for “alleged grave threats” in relation to the anticybercrime law and for “possible violation” of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Reacting to the subpoena, Duterte also said her lawyers would ask the NBI to reschedule her date of appearance, citing a “conflict in schedule” with the ongoing hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability. As to the alleged crimes for which she was called, Duterte said the Marcos administration may now be using the antiterror law in a bid to freeze and seize her assets. She said the same law was applied to expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who faces extradition from Timor-Leste as the prime suspect in the murder of a political rival in 2023. The law might also be invoked to have her passport canceled, place her on an Interpol “red notice,” and have search warrants issued “left and right” so that the government can raid her properties, she added. “This is clearly oppression and harassment. For the remarks [against the President] and to take it out of its logical context,” Duterte said, stressing that being a lawyer herself she knows “what is legal and illegal.” “I know what is actionable and not actionable. It is not actionable to leave a word on someone. It’s not,” Duterte said, referring to her statement about hiring a killer. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . “There’s no active threat there unless I die. There is nothing wrong [with what I said], nothing illegal there.”
Chairman of SC Young Republican to resign following nude photo scandal
Ireland blamed Northern Ireland Office for ‘damaging leaks’, records show
Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Stuck on what to watch, read and listen to during the holidays? Our culture reporters have done the hard work for you. Here are their picks of the best shows, films, podcasts and books from 2024. If it’s good enough for them, it’s definitely good enough for you. Share your favourites in the comments below. Film Challengers (Amazon Prime) Zendaya with Mike Faist (left) and Josh O’Connor in Challengers. Luca Guadagnino’s horny tennis/threesome drama has fallen out of the conversation as a main contender this awards season , but it’s still, hands down, one of my favourite films of the year. And the soundtrack – a pulsating original score of techno bangers composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – has been on my main rotation while exercising or frantically writing to deadlines since the film’s release in April. If you missed it completely (which means you’ve sadly also missed some of the year’s best memes ), the film follows a 13-year love triangle between an injured tennis star turned coach (Zendaya), her husband now limping towards the end of his successful career (Mike Faist), and his one-time best friend still chasing his shot at glory (Josh O’Connor). It’s a feverish film with frenetic cuts and pounding synth melded through moments of emotional intensity. And while that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I think it’s exactly what we need more of in cinema: original stories about somewhat regular adult relationships that take big creative swings. If nothing else, it’ll change the way you watch the Australian Open. Meg Watson TV Hit Man (Netflix) Adria Arjona as Madison and Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in Hit Man. Credit: Brian Roedel/Netflix Who would have thought a straight-to-streaming movie would top my list this year? Certainly not me, but that was before I saw Richard Linklater’s ridiculously rewatchable rom-com-thriller Hit Man . Inspired by a 2001 Texas Monthly article by Skip Hollandsworth, the film has a mild-mannered professor (Glen Powell) picking up a gig impersonating assassins for the police. However, his entire moral code is turned on its head after he falls for a woman (Adria Arjona) who hires him to kill her abusive husband. It’s a crime that this film missed out on a proper theatrical release – not only because it stars Powell (surely 2024’s Hollywood sweetheart after Anyone But You and Twisters ) but because of its expert weaving of comedy into a compelling examination of identity and morality. The leading pair ooze chemistry on-screen, Powell somehow makes three-quarter denim pants look hot, and the ending is entirely unpredictable. It’s refreshing to watch something this fun again. So Richard Linklater, thanks for the hit, man. Nell Geraets Ripley (Netflix) Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley in a scene from Ripley. For the first couple of episodes of Steve Zaillian’s take on the chameleonic serial killer Tom Ripley, I wondered why I was watching, and why it existed. After all, Anthony Minghella’s 1999 film The Talented Mr Ripley did such beautiful justice to Patricia Highsmith’s creation (Ripley appears not just in the 1955 novel of that name, but in another four) that it was hard to see what more could be said. But by the third episode, I was completely won over by the slow accretion of detail and lugubrious pacing, by the stunning black-and-white cinematography, and above all by Andrew Scott’s portrayal . In his hands, Ripley is not the young aspirational social climber Matt Damon gave us. Rather, he’s a mid-career petty conman almost at the end of his tether who happens to get incredibly lucky. But he’s such a bumbler that he very nearly blows it, repeatedly. The character, like the show itself, is a tightrope walk, never more than one dreadful misstep from collapse. By its end I wasn’t just grateful to Zaillian for going there, I couldn’t wait to see where he, and Ripley, might take us next. Karl Quinn Podcast Binchtopia Binchtopia podcast hosts, Eliza McLamb (left) and Julia Hava. Credit: Instagram If you want a laugh or just to keep up to speed with internet culture, then the Binchtopia podcast is for you. It will have you speaking like a TikTok-addicted Gen Z after a few episodes, without having to actually watch TikToks. Hosts Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb, the “girlies”, will take you on a journey as they explore concepts such as doomsday prep, lead you down ridiculous Reddit threads, and take on more serious and complex issues such as eating disorders. Highly researched and organically funny, the podcast is ideal listening for lying on the beach or taking a road trip. It strikes a balance between informative and light-hearted, served with a confronting (at first) but endearing vocal fry. Beware – it’s addictive listening. Kayla Olaya Books Playground by Richard Powers Richard Powers, author of The Overstory and Playground. Credit: David Levenson/Getty Weeks after reading this, I am still thinking about it; it’s the best thing I’ve read in 2024. Powers, whose 2018 novel The Overstory was shortlisted for The Booker and also won the Pulitzer for fiction, has essentially written a book that, once you reach the end, has you rethinking the entire story. Longlisted for this year’s Booker, Playground is tricky to describe without spoiling. It follows the intertwined stories of Todd, a billionaire tech giant, Rafi, his college best friend, Rafi’s Polynesian girlfriend Ina and a famous oceanographer, Evie, over several decades. But it’s also a story about the climate crisis, AI, colonialism, the wonders of the ocean and mortality. And in Powers’ hands, each theme is deftly rendered. I’m already thinking about a re-read. Kylie Northover The Passenger and Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy The late author Cormac McCarthy. Credit: AP The best books you read in a year are often not from that year. So I’m happy to stretch the brief and cite Cormac McCarthy’s masterful final novels, The Passenger and Stella Maris , which were published six weeks apart in late 2022. They tell the stories of Bobby Western and his sister Alicia respectively – complex, wounded geniuses struggling to survive in marginalised America, haunted by their father’s work developing the atomic bomb and their feelings for each other. McCarthy’s writing so erudite, so rich with ideas and so evocative that these two interconnected novels would be the high-water marks of most writers’ careers. But he has also been acclaimed for All The Pretty Horses , Blood Meridian , No Country For Old Men and The Road . I’ve struggled to read McCarthy for years, finding his books too unsettling and emotionally bruising. But that’s changed. I’ve just started his first novel, The Orchard Keeper, and plan to work my way through the rest. Garry Maddox The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard Shirley Hazzard, author of The Transit of Venus. Credit: David Levenson Where the hell have you been, you might well ask when I nominate reading this Australian novel as my fave culture moment of the year; after all, it was published in 1980. The story of orphaned Australians Caroline and Grace Bell making new lives in England starts in the 1950s and ends some time in the 1970s, yet it feels absolutely timeless. Hazzard has a clear eye for personality and character, unflinching but not cruel. She captures, especially in the early pages, the sometimes uneasy relationship between Australians and the world they desperately long to be part of. And she has a deft way with plot: one character’s ultimate demise is signalled soon after we first meet him, though it comes decades in the future; another’s, right at the end, is a shock, a twist, a punch to the guts. Hazzard’s way with language impresses most, especially the way she crafts sentences that are unfinished yet complete. Full of empathy for the desires that guide us and the wrong choices we make, and the fleeting moments of perfection that are so easy to miss, The Transit of Venus is achingly sad and blindingly beautiful. Karl Quinn The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from books editor Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday .
Rutgers tries to avoid another Ivy loss when Columbia visitsRavens’ Derrick Henry responds to Chargers LB Khalil Mack’s comments
Shaky Lebanon ceasefire rests on Netanyahu's restraint and Hezbollah's firepowerA deal which could see the Elgin Marbles returned to Greece is “still some distance” away, George Osborne has signalled. The former Tory chancellor, now chairman of the British Museum , suggested Sir Keir Starmer had contributed to a warmer spirit of the negotiations over the famous ancient artworks. Greece has long called for the return of the Marbles, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, and maintains they were illegally removed from Athens’ acropolis during a period of foreign occupation. The British Museum – where they are currently on display – is forbidden by law from giving away any of its artefacts, and the Government has no plans to change the law to permit a permanent move. But under Mr Osborne’s leadership, the museum is negotiating the possibility of a long-term loan of the sculptures, in exchange for rolling exhibitions of famous artworks. No 10 has indicated the Prime Minister is unlikely to stand in the way of such a deal. Speaking on Political Currency, the podcast he hosts alongside former Labour politician Ed Balls, Mr Osborne said the museum was “looking to see if we can come to some arrangement where at some point some of the sculptures are in Athens, where, of course, they were originally sited”. He added: “And in return, Greece lends us some of its treasures, and we made a lot of progress on that, but we’re still some distance from any kind of agreement.” The Greek government has suggested negotiations with the museum have taken a warmer tone since Labour came to power in the summer. Mr Osborne appeared to concur with this view and praised Sir Keir’s hands-off approach, adding: “It is not the same as Rishi Sunak, who refused to see the Greek prime minister, if you remember, he sort of stood him up. “So it seems to me a more sensible and diplomatic way to proceed.” Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek premier, discussed the Elgin Marbles with Sir Keir when they met on Tuesday morning at Downing Street, he said after returning to Athens. Mr Mitsotakis has signalled his government is awaiting developments on the negotiations. A diplomatic spat between the Greek leader and Mr Sunak emerged last year when the then-prime minister refused to meet his counterpart. Mr Mitsotakis had compared splitting the Elgin Marbles from those still in Athens to cutting the Mona Lisa in half. The marble statues came from friezes on the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple and have been displayed at the British Museum for more than 200 years. They were removed by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century when he was British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Some of the remaining temple statues are on display in the purpose-built Acropolis Museum in Athens, and Greece has called for the collections to be reunited.Scoop: A huge wave of House members is eyeing runs for other offices in 2026