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Raye's sophomore album, 'This Music May Contain Hope', is a bold, 73-minute concept album divided into four sections. The album tells the story of an emotional breakdown caused by romantic woe, online criticism, and a troubling call from her grandmother.The album features a wide range of musical styles, from retro soul to swing-era jazz, house music, and show tunes. Raye's soprano is occasionally deployed in distinctly operatic style, while her vocals take on the careful enunciation of a musical theatre star.The album boasts rococo orchestration reminiscent of Hollywood's golden era, with guest stars like Al Green and Hans Zimmer. While the album occasionally feels like A Bit Much, its highlights are 'skyscraping,' with tracks like 'Nightingale Lane' and 'Beware … the South London Loverboy' showcasing Raye's incredible vocal range and genre-bending style.Despite some flaws, the album pays off more often than it fails, making it a rare event in the 21st-century music scene: a wildly ambitious and fascinatingly messy miscellany of ideas that refuses to be pigeonholed.

The Albanese government is likely to introduce an extra levy on gas producers' high profits in response to the Iran crisis driving up energy costs for Australians. The prime minister's department has requested Treasury modelling of additional levies on gas companies, stating that energy producers 'should not benefit from high international prices at the expense of domestic customers'.Australia's gas industry is reaping extraordinary profits while households and businesses struggle with high fuel prices. This has sparked calls for a fair share levy to ensure gas companies pay their fair share of tax. The levy, based on Norway's taxation model, would see Australia share around 50% of profits, much more in line with world standards.Currently, Australia shares only 27% of fossil fuel profits, with some estimates as low as 18% when profit is defined in cashflow terms. In contrast, other major fossil fuel exporting countries typically share between 75% and 90% of profits.The fair share levy would provide significant and immediate cost-of-living relief if some of the revenue raised was returned to households. Research shows 87% of voters support a fair share levy, with only 3% disagreeing.Despite potential outrage from the gas industry, the levy is designed to not increase gas prices or deter investment, as seen in Norway's successful implementation. A stable, long-term commitment to the fair share levy would provide investment certainty.

EasyJet's chief executive, Kenton Jarvis, has announced that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has started to impact flight bookings, with a notable drop in reservations for destinations such as Turkey, Cyprus, and Egypt. Bookings have slowed for summer, with passengers opting for 'usual suspects' like Spain, Greece, and Portugal instead.Jarvis attributed the decline to the Iran war and its effect on consumer confidence. He mentioned that while the airline has hedged much of its fuel into next year, soaring kerosene prices will likely lead to a rise in air fares by the end of the summer.Fuel prices have surged, with easyJet currently paying $700 (£520) a tonne for jet fuel, compared to current spot prices of $1,850. Jarvis noted that while most European airlines are well-hedged, fares will likely increase as the higher costs are passed on to consumers.The airline's hedging strategy means it can still secure a price of $1,000 in six months, but market expectations are that fuel prices will decrease. However, Jarvis warned that the reality is that prices will start feeding into consumer costs over the back end of summer.In related news, easyJet has reopened a base at Newcastle airport, which it closed in 2020 due to Covid-19. The base will bring 140 jobs and support over 1,000 new jobs in the wider north-east region, with plans to fly up to 800,000 holidaymakers out of Newcastle this summer.

The Magic Faraway Tree, a film adapted by Simon Farnaby from Enid Blyton's late 1930s and 40s books, is a thoroughly likable and sweet-natured family fantasy film perfect for the Easter holidays. The movie distills the spirit of adventure and outdoorsy fun from the original stories and transfers it to a new world where all generations are longing to escape electronic devices and AI.The film features a talented cast, including Claire Foy as Polly, a brilliant electronics engineer, and Andrew Garfield as Tim, her househusband. The story follows their family as they move to the countryside and discover a magical tree that leads to a world of wonder and enchantment. The cast delivers black-belt character turns and grade-A gags, making the film a delightful treat for audiences of all ages.The film's eccentric quirkiness and innocent jollity are reminiscent of classic tales like Narnia and the Shire. With its love of sweets and silly contraptions, the movie also pays homage to Ian Fleming's Caractacus Pott in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and BBC TV's The Goodies and the Beanstalk. Overall, The Magic Faraway Tree is a charming and adventurous tale that is sure to delight families and fans of fantasy films alike.

Europe has achieved staggering progress in clean power production, but its efforts are being undermined by a slow transition away from fuel-burning machines. According to Adrian Hiel, director of the Electrification Alliance, the EU has radically transformed its power supply but now needs to focus on increasing the use of electricity in everyday applications.The sluggish pace of electrification has left households exposed to higher bills as the Iran war has driven oil and gas prices to soar. The International Energy Agency has called for a faster shift to electric cars and heat pumps to complement its fuel-saving action plan.Hiel emphasized that high taxes on electricity are a major barrier to the green transition, suggesting that electricity should be taxed like a fresh apple, not like alcohol and tobacco. EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, have acknowledged the need to adjust energy taxes to promote clean air and secure energy.The Electrification Alliance, which includes industry associations like SolarPower Europe and the International Copper Association Europe, is pushing for a faster switch to a decarbonized economy. Hiel noted that the falling cost of clean technology has made it easier for people to ditch fossil fuels, citing his own experience of insulating his home and installing a heat pump and solar panels.Looking ahead, Hiel warned that gas prices are likely to remain high for several years, putting pressure on governments to help households pay their bills and potentially hindering efforts to promote home electrification.

The Trump administration has announced it will pay French energy major TotalEnergies $1 billion to kill plans to construct wind farms off the US east coast. This decision comes as a fuel crisis triggered by the war in Iran drives up global fossil fuel prices.The deal is the latest blow to the US offshore wind industry, which has faced repeated disruptions to multi-billion-dollar projects under Donald Trump. Trump has expressed his dislike for wind turbines, citing their ugliness, cost, and inefficiency, and his administration has moved to increase domestic fossil fuel production.In the deal, TotalEnergies will give up two offshore leases it had purchased off New York and North Carolina. The US Department of the Interior will reimburse the company $928 million it paid for the leases under Joe Biden. TotalEnergies has pledged not to develop any new offshore wind projects in the country and will invest nearly $1 billion this year in the development of four trains at the Rio Grande LNG plant in Texas, and the development of upstream conventional oil in the US Gulf and shale gas production.Critics of the deal, including climate advocates and environmental groups, argue that it will deepen the country's dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and undermine efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources. They also point out that offshore wind projects can provide reliable and affordable power to the grid. The decision has been met with criticism from groups such as Oceantic Network, Evergreen Action, and Sierra Club, who argue that it will leave American consumers struggling to pay their electricity bills and undermine efforts to address climate change.

Leonid Radvinsky, the owner of the adult content platform OnlyFans, has passed away at the age of 43 after a prolonged battle with cancer. The company announced his death on Monday, stating that he passed away peacefully.Radvinsky, a Ukrainian-American billionaire, had a net worth of about $3.8 billion as of May 2025. He acquired OnlyFans' parent company, Fenix International Limited, in 2018 and served as the company's director and majority shareholder. Born in Odesa, he grew up in Chicago and studied economics at Northwestern University.According to reports, Radvinsky began running pornography sites as a teenager. OnlyFans, founded in 2016, is best known for allowing adult film actors and sex workers to monetize their content through a subscription-based model. The company typically takes a 20% cut of payments, leaving creators with 80% of the revenue.In recent months, Radvinsky had been in talks to sell a 60% stake in OnlyFans in a deal that would have valued the company at around $8 billion. He had moved his ownership to a trust in 2024. OnlyFans has faced controversy, including a 2024 Reuters investigation that reported on women who claimed to have been sexually enslaved to make money from the site.Despite efforts to expand beyond sexually explicit content, pornographic material remains OnlyFans' best-known product. The platform has been used by various creators, including Olympians and teachers, who have turned to the site as a way to supplement their income.

A new and disturbing trend in scams, known as 'friendship fraud,' is on the rise, specifically targeting older people who are lonely or bereaved. This type of scam involves criminals using social media platforms to build relationships with potential victims, often over a long period, before requesting money for various reasons. The scam typically begins with a connection on social media, where the fraudster will research and tailor their initial messages to appear as though they share common interests with the victim. Once a level of trust is established, the scammer will begin to make requests for money, often for small amounts or seemingly urgent needs. According to TSB, the average amount lost by victims of friendship fraud is £3,100. In some cases, victims have lost as much as £4,000 or more over several years. The fraudsters often request payments through bank transfers or gift cards, making it difficult for victims to recover their losses. Experts warn that older people who are lonely or bereaved are particularly vulnerable to these scams, as they may be more desperate for human connection and more likely to trust someone who appears to share their interests. Caroline Abrahams of Age UK describes the fraud as 'especially horrible and insidious,' noting that it can have devastating consequences for victims, including financial loss, health issues, and a breakdown in trust. To avoid falling victim to friendship fraud, experts advise severing contact immediately if someone you met online requests money. If you suspect you or someone you know has been targeted, report it to Report Fraud and discuss it with your bank. Documenting all interactions with the scammer can also help in efforts to recover losses or prosecute the fraudster.

The WNBA has made history with its new collective bargaining agreement, a seven-year deal that includes a salary cap increase to $7m, maximum salaries approaching $1.4m, and 20% revenue sharing. This landmark agreement is a major step forward for female athletes, who have long faced unequal pay and respect in the sports industry.Jemele Hill, a sports commentator, emphasized that women in sports have had to fight for dignity and respect since the beginning. The previous agreement left WNBA players with only 9% of league revenue, compared to 49-51% for NBA players, 62% for NFL players, and 50% for NHL players. This disparity is a stark reminder of the gender pay gap that persists across industries.The new deal is not just about numbers; it's about changing the narrative for female athletes. As a 'Girl Dad,' the author spoke with his daughters, who play volleyball, about the implications of this agreement. They shared their own experiences with unequal treatment in sports, from being forced to practice outside while boys used the gym to receiving old uniforms.The WNBA players' fight for fair pay and respect sends a powerful message to young girls everywhere. As the author's daughter noted, seeing WNBA players demand fair pay reminds her that she must stand up for her worth and not let society undervalue her. This moment matters, as it shows that solidarity and advocacy can lead to significant change.The causes of the gender pay gap are structural, rooted in unequal opportunities and norms that shape women's careers. However, the WNBA's new deal offers hope for a more equitable future. It's a reminder that fair pay is not just a matter of economics, but also of respect and dignity for female athletes.