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Executive Summary: A Misfire in Netflix’s Nostalgia PushThe streaming giant Netflix has revived a dated British comedy formula with *Ladies First*, but the Guardian finds the result an excruciatingly unfunny, high‑concept experiment that wastes the star power of Rosamund Pike and Sacha Baron Cohen.Plot Premise and Critical ReceptionThe film imagines a world where gender roles are reversed: the protagonist Damien Sachs (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) wakes up to find women dominating the workplace while men struggle for relevance. Rosamund Pike portrays a ruthless executive version of her character, yet even her performance cannot rescue the script, which the reviewer describes as a “criminal waste of talent.”Runtime and Production ContextAt a brief 84‑minute length, the movie attempts to pack a “what‑if” scenario alongside references to other gender‑swap comedies such as *I Feel Pretty* and *Isn’t It Romantic*. The review notes that the film is a remake of a French comedy, highlighting Netflix’s strategy of repurposing existing IP rather than investing in original, high‑quality content.Implications for Netflix’s Comedy PortfolioThe negative appraisal suggests that Netflix’s reliance on nostalgic, low‑budget comedies may erode its reputation for delivering fresh, engaging humor. By prioritising cheap concepts over substantive storytelling, the streamer risks alienating both talent and audiences seeking smarter satire.Future Outlook for Gender‑Satire FilmsGiven the film’s failure to blend humor with insightful commentary on workplace gender dynamics, the review predicts a cautious approach from studios and streaming platforms when green‑lighting similar gender‑swap premises. Success will likely depend on sharper writing and more nuanced performances rather than repetitive, one‑joke setups.

The Unlikely Union of Mabe Fratti and Bill Orcutt This dreamlike, intimate album unites one of experimental music's current stars with one of its most prolific veterans. During an interview promoting 2024's acclaimed Sentir Que No Sabes, 34-year-old Guatemalan cellist Mabe Fratti praised Bill Orcutt, the 64-year-old US guitarist whose disjointed, aggressive four-string playing – honed in 90s noise-rock band Harry Pussy – graces more than 100 records. Orcutt reached out, and they started sharing files. While their friendship is new, Almost Waking reveals a deep kinship between these true originals. The Album's Conversational Duets The album centres on conversational duets between Fratti's cello and Orcutt's guitar. On the overdriven Forced & Forced & Forced, Orcutt's trademark string-snapping plucking is matched by Fratti's fragmented, agitated bow-scraping. Just as both players can wrestle with their instruments, they know how to make them feel like voices. On Steps of the Sun, the cello and guitar harmonise tenderly and take turns as lead, performed with the complex phrasing and dynamism of a sung duet. Vocal Appearances and Musical Chemistry Fratti's soaring vocals appear on two tracks. El Inicio Es Cuestión De Suerte is a stately ballad set to a looping guitar melody, while Todo Puede Ser Error has more showmanship, featuring a jangling Orcutt solo. If the instrumentals reveal how naturally Fratti fits in Orcutt's spidery world – her lusher, warped art-pop shaped by the same fragmentation – these tracks prove his adversarial style can work in more melodic settings. While Almost Waking feels like an aside for Fratti and Orcutt, both are reframed in this wonderfully alive-sounding album.

Retatrutide Delivers Up to 28% Body‑Weight Reduction in Phase 3 StudyA new weight‑loss drug has helped participants in a sizable trial lose much more weight than other obesity drugs already on the market – up to an average of 28% of their body weight, Eli Lilly announced on Thursday. Phase 3 Trial Design and Dosing RegimenThe Indiana‑based company randomized 2,339 adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight‑related comorbidity (no diabetes) to receive Retatrutide at 4 mg, 9 mg, 12 mg, or placebo for 80 weeks. The drug is a once‑weekly triple hormone receptor agonist targeting GLP‑1, GIP, and glucagon. Quantitative Outcomes and Safety ProfileAverage weight loss: 70.3 lb (28.3%) at the 12 mg dose.Average loss at 9 mg: 64.4 lb (25.9%).Average loss at 4 mg: 47.2 lb (19.0%).45.3% of 12 mg participants lost ≥30% of body weight.65.3% reduced BMI below 30; 37.5% of those starting with BMI ≥ 40 achieved this.Side‑effects increased with dose: nausea (28.6%‑42.4%), diarrhea (25.2%‑34.1%), vomiting (up to 25%).For comparison, Zepbound yields 15‑20% loss over 72 weeks and Wegovy 14‑19% over 64‑72 weeks. Implications for the Obesity‑Drug LandscapeThe magnitude of loss positions Retatrutide as the most effective pharmacologic option to date, potentially shifting prescriber preference away from existing GLP‑1 monotherapies. Its triple‑agonist mechanism adds glucagon, a hormone absent from current products, which may enhance metabolic control and appetite suppression. Future Outlook: Approval Path and Market PotentialAnalysts expect regulatory submissions within the next year, with a likely U.S. FDA review in 2027. If approved, Retatrutide could capture a sizable share of the rapidly expanding obesity‑treatment market, prompting competitors to explore multi‑agonist formulations.

The Lead: A Spring Showcase of Contrasting Pollination TacticsOn a sunny May morning along a former railway line, thousands of flowers display a startling range of pollination mechanisms—from the violent, explosive release of pollen in broom (Cytisus scoparius) to the precise, almost surgical delivery by white dead‑nettle (Lamium album) and the generous, pollinator‑free bounty of dandelions (Taraxacum officinale).Location: former railway line, May morningSpecies observed: broom, white dead‑nettle, dandelionPrimary pollinators: bumblebees, common carder beeBroom’s Explosive Pollen Release: Violence in the Keel PetalWhen a bumblebee lands on a broom flower it finds no nectar; the moment its abdomen contacts the keel petal, ten stamens and a coiled stigma burst free, slamming pollen onto the insect and delivering a “gut‑punch.” The trap is triggered in almost every flower, ensuring both pollen export and collection in a single, forceful act.Mechanism: explosive stamens and stigma releaseEffect on pollinator: brief contact, no nectar rewardOutcome: simultaneous pollen deposition and collectionWhite Dead‑Nettle’s Precise Pollen Transfer: Gentle EngineeringIn contrast, white dead‑nettle hides its stamens inside a hooded standard petal. A visiting common carder bee probes the flower’s throat for nectar; hidden stamens deposit a dab of pollen onto the bee’s thorax, which is later deposited on the next flower’s fork‑tipped stigma. The process is subtle, causing no apparent distress to the pollinator.Mechanism: concealed stamens within hooded petalPollinator interaction: gentle pollen placementResult: efficient cross‑pollination with minimal disturbanceDandelions’ Redundant Generosity: The Free Lunch for BeesDandelions produce abundant nectar and pollen but are apomictic, setting seed without fertilisation. For bumblebees the flowers are an “all‑you‑can‑eat” buffet, providing essential spring energy even though the plant does not rely on pollinators for reproduction.Reproductive strategy: apomixis (self‑seeded)Pollinator role: energy source, not required for seed setEcological benefit: supports pollinator populations during early seasonEcological Implications: Why Diverse Strategies MatterThe coexistence of violent, precise, and redundant pollination tactics illustrates the evolutionary arms race between plants and their visitors. Violent mechanisms like broom’s may deter less efficient pollinators, while gentle precision maximises pollen placement. Redundant generosity, as seen in dandelions, supports pollinator populations during scarce periods, indirectly sustaining ecosystem health.Evolutionary pressure: plant‑pollinator co‑adaptationCommunity impact: varied strategies sustain diverse pollinator assemblagesConservation insight: preserving a mix of pollination types benefits ecosystem resilienceLooking Ahead: Future Directions for Plant‑Pollinator CoevolutionAs climate change reshapes flowering phenology, the balance between these strategies could shift. Species that can both attract a wide range of pollinators and ensure successful fertilisation—whether through force, finesse, or self‑sufficiency—may gain a competitive edge, influencing future biodiversity patterns.Potential shift: altered timing of flower bloom and pollinator activityAdaptive advantage: flexible pollination mechanismsResearch focus: monitoring how climate impacts plant‑pollinator dynamics

The Squad Revelation Thomas Tuchel is set to announce England's 2026 World Cup squad. The big announcement comes at 9:45 am UK time. The Probable Squad David Hytner and Jacob Steinberg have done their analysis and made their predictions on the final 26. Here's their probable squad: Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford Everton, Dean Henderson Crystal Palace, James Trafford Manchester City Defenders: Reece James Chelsea, Tino Livramento Newcastle, John Stones Manchester City, Marc Guéhi Manchester City, Ezri Konsa Aston Villa, Dan Burn Newcastle, Jarell Quansah Bayer Leverkusen, Nico O'Reilly Manchester City Midfielders: Jordan Henderson Brentford, Elliot Anderson Nottingham Forest, Declan Rice Arsenal, Kobbie Mainoo Manchester United, James Garner Everton, Jude Bellingham Real Madrid, Morgan Rogers Aston Villa Forwards: Bukayo Saka Arsenal, Noni Madueke Arsenal, Eberechi Eze Arsenal, Marcus Rashford Barcelona, Anthony Gordon Newcastle, Harry Kane Bayern Munich, Ollie Watkins Aston Villa, Ivan Toney Al-Ahli The Omissions Trent Alexander-Arnold has been omitted from the squad. Djed Spence has been included but reportedly broke his jaw after a collision with Liam Delap of Chelsea on Tuesday. Maguire was the first to go public about being left out, with the defender taking to social media to express disappointment over failing to make the cut. The most eye-catching omissions came in the attacking areas, with Foden and Palmer left out due to underwhelming seasons. The Surprising Inclusions Tuchel has been bold with his selections, notably turning to Toney for the first time in 12 months. The former Brentford striker, who now plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, was part of England's squad at Euro 2024 but has not made an international appearance since coming on as a substitute in the friendly defeat by Senegal last June.

English Heritage has finished a 7‑metre‑high, £1 million reconstruction of a 4,500‑year‑old Neolithic hall, called the Kusuma Neolithic Hall, near the Stonehenge visitor centre. The structure is slated to open to the public this summer and will later serve as an immersive educational hub for schools. Recreating a 4,500‑Year‑Old Neolithic Hall at Stonehenge The hall is based on the archaeological footprint of Durrington 68, a “square‑in‑the‑circle” building discovered two miles from Stonehenge. Excavations first began in 1928 by Maud Cunnington and were revisited in 2007 by the Stonehenge Riverside Project. The reconstruction features a horseshoe‑shaped ring of post holes and four massive internal roof‑support pillars, mirroring the original layout. Experimental archaeologist Luke Winter oversaw the design, using Neolithic carpentry studies and pollen data to ensure authenticity. Every timber was shaped with replica stone tools, and the frame was aligned with the winter solstice – the shadow of the central post falls precisely on the midsummer sunrise. £1 Million Investment and Volunteer Workforce Cost: £1 million Construction period: nine months Volunteer involvement: >100 volunteers contributed hand‑crafted timber work Opening: Summer 2026 Future educational capacity: aim to serve nearly 100,000 students annually by 2031 Educational and Cultural Impact on Heritage Tourism The hall forms the first phase of English Heritage’s broader educational expansion, which will also include the Clore Discovery Lab and Weston Learning Studio, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. By offering a free, hands‑on experience – from making prehistoric cheese to shaping pottery – the project is expected to boost visitor numbers and deepen public engagement with Neolithic heritage. Curator Win Scutt emphasizes that the reconstruction highlights the communal spirit of Neolithic societies, providing a tangible illustration of how ancient peoples built collective monuments as expressions of social identity. Future Role in Neolithic Research and Learning Beyond tourism, the hall serves as a living laboratory for researchers. The experimental construction process has already shifted expert confidence from a 50 % to a 75 % likelihood that the original Durrington 68 structure was roofed. Ongoing studies will use the hall to test hypotheses about building techniques, seasonal alignments, and social organization. As the site opens to schools, it will become a model for immersive archaeology, potentially inspiring similar reconstructions across the United Kingdom and informing curriculum development for the national education programme on the Neolithic period.

Lead: Burnham’s Vision of “Manchesterism” Gains MomentumAndy Burnham used the Great North Investment Summit in Leeds to argue that Britain has been on the wrong path for four decades, urging a return to a more publicly‑controlled, regionally‑balanced economy. His call for “Manchesterism” – a blend of historic free‑trade liberalism and modern public ownership – is resonating within Labour’s left‑wing circles and among northern voters.Burnham’s North‑Focused Narrative at the Great North Investment SummitSpeaking to an audience of devolution advocates, Burnham highlighted the “draining away of economic, social and political power” from the North, blaming deregulation, privatisation and austerity. He cited everyday hardships – “people paying over the odds for energy, housing, water, transport” – as evidence that the current model is unsustainable. The speech also referenced his own political journey, from a 2015 Labour leadership contender to mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017.Economic Indicators Highlighting the North’s DeclinePolls give Burnham only 45% chance of winning a future national election, yet his regional appeal remains strong.Rising costs for basic services are cited as a symptom of “the worst of modern capitalism”.The Bee Network’s uniform £2 fare is presented as a successful public‑ownership model that could be scaled nationally.Potential Shift in Labour Strategy and Regional Power DynamicsBurnham’s ideas are prompting a re‑evaluation within Labour. Rachel Reeves has announced a “summer of cost‑of‑living activism”, while Wes Streeting is now open to a wealth tax – both moves echoing Burnham’s critique of austerity‑driven policies. If Labour adopts a “Manchester‑centric” platform, it could reshape the party’s relationship with northern constituencies and challenge Keir Starmer’s current direction.Outlook: Can Manchesterism Shape a New National Agenda?The next test will be whether Burnham’s blueprint can move beyond regional rhetoric to a viable national policy package. Critics point to the potential cost of public‑ownership schemes, but supporters argue that a “productive state” – directly owning essential capital – could restore economic balance. If Labour integrates these ideas, Britain may see a renewed focus on northern investment, public control of utilities, and a political narrative that positions the North as the engine of future growth.

The LeadA friend of mine was recently left in tears after filling up the car she relies on to drive to work. Thanks to the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, prices at the pumps have soared. She wasn't sure how her family was going to make it to the next paycheck.It is a personal story and a distressing one, but the big picture is truly obscene. Fossil fuel companies are raking in monstrous, unearned war profits taken from the pockets of people like you, me, my friend, and any of us who fills up a vehicle or pays an energy bill.The War-Profits Bonanza$30m an hour: that's the pure, unearned profits banked by the world's top 100 oil and gas companies in the first month of the conflict in Iran, purely due to the spike in the oil price. Now the first numbers are in, and that $30m may have been a major underestimate.Shell's profit for the first three months of 2026 more than doubled to $6.9bn, as did BP's, to $3.2bn. TotalEnergies profits also surged by more than 50%, up to $5.8bn. Even in the Gulf itself, where the flow of oil through the strait of Hormuz has been heavily restricted, some companies have still flourished. Aramco, the state oil company of Saudi Arabia, saw its profits soar by 26% to $33.6bn in the first quarter.The Financial Impact on ConsumersThose four companies alone, benefiting not just from the oil price hike but also bumper oil-trading profits, made $23m an hour for the whole of January, February and March. And the Iran conflict only started on 28 February.To get some idea of the scale of this, imagine I gave you $6,200. What would you do? Pay off a loan? Book a fancy holiday? A second later, I give you another $6,200; then again, for hours, weeks and months. That is the rate of profit of just those four companies.There is plenty more to come for the industry. Oil and gas supplies will take months to return to prewar levels, and reserves are getting dangerously low. Even if the oil price remains at today's level of about $100 a barrel, those 100 companies will make $234bn by the end of the year. Remember, the companies, and petrostates such as Russia, have done no extra work for this, just ridden a soaring oil price. Also remember, you are paying for this. Where I live in the UK, household energy bills are about to jump by £209 ($280) a year for the average home.The Industry's Climate ObstructionThe profits are extreme, but not new: big oil and gas has been wildly profitable for decades. It has made an average $1tn a year in pure profit for about 50 years. The fossil fuel sector also benefits from explicit subsidies that totalled $1.3tn in 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund.These riches have funded the lobbying and campaigns that block climate action and have done so for years, long after the science became crystal clear. As an example of the consequences, the UK's official climate advisers said on Tuesday that all care homes and hospitals will need air conditioning within the coming 10 years, to stop the heat killing people.The Green Transition AccelerationBut here's that silver lining I promised: these peak profits contain the seeds of their own downfall. Sky-high fossil fuel prices are pushing people, companies and nations to supercharge their rush towards green power for the simple reason that it is now cheaper and more reliable. Solar power does not need to transit through the strait of Hormuz, as Bill McKibben has observed.The numbers on the surge in renewable energy deployment, already exponential, are not yet in, but they will almost certainly be huge. Green funds are already attracting billions of dollars in new investments and one consultancy estimates that an oil price of $100 a barrel will drive $4tn of extra green investment by 2030.Big oil remains a formidable political force but, on the ground, people are already voting with their feet. Sales of new electric cars in the UK leapt by 59% in April, for example. The pain and anger of today's energy crisis may yet become a critical turning point in confronting the climate crisis.

English Homes with Lush Party Gardens for Sale The Guardian has featured a selection of homes for sale in England that boast impressive gardens, ideal for hosting parties and outdoor gatherings. Garden Party Havens These properties offer a range of outdoor spaces, from expansive lawns to beautifully landscaped gardens, perfect for entertaining friends and family. The Allure of Outdoor Living With the increasing importance of outdoor living, these homes cater to those seeking to enhance their lifestyle with luxurious garden spaces. Showcasing England's Hidden Gems The featured homes are located across England, offering a glimpse into the country's diverse property market and the opportunity to find a dream home with a stunning garden.