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Billy Livsey, an American musician who arrived in England in the 1970s, transitioned from touring with Slim Chance and Gallagher & Lyle to writing hits for Shakin’ Stevens, Elkie Brooks and Paul Young before being tapped to write for the teen pop group Five Star. In the mid‑80s Livsey co‑wrote the chart‑topping single “System Addict” with Gary Bell, and a few months later his publisher suggested a partnership with lyricist Peter Sinfield. After a brief exchange of a rough melody, Sinfield asked Livsey to pen the words over the phone, resulting in the lyric sheet for what would become “Rain Or Shine.” The demo featured the renowned session vocalist Tessa Niles, whose résumé includes touring with The Police and singing on Eric Clapton’s “Layla” on his Unplugged album. Livsey recalls that her effortless delivery set the tone for the final recording. Recording took place at London’s iconic Mayfair Studios, a venue that had hosted legends such as George Michael and Tina Turner. Livsey admits he “stole” a sequencer fragment from Donald Fagen’s “New Frontier” to give the track a subtle, progressive‑pop edge. Five Star’s lead vocalist Deniece Pearson remembers the demo’s female vocal as a revelation compared to an earlier male‑sung version of “All Fall Down.” Her father and manager, Buster Pearson, urged her to “listen to the lady on the demo and articulate your words.” Because she was wearing braces, Deniece deliberately over‑enunciated to keep the metal from sticking to her lips – a quirky detail she still laughs about. Studio sessions were far from smooth. Frequent electrical glitches prompted Livsey to joke, “Gremlin. Gremlin.” Yet he remained confident, insisting that such hiccups often precede a hit record – a prediction that proved accurate. Upon release, “Rain Or Shine” became a staple of Five Star’s live repertoire, earning spots on Top of the Pops, the Royal Variety Performance and the Miss World stage. During a tour, a fan pulled Deniece into the audience pit, only to be rescued by her “hunky Italian” security guard, a moment she now recounts with affection. Today the song closes the group’s concerts as an encore, with audiences singing along and often moving Deniece to tears. She credits Livsey’s melodic craftsmanship, noting that the 80s songwriting formula – a strong melody followed by soaring vocals – remains the song’s enduring charm.

Donald Trump has repeatedly framed inflation as a "hoax" and declared that he has "won affordability," yet independent analyses reveal that his touted initiatives deliver only marginal relief for most Americans.One of his most publicized programs, the TrumpRX prescription‑drug platform, lists just 61 medications out of the thousands needed nationwide. Moreover, price comparisons show that a medium dose of Wegovy costs $349 on TrumpRX, while the same dose sells for $163 in Japan and $198 in Germany. Similar gaps appear for diabetes drug Xigduo and autoimmune medication Xeljanz, which are significantly cheaper abroad.The website markets itself as a solution for uninsured, cash‑paying patients, but it does nothing for the roughly 85 % of Americans who already have prescription coverage.On housing, Trump’s executive order banning Wall Street firms from buying single‑family homes is unlikely to move the needle. Institutional investors own only about 2 % of such homes, while the nation faces a shortage of roughly 4.7 million units, according to Zillow. The ongoing war in Iran has also pushed mortgage rates higher, further straining affordability.Gasoline prices have surged since the Iran conflict began, climbing to an average of $4.10 per gallon – a 37 % increase from the pre‑war level of $2.98.Food costs tell a similar story. The Consumer Price Index shows a 3.1 % rise in overall food prices from February 2025 to February 2026, with coffee up 18.4 %, beef up 14.4 %, and fresh vegetables up 5.4 %. Tariffs championed by the administration have contributed to these hikes.International bodies echo domestic concerns. The OECD projects U.S. inflation to exceed 4 % this year, largely driven by the Iran war, a level higher than the 3 % rate recorded at the end of the Biden administration.Trump also claims to have eliminated taxes on overtime and Social Security benefits. In reality, overtime earnings are still subject to federal income tax on the base wage and to full Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes. Only the overtime premium enjoys a partial tax break. Likewise, more than half of Social Security recipients will continue to owe income tax on their benefits, contradicting the administration’s “no‑tax” narrative.Other initiatives, such as the “Trump Accounts” child‑savings program, provide a one‑time $1,000 seed deposit and allow families to contribute up to $5,000 annually. While beneficial for affluent households, the scheme offers limited assistance to families living paycheck‑to‑paycheck.Policy decisions have also raised costs for vulnerable groups. By opposing extensions of Obamacare subsidies, average health‑care premiums have risen by over 20 % for more than 20 million people. Simultaneously, proposed cuts to LIHEAP threaten heating and cooling assistance for roughly 6 million low‑income households.In sum, Trump’s affordability rhetoric serves more as political branding than substantive economic relief. The modest scope of his programs and the persistence of rising prices suggest that most working‑class Americans will see little improvement in their day‑to‑day expenses.

The Artemis II astronauts are on course to set a new distance record on Monday when they fly by the moon without stopping, then swing around for planet Earth. The crew consists of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch of NASA, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.During the flyby, the astronauts will travel 5,000 miles (8,047km) beyond the moon, exceeding the distance record set by the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission in 1970. The Apollo 13 astronauts reached a maximum of 248,655 miles (400,171km) from Earth before making their turn, while the Artemis II crew is expected to exceed that by about 4,000 miles (6,437km).The Orion capsule's roughly six-hour flyby on Monday promises views of the moon's far side that were too dark or too difficult to see by the Apollo program astronauts who preceded them more than half a century ago. A total solar eclipse also awaits them as the moon blocks the sun, exposing snippets of shimmering corona.“We'll get eyes on the moon, kind of map it out and then continue to go back in force,” flight director Judd Frieling said. The astronauts will take turns capturing the lunar views out their windows and will be able to make out “definite chunks of the far side that have never been seen” by humans.Once the capsule rounds the moon, it will take four days to return to Earth. NASA is aiming for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on 10 April, nine days after its Florida launch.

Two weeks after the United States and Israel entered a direct conflict with Iran, the White House faced mounting criticism that the war would drive up fuel costs and anger voters. Former President Donald Trump attempted to calm concerns on Truth Social, noting that the United States is the world’s largest oil producer and that higher prices translate into higher revenues for American companies. Now, five weeks into the hostilities, the reality is becoming clear: defense contractors and oil companies are the primary beneficiaries of the escalating energy market. The Department of Defense announced that Boeing will partner with Lockheed Martin to triple U.S. production of missile seekers, a move that sent Lockheed Martin’s stock up 25% since the start of the year. The announcement also lifted Boeing’s share price, underscoring how wartime procurement is boosting aerospace valuations. At the same time, Iran’s continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one‑fifth of global oil and gas flows—has pushed U.S. crude from $65 to over $110 per barrel in just a month. Pump prices have mirrored this surge, breaking the $4‑a‑gallon barrier for the first time since 2022. Oil majors have responded with sharp stock gains; ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron have each risen more than 20% year‑to‑date. According to market‑research firm Rystad Energy, U.S. oil producers stand to earn an additional $63 billion as barrels trade above $100. “Oil prices in March have been materially higher than anyone expected, delivering a windfall for the vast majority of U.S. energy companies,” said Leo Mariani, senior analyst at Roth Capital Partners. The last comparable price shock occurred in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when U.S. gasoline peaked at $5 per gallon and inflation surged to 9%. That episode generated $916 billion in global oil‑and‑gas profits, with U.S. firms accounting for $281 billion. Chevron’s subsequent $75 billion stock‑buyback program—seven times its prior year’s amount—illustrates how quickly companies can translate price spikes into shareholder returns. Research by economists Gregor Semieniuk and Isabella Weber revealed that in 2022, 50% of oil‑company profits went to the top 1% of Americans, while the bottom half of the wealth distribution captured just 1% of those gains. Analysts warn that the current conflict could generate even larger windfalls because it has damaged actual production capacity in the Middle East, not merely reshuffled supply. “You’re benefiting a lot more from higher prices than you are from lost production,” Mariani noted, emphasizing the outsized profit potential. Even if hostilities cease, restoring pre‑conflict output in the region may take months, prolonging the supply crunch. As senior fellow Clay Seagle of the Center for Strategic and International Studies explains, the current situation differs from 2022: “Now we’re dealing with a much more severe supply event because the oil has been actually removed from the market.” Prolonged high prices could eventually curb demand, as consumers and businesses seek alternatives—a shift seen after the 1970s oil shocks when the U.S. moved away from oil‑generated electricity. Nonetheless, many sectors remain vulnerable: diesel, a key fuel for trucks and aircraft, has risen 40%, and airline stocks such as United and American have fallen more than 15% since the year began. Moreover, disruptions to liquefied natural gas (LNG) production threaten fertilizer supplies essential for agriculture. Semieniuk cautions that “we’re approaching the kinds of disruption levels we saw in 2022, and with that, the kinds of profits that we saw there. If this takes longer, it’s going to surpass that.”

The US has just wrapped up a historically warm March, with numerous states recording all-time high temperatures. This prolonged warmth has left much of the mountain snowpack in the American west at critically low levels, a crucial source of water for millions.Despite increased precipitation in spring, the low snowpack has raised concerns about a potentially severe wildfire season if conditions do not improve soon. With more abnormally warm, dry weather expected, the outlook is becoming increasingly worrying heading into late spring and summer.On the other side of the Pacific, Tropical Cyclone Maila has developed in the Solomon Sea and is expected to strengthen to severe tropical cyclone status. This is the first named storm for Papua New Guinea since Cyclone Guba in 2007. Maila is forecast to be the strongest storm to impact or make landfall in Papua New Guinea.Meanwhile, parts of south-east and east Asia are expected to see a continuation of abnormally high temperatures this week, with some areas potentially recording temperatures of 35-39C, about 10C hotter than expected for this time of year. High temperatures will be joined by very high humidity levels, potentially creating dangerous levels of heat stress for millions of people.

Thousands of independent UK businesses are preparing for heating‑oil expenses to more than double after the Iran war sent Europe’s fuel markets to fresh record highs.Roughly 7% of all small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) heat their premises with oil, and in many rural locations the figure climbs to about 17%, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which represents around 200,000 firms and sole traders.With many rural firms off the gas grid, they depend on heating oil—a kerosene derivative linked to jet‑fuel prices. Prices have surged dramatically: a supplier charged 54.9p per litre in January and demanded 129p per litre by late March, a rise of 116%. One hotel and restaurant owner in North Yorkshire, Anthony Jenkins, reported that his annual oil bill, normally around £3,000, is now unaffordable.Jenkins said he has cut fuel usage by half and is asking guests to lower radiator settings rather than open windows. He also hopes to shift to solar‑heated water as daylight hours increase.The FSB has urged the UK competition watchdog to extend its probe of the heating‑oil market to include SMEs, noting that the same shock has lifted North‑west European jet fuel to $1,900 per tonne and diesel to $1,600 per tonne, according to Argus.Trade bodies warn that the volatility creates a fertile environment for rogue energy brokers who may push small firms into unfavorable long‑term contracts. Tina McKenzie, policy chair of the FSB, stressed the need for stricter broker regulations, noting that many SMEs lack the bargaining power of larger corporations.Small businesses also miss out on the government’s household energy‑price cap and other consumer protections, despite their energy usage resembling that of households. McKenzie added that the market’s rapid evolution leaves many firms “nervous and vulnerable”.Proposals to tighten broker oversight, including tighter scrutiny by Ofgem, are pending new legislation. An Ofgem spokesperson said the regulator has reminded suppliers and brokers to “treat customers fairly, prioritize transparent pricing and good consumer outcomes”, acknowledging the “concerning volatility” caused by the Middle‑East conflict.

Fans flooded Madison Square Garden on April 6, 2026, to witness the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) shatter the United States' women's hockey attendance record. The packed arena highlighted a surge in interest for the sport, with spectators filling every available seat.According to The Guardian, the event not only set a new benchmark for attendance but also demonstrated the league's expanding market appeal. Breaking previous records signals a pivotal moment for women's professional hockey, suggesting stronger commercial opportunities and increased media coverage.League officials and players hailed the milestone as a testament to years of grassroots development and strategic promotion. The record‑setting crowd reflects broader trends of rising viewership for women's sports across the United States.While exact figures were not disclosed in the brief report, the achievement is expected to influence future venue selections, sponsorship deals, and broadcast negotiations for the PWHL.

The transition from live piano accompaniment in silent cinemas to recorded soundtracks marked a turning point for movie‑goers; the Vitaphone disc system of 1926 and the optical Movietone process that followed gave films a reliable, repeatable musical identity.Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) was the first feature to have its music and sound effects printed directly onto the film strip, allowing audiences to hear orchestrated pieces by Chopin and Gounod in perfect sync with the picture.King Kong (1933) showcased Max Steiner’s pioneering use of the orchestra to drive narrative, mood and scene transitions, laying the groundwork for the symphonic Hollywood score that dominated the mid‑20th century.Citizen Kane (1941) gave Bernard Herrmann a platform to break from the lush, “Hollywood” sound, delivering a stark, atmospheric score that emphasized psychological tension and set a new standard for dramatic underscoring.Blackboard Jungle (1955) introduced Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock as the film’s musical spine, proving that popular rock could boost a movie’s commercial appeal and ushering in the era of song‑driven soundtracks.Forbidden Planet (1956) featured the first entirely electronic score, created by Louis and Bebe Barron using magnetic‑tape techniques; the pioneering use of the theremin and other electronic textures opened a fresh sonic frontier for sci‑fi cinema.Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) highlighted Henry Mancini’s “symphonic pop” style, marrying a timeless hit – Moon River – with a jazzy, contemporary score that demonstrated how pop sensibilities could coexist with traditional orchestration.2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is remembered more for its curated classical pieces than Alex North’s original score, yet the film’s bold juxtaposition of Ligeti, Strauss and Khachaturian proved that pre‑existing music could become an integral narrative force.American Graffiti (1973) assembled over 40 period songs, weaving them into the story’s fabric and proving that a soundtrack could function as a cultural time‑capsule, influencing countless later productions.Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) revived the full‑orchestra tradition when John Williams delivered a heroic, leitmotif‑rich score that re‑ignited audience love for symphonic film music and set a template for blockbuster scoring.Crimson Tide (1995) marked Hans Zimmer’s breakthrough, blending aggressive electronic pulses with a powerful orchestral choir to create the modern, hybrid sound that now defines many high‑budget action films.These ten milestones illustrate how film music has continually evolved— from live accompaniment to electronic experimentation—while retaining a core purpose: to deepen storytelling and shape audience emotion. The legacy of these scores is celebrated each April at the London Soundtrack Festival, underscoring their lasting influence on both cinema and popular culture.

The Artemis II mission has reached a critical phase, entering the moon's 'sphere of influence' where the lunar gravity dominates over Earth's. This development occurred four days, six hours, and two minutes into the mission, at a distance of about 39,000 miles from the moon and 232,000 miles from Earth. The crew is set to perform a lunar flyby later on Monday, which will take them to the far side of the moon, a region that has not been explored by humans in over 50 years. This mission aims to break the record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by humans. NASA's Artemis II mission is a significant step towards re-establishing a human presence on the moon, building on the legacy of the Apollo program, which last sent astronauts to the moon in 1972. The current crew has already observed new sights of the lunar surface, including the Orientale basin, also known as the moon's 'Grand Canyon,' which has been photographed before by orbiting cameras but never seen with human eyes. The mission will also test the Orion spacecraft's capabilities, including its life support systems and manual piloting. The data collected will be crucial for future missions, such as Artemis III in 2027 and the lunar landing planned for Artemis IV in 2028.