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The Lead: A Modern Struggle with Classic LiteratureIn an era dominated by rapid-fire digital consumption, engaging with dense, classic literature has become an uphill battle. A recent reflection by a lifelong reader highlights a growing cultural phenomenon: despite a deep personal history with the classics, the modern brain—conditioned by screens and constant notifications—is struggling to process long-form, complex narratives.The Battle Against the Victorian BlockbusterSparked by The Guardian's list of the 100 best novels, the author attempted to rekindle his youth by diving into chunky Victorian classics. However, the attempt was met with frustration rather than nostalgia. The books that once captivated him now felt impenetrable.The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne: Found to be verbose and infuriatingly digressive.Dracula by Bram Stoker: Entertaining initially, but ultimately derailed by the absurdity of its epistolary format and moralizing characters like Van Helsing.Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens: Despite a previous love for Dickens' pacing and humor, the 900-page narrative felt too heavy, leading to a loss of concentration and the urge to check football scores instead.The 15-Second Attention EconomyThis personal struggle is backed by alarming data regarding how we consume information today. The transition from the linear, monologic page to dynamic, ad-cluttered screens has fundamentally altered human cognition.Research by psychologist Gloria Mark indicates that screens compel us to constantly switch our attention toward new, shiny stimuli rather than focusing on content.Data from Chartbeat reveals a stark reality: one in three online readers spend less than 15 seconds on any given article.The Rise of Text Fatigue in the WorkplaceThe shift in reading habits is not merely a failure of willpower; it is a symptom of occupational and technological exhaustion. As more professionals occupy managerial roles, their days are spent drowning in emails, instant messages, and digital work tasks. According to University of Oxford professor Kate McLoughlin, while people are reading more than ever—consuming social media posts, blogs, and AI utterances—they are reading fewer books. This constant, shallow skimming has led to widespread text fatigue.Reclaiming the Page in a Screen-Dominated FutureIf three classic novels in a row end up abandoned, the issue is systemic rather than a flaw in the literature. The modern environment actively discourages the deep, sustained focus required by authors like George Eliot or Herman Melville. Moving forward, readers will need to be far more intentional about their media diets. Relearning how to read may require deliberate digital detoxes to rebuild the atrophied muscles of deep concentration, ensuring that the rich, complex works of the past do not become inaccessible artifacts of a bygone era.

A Critical Portrait of George MichaelIn 1998, George Michael was arrested for public lewdness in an LA lavatory, an incident that finally led the singer to publicly come out. The following day, Sathnam Sanghera found himself unable to leave his room at university: the doorway had been mockingly plastered with tabloid newspaper headlines – "ZIP ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO!" – by fellow students aware of his longstanding fandom. As a writer, Sanghera is best known for a series of award-winning books on the British empire, which he calls his "specialist subject". Judging by Tonight the Music Seems So Loud – not a biography so much as a miscellany, a set of themed essays that tend to digress in all kinds of intriguing directions – the life and work of one Georgios Panayiotou runs imperialism and its legacy a very close second.The Complex Legacy of a Pop IconIt is an unashamedly partisan book, although not an uncritical one. Sanghera is as alive to Michael's personal and professional failings (whether the naffness of some of his early work as one half of Wham! or his high-handed treatment of the duo's other half, Andrew Ridgeley) as he is in love with his artistic triumphs. These, of course, range from Careless Whisper and Wham!'s annually inescapable Last Christmas to the 1996 solo masterpiece Older, a peculiar and peculiarly effective cocktail of raw grief at the Aids-related death of his lover Anselmo Feleppa and unrepentant horniness.The Evolution of Critical ReceptionSanghera's love for his subject is evidently sharpened by the opprobrium of others. Indeed if the book has a flaw, it's that the author is old enough to remember an era when George Michael was deemed insufferably uncool by some arbiters of taste (incredibly, when Wham! performed at a 1984 benefit show for striking miners, the only mainstream pop act to show support for the cause, they were received stone-faced by the audience and savaged by the music press for their trouble), and thus has a tendency to underestimate how much both he and his music have been critically re-evaluated in the 21st century.The Artistic Journey of George MichaelHe says one of the spurs to write the book was his belief that "most truly popular music is not generally deemed worthy of serious analysis and George Michael's music most certainly is not". That might have been true once, but certainly not of late: when he died, this newspaper alone ran six features by critics analysing different aspects of his music. "He sang so exquisitely about the marrow of life, about the vital, corporeal things", wrote one, which definitely doesn't amount to taking George Michael insufficiently seriously.double quotation markEven as he skinned up in front of journalists and discussed his drug use and sex life, he was concealing the extent of the addictions that eventually killed himFamily Background and Cultural IdentitySanghera is very good on the climate of homophobia in the 80s, which might have given any gay public figure serious qualms about coming out, and fascinating on Michael's family background: how growing up embedded in north London's Greek Cypriot community impacted on everything from Wham!'s image – not camp, Sanghera suggests, but "the vision of two children of immigrants imagining a kind of glamour they had not actually experienced before" – to his work ethic and control freakery. His dad made good in England by working exceptionally hard, running such a tight ship at his restaurant that he summarily fired his only son for messing up the drinks orders. The fact that the same son went on to hire 12 different saxophonists before finding one that could play the solo on Careless Whisper to his satisfaction doesn't come as a huge surprise.The Perfectionist and Contradictory ArtistThis my-way-or-the-highway perfectionism could yield hugely impressive results – Careless Whisper's sax hook may well be the most famous in pop history – but it could equally lead to intransigence and self-sabotage. Michael worked incredibly hard to transform himself from a member of a teen pop band into a more adult-facing solo artist, but having sold a staggering 25m copies of his 1987 solo debut Faith, he refused to promote its follow-up Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, or even make videos for its singles: a better album than its predecessor, it achieved only a fraction of its sales as a result. It was evidence of a deeply contradictory nature that occasionally has Sanghera throwing up his hands in bewilderment.The Public and Private Faces of George MichaelMichael was a polymath, keen to be duly credited as the sole singer, writer, producer and musician on a succession of tracks, but also had a weird habit of talking down his abilities, claiming he couldn't play instruments he was perfectly capable of playing. He was a Stakhanovite who increasingly worked at an agonisingly glacial pace, endlessly fussing over details, a state of affairs not much helped by his gargantuan appetite for marijuana: coupled with bouts of writers' block, it meant he released only six albums of original material in a career that lasted 34 years. He was a Labour voter, booster of the NHS and famously generous philanthropist who also engaged in tax avoidance. After being publicly outed, he became a notoriously frank interviewee ("as if nothing can embarrass him anymore" the Guardian's Simon Hattenstone suggested when he met him in 2009). But even as he skinned up in front of journalists and freely discussed his drug use and sex life, he was concealing the extent of the addictions that eventually killed him.The Decline and Final YearsMichael emerges as a messy, unpredictable but ultimately hugely likable figure, which makes the essay about his demise particularly tough reading. Listed starkly on the page, the facts of his final 10 years make it obvious that he was a deeply unwell man whose life had spun wildly out of control: drug busts, medical emergencies, visits to rehab, rumours of breakdowns and suicide bids and seven incidents in which he either crashed his car or was found comatose at the wheel.The Professional Mask of Personal StruggleThat it somehow didn't appear obvious at the time – that his death at 53 felt like a shock rather than a grim inevitability – seems remarkable, but as Sanghera points out, Michael's professionalism did a lot to paper over the cracks. He was always available to the media and always smart, funny and self-effacing: to use a modern turn of phrase, he controlled the narrative. He was punctilious about his appearance – the star certainly never looked like an ailing drug addict – and unfailingly superb onstage.The Hidden Realities Behind the FameBehind the scenes, it was a different story. He struggled to make new music: at one juncture he booked six months of recording sessions but never turned up to the studio once. His once-acute commercial instincts seemed to desert him: even Sanghera can't muster much enthusiasm for the handful of still-unreleased songs he completed in his final years. He cut off close friends and family who tried to intervene. No one who knew him seems to have been particularly surprised by his death: the list of adjectives used to describe him on his official website now includes not just "icon" "legend" "soul singer" and "philanthropist" but "addict" "repeat offender" and "depressive".An Imagined Alternative LegacyAs the book draws to a close, Sanghera offers a heartbreaking alternative history. He imagines Michael conquering his addictions, coming to a complete accommodation with his musical past (to the end of his life, he was dismissive of Wham!, describing their oeuvre as an exercise in "ignoring my own intelligence" and declining to play most of their hits live) and headlining Glastonbury, "getting pleasure from the audience reaction to Club Tropicana".The Enduring Power of George Michael's MusicIt's affecting because you can imagine it so vividly: the endless succession of hits that anyone with even a passing interest in pop music knows, the pandemonium in the crowd when he breaks out Careless Whisper, the encore of Freedom '90. You don't have to be a fan on Sanghera's level to understand what a triumph it would have been. Tonight the Music Seems So Loud: The Meaning of George Michael by Sathnam Sanghera is published by Picador (£22). To support the Guardian, buy a copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.

BP has confirmed that Dame Amanda Blanc, its senior independent director and chief executive of Aviva, will again head the search for a new chair after the abrupt removal of Albert Manifold.BP Re‑instates Amanda Blanc to Steer Chair SearchThe BP interim chair, Ian Tyler, issued a statement saying the board has formally requested Blanc to lead the next chair‑search process. Blanc previously oversaw the 2025 search that resulted in Manifold’s appointment in July. The board emphasizes that the upcoming process will be “rigorous” and involve the entire board, with the final decision reflecting a collective view.Investor Pushback and Shareholder Vote FiguresLarge institutional investors have publicly questioned whether Blanc, who also runs insurer Aviva, is the right person to guide the search.During Manifold’s first annual meeting, 18% of votes were cast against his re‑election after he blocked a climate‑focused resolution from the shareholder group Follow This.Manifold’s removal came after just eight months in the role, intensifying concerns about board stability.Governance Turmoil Signals Deeper Boardroom InstabilityThe ousting of Manifold follows a recent cascade of leadership changes at BP: former chair Albert Manifold removed chief executive Murray Auchincloss after less than two years, and Meg O’Neill was hired from ExxonMobil to become CEO in December, officially starting in April. Earlier, former chair Bernard Looney was forced out in September 2023 over undisclosed relationships. This pattern underscores mounting governance challenges and heightened scrutiny from shareholders.What the Next Chair Search Could Mean for BP’s Strategic DirectionAnalysts note that the new chair will inherit a company pivoting back toward fossil‑fuel extraction while scaling back renewable‑energy investments. The choice of chair could therefore influence whether BP accelerates its “culture shock” strategy or seeks a more balanced energy transition. With investor confidence at stake, the board’s ability to appoint a figure who can restore stability and align with long‑term strategic goals will be critical in the months ahead.

Executive Summary: A Climate Alarm Bell RingsThe UN has issued a stark warning that El Niño is likely to re‑emerge this year, bringing a wave of super‑charged weather extremes. With an 80% probability of formation before September and a 90% chance of lasting until November, the pattern threatens to amplify global warming, disrupt food supplies and intensify floods and droughts.UN and WMO Forecast an Imminent El Niño DevelopmentThe World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its latest outlook on Tuesday, noting that most climate models project the return of the cyclical phenomenon at “at least moderate” strength, with some indicating a potentially strong event. Scientists caution it could become the strongest El Niño of the 21st century.Formation window: before September 2026Persistence window: through November 2026Strength: moderate to strong, possibly the strongest this centuryKey Numbers: Probabilities, Temperatures and Regional ImpactsThe WMO’s quantitative outlook highlights:80% chance of El Niño onset before September90% chance it will continue into NovemberUnusually high temperatures forecast for nearly all regions over the next three monthsIncreased likelihood of extreme rain in South America, the southern US, the Horn of Africa and Central AsiaDrier conditions expected in Central America, the Caribbean, Australia, Indonesia and parts of South AsiaWhy This Matters: Global Climate, Food Security and Economic RisksEl Niño acts as a “fuel‑on‑the‑fire” for a warming planet, according to António Guterres, UN Secretary‑General. The pattern can:Push global temperatures higher, contributing to record‑breaking heat years (2024 already set new highs)Exacerbate droughts that strain water supplies and agricultural yieldsTrigger severe flooding and landslides, as seen in Tanzania’s April 2024 rainsInfluence hurricane formation—enhancing storms in the central/eastern Pacific while suppressing them in the AtlanticExperts like Gareth Redmond‑King of the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit warn that the looming El Niño could jeopardise already fragile food systems, especially as fertilizer supplies are constrained by geopolitical conflicts.Looking Ahead: 2027 and the Next Decade of Climate RiskThe UN stresses that the most severe impacts may materialise in 2027, when El Niño could drive the hottest year on record. Preparing now means:Accelerating the transition away from fossil fuelsScaling renewable‑energy deploymentStrengthening early‑warning systems for vulnerable communitiesImplementing climate‑resilient agricultural practicesFailure to act could lock in a trajectory of escalating heat, water scarcity and food insecurity for the coming decade.

The LeadA UK resident voluntarily surrendered their driving license to the DVLA after suffering a spinal cord injury in August 2024, only to have the agency revoke it instead. This administrative decision has created significant barriers to regaining driving privileges, as the person now faces a bureaucratic catch-22 where they need a license to get assessed for adaptive driving equipment.The License Revocation DilemmaAfter the spinal injury, the person took the responsible step of voluntarily surrendering their license to the DVLA. However, rather than accepting the surrender, the DVLA revoked the license. This distinction is critical because a revoked license is much more difficult to reinstate than a surrendered one. The person has now submitted three applications to regain their license, with evidence from their spinal consultant and an off-road driving assessment confirming they can drive with hand controls. Despite submitting this documentation two months ago, they still haven't received an update from the DVLA.The Processing BacklogThe DVLA attributes these delays to "exceptionally high demand" from drivers with medical conditions, which has significantly affected processing times. The agency has acknowledged the problem and says it is introducing a new system to address these delays. The person's experience reflects a broader issue, as evidenced by the "long backlogs of reviews of medically revoked licenses" mentioned in the article.The Assessment Catch-22The person now faces a significant bureaucratic hurdle: they need to take a medical driving assessment to get their license back, but they cannot take one without a license. The DVLA eventually sent an application for a provisional disability assessment license, which should have been provided when the person first applied a year ago. The person also needs to be assessed for a vehicle with suitable hand controls but requires a license before they can be assessed for the most suitable options.Recommended SolutionsThe article suggests that Driving Mobility, which provides on-road assessments for drivers with medical conditions, could help with the assessment process. The DVLA should have referred the person to these services earlier in the process. The agency's failure to provide proper guidance and the necessary provisional assessment application has created unnecessary complications for someone already dealing with the challenges of a spinal cord injury.Future OutlookUntil the DVLA's new system is fully implemented and processing times improve, individuals with medical conditions who need to surrender or have their licenses revoked will continue to face significant challenges. The agency needs to improve its communication processes and ensure that applicants receive all necessary information upfront, rather than requiring multiple applications and creating bureaucratic barriers that prevent people from regaining their independence through driving.

The Israel Day Parade: A Celebration of Heritage The Israel Day Parade in New York is an annual event that celebrates Israel's culture, heritage, and the Jewish community. This year's parade took place on a sunny day in June, attracting a large crowd of enthusiastic participants. Who Attended the Parade? The parade saw a diverse range of attendees, including members of the Jewish community, Israeli expats, and supporters of Israel from around the world. The event featured various floats, marching bands, and cultural performances that highlighted Israel's rich history and traditions. A Show of Unity and Pride The Israel Day Parade in New York is more than just a celebration; it's a show of unity and pride for those who attend. The event provides a platform for people to come together, share their heritage, and showcase their cultural identity. The Significance of Israel Day Israel Day is a significant holiday that commemorates the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The day is marked with celebrations and events around the world, including the Israel Day Parade in New York.

Nvidia's Bold Move into the CPU Market Nvidia opened Taipei's Computex trade show with a significant announcement, unveiling the RTX Spark, a 'superchip' designed to run AI agents securely. This move marks Nvidia's entry into the $200 billion CPU market, with the goal of powering AI PCs from top manufacturers. The RTX Spark: A Powerful PC CPU The RTX Spark is a 1-petaflop chip capable of running AI agents like OpenClaw or Hermes Agent securely. It will be available in Windows PCs from ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft Surface, and MSI, with models from Acer and Gigabyte to follow. These PCs will feature secure sandboxes developed with Microsoft to run agents safely. Key Features and Capabilities 1-petaflop processing power Support for local versions of large language models Enough CPU, GPU, RAM, and Nvidia CUDA software for smooth performance Faster performance for AI, better image quality, and support for AI features in over 1,000 games and applications Market Impact and Future Outlook Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, envisions a future where users can simply ask their PCs to perform tasks, eliminating the need for traditional app launching and typing. With over 100 Windows software makers supporting the new chip, including Adobe and Riot Games, Nvidia is poised to make a significant impact in the market. The Road Ahead While previous attempts at Nvidia ARM-based Windows devices have failed, Huang's track record of delivering record revenue quarters makes it difficult to bet against his PC ambitions. As these PCs hit the market, their pricing and competition with affordable options like the Mac Mini will be crucial factors to watch.

The Pope’s First Encyclical on Artificial IntelligencePope Leo issued a stark warning in his inaugural papal text, labeling AI as one of the greatest threats to humanity and condemning the “culture of power” driving its unchecked expansion.American Readers Echo the Pope’s ConcernsReaders from coast to coast shared their anxieties, describing the AI industry as “unregulated” and harmful to “too many people.” Key worries included:Surveillance and loss of privacyLabor displacement and new forms of digital slaveryUse of AI in warfare and defenseEnvironmental degradation from AI‑driven resource consumptionDiverse Voices Highlight Specific RisksLinda Given, a 74‑year‑old Boston shop owner, warned that AI threatens human interaction and could be weaponized. Stephen Sincoskie from New Jersey called AI a threat to workers, privacy and even human life.Debra, a 58‑year‑old professor, feared AI erodes critical thinking in students, while Scott Gibb urged moral clarity, dismissing tech CEOs as “soulless.”Lauren of Baltimore highlighted AI’s environmental costs and its role in accelerating conflicts.Skepticism About Papal Authority in Tech DebateNot all respondents saw the Pope’s stance as relevant. Charlie Hinkle, a tech worker from North Carolina, questioned why a religious leader should influence secular AI policy, citing the Church’s inconsistent positions on social issues.Looking Ahead: Calls for Robust RegulationAcross the spectrum, Americans urged stricter ethical constraints on AI development, echoing the Pope’s demand for “the most rigorous” oversight. The consensus points to a need for policy that protects workers, safeguards privacy, curbs environmental impact, and prevents militarization of AI technologies.

Ferrari launched the Luce, its first fully electric vehicle, priced at €550,000 and capable of 0‑100 km/h in 2.5 seconds. The debut, attended by Italy’s president and the pope, triggered an 8 % plunge in the company’s share price and a wave of criticism over its radical design and four‑door layout.The Luce Unveiled: Ferrari’s First Fully Electric Super‑SedanThe Luce, pronounced “loo‑chey”, features an electric motor on each wheel, a skateboard chassis and a five‑seat saloon body – a stark departure from Ferrari’s traditional two‑door sports cars. Design was led by former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive in partnership with Marc Newson, delivering a minimalist aesthetic that many observers compare to the mass‑market Nissan Leaf.Price: €550,000 (£476,000)0‑100 km/h: 2.5 secondsFour doors, five seatsMotors: one per wheelShare‑price Shock: 8% Drop Signals Investor ConcernFollowing the launch, Ferrari’s share price fell 8 %, reflecting investor unease about the brand’s move away from its heritage‑focused, high‑performance niche. The steep price tag and limited production volume raise questions about the model’s contribution to revenue growth.Design Controversy and Cultural Backlash in ItalyCritics, including former Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo and transport minister Matteo Salvini, slammed the Luce’s pastel‑blue styling and its departure from iconic Ferrari cues. Social‑media outrage linked the design to “reactionary” opposition to EVs, echoing past backlash against Jaguar’s electric rebrand.What Lies Ahead for Ferrari’s EV Strategy?CEO Benedetto Vigna has described the Luce as intentionally “polarising” and aims to attract ultra‑wealthy buyers beyond the core enthusiast base. Success will depend on whether the brand can translate the novelty into sustained demand while preserving its heritage image.