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The Lead: Parkinson's Praise for Female PerspectiveThe Bafta-winning actor Katherine Parkinson has lauded the television series Rivals for its "radical" depiction of sex from a woman's perspective. Speaking at a preview screening in Bristol, Parkinson emphasized the importance of showing a woman's view of sex on television.The Series: A New Take on Jilly Cooper's Rutshire ChroniclesThe award-winning Disney+ show follows the high-stakes world of British television with the backdrop of the Cotswolds countryside in the fictional county of Rutshire. Based on Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles, the series has become renowned for its frequent, racy sex scenes featuring a diverse cast of characters. The first three episodes of the second series landed on the streaming platform on Friday, continuing the show's reputation for bold content.The Regional Impact: Bristol's Role in Television ProductionThe series was filmed at Bristol's Bottle Yard Studios, which are owned by the city council, with many locations featured within a 30-mile radius around Bristol. The screening celebrated the role the region had played in creating the popular series and as a champion for moving film-making outside London's orbit. Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, stated that "Rivals being made here has directly and indirectly helped add millions of pounds to the country's fastest-growing regional economy."The Industry Shift: Female Perspectives in Mainstream MediaParkinson, who won a Bafta last week for her role in Here We Go, highlighted the lack of female perspectives on sex in television. "The great thing that Rivals does is … there are truths being told that I don't feel that I've necessarily seen … there's a sort of bravery to that. And it sort of feels quite radical," she said. Parkinson noted that while Jilly Cooper wrote brilliantly from the female perspective about sex, "we still haven't seen a lot of that on television."The Future: Honoring Jilly Cooper's LegacyThe filming of the second series was overshadowed by the death of Jilly Cooper, who suffered a fatal head injury in a fall at her Gloucestershire home in October. The Bristol audience was asked to raise a glass in Cooper's memory before the screening of the first episode. As the series continues to gain popularity, it stands as a tribute to Cooper's work and a milestone for female representation in television storytelling.

The Author's JourneyDoireann Ní Ghríofa, author of A Ghost in the Throat, has written a new book, Said the Dead, which delves into the history of a mental institution in Ireland. In an interview, she discusses her personal journey of recovering from depression and how it influenced her writing.Writing from ExperienceNí Ghríofa grew up in County Clare and moved to Cork for university, where she experienced severe depression and attempted to drown herself in the river on two occasions. She reflects on how her experiences have shaped her writing, particularly in her latest book.Exploring Mental Health HistoryThe book, Said the Dead, is a result of Ní Ghríofa's research into the history of a mental institution in Ireland, where she discovered the records of male and female inpatients. She shares her findings and insights into the lives of these individuals, highlighting the challenges they faced and the care they received.A Personal ConnectionNí Ghríofa's connection to the material is personal, as she reflects on her own experiences with depression and how it relates to the stories of the women she encountered in the records. She emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding in approaching these stories.The Power of WritingThrough her writing, Ní Ghríofa aims to explore and understand the complexities of mental health and the experiences of those who have lived through it. Her book is a testament to the power of writing as a tool for healing and self-discovery.

The Lead: England's Post-Ashes CrossroadsIn selecting Emilio Gay and James Rew for their Test squad to face New Zealand, England have in one sense been true to their word. The Ashes mea culpa included a promise to give more weight to domestic performances. Both men tick that box. And yet as the team picks up the pieces after the 4-1 defeat in Australia, wounds licked and lessons learned, perhaps the question is whether they are staying true to themselves more broadly – or even, who actually are they these days?The Event Details: McCullum's Coaching Philosophy in FluxAsked about his future as head coach at the end of the Ashes tour, and whether he could change his approach, Brendon McCullum gave a notably qualified answer. "I have a firm conviction in a lot of my methods," McCullum replied. "I'm not against evolution and progress. However, you need to stand for something. Without being ultimately able to steer the ship, maybe there is someone better."Among those methods was having a pared-back support staff. McCullum previously felt there were too many voices in the dressing room and duly whipped out the gardening shears. By the time Australia came around it left just two assistants in Marcus Trescothick and Jeetan Patel and a short-term bowling coach in David Saker.But when McCullum arrives back in the country next week ahead of a three-day camp in the Midlands – training and team-bonding before the first Test at Lord's starts on 4 June – he will walk into a set-up that has swelled by way of numbers.The Staff Expansion: From Minimalist to Maximum SupportAs well as the two assistants, Sarah Taylor will now lead the fielding drills (and no doubt work on fine-tuning Jamie Smith's wicketkeeping given her own excellence here). Mike Yardy, the England Under-19s head coach, and Will Gidman, who works at Durham, have also been seconded for extra support around the place.Troy Cooley will attend the camp, having rejoined the English game over the winter as "National Pace Bowling Lead", while Tim Southee returns as the team's bowling coach; albeit, like Jofra Archer, only once his work at the Indian Premier League is done. From not wanting too many voices, McCullum now has an entire chorus line.There is talk that extra coaching input is at the behest of the captain, Ben Stokes. And if so, it strikes to the heart of some of the tension in Australia. McCullum didn't want players to burn themselves out by over-training, even shoo-ing players out of the nets at times. Stokes, relentless by default, was the one pushing for more.The Performance Evolution: Nutrition and Selection ChangesOn top of all the extra bodies, England are recruiting a "Performance Chef Consultant" for the team, whose role will be to "plan and execute menus that support training adaptation, match performance and recovery". This is in keeping with most elite sporting environments these days. But it also feels very un-McCullum when you consider one of his first moves four years ago was to dispense with the team's nutritionist. Bacon sandwiches were back on the menu in 2022, with players trusted to make the right decisions.Another change this summer is the arrival of Marcus North as selector. It looks a sound acquisition, with Durham's outgoing director of cricket well connected and widely respected in the game. At Chester-le-Street, North is viewed as someone who prefers to give it to players straight but also deals with the human being.North, like Luke Wright before him, is not the chair of selectors however. As the press release confirming his appointment put it, he will "work collaboratively on selection matters" and "contribute to decisions" regarding contracts. So another voice at Rob Key's table – an important one – but not calling the shots per se.The Impact Analysis: Shifting Team IdentityIn the runs this year for Durham, known to the set-up via the Lions, and having made four centuries in Division One last year, Gay is a sound selection as the team's new opener. How he or any new player adjusts to the step up in standard and scrutiny thereafter is always the great unknown.But it is not a huge leap to suggest that before the great slapdown Down Under, England may well have opted for 6ft 7in Ben McKinney, who at 21 is five years younger than his Durham teammate and is considered a terrific prospect. Who knows, they might even have backed Zak Crawley to continue.As a selector himself, albeit on the other side of the world during the first six rounds of the County Championship, McCullum will have had an input. Likewise regarding the expansion of his backroom staff. The question now is how he fits back into an environment where relaxation is meant to make way for more rigour.The Prediction: McCullum's Path ForwardThere is also the subject of results. Four years ago McCullum was hired after an Ashes defeat so harrowing that expectations were low – a period that allowed him to breathe fresh life by taking minds away from outcomes. Players were told to be free, to attack, and not to worry about the consequences. It worked well initially.But this summer, the leadership having survived a rash of missteps in Australia, getting wins on the board against New Zealand and Pakistan feels non-negotiable if this supposed reboot is to have legs. Much may hinge on whether McCullum can adapt, or whether these changes ultimately compromise what he stands for.

Santa Clara County filed a lawsuit this week alleging that Meta Platforms knowingly monetises fraudulent ads that generate roughly $7 bn in annual revenue, adding to a growing slate of legal actions against the social‑media giant.The County’s Allegations Against Meta’s Ad EcosystemThe complaint claims Meta “facilitates and monetises” deception by allowing scam ads to run unless the company is at least 95 % certain the advertiser is fraudulent. Below that confidence threshold, advertisers are charged a premium fee to keep their ads live. The lawsuit cites internal documents showing the use of sophisticated AI tools that target “vulnerable consumers” with schemes ranging from bogus financial products to fake celebrity fund‑raisers.Scam categories include cryptocurrency schemes, false medical cures, ineffective supplements, and celebrity impersonations.California residents reported over $2.5 bn in losses to scammers in 2024, with seniors disproportionately affected.Financial Stakes: $7 B in Scam‑Ad Revenue and $200 B Corporate TurnoverMeta’s annual revenue exceeded $200 bn in 2025, underscoring the scale of the alleged $7 bn scam‑ad stream. The lawsuit arrives alongside a separate consumer‑protection case filed by the Consumer Federation of America, which also targets Meta’s profit‑driven approach to scam mitigation.Broader Implications for Platform Liability and Consumer ProtectionThe suit follows a March 2026 California jury verdict that held Meta and YouTube liable for addictive design features harming a young user, a decision viewed as a bellwether for future platform‑responsibility claims. Combined with recent rulings in New Mexico and a $375 m jury award for child‑endangerment, the Santa Clara action could pressure Meta to overhaul its ad‑review algorithms and increase transparency.What the Future Holds for Meta’s Legal LandscapeMeta spokesperson Andy Stone described the lawsuit as a distortion of the company’s motives, emphasizing ongoing anti‑scam efforts, including the removal of 159 million scam ads last year and partnerships with law‑enforcement agencies. Nonetheless, legal analysts expect intensified scrutiny, potential regulatory interventions, and further class‑action filings as state prosecutors treat the platform’s ad‑monetisation model as a public‑policy issue.

County Cricket Hall of Fame The ECB has announced a new T20 hall of fame before the Blast. The inductees are: Ravi Bopara Charlotte Edwards James Vince Danni Wyatt-Hodge Today's County Cricket Matches Several matches are taking place today: Yorkshire v Surrey at Headingley Warwickshire v Glamorgan at Edgbaston Essex v Leicestershire at Chelmsford Hampshire v Nottinghamshire at Southampton Somerset v Sussex at Taunton Division One Table The current Division One table standings are: Notts - 80 Warwickshire - 74 Surrey - 72 Sussex - 69 Glamorgan - 69 Division Two Table The current Division Two table standings are: Durham - 91 Middlesex - 68 Northamptonshire - 66 Lancashire - 63 Kent - 61

The Cuckoo's Enchanting Song Sheltered from the Irish Sea by the towering white foredunes of Murlough beach, I follow a trail through the heather and scrub. In the distance, the Mourne mountains slip in and out of view, already charred by this year’s wildfires. My attention turns to the season’s happier signs: sand martins chittering overhead; the scratchy cries of a whitethroat deep in the gorse; a meadow pipit stuttering into song flight. And now, the chant that clinches summer’s arrival. Encountering the Cuckoo I follow the cuckoo’s call and find him perched in a stunted sycamore. Through binoculars, I meet his orange eye. As he leans into his song, his jaunty tail and drooping wings make a fin for the long torpedo of his body – the ideal form for a life lived on the move. The Cuckoo's Unique Behavior Despite his hawkish plumage and yellow legs, his bill’s nib betrays that he is no raptor – the cuckoo feeds mainly on invertebrates. Still, he is a source of morbid curiosity for the steady stream of small passerines – pipit, stonechat, linnet, willow warbler – that pass through the twigs to get a good look at him. They sense his threat. The Art of Brood Parasitism In the bird world there are many different kinds of parental care and, depending on the species, either sex, or both, may brood and raise a pair’s young. However, as a brood parasite, the cuckoo takes the “neither” option. This equal opportunity form of parental “selfishness” is a gamble that can be highly productive. The Cuckoo's Reproductive Strategy The female cuckoo “farms” small passerines, like the meadow pipit, by laying up to 20 eggs (one per host nest) across her large territory. If her egg deceives, her chick ejects its “step-siblings” from the nest, so its hapless foster parents devote themselves solely to raising their enormous changeling. Meanwhile, the biological parents skive off back to Africa. A Lasting Fascination Possibly I should feel conflicted about the cuckoo but, as he keeps up the fluting metronome of his song, head bobbing with all the mechanical emphasis of the eponymous clock, I find I’m charmed. Note after note. Year after year. Hatched out of abandonment. Fledged in trust. This story of spring is so well known, but that doesn’t make it any less extraordinary.

On May 13, 2026 the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously vacated the murder conviction of disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh and ordered a new trial, citing procedural misconduct that compromised the fairness of the original proceeding. Court Criticizes Clerk Rebecca Hill for Jury Influence The justices singled out former Colleton County clerk Rebecca "Becky" Hill for “egregiously attacking Murdaugh’s credibility” by urging jurors to watch his body language and “not be fooled” by his defense. The court described Hill’s actions as placing “her fingers on the scales of justice,” thereby denying Murdaugh a fair trial. Financial Penalties and Sentencing Figures $12 million stolen from clients – the amount underlying Murdaugh’s federal fraud conviction. 40‑year federal sentence – the term Murdaugh is currently serving for the theft. No physical evidence (DNA, blood, weapons) linked Murdaugh to the June 2021 shootings of his wife Maggie and son Paul. Implications for High‑Profile Criminal Justice Cases and Media Scrutiny The decision underscores how extrajudicial commentary and unrelated evidence can jeopardize a trial’s integrity, especially in cases amplified by national documentaries on HBO and Netflix. Prosecutors, led by Attorney General Alan Wilson, must now rebuild a murder case without the tainted testimony, while the defense will likely emphasize the lack of forensic links. What a Retrial Means for Murdaugh and the State’s Legal Landscape Attorney General Wilson has pledged to “aggressively seek to retry” the murders, signaling a swift appellate push. If the retrial proceeds, the court will be forced to exclude any clerk‑related commentary and unrelated financial‑crime evidence, setting a precedent for stricter jury‑instruction protocols in South Carolina. Observers expect the case to become a benchmark for how high‑profile defendants are tried when procedural errors are exposed.

The Lawsuit Against Meta California’s Santa Clara county has sued Meta Platforms, alleging it has profited from Facebook and Instagram ads promoting scams in violation of California’s false advertising and unfair business practices laws. Allegations of Tolerating Fraudulent Advertising The lawsuit – filed on Monday in Santa Clara county superior court on behalf of all California residents – accuses the social media giant of tolerating fraudulent advertising on a global basis. The suit seeks restitution, civil damages and an order prohibiting Meta from engaging in unfair business practices. Revenue from High-Risk Scam Ads Citing leaked internal documents first reported by Reuters last year, the complaint alleges that the company earned as much as $7bn in annual revenue from so-called “high-risk” scam ads which show clear signs of being fraudulent. Meta's Response and Defense Meta said it intends to defend itself against the claim. “This claim relies on Reuters reporting that distorts our motives and ignores the full range of actions we take to combat scams every day,” said a Meta spokesperson, Andy Stone. “We aggressively fight scams on and off our platforms because they’re not good for us or the people and businesses that rely on our services.“ The Impact on Users and the Legal Proceedings In the suit, Santa Clara alleges that Meta materially contributed to an epidemic of fraud by allowing middlemen to sell accounts to place ads that were protected against enforcement, and targeting scam ads at users who had clicked on similarly bogus offerings in the past. The county will retain full control over decisions involving the case, and outside law firms will only be paid if the county wins.

The Approval of Stratos Datacenter A plan to create one of the world’s largest datacenters, a gargantuan project spanning an area more than twice the size of Manhattan, has provoked a furious public backlash in Utah amid concerns over its vast energy use and impact upon the state’s stressed water supplies. The Project Details The Stratos artificial intelligence datacenter footprint will cover more than 40,000 acres (62 sq miles) over three sites in Box Elder county in north-western Utah. The facility will require about 9GW of power, which is more than the entire state of Utah currently consumes, and suck up a significant amount of water in an area that has been hit by severe drought in recent years. The Environmental Impact Environmentalists have warned that Stratos could imperil the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, including a critical migratory bird habitat, which is already under severe stress. The lake is shrinking due to water diverted for agriculture and the impact of the climate crisis, placing inhabitants of the nearby Salt Lake City at possible risk of toxic dust clouds as the lake bed dries up. The Public Backlash Last week, the project was approved by the county’s commissioners, despite thousands of objections lodged by Utah residents. Nearly 4,000 people have lodged objections to the project being approved, with this pushback leading to contentious public meetings. The Future Outlook A group calling itself the Box Elder Accountability Referendum filed an application for a referendum to reverse the commissioners’ approval of Stratos. If the group is able to collect 5,422 signatures from registered voters in the county in the next 45 days, the project approval will go to a vote in November.