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Mint, the new drama from Charlotte Regan, is a bold reimagining of the classic love story, Romeo and Juliet. This electrifying drama tells the tale of impossible love between two people from bitter crime rival families.The series stars Emma Laird as Shannon, the daughter of a Scottish crime family, and Benjamin Coyle-Larner, also known as Loyle Carner, as Arran, the prodigal son of a different crime family. Their eyes meet across a down-at-heel train station, and they are incompatible and irresistible to one another.Charlotte Regan drew inspiration from her own experiences and those of her cast and crew. The drama features a unique visual style, with sparse dialogue and a focus on visual storytelling. The show's use of Super 8 fragments and VHS-style footage adds to its distinctive aesthetic.The cast, including Laura Fraser and Lindsay Duncan, deliver powerful performances that bring depth and nuance to the story. Emma Laird praises Regan for keeping her acne in the show, saying it's a huge part of her character's authenticity.Mint is available on BBC iPlayer from Monday, April 20th, with the series airing on BBC One from 9 pm that night.

Liverpool has confirmed that Andy Robertson will be leaving the club at the end of the season. The 32-year-old Scottish defender has been an integral part of the team since joining from Hull in 2017 for £8m.Robertson has made 373 appearances for Liverpool, winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup. He has been a key player under Jürgen Klopp and has established himself as one of the club's greatest full-backs.The Scotland captain has lost his regular starting role to Milos Kerkez this season but remains a popular figure in the dressing room. Robertson has expressed his gratitude to the club, stating, “It’s never easy leaving a club like Liverpool. It has been a huge part of mine and my family’s life for the last nine years.”Liverpool has hailed Robertson as “a genuine Liverpool legend, having played a fundamental role in the successes of recent years.” The club has announced that celebrations of Robertson's legacy will be held after the conclusion of the campaign, with the defender fully focused on helping the team end the season successfully.

The recent showdown between the US and Iran has ended with Iran emerging victorious and Trump being forced to pause his war efforts. This outcome is a clear example of how to defeat Trump. According to Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, the strategy that connects all the successful countermeasures against Trump is simple: refuse to cave to his demands, despite his superior military or economic power. Instead, use a kind of jiujitsu to turn Trump's power against him. Examples of successful countermeasures include: Iran using cheap drones and missiles to close the strait of Hormuz and drive up oil prices, putting pressure on Trump. China leveraging its control of rare earth metals to gain leverage in trade negotiations. Russia using its vast deposits of oil and natural gas to gain leverage over US allies. Canada and Mexico winning tariff showdowns with Trump by leveraging their economic importance to the US. Greenland curbing Trump's ambitions through public opinion. Inside the US, similar strategies have been used by: The people of Minneapolis, who organized non-violent resistance to protect immigrants. Harvard University, which leveraged its influence with federal courts to stop Trump's interference. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who turned a crisis into a ratings victory. Writer E Jean Carroll, who secured over $88m in damages from Trump in two civil cases. Law firms like Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale, which refused to follow Trump's executive orders. On the other hand, countries and organizations that have caved to Trump have only strengthened his leverage over them. For example, Europe seems incapacitated, fearing Trump will leave Nato, while media networks like ABC continue to lose viewers. The bottom line is that there is now a clear blueprint for how to defeat Trump: reject his demands and use your own asymmetric power to turn his power against him.

It's been 20 years since the passing of Muriel Spark, a celebrated Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet, and essayist. With a career spanning over two decades, Spark left an indelible mark on literature with her 22 novels, which are characterized by their uncanny, astute, and witty storytelling. James Bailey, author of the biography Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark, provides a guide to Spark's oeuvre, highlighting her unique narrative style. A typical Spark novel begins by introducing an enclosed community, such as nuns, schoolgirls, or desert island castaways, filled with gossip, deceptions, and conflicts. This setup is then disrupted by a dramatic event, like a murder or scandal, allowing Spark to explore the consequences. For readers new to Spark's work, Memento Mori (1959) is a great starting point. This darkly comic novel follows a cast of bickering pensioners who receive anonymous phone calls with the ominous message: 'Remember you must die.' The novel raises questions about mortality, fear, and the human condition. Spark's debut novel, The Comforters (1957), is a remarkable example of her innovative storytelling. The protagonist, Caroline Rose, believes she can hear the clanking typewriter keys of an entity she calls the Typing Ghost, which dictates the events of her life. This novel showcases Spark's ability to blend diabolism, diamond-smuggling, and supernatural elements. One of Spark's most famous novels, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, is known for its quotable lines, such as 'Give me a girl at an impressionable age and she is mine for life.' This novel explores themes of favouritism, fascism, and the seductive power of belonging. Spark considered The Driver's Seat (1970) her finest achievement, describing it as her creepiest work. This novel follows Lise, a protagonist whose holiday romance takes a dark and unexpected turn. Spark's works often explored the contrast between public personas and private lives. Her 1968 novel, The Public Image, is a prime example, delving into the world of a film star struggling to maintain her reputation amidst paparazzi and self-absorbed relationships. Spark's short stories, collected in her Complete Short Stories, offer a glimpse into her versatility as a writer. These tales often feature unquiet spirits and explore themes of mortality, guilt, and redemption.

Liverpool's struggles continued as they were thoroughly outplayed by Paris Saint-Germain in a 2-0 defeat. The Reds had a dismal 28% possession and failed to register a single shot on target. Manager Arne Slot acknowledged that his team had been 'ripped apart' at times and admitted to employing negative tactics to keep the tie alive for the second leg.PSG's dominance was evident throughout the match, with their midfielder Vitinha standing out. Despite their superior performance, PSG were unable to capitalize on their chances, allowing Liverpool to stay in the tie. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk has called on fans to make a significant impact in the return leg at Anfield, but it remains to be seen if the team can mount a successful comeback.The defeat has raised questions about Slot's approach and the team's ability to compete with top-tier opponents. The return leg next Tuesday promises to be a crucial encounter, with Liverpool needing a significant turnaround to advance to the next round of the Champions League.

Lidl announced a major expansion in the United Kingdom, pledging to open 50 new stores over the next twelve months. The rollout is part of a broader strategy to become the country’s fifth‑largest supermarket, challenging Morrisons for that slot. In a unique move, the German‑owned retailer is also constructing its first pub in east Belfast. Local licensing rules require supermarkets to acquire a licence surrendered by an existing premises, and Lidl failed the standard off‑licence test but succeeded for a pub after two nearby bars closed. The venue, set to seat about 60 patrons, will open this summer and will feature a curated selection of Lidl‑branded beers, wines, spirits and other drinks, with a focus on supporting local suppliers. Lidl GB, which already operates more than 1,000 stores across Britain, said it will invest **over £600 million** in the UK expansion. The capital injection is expected to generate **almost 2,000 jobs** as the company enlarges its warehouse and logistics network to service the new outlets. Among the first locations slated for summer openings are Abbots Langley (near Watford), Warrington in Cheshire, and Thornbury in Gloucestershire. The company reported 50 store openings planned for the coming year, up from 40 in the previous twelve‑month period, and expects **no closures** during this time. Market data shows Lidl now matches Morrisons with an **8.3% share** of the UK grocery market, achieving the fastest growth among physical grocers. In the three months to 22 March, Lidl’s sales rose **9.6%**, outpacing Morrisons’ modest **2.3%** increase, which lagged behind inflation. Over the year to February 2025, Lidl’s UK sales climbed **8.3% to £11.7 billion**, while profits more than doubled to **£156.8 million** and employee numbers rose to **11,422**. Chief Executive Ryan McDonnell emphasized the broader impact, stating, “Our expansion translates directly into high‑quality jobs and gives British suppliers the certainty they need to invest in the future.” The move has also drawn praise from Kate Dearden, the minister for employment rights and consumer protection, who highlighted the importance of such investment for community standards and fair wages. While Lidl and rival Aldi have surged ahead by offering low‑price alternatives amid a cost‑of‑living crunch, traditional giants Tesco and Sainsbury’s are responding with enhanced loyalty programmes and price‑competitive ranges to retain market share.

Meta announced the launch of Muse Spark, the debut artificial‑intelligence model from the company’s ambitious "superintelligence" squad that was assembled last year with a multi‑billion‑dollar budget. The team, spearheaded by former Scale AI chief Alex Wang—brought on board in a $14.3 bn acquisition—has been offered compensation packages running into the hundreds of millions to attract top talent. Muse Spark is the first installment of the internally codenamed "Avocado" series. For now, the model is accessible only through Meta’s AI app and website, but Meta says it will soon supplant the existing Llama models that power chatbots on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and the firm’s smart‑glasses lineup. Unlike earlier open releases of Llama, Meta has kept Muse Spark’s architecture details under wraps, offering a private preview to a select group of unnamed partners. In a blog post, Meta described the system as "small and fast by design, yet capable enough to reason through complex questions in science, math and health," positioning it as a solid foundation for future, larger versions. Independent testing shows Muse Spark narrowing the gap with leading models from Google, OpenAI and Anthropic in language and visual comprehension, though it still trails in coding and abstract reasoning tasks. The model placed tied for fourth on a comprehensive AI benchmark compiled by Artificial Analysis. CEO Mark Zuckerberg had previously cautioned investors that early releases would be modest but would demonstrate a "rapid trajectory." Wang echoed this sentiment on social media, acknowledging "rough edges" that will be refined over time and confirming that bigger variants are already in development, with some slated for open release. Beyond performance metrics, Meta hinted at commercial ambitions, embedding shopping suggestions directly into its AI chatbot to guide users toward purchasable items. With over 3.5 billion active users across its platforms, the company hopes AI‑driven personal tasks will boost engagement and create a competitive edge over rivals with smaller user bases. Practical use‑cases highlighted include estimating meal calories from a photo, virtually placing a mug on a shelf via augmented reality, and a new "Contemplating Mode" that runs multiple agents simultaneously—mirroring advanced reasoning features seen in Google’s Gemini Deep Think and OpenAI’s GPT‑Pro. Meta says this mode could, for example, help a family plan a vacation by having one agent draft an itinerary while another scouts kid‑friendly activities.

Matthew Macfadyen headlines the new Sky Atlantic series ‘The Miniature Wife’, playing scientist Les Littlejohn, a brilliant but ethically dubious researcher who accidentally shrinks his wife Lindy (Elizabeth Banks) to six inches tall. The premise promises a darkly comic exploration of marital power dynamics and modern misogyny. However, the show quickly abandons this fertile ground. Showrunners Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner opt for a frenetic, screwball tone that feels forced, leaving the underlying commentary underdeveloped. The central conceit – a miniature wife trapped in a dollhouse – is treated more as a visual gag than a vehicle for satire. The series is littered with side plots that never coalesce. A subplot about a misattributed short story attempts to touch on authorship and truth in the digital age, yet it remains a superficial gesture. Likewise, the ensemble cast—including Zoe Lister‑Jones as a lab overseer, O‑T Fagbenle as a lovelorn colleague, and Sian Clifford as Lindy’s agent—offers colorful moments but fails to achieve narrative momentum. Visually, the production delivers inventive set pieces: Lindy’s daring escapes from towering household objects and explosive laboratory experiments provide occasional laughs. Nevertheless, the novelty wears thin before the series’ nearly ten‑hour runtime concludes. The original short story by Manuel Gonzales required far more expansion than the show supplies, resulting in a stretched‑out narrative that would have benefited from a tighter format. In short, while Macfadyen’s performance is competent, it is largely wasted in a series that promises depth but delivers only scattered comedy. ‘The Miniature Wife’ may satisfy viewers seeking light‑hearted antics, but it falls short of the incisive satire its premise suggests. The series is available on Sky Atlantic, streaming on Now in the UK and on Stan in Australia.

Semyon Bychkov's Czech Philharmonic Mahler cycle, released as a box set by Pentatone, has been gaining attention since 2022. The latest addition, featuring symphonies 6, 7, 8, and 9, solidifies its place in the pantheon of great Mahler recordings.The Sixth Symphony is notable for its relentless tread, which Bychkov tames with a considered approach. The 'Alma theme' shines with inner fire, and the slow movement is a serene, shimmering piece.The Seventh Symphony, often considered problematic, is remarkably convincing under Bychkov's meticulous direction. The tempi and transitions in the long opening movement feel natural, and the nocturnal movements are rich with imaginative detail.The Eighth Symphony stands out as one of the finest in the catalogue, with a superbly recorded and strongly cast performance. A highlight is the moment at the end of the first movement where the eight choral lines soar in unison.The Ninth Symphony showcases the architectural arc of the piece, with the catastrophic collapses in the opening movement resolved in the spiritual release of the finale. The Czech Philharmonic's playing, especially the woodwind, is impeccable throughout.