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On 26 August 1980, a huge metal box was delivered to Harvey’s Wagon Wheel casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, disguised as an IBM photocopier. An X-ray confirmed that the complex explosive inside contained 1,000lb (450kg) of dynamite. An attached ransom note demanded $3m (£1.3m) within the next 24 hours. An FBI scientist, Kirk Yeager, says…
After 14 years playing viola in the Berlin Philharmonic, Brett Dean craved uncertainty. He had been creating his own music since shortly after he joined the orchestra in 1985, first improvising in underground Berlin clubs, then writing for classical ensembles. By 1999, he was itching to compose full time. But his wife, the painter Heather…
Published on 05/05/2026 – 14:44 GMT+2 What with Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, Pixar’s Toy Story 5, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, 2026’s summer blockbuster season is looking stacked. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT However, those titles are all going up against Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. And if you thought the filmmaker was going to slow things down…
By 1969 student protests were raging across Japan, as anti-university, anti-war and anti-government movements mingled in strikes and classroom blockades. “Students were getting really violent,” Makoto Kubota recalls of Kyoto’s Doshisha University, leaving his studies in shambles. But when his quiet, magnetic fellow student Takashi Mizutani invited Kubota to the first gig by his band…
Published on 05/05/2026 – 9:10 GMT+2 Celebrated American pop star Britney Spears has avoided jail time in her DUI (Driving Under the Influence) case after pleading guilty to a lesser misdemeanour charge of reckless driving. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT As we reported in March, the singer was arrested in Ventura County, California, after police pulled her over…
Published on 05/05/2026 – 8:28 GMT+2 The annual Met Gala always grabs the headlines as fashion’s great, good, bad and ugly mix in an eye-popping spectacle of haute couture and viral moments. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT This year’s event was perhaps overshadowed however by an absence of stars who opted to stay away in protest at its…
For Ejae, the last 10 months have felt like a lifetime’s worth of success — and sickness. Since the animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” became a global sensation last June, its hit song “Golden,” — which Ejae co-wrote and sang — has won a Golden Globe, a Grammy and an Oscar. Throughout it all, she…
Every month, Netflix adds movies and TV shows to its library. Here are our picks for some of May’s most promising new titles. (Note: Streaming services occasionally change schedules without giving notice. For more recommendations on what to stream, sign up for our Watching newsletter here.) ‘Lord of the Flies’ Starts streaming: May 4 William…
‘We’ve done many concerts, but this is the first time I’m stressed,” the first violin confesses with a grin, lowering his instrument before a single note has sounded. But before he can launch into the story he’s interrupted by the cellist. “We’re actually supposed to play first!” she chides. A string quartet is often compared…
It’s not just about housing beauty – it’s about being beautiful inside and out. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The prestigious architectural award Prix Versailles has unveiled its 2026 list of the world’s most beautiful museums. The short list of just seven museums includes one European museum… Read on to find out which one. About the selection, Jérôme…
