Author: admin

  • Bag Charms Selling for $1,000 Are Retail’s Next Little Luxury

    Bag Charms Selling for $1,000 Are Retail’s Next Little Luxury

    Years after Jane Birkin famously decorated her eponymous Hermès handbag with clusters of trinkets and strands of beads, bag charms have made a big comeback.

    Plush Labubu keychains helped revive the Gen-Z-fuelled accessorise-your-accessory trend and catapulted it into the mainstream. Now charms are showing up on elite fashion runways and dangling from the purses of celebrities.

    Designer handbag makers, anxious for growth during a downturn, are especially eager to get in on the phenomenon. If affluent shoppers can’t be persuaded to drop thousands of dollars on a new purse, perhaps they can be enticed to spend a few hundred dollars on a branded charm for a purse they already own.

    Ethan Diaz, 24, used to splurge regularly on high-priced purses and streetwear that he would barely use. Now, bag charms enable him to quickly switch up the look of his purses without blowing his budget. He recently dressed up his $695 Coach Soft Empire Carryall Bag with a handful of eclectic charms, including a $120 Longchamp keyring in the shape of a croissant.

    The commercial director from New Jersey began buying the embellishments a year ago and now owns 30, the most expensive being a $1,010 Louis Vuitton crab charm that doubles as a small pouch.

    “You can mix and match and put it on different bags, so you’re not limited to one specific style,” Diaz said.

    Sales at luxury brands have been falling for several quarters, and companies are putting out more affordable and smaller accessories to reverse the slump and drive up store traffic.

    Last month LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE reported that second-quarter sales fell 9 percent in its key fashion and leather goods unit as shoppers reined in purchases of costly purses and clothing. Rival Kering reported that Gucci sales plunged 25 percent during the same period compared with a year earlier, while sales at Prada declined 3.6 percent.

    Shares in the companies are all down double digits in the last 12 months, and consultancy Bain & Co. expects the personal luxury goods industry to shrink between 2 and 5 percent this year. That would be the worst performance since the 2009 global financial crisis if the pandemic is excluded.

    Tapping into the viral bag charm craze is “sensibly opportunistic” for luxury companies that might as well “make some money off the back of it,” said Neil Saunders, managing director at analytics firm GlobalData.

    Tapestry Inc., which has been outperforming top-tier labels thanks to strong sales at its attainable luxury brand Coach, has expanded its assortment of charms there and at Kate Spade. The company plans to significantly increase the number of pieces offered at Kate Spade, where sales have been falling, during the holiday season.

    “We are killing it with bag charms,” Todd Kahn, the chief executive officer of Coach, said on a call with analysts on Thursday.

    Unique bag charms provide “an accessible way in” to the two brands, said Alice Yu, Tapestry’s vice president of strategy and consumer insights.

    Ultra-luxury brands have sold charms for years, but mainly as afterthoughts to big-ticket items. Many sold them online only. Now the charms are front and centre in boutiques and at fashion shows.

    “If we don’t get into this and lean into this, someone else will,” Saunders said of the prestige brands. And as some of their wealthy customers hold off on buying new purses and clothes, hooking them with a stylish bag charm helps maintain valuable client connections during a rough patch.

    “The worst thing for a brand is to lose a consumer completely,” he said.

    During recent visits to Bloomingdale’s stores, statement charms were featured throughout the handbags departments. At the retailer’s Manhattan flagship, Prada was showcasing its $825 black and gold robot charm attached to a $2,300 backpack. In Los Angeles, Gucci’s $510 dragonfly-shaped keychain was clipped to one of the handles of a $1,950 handbag, and three dog-shaped charms, $450 each, were lined up in a display case alongside monogram card holders and wallets.

    Although bag charms are booming, industry analysts caution that they can only bolster luxury brands to a point.

    Ultimately, charms “will make up a very small portion” in sales for premium fashion labels, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Deborah Aitken. “Enough to keep brands active in the minds of potential shoppers, but at very limited total value.”

    Louis Vuitton and Loewe declined to comment on their bag charm strategies or provide sales figures. Gucci and Fendi did not respond to requests for comment.

    Klevisa Hendrix, a 27-year-old content creator from Los Angeles, began buying bag charms this year after seeing them on the Coach runway and now has a dozen in her growing collection. She typically spends less than $100 on a single charm.

    “You want to be fashionable,” she said, “but you want to still be able to afford fashion.”

    By Micah Barkley

    Continue Reading

  • Greece, Spain and Portugal race to contain wildfires as EU steps up cross-border help

    Greece, Spain and Portugal race to contain wildfires as EU steps up cross-border help

    ATHENS, Greece — Fire crews in Greece, Spain and Portugal raced Thursday to contain wildfires, taking advantage of calmer winds that slowed the blazes’ advance. Much of southern Europe, however, remains at high risk under hot, dry conditions.

    A drop in wind speeds allowed firefighting aircraft in the three hard-hit countries to step up water drops, concentrating on existing fire zones rather than chasing fast-moving fronts. Authorities warned that extreme temperatures are likely to persist.

    Spanish authorities reported the death of a 37-year-old volunteer firefighter who sustained severe burns in an area north of Madrid this week. It was the third reported death in Spain due to the recent fires. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the region and still can’t return.

    In Greece, the Fire Service said a major blaze outside the southern port city of Patras has been contained on the outskirts of urban areas after a large-scale deployment. Three people have been arrested in connection with the fire, which authorities said may have been deliberately set.

    The European Union’s civil protection agency said it responded to requests for assistance this week from Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania, sending firefighting planes and helicopters from other member states.

    The agency said it had already activated assistance 16 times amid this summer’s wildfires as European countries have been hit by “a high number of catastrophic wildfires.”

    The number of activations for 2025 already matches the total for wildfires during the entire 2024 fire season, it said.

    Continue Reading

  • China Tempers Nvidia H20 Use — No Ban, But Heavy Scrutiny

    China Tempers Nvidia H20 Use — No Ban, But Heavy Scrutiny

    Chinese regulators are signaling caution but not an outright ban on Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) H20 AI chip.

    Reuters reports the Cyberspace Administration of China and other agencies recently called in Tencent (TCEHY), ByteDance, Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), and others, pressing them to justify why they need the U.S.-made chips instead of local options, while voicing worries that data shared for U.S. export clearance could expose sensitive client information.

    The companies haven’t been ordered to stop buying, pushing back on earlier reports of a ban. Still, Bloomberg says officials advised against using H20 chips in government-linked projects, and The Information claimed some firms were told to pause purchases though Reuters couldn’t confirm that.

    The distinction is key for Nvidia, which only regained the right to sell the H20 in China last month after U.S. curbs eased. The chip was custom-built for China after 2023 restrictions and delivered $17 billion in China sales last fiscal year, 13% of Nvidia’s total.

    Yet the pressure comes as Huawei and others ramp up domestic AI chip efforts, and Beijing pushes its tech giants to cut reliance on U.S. suppliers.

    This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

    Continue Reading

  • Namibia declares end to cholera, malaria outbreaks-Xinhua

    WINDHOEK, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) — Namibia has officially declared an end to a cholera outbreak in the Opuwo District of the Kunene Region and a widespread malaria outbreak in the northern part of the country.

    Minister of Health and Social Services Esperance Luvindao made the announcement Wednesday evening, citing successful containment efforts and a return to pre-outbreak epidemiological patterns.

    “In June 2025, Namibia declared a cholera outbreak in Opuwo District, Kunene Region, following confirmed cases,” she said, adding that a total of 18 suspected cases were reported, with nine confirmed.

    Luvindao said swift action was taken, led by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Red Cross and other partners.

    “Through rapid case detection, prompt treatment, intensified risk communication, community engagement, water and sanitation interventions, and cross-border collaboration, we were able to halt the transmission,” she said.

    The minister said that no new cholera cases have been reported for over 28 days, the required monitoring period before declaring the outbreak over.

    An outbreak of malaria, which started on Dec. 23, 2024, led to an “unusual spike” in cases, especially in northern Namibia. As of Aug. 1, the outbreak had resulted in 95,412 cases and 154 deaths nationwide. ■

    Continue Reading

  • Huntington Disease: Recognizing Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

    Huntington Disease: Recognizing Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

    TALES FROM THE CLINIC

    -Series Editor Nidal Moukaddam, MD, PhD

    In this installment of Tales From the Clinic: The Art of Psychiatry, we discuss Huntington disease (HD). While the motor pathology is easily clinically recognizable, associated neuropsychiatric manifestations are not well understood and lack systematic treatment trials, despite representing a significant burden on patients. HD also lacks disease-modifying therapies.

    Case Study
    “Mr John” is a 44-year-old man with a 5 year history of major depressive disorder who presents to his psychiatrist after referral from his primary care physician. He presents with concerns regarding a new onset of cognitive deficits. He reports that he has recently noticed difficulty focusing and has also become very forgetful, missing appointments for his job. Mr John states that this has been ongoing for several weeks now and has been experiencing trouble at work because of it. He is worried that it might be because of his recent increase in fluoxetine from 20-mg to 30-mg daily due to his worsening depressive symptoms. Mr John denies any physical/motor symptoms such as tremors or involuntary movements and denies headaches. He does report that he has become more anxious and irritable lately. Family history is positive for suicide of mother at age 44.

    His psychiatrist performed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mr John received a score of 21, indicating mild cognitive impairment. In light of this, his psychiatrist makes another referral to a neurologist to address this new-onset of cognitive symptoms. Upon his visit to the clinic, the neurologist performs a full neurological exam and notes no major deficits in motor function. The neurologist asks Mr John again about his family history. Mr John reports that his mother had regular mood swings and committed suicide around his age. When asked about his grandparents, he states that he does not remember much aside from his maternal grandfather often making random “jerky” movements.

    The neurologist orders a genetic test which comes back positive for a HTT mutation, confirming that Mr John has HD. The neurologist counseled Mr John about the prognosis of HD and the progession of its symptomology to the triad of motor, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms. He is prescribed memantine 20-mg daily for his cognitive deficits and continues his fluoxetine 30-mg daily. His neurologist and psychiatrist work together and monitor Mr John’s disease progression, prepared to add new medications as needed.

    5-Year Follow Up

    Mr John presents to his neurologist having now developed full HD pathology. He is on an extensive medication regimen with dopamine modulators, NMDA receptor antagonists, anti-depressants, and anxiolytics. His neurologist informs Mr John of an upcoming clinical trial for gene therapy with the potential of inactivating mHTT and helps him get enrolled.

    What Is HD?

    HD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the basal ganglia that manifests in disturbances of cognitive, motor, and behavioral/psychiatric functions, leading to severe disability and ultimately death.1,2 It occurs with its highest prevalence in Western populations at 10.6-13.7 individuals per 100,000 with a global rise over the past 2 decades.1,2 The disease is caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion on chromosome 4 of the HTT gene, creating a mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein that is responsible for the disease pathology.1,2 Several proposed mechanisms ranging from glutamine excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation have been advanced to explain the clinical manifestations.2,3 Ultimately, the striatum’s neuronal population of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) become vulnerable as a result of the mHTT protein and undergo neurodegeneration. As a disease of the basal ganglia, the molecular progression of HD is biphasic, starting with the loss of the indirect pathway of the basal ganglia and progressing to the direct pathway. The neurodegeneration and subsequent inactivation of the basal ganglia pathways lead to atrophy of the caudate nucleus and putamen. HD also displays monogenic autosomal dominant inheritance with full penetrance, meaning the disease is always expressed as long as an individual has at least 1 copy of the gene/allele.2

    HD symptomology follows a triad of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric/behavioral disturbances, usually manifesting during mid-adulthood.1-3 The biphasic progression of HD manifests to a and early hyperkinetic phase of involuntary movements (ie, chorea) and a later hypokinetic phase where voluntary movements become inhibited, resulting in bradykinesia, dystonia, gait disturbances, etc.1,2 Cognitively, HD results in impaired emotional processing as well as executive function (ie, attention, concentration, decision making, etc) with some evidence of indirect PNS impairment.1,2 HD has a wide psychiatric manifestation, with notable effects on anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive behavior, irritability, aggression, and psychosis.1,2 The actual diagnosis of HD can be made at any time, but it is typically done during middle adulthood after the onset of symptoms.3 Given the genetic nature of HD, clinical diagnosis is usually evaluated by a positive genetic test for the HTT mutation in combination with cognitive tests and neuroimaging.1,2 Predictive testing prior to symptom onset could also be done for individuals at risk of inheriting the mutation, typically for reproductive purposes.1

    Currently, there are no approved disease-modifying treatments for HD; therefore, the therapeutic interventions only address the actual symptoms.3 Treatment for motor symptoms are limited to supplementing the indirect pathway (ie, hyperkinesia and chorea) via dopamine modulators/antagonists as well as antiglutamatergic drugs. Given the mechanism of the basal ganglia pathways, the therapy for the indirect pathway could exacerbate the symptoms of the direct pathways (ie, hypokinesia and rigidity). Dopamine agonists have been studied, although they have limited effect.3 Cognitive impairment is typically treated with NMDA receptor antagonists (eg, memantine), which reduces the glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity.3 Psychiatric and behavioral treatment options typically follow the general therapeutics of the specific symptoms (ie, antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc).3

    Advancements in gene therapies, specifically CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), show promise in possible disease-modifying therapies via inactivation of mHTT.3 HD is a fully penetrant disease with a very poor prognosis. The disease itself is progressive and the symptomatology has a profound effect on quality of life.1,2 While the specific gene of HTT has been identified, the actual mechanism leading to the neurodegeneration of striatal MSNs remains unclear, leading to limited treatment options aside from developing gene therapies and addressing the symptoms.1, 2, 3

    Clinical Practice and Treatment

    While HD is certainly an area of academic interest, the management of its neuropsychiatric symptoms is not as well explored as its motor or cognitive manifestations.4 Psychiatric—or rather, neuropsychiatric—symptoms are not just common in patients with HD, but are part of the full disease spectrum (ie. triad) and cause serious emotional toll and distress.5 In fact, neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are often the very first manifestation of HD, occurring in atypical phases as early as 20 years before the onset of motor symptoms (eg, chorea).6 Regarding the mechanism, studies point towards the neuronal loss of the basal ganglia and eventual cerebral degeneration as a core contributor to NPS. The resulting neurodegeneration seems to affect other neuronal pathways such as the limbic system, the orbitofrontal-subcortical circuit, and the anterior cingulate-subcortical circuit structures, just to name a few.6 As far as the scope of NPS, we see a wide range of symptomatology including affective and nonaffective disorders such as depression, mania, and anxiety.6,7 Furthermore, other behavioral symptoms such as apathy, impulsivity, disinhibition, and sexual dysfunction as well as obsessive and psychotic symptoms are reported.6,7 The heterogeneous and complex nature of NPS manifestation in HD makes it especially difficult to manage in terms of pharmacotherapy.5 On top of that, there is a severe lack of evidence-based clinical trials for disease modifying therapies which makes pharmacological treatment especially limited.8
    Generally, it is imperative for the physician to identify any NPS as early as possible and begin treatment, following the multidisciplinary approach of pharmacological interventions as well as counseling, behavioral therapy, and support.4 Depression is the most common NPS seen in HD, appearing in atypical stages throughout the disease, normally preceding any motor symptoms as a prodrome and eventually increasing during the disease course.9 Anxiety in HD is also common, usually coexisting with depression in the prodromal stage, and can actually worsen the eventual motor and cognitive HD symptoms.5 Irritability/aggression is another especially common NPS in HD, where patients are very quick to anger despite minimal triggers.9 On the other side of the coin, we see apathy as another extremely frequent NPS that occurs in the middle and later stages of the disease. In this case, patients will greatly lose interest and motivation in daily activities.9 These specific NPS are typically linked together and contribute to a significant increase in risk factor for suicide in patients with HD, with a suicide rate 4 to 5 times higher than the general population.6 Obsessive compulsive symptoms and psychotic symptoms have also been documented in patients with HD, although they are less common than other NPS.6 The recommended pharmacological therapies follow the standard guidelines per psychiatric symptom (eg, SSRIs for depression), with disease modifying treatment being severely understudied.8 Furthermore, with the diverse scope of NPS, it is imperative to always monitor drug interactions to prevent adverse reactions or exacerbated symptoms.6 With that in mind, it is also important to consider the guidelines on behavioral therapies as treatments for specific NPS in patients with HD.5 Cognitive symptoms can also occur, and present in a dementia-like picture in advanced stages. The Figure outlines first line pharmacological treatments as well as alternative drug classes and behavioral interventions.4,5,10

    Figure. Management of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Associated With HD

    Concluding Thoughts

    While HD is often characterized by its motor symptoms of hyperkinetic movement and chorea, it has major psychiatric manifestations that are just as common and extremely burdensome on the patient. Psychiatrists treating patients with HD can expect to find symptoms of depression, anxiety, agitation, apathy, obsessive-compulsion, and even psychosis; however, the actual range of neuropsychiatric symptoms is even more broad. When treating patients with HD for their psychiatric manifestations, it is imperative to follow the most up-to-date guidelines on pharmacological therapies, paying close attention to drug-drug interactions and paradoxical effects.10 Given the extensive symptomology, certain drug classes may alleviate one set of symptoms while exacerbating another. Furthermore, physicians in general must always take an interdisciplinary approach to care and help the patient manage symptoms through traditional behavioral/psychological therapies.

    In HD, neuropsychiatric symptoms often precede any motor symptoms, which can make psychiatrists the first responders. With that said, psychiatrists must be able to spot the pattern of HD NPS and make the necessary orders and referrals to ensure the best patient outcome. For example, a psychiatrist may note that a patient presents as presymptomatic for HD and can order a genetic test. Throughout their treatment, patients with HD can be seeing several different physicians at a time, as well as be taking multiple medications simultaneously. As such, psychiatrists and neurologists must work in deep collaboration between themselves and their patients to ensure efficient drug management and proper care.

    The mechanism behind HD is unfortunately elusive and there is no actual disease modifying therapy available for patients, with only symptom addressing therapeutic interventions available. Even so, pharmacological treatment plans also lack the evidence from clinical trials to adequately address the neuropsychiatric symptoms of HD. Current research points towards gene therapies such as CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) as having the potential to treat patients with HD at the molecular level. With limited treatment options available, physicians must dedicate their support to advancing HD research in clinical trials and beyond. Support for families may also be welcome as symptoms become more pronounced.

    Mr Saadah is a student at TAMU College of Medicine, interested in neurology/psychiatry interface. Dr Moukaddam is a professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and the Director of Outpatient Psychiatry at Harris Health. She also serves on the Psychiatric Times Editorial Board.

    References

    1. McColgan P, Tabrizi SJ. Huntington’s disease: a clinical review. Eur J Neurol. 2018;25(1):24-34.

    2. Jiang A, Handley RR, Lehnert K, Snell RG. From pathogenesis to therapeutics: a review of 150 years of Huntington’s disease research. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(16):13021.

    3. Kim A, Lalonde K, Truesdell A, et al. New avenues for the treatment of Huntington’s disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(16):8363.

    4. Jay JA, Kumar V, Garrels E, et al. Management of neuropsychiatric disturbances in Huntington’s disease: a literature review and case report. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2023;25(1):22cr03265.

    5. Anderson KE, van Duijn E, Craufurd D, et al. Clinical management of neuropsychiatric symptoms of Huntington disease: expert-based consensus guidelines on agitation, anxiety, apathy, psychosis and sleep disorders. J Huntingtons Dis. 2018;7(3):355-366.

    6. Paoli RA, Botturi A, Ciammola A, et al. Neuropsychiatric burden in Huntington’s disease. Brain Sci. 2017;7(6):67.

    7. Saft C, Burgunder JM, Dose M, et al. Symptomatic treatment options for Huntington’s disease (guidelines of the German Neurological Society). Neurol Res Pract. 2023;5(1):61.

    8. Andriessen RL, Oosterloo M, Molema J, et al. Pharmacological treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Huntington’s disease: a systematic review. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2025;12(4):418-431.

    9. Bachoud-Lévi AC, Ferreira J, Massart R, et al. International guidelines for the treatment of Huntington’s disease. Front Neurol. 2019;10:710.

    10. Lopez MA. Huntington disease (HD). Rare Disease Advisor. Updated June 24, 2025. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://www.rarediseaseadvisor.com/junction-hub-pages/huntington-disease/

    Continue Reading

  • Kylie Kelce Is Reacting to Taylor Swift Dethroning Her ‘New Heights’ Record in Less Than 24 Hours | Kylie Kelce, Taylor Swift | Just Jared: Celebrity News and Gossip

    Kylie Kelce Is Reacting to Taylor Swift Dethroning Her ‘New Heights’ Record in Less Than 24 Hours | Kylie Kelce, Taylor Swift | Just Jared: Celebrity News and Gossip

    Kylie Kelce has been dethroned by Taylor Swift, and she’s reacting to the news!

    If you don’t know, on Wednesday (August 13), Taylor appeared on Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce‘s “New Heights” podcast, and at the time of this posting, the episode has well over 9.4 million views on YouTube. Kylie‘s podcast episode with the guys has 8.6 million views and was released on September 6, 2023.

    Keep reading to find out more…

    “Officially no longer the record holder for the most watched episode of the other podcast. There’s no way it’s even close, and I love that for me,” Kylie said on her own podcast, “Not Gonna Lie,” on Thursday morning (August 14).

    “It is very entertaining to watch the Internet break. It’s just crumbling apart, and I love it. I love it. I love that we know that a day before it releases my interview on the other podcast is going to lose its long-tenured reign as most-watched episode, and I welcome that whole heartedly. Let’s drop that sucker down,” Kylie added.

    On the episode, Taylor revealed her first impression of Kylie and Jason, and their daughters.


    Continue Reading

  • From gene hunter to drug hunter

    From gene hunter to drug hunter

    Howard Chang wasn’t looking for a change from his job at Stanford, where he worked as both a genomic researcher and a dermatologist. His busy lab there was focused on understanding how regulatory programmes drive disease — unveiling for example how long-non-coding RNA (lncRNA) underpins autoimmunity in women and how extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) fuels cancer. And with five biotech startups already under his belt, Chang saw a path to transform these big ideas into drugs. But when he got a call from Amgen’s head of R&D Jay Bradner about joining the big biotech team, he couldn’t resist the change.

    Enjoying our latest content?
    Login or create an account to continue

    • Access the most recent journalism from Nature’s award-winning team
    • Explore the latest features & opinion covering groundbreaking research

    or

    Interviewed by Asher Mullard

    The interview was edited for length and clarity.

    Continue Reading

  • Samsung Announces First-Ever Certified Re-Newed Galaxy Z Series

    Samsung Announces First-Ever Certified Re-Newed Galaxy Z Series

    Samsung is expanding its Certified Re-Newed program to include Galaxy Z series devices for the first time. Starting today, Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5 Certified Re-Newed devices are available exclusively at Samsung.com, offering an excellent option for those interested in trying the Galaxy Z series experience for the first time at a great value.

    With flexible form factors that offer all the benefits of a traditional device, plus the versatility to open up to so much more, Samsung’s Galaxy Z series redefines what you you’ve come to expect from a smartphone.

    Samsung Certified Re-Newed offers a like-new phone experience at a reduced price. Devices are serviced by Samsung specialists and repaired with 100% Samsung genuine parts, including a certified new battery, and backed by Samsung’s one-year manufacturer warranty.1

    Galaxy Z Fold5 is a productivity powerhouse with a form factor that offers the benefits of a phone and tablet in a single device with a long-lasting battery in a thin and light design. Power through your work with Multi Window and enjoy an immersive gaming and viewing experience on its stunning 7.6-inch Main Screen.2

    Galaxy Z Fold5 comes in Phantom Black and starts at $1,169 for the 256GB model and $1,219 for the 512GB model.3

    Continue Reading

  • SpaceX sends 28 more Starlink satellites into orbit on Falcon 9 flight from Florida

    SpaceX sends 28 more Starlink satellites into orbit on Falcon 9 flight from Florida

    Twenty-eight more Starlink satellites are now circling the planet after a Falcon 9 launch from Florida this morning (Aug. 14).

    The SpaceX booster lifted off at 8:29 a.m. EDT (1229 GMT) on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. One hour and 4 minutes later, the broadband internet relays (Group 10-20) were deployed into low Earth orbit.

    “Deployment of 28 Starlink satellites confirmed,” confirmed SpaceX on the social media network X.

    The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands on its four deployed legs atop the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” after its launch and landing on Aug. 14, 2025. (Image credit: SpaceX)

    Previous Booster 1085 missions:

    Continue Reading

  • Yorùbá Boy Running by Biyi Bándélé audiobook review – from enslaved teenager to celebrated preacher | Books

    Yorùbá Boy Running by Biyi Bándélé audiobook review – from enslaved teenager to celebrated preacher | Books

    Set in 19th-century Òsogùn in what is now Nigeria, Yorùbá Boy Running opens with 13-year-old Àjàyí reporting a premonition to his mother about dark days ahead. A week later, the town is surrounded by Malian slave raiders and Àjàyí is kidnapped along with his mother, sister, best friend and neighbours. He is taken to Lagos and sold to Portuguese slavers preparing to ship their human cargo to the Americas. But they are intercepted by the British navy, which releases Àjàyí in Sierra Leone, where he is recruited by missionaries. From there, he is put on a path that leads to him to study at Oxford and become a celebrated preacher, linguist and abolitionist who meets Queen Victoria.

    A remarkable tale of barbarism and resilience, Yorùbá Boy Running is the final work by the Nigerian novelist and film-maker Biyi Bándélé, who died in 2022 aged 54. Weaving in Africa’s colonial history and imagined – and improbably comic – conversations between warring Yorùbá factions, it is based on the real-life story of Samuel Àjàyí Crowther, who was kidnapped in 1821 and sold into slavery. Crowther secured his freedom and went on to become the first Black Anglican bishop in west Africa.

    Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, who starred in Bándélé’s directorial debut Half of a Yellow Sun, is the narrator, expertly navigating the book’s huge cast of characters and dramatic tonal shifts. For Bándélé, Yorùbá Boy Running was personal, as it had a connection to his own family history. From the opening dedication, we discover that his great-grandfather was a slave who was liberated and who returned home to start his life again.

    Available via Penguin Audio, 7hr 15min

    Further listening

    The Genius Myth: The Dangerous Allure of Rebels, Monsters and Rule-Breakers
    Helen Lewis, Penguin Audio, 9hr, 6min
    An examination of an overused word, Lewis’s study spans Renaissance artists, popular music behemoths and the big beasts of science as it asks why some are labelled geniuses and others are not. Read by the author.

    skip past newsletter promotion

    Notes to John
    Joan Didion, 4th Estate, 6hr, 33min
    Julianne Moore narrates this posthumous collection of diary entries from the late 1990s, written after Didion began seeing a psychiatrist. The entries are composed as if she were addressing her late husband John Dunne, and record her depressive episodes and fears for her daughter Quintana.

    Continue Reading