2 w. ago French public broadcaster under fire as right sets up parliamentary inquiry

Investigation established by UDR party to look at ‘neutrality, workings and financing’ of state TV and radioThe French public broadcaster is at the centre of a political row as a parliamentary inquiry examines the “neutrality, workings and financing” of state TV and radio, while the media are expected to play a significant role ahead of the 2027 presidential election.The rightwing UDR party, an ally of Marine Le Pen’s far-right the National Rally (RN), set up the inquiry amid far-right claims that public TV and radio has a bias against them. Le Pen, whose party is expected to reach the final round of the presidential race, has said “there is a clear problem with neutrality in the public service broadcasting” and that she would like to privatise it. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago France fears ‘era of Trumpism’ as public broadcaster comes under fire from right

Investigation established by UDR party to look at ‘neutrality, workings and financing’ of state TV and radioThe French public broadcaster is at the centre of a political row as a parliamentary inquiry examines the “neutrality, workings and financing” of state TV and radio, while the media are expected to play a significant role ahead of the 2027 presidential election.The rightwing UDR party, an ally of Marine Le Pen’s far-right the National Rally (RN), set up the inquiry amid far-right claims that public TV and radio has a bias against them. Le Pen, whose party is expected to reach the final round of the presidential race, has said “there is a clear problem with neutrality in the public service broadcasting” and that she would like to privatise it. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Spirit 'throws pram down stairs' in UK's most haunted house as hunter 'scratched'

Ghost hunter Lee Steer claims he captured shocking footage of a pram being hurled down the stairs and was left with a burning scratch after being attacked by a spirit

Society

3 w. ago Unseen Tennessee Williams radio play published in literary magazine

The Strangers, a horror tale written during the playwright’s college days, appeared in the Strand magazine this weekAs one of the 20th century’s most successful playwrights, Tennessee Williams penned popular works at the very pinnacle of US theater, including A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.Years before his almost unparalleled Broadway triumphs, however, the aspiring writer then known simply as Tom wrote a series of short radio plays as he struggled to find a breakthrough. One is The Strangers, a supernatural tale offering glimpses into the accomplished wordsmith that Williams would become, and published for the first time this week in the literary magazine Strand. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago There are only two things wrong with this England team. They can’t Baz. And they can’t ball | Barney Ronay

Even losing seems to involve doing so without the qualities that were supposed to make England winIt’s a cruel, cruel summer. By the close of play in Adelaide, on the kind of superheated afternoon when just going outside basically involves setting fire to your own hair, it was clear this was the day the music finally died for England’s Ashes tour; even if that music has long since faded, like the tinkle of a haunted pianola in an empty house.The start of day two had presented a familiar challenge. Here was another occasion where it was necessary to bat properly. And yes, it is always this day. The bat properly day. Do it. Do the batting. The proper batting. By now this seems to raise some very basic existential questions. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Haunted house and invisible demons: Tennessee Williams' early radio play 'The Strangers' publishes

Tennessee Williams' early radio play, “The Strangers,” is featured in The Strand this week

Politics