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San Francisco‑originated Philz Coffee announced on Friday that it will keep Pride flags displayed in all of its locations, overturning a policy introduced just days earlier that called for their removal.Chief executive Mahesh Sadarangani said in a statement, "I made a mistake and I am sincerely sorry," adding that the Pride flag represents "a symbol of safety and belonging for people who don’t always find that in the world," and that he does not wish to deprive any customer of that feeling.When the policy was first unveiled, Sadarangani framed it as a move toward uniformity, indicating that other non‑U.S. flags would also be taken down to maintain consistency across stores.The decision triggered an immediate and vocal backlash from both employees and customers. An online petition opposing the ban quickly amassed more than 7,300 signatures, reflecting the chain’s long‑standing reputation as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.State Senator Scott Wiener, whose district includes San Francisco, condemned the policy on social media and suggested it was linked to Philz’s recent acquisition by private‑equity firm Freeman Spogli, raising concerns about corporate influence on inclusive practices.Sadarangani credited San Francisco Pride leaders Suzanne Ford and Jupiter Peraza for prompting the reversal, noting their outreach helped the company understand the broader impact of the decision."What gave me reason to engage with Mahesh was something I don’t always see from a CEO in this situation: genuine humility," Ford said. "He reached out, listened, and understood that this wasn’t about optics—it was about whether queer people and the employees who support them feel safe and seen. That matters."Founded in 2003, Philz Coffee has grown from a single San Francisco shop to a network of over 80 locations across California and Chicago, positioning itself as a community‑focused brand.The controversy occurs against a backdrop of nationwide debates over Pride symbols. Republican‑led states have recently removed rainbow flags from public spaces, and the Trump administration previously took down a rainbow flag at New York City’s Stonewall monument before agreeing to a settlement that restored it.Across the country, rainbow crosswalks have been targeted for removal, prompting cities like Miami Beach to install alternative displays—such as rainbow‑colored benches and plaques—to demonstrate solidarity with LGBTQ+ residents.

Coventry City has achieved a historic promotion to the Premier League, ending a 25-year absence from the top flight. The Sky Blues sealed their place in the Premier League with a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. The match was marked by a tense 90 minutes, with Coventry's Bobby Thomas scoring a late equalizer from a free-kick by Victor Torp.Manager Frank Lampard was emotional about the achievement, praising his team and staff for their hard work. He highlighted that this promotion is one of his greatest achievements in football, comparable to his successes with Chelsea. Lampard credited his predecessor Mark Robins for laying the groundwork and expressed pride in his team's performance.The draw sparked wild celebrations among Coventry fans, with many dancing in the terraces, clutching sky blue balloons, and letting off flares. The team's promotion has been a long time coming, with Coventry experiencing a turbulent period that included financial struggles and relegation to League Two in 2017-18.Coventry's journey back to the Premier League has been remarkable, with Lampard rebuilding the team and making key tactical decisions to secure crucial points. The team will now focus on securing the Championship title before preparing for the 2026-27 season.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, a statement that raised hopes for de‑escalation in the Middle‑East conflict and sent global oil prices tumbling. President Donald Trump took to social media to celebrate the news, proclaiming it a "great and brilliant day for the world" and asserting that Iran had pledged never to shut the strategic waterway again. Trump also claimed that Tehran had agreed to suspend its nuclear programme indefinitely and would forfeit any frozen U.S. funds, suggesting that a deal‑making session could occur over the upcoming weekend. In contrast, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) offered only qualified support for Araghchi’s declaration, indicating that commercial traffic would be permitted only along a prescribed route and under IRGC naval permission. The United States, however, signalled that its naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain in force until all transactions are completed, warning that few vessels are likely to risk passage under the current uncertainty. Oil markets reacted swiftly: Brent crude slipped below $90 per barrel, easing inflationary pressures that had surged after the strait’s earlier closure. Simultaneously, a ten‑day truce in Lebanon entered its second day, temporarily halting Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah‑aligned forces and offering a brief respite to civilians after weeks of intense fighting. Despite the truce, an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed a civilian, and Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the Israeli Defence Forces were not withdrawing and could resume operations. In Paris, representatives from roughly 40 nations gathered at a conference co‑chaired by France and the United Kingdom to discuss a coordinated plan for safeguarding the strait, which historically carries about one‑fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Araghchi’s statement but urged a "full, unconditional reopening" by all parties, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for any reopening plan to be "lasting and workable". The International Maritime Organization’s secretary‑general, Arsenio Domínguez, said the agency is reviewing the announcement to ensure it complies with the principle of free navigation for all merchant vessels. Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, acting as a key mediator, arrived in Tehran to advance negotiations for a more durable peace, underscoring Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role in the region. Overall, while the Hormuz opening has eased immediate market pressures, the broader geopolitical landscape remains volatile, with the U.S.–Iran cease‑fire set to expire soon and regional actors still poised for further confrontation.

Wrexham AFC, the football club co-owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, has been awarded a £3.8m government grant without a contract or a completed state aid assessment in place. This has raised questions over whether the award was lawful.The club has received a total of £18m in taxpayer-funded grants to help redevelop its stadium, the Racecourse Ground. This is significantly more than any other club in the UK.Responses to freedom of information requests suggest that Wrexham county borough council awarded the money before completing the usual steps. Alexander Rose, a partner specialising in subsidy control at law firm Ward Hadaway, stated that the lack of a final state aid assessment at the time the grant was awarded would have left it vulnerable to legal challenge by a rival.However, there is little prospect of Wrexham AFC being forced to repay the cash, as the one-month window for challenges to be filed has since closed. The leader of Wrexham council, Mark Pritchard, said: “All due diligence and checks were in place ahead of the transfer of any funding and we refute any accusations to the contrary.”Reynolds and Mac took over the club in 2021, bringing with them a wave of sponsorship and global interest via their Disney TV series Welcome to Wrexham. The club has been able to far outspend their lower-league rivals, transforming the club’s fortunes.Wrexham, which was granted city status in 2022, awarded the £18m to the star-studded club as part of its “Wrexham Gateway” urban improvement scheme. Most of the money went towards developing the stadium, despite the club having deep-pocketed owners.The first £3.8m tranche of cash was awarded on 8 February 2022, less than a year after Reynolds and Mac’s takeover. Another £14m was awarded in September 2025.Public authorities that give out grants are required by law to judge if they comply with the principles of subsidy control, to ensure taxpayer money is not misspent. However, in response to a freedom of information request, Wrexham council said it only had “draft assessments” in place before the money was awarded.The council said the final assessment it provided was submitted nearly five months later, on 6 July 2022. In response to questions, the council shared a draft assessment it said dated from 7 September 2021.Rose said: “At the time the £3.8m grant was awarded there was a duty to carry out a principles assessment. Evidence that this assessment wasn’t finalised when the grant was given would certainly have helped a challenger, for example a rival football club.”“Subsidy control rules exist to ensure there’s a level playing field in which businesses can compete,” he added. “That includes in professional football. They’re also an important protection for the taxpayer, preventing wasteful and unnecessary subsidies from being awarded.”Recipients of large grants almost always sign contracts to ensure taxpayer money is spent as promised. Yet the council said the grant was authorised by its executive board and “provided in advance of the finalisation of the grant funding agreement”.The council said the grant funding agreement – apparently covering the whole £18m – was only created in July 2023.The contract was then completed on 17 September 2025, when the £14m tranche was awarded.The two-year delay between the creation of the contract and its signing also offered another potential benefit to Wrexham council: new subsidy control laws that came into force days earlier in August raised the threshold for mandatory scrutiny of the grant by the Competition and Markets Authority.Delaying the subsidy meant the award to Wrexham AFC was not subject to this scrutiny.While it was tapping taxpayer money, the club was also able to raise huge amounts from private backers. In the year to June 2025 it raised £36m through share issues. Three months after the second grant, Reynolds and Mac announced the sale of a stake in the club to Apollo, one of the world’s largest private equity firms.Bloomberg reported that Wrexham was valued as high as £350m. The club then raised another £47.8m in January, according to corporate filings.In the year before it received the £14m grant, Wrexham was able to repay loans worth £10.6m to Ryan Reynolds’s company, according to accounts published last month. It also lost £3.8m from the collapse of Argentex, a currency brokerage that entered special administration in July 2025 because of failed foreign exchange trades.Pritchard, the council leader, said: “The grant represents a small investment compared to what the club will be investing at the Racecourse … In fact, as the club has grown in both stature, ambition and from external investment, the percentage of public investment compared to that of the club has shrunk from roughly 68% of the project costs to around 25% currently.“This demonstrates further value for money in regard to the initial investment from the public purse.”Wrexham AFC said the club is itself making a “significant financial investment with the support of our ownership group and investors”. Accounts published last month show the club has signed a £69.2m contract to build a new stand.The spokesperson said the “funding ensures the facility can be brought up to the required standard to host international sporting events, including international football and rugby matches (as opposed to just meeting domestic football criteria)”

New Jersey’s transit authority has officially set the price of a return train ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium at $150, a dramatic increase from the usual $12.90 fare between Penn Station and the stadium.The announcement also revealed premium parking will cost up to $225 in an ADA‑designated lot adjacent to the venue, with general spectator parking eliminated on match days.Governor Mikie Sherrill explained that the state faces a $48 million expense to safely move an estimated 40,000 fans per match. She emphasized that FIFA is not contributing financially, stating, "FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ Transit every day."Under the new scheme, fans must purchase a special NJ Transit World Cup ticket that includes a wristband for the return journey. Departures from Penn Station will be organized in time‑blocks, with multiple security checkpoints along the route.For those preferring road travel, a round‑trip bus service is available for $80, picking up passengers from two New York City locations and a park‑and‑ride site in Clifton, New Jersey, which can accommodate roughly 2,500 vehicles. Shuttle buses will then transport riders to the stadium, and tailgating will be prohibited.Sherrill highlighted that the existing host‑city agreement with FIFA provides zero dollars for fan transportation, shifting the entire burden onto NJ Transit. She contrasted this with FIFA’s projected $11 billion revenue from the tournament.FIFA’s event operations chief, Heimo Schirigi, responded that the pricing model could have a “chilling effect,” potentially driving fans toward alternative transport and increasing congestion. He reiterated FIFA’s long‑standing collaboration with host cities to develop efficient mass‑transit options.To lessen disruption for regular commuters, NJ Transit will suspend outbound service from Penn Station for four hours before each MetLife match and will offer free Path train and bus rides on affected days. Additional Path service is planned, and employers are encouraged to allow remote work.Discounts for regular riders on the two busiest match days, June 22 and June 30, will be funded by the NJ/NY host committee, according to Sherrill.Other U.S. host cities have taken different approaches: Kansas City is offering $15 bus shuttles to Arrowhead Stadium, while Philadelphia will keep its standard $2.90 fare for trips to Lincoln Financial Field.With limited parking and higher transit costs, officials are urging fans to rely on public transportation across all eleven host cities, emphasizing the broader economic and logistical challenges of hosting a global sporting event.

Olivia Rodrigo returns with “Drop Dead,” a single that instantly grabs listeners with a razor‑sharp lyric about online stalking and instant infatuation. The opening couplet—“One night I was bored in bed / And stalked you on the internet”—sets a tone of modern romance that feels both playful and unnervingly catchy.The 23‑year‑old, who burst onto the global stage in 2021 after a Disney Channel stint, has built a reputation for “acute, obsessive” love songs that balance self‑awareness with raw emotion. Her debut “Drivers License” cemented her as a heartbreak anthem, while the pop‑punk edge of her first album Sour and the riot‑grrrl‑infused follow‑up Guts displayed her versatility.“Drop Dead” marks a decisive pivot from the punk‑kiss‑off expectations that surrounded her recent breakup. Instead of a straightforward revenge track, the song delivers a “gorgeous rush of romantic intensity,” aiming to freeze a fleeting moment before plunging back into it with relentless momentum.The track’s production, helmed by longtime collaborator Dan Nigro, layers lush strings and bright power‑pop guitars, creating a sound that feels “one bauble short of festive.” Critics note a vocal delivery that stays in Rodrigo’s highest register throughout the chorus, with melodic bends that echo both Chappell Roan’s maximalism and Taylor Swift’s signature style.Visually, the music video—directed by Petra Collins and filmed at the Palace of Versailles—portrays Rodrigo as a runaway figure reminiscent of Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” and Emma Corrin’s Diana in “The Crown.” The lavish setting amplifies the song’s theatricality.Adding a rock pedigree, the single includes a subtle nod to Rodrigo’s friendship with The Cure’s Robert Smith, referencing his classic “Just Like Heaven.” Their rapport, highlighted in a recent Vogue cover story, underscores Rodrigo’s expanding artistic circle.Overall, “Drop Dead” blends maximalist pop production, romantic lyricism, and rock‑infused credibility, delivering a track that feels both instantly addictive and deliberately chaotic—mirroring the messy emotions it portrays.

Oil and gas prices experienced a significant decline of almost 10% on Friday following Iran's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial shipping. This development could pave the way for tankers carrying millions of barrels of oil and gas to access the global market.Iran's foreign minister stated that vessels are free to transit the Strait of Hormuz during the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell by 9% to $90 a barrel, while the benchmark European gas contract dropped by about 8.5% to €38.80 (£33.80) per megawatt hour.The US naval blockade on Iran's use of the strait remains in full force, according to Donald Trump, until a deal is reached with Tehran. Trump expressed optimism that the process will move quickly, as most points have already been negotiated.The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted supplies of Middle Eastern crude and gas, as well as refined fuels from Gulf refineries, in what the International Energy Agency has described as the biggest energy supply crisis in history. Before the crisis, over 130 ships a day travelled through the strait, but this has reduced to a trickle under threats from Iran's Revolutionary Guards.There are currently around 800 tankers stuck in the Gulf, with about 300 being oil and gas tankers. It remains uncertain whether tankers will be required to pay a fee of about $2m (£1.5m) for safe passage through the strait.Analysts, such as Giovanni Staunovo from UBS, view Iran's comments as a sign of de-escalation, but emphasize the need to see a substantial increase in the number of tankers crossing the strait.

Negotiations are intensifying between the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) and the UK’s Super League over a prospective takeover that could reshape the sport’s calendar and governance. The NRL’s chief executive, Andrew Abdo, told The Guardian that any acquisition would hinge on a major investment package and a decisive move to re‑introduce a winter competition, the first such change since 1996.Abdo travelled to England this week to discuss the feasibility of the deal, emphasizing that the London Broncos would be pivotal to the NRL’s vision. He warned that British clubs would need to surrender the extensive control they currently wield if they hope to benefit from the financial backing the NRL could provide.The proposed shift to a winter schedule is driven by the prospect of a global broadcast arrangement that would allow the NRL to sell television rights throughout the year. While a summer season avoids clashing with the Premier League, Abdo argued that a unified calendar could attract new fans and sponsors on an international scale.Super League clubs are reportedly losing close to £20 million annually. An infusion of NRL capital could not only cover the salary‑cap obligations for every club but also free up resources for further investment in facilities, talent development and marketing.Governance would also undergo a overhaul. The NRL operates under an independent commission, whereas Super League’s club owners currently dominate decision‑making. Abdo stressed the need for an independent governing body to make “tough calls” and separate day‑to‑day club interests from the sport’s strategic direction.London’s role is another cornerstone of the plan. Abdo highlighted the city’s diverse population and commercial potential, suggesting that a strong London franchise could boost fan acquisition, sponsorship deals, and overall league visibility.With the existing Sky Sports broadcast contract set to expire at the end of the season, timing is critical. The NRL aims to align its own TV‑rights expansion with a possible partnership, viewing broadcasting as the key lever for global growth.While no formal offer has been lodged, Abdo indicated that the NRL will present its findings to its board and Australian clubs before any official proposal is made. The next few weeks will be decisive for both leagues as they weigh the benefits of a combined, year‑round rugby league ecosystem.

Mark Fisher, a renowned cultural theorist, left an indelible mark on modern thought with his critiques of capitalism and its pervasive influence on society. His book, Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?, published in 2009, was initially met with silence from journalists and academics. However, it has since become a seminal work, selling over 250,000 English-language copies and being translated into numerous languages.Fisher's work was characterized by its accessibility and brutal honesty, earning him a following through his k-punk blog (2003-2016). He popularized the notion that “it’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism”, a concept attributed to Fredric Jameson. Fisher's writing covered a wide range of topics, including popular culture, work, mental health, and education, challenging the profit-driven economic system and reflecting on the feelings of hopelessness experienced by many.Konrad Kay, writer and co-creator of the finance drama series Industry, praises Fisher for documenting the subconscious human drives that underpin capitalism's immortality. Fisher's ideas continue to resonate, influencing artists such as Miki Aurora, who has explored his concepts of 'acid communism'.Fisher's philosophy of “hauntology” suggests that modern society is haunted by futures that failed to happen. This concept is explored in the documentary We Are Making a Film About Mark Fisher, which features archival recordings, interviews, and fictional performances. The film highlights Fisher's belief that artists have never been given the assets and opportunity to bring forth the new.The documentary has inspired a collective effort to undermine capitalism, with audience members organizing in-person group screenings worldwide. As the film concludes, “We are making a film about Mark Fisher and, now that you are watching, so are you.”