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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.

California's attorney general has filed a lawsuit accusing Amazon of orchestrating price‑fixing schemes, based on newly unsealed court records released this week. The filing alleges the e‑commerce giant colluded with vendors to artificially set product prices, violating state antitrust statutes and potentially harming consumers.The unsealed documents, obtained through a freedom‑of‑information request, detail internal communications suggesting Amazon pressured sellers to maintain uniform pricing across its platform. Prosecutors argue this practice restricts competition and inflates costs for shoppers in the Golden State.While the case is still in its early stages, legal experts warn that a ruling against Amazon could set a precedent for broader antitrust scrutiny of online marketplaces nationwide. The lawsuit also underscores growing regulatory focus on big‑tech firms' market power.Amazon has declined to comment on the allegations pending further proceedings. The outcome may influence future policy debates on how digital platforms should be regulated to ensure fair pricing and competition.

In a bid to regain control over their digital lives, people are attending 'cybersecurity disguised as a party' events, where they learn how to mitigate their vulnerability to surveillance through major tech services.Imani Thompson, a 26-year-old cybersecurity organizer, leads these events, which include activities like DJ sets and dancing, to make learning about digital security more approachable and fun. The events, organized by groups like the New York City-based tech organizing coalition Cypurr Collective, aim to help attendees understand how to protect their personal data and break free from the grip of big tech companies.61% of Americans are concerned about their digital security, but only 33% are actively doing something about it, according to a YouGov poll. These tech privacy-focused conferences, workshops, and meetups are giving people the support and agency to protect their information without giving up the tech that underpins modern life.The services people rely on to message their friends, shop, or navigate a new city can make our lives easier and more connected, but they also leave us extraordinarily exposed. The data that tech companies sweep up from our online activities allows them to infer precise details about us, which is then broadcast to thousands of companies worldwide through real-time bidding auctions.To combat this, activists are teaching communities how to regain agency over their digital lives by using more secure, transparently run platforms or even building their own digital tools. Organizations like Resist Tech Monopolies (RTM) in Seattle and Co-op Cloud, an international tech federation, are part of this movement.RTM has seen an explosion of interest recently, with a growing number of people from political and grassroots groups wanting to train their members or community on digital security. The group offers community events like book clubs, movie nights, and open office hours, as well as regular 'discover tech' events that introduce community members to tech concepts.By using libre software and open-source projects, people can contribute to building and sharing tools that are democratically designed and communally maintained. This approach not only protects users from surveillance but also allows them to collaborate on new tools that are transparent, sustainable, and free from corporate control.

Cédric Klapisch’s new film, Colours of Time, is an entertaining sentimental fantasy that invents a romantic backstory to the career of Claude Monet and his contemporary, the pioneering photographer Félix Nadar. The film follows Adèle, a fictional young woman who makes a fateful journey to find her errant mother in Paris during the belle époque, leaving behind her sweetheart and the village where she was brought up, in the countryside near Monet’s home town of Le Havre.The story intercuts enjoyably between past and present, as Adèle's life and times are rediscovered by her descendants. In the present day, dozens of descendants of Adèle are contacted by lawyers and PRs working for a property company that wants to build a vast new shopping mall, which would mean bulldozing Adèle’s derelict cottage. This garrulous ragtag bunch must give their collective consent, leading to a journey of discovery that uncovers historical secrets: photos, letters, and even what might be a painting.The film takes a pretty un-subversive view of art and artists but is executed with brio and comic gusto, particularly in the “past” sections. Suzanne Lindon’s performance has charm, and the detective work is interspersed ingeniously with what Adèle in her own day discovers about her errant mother. The film culminates in a wacky climax when the present-day claimants have an Ayahuasca psychoactive experience, sending them back in time to encounter historical culture icons in person at an exhibition.Colours of Time is a film that requires a sweet tooth, but it’s tasty. It’s set to hit UK cinemas from 17 April.

Pet owners in Britain may soon be barred from purchasing flea‑control products for cats and dogs at local shops. The government has opened an eight‑week public consultation to consider restricting sales to veterinarians or pharmacists, arguing that professional oversight will ensure correct usage and reduce environmental harm. Current regulations allow these topical treatments—containing potent insecticides such as fipronil and imidacloprid—to be bought in any pet store. Once applied, the chemicals disperse into the animal’s fur, enter waterways through washing or swimming, and have been linked to songbird nest failures and massive bee mortality. Water minister Emma Hardy emphasized the government’s commitment to “restore nature and clean up our rivers,” noting that while the products are vital for pet health, their distribution should be limited to professionals who can advise on safe application. Research funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) found that pet owners’ use of these treatments contributes to detectable levels of fipronil and imidacloprid in rivers and lakes. Environment Agency data reveal fipronil residues in 98% of water samples and imidacloprid in 66%, often exceeding toxicity thresholds for aquatic insects. One monthly flea treatment for a large dog contains enough imidacloprid to kill 25 million bees, underscoring the broader impact on pollinator populations. In the UK, fipronil is an ingredient in 66 veterinary products, while imidacloprid appears in 21. Abigail Seager, chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directive, acknowledged the dual role of these chemicals in protecting pets and people from parasites, but warned that “they are entering our waterways and may be having wider environmental impacts.” She called for diverse stakeholder input to balance medicine availability with ecological protection. The consultation follows a recent governmental pledge to ban imidacloprid and two other neonicotinoids—clothianidin and thiamethoxam—from agricultural use, reflecting a broader strategy to safeguard biodiversity.

Just a decade ago, cord‑cutters imagined a utopia where any game could be streamed on any device for a single, affordable price. Today, that vision has morphed into a bewildering web of platforms, blackouts and fees that strain even the most devoted fans. Major League Baseball illustrates the chaos. The Yankees’ local market now requires fans to juggle seven different providers, from traditional broadcasters to Apple TV and niche apps. A season‑long Gotham Sports App pass costs $119.99, while Amazon’s Prime Video charges $14.99 per month (or $139 annually) for exclusive rights to 21 Wednesday games. Netflix, at $19.99 per month, aired the opening‑night matchup between the Yankees and Giants. Adding these together, a die‑hard fan could face a bill of roughly $800 to watch every Yankees game this year, according to a calculation by The Athletic. Even Apple’s own streaming chief, Eddy Cue, admitted the market has regressed: “You used to buy one subscription, your cable subscription, and you got pretty much everything they had. Now, there’s so many different subscriptions, so I think that needs to be fixed.” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred proposes centralising local rights by 2028, hoping to curb the splintered landscape. Yet legacy broadcasters and tech giants continue to chase lucrative deals. The NBA’s recent 11‑year, $76 billion media contract with Disney/ESPN, Amazon and NBC underscores how high the stakes have become. Rights fees are increasingly volatile. ESPN reportedly paid $550 million annually for Sunday Night Baseball, only to see MLB strike a $10 million per‑year deal with Roku for the same slot. Netflix is said to spend $50 million per season for three years to air marquee events such as Opening Night and the Home Run Derby. The NFL, the most valuable league, embraces fragmentation as a revenue strategy, distributing games across CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN/ABC, Prime Video, the NFL Network, YouTube and Netflix. By packaging boutique game bundles for streamers, the league extracts “significantly more money” beyond its core media rights. Beyond cost, the viewer experience is eroding. In‑game advertising now blankets pitches and ice rinks, while “hydration breaks” at the World Cup will feature mandatory ad slots. Streamers counter with ad‑free premium tiers, but those come at a premium comparable to airline baggage fees. Financial pressures are evident. Peacock added 44 million paying subscribers in Q4 2025, yet reported a staggering $552 million loss, largely due to expensive NBA and NFL rights. Dazn, another global sports streamer, has accumulated billions in operating losses since launch. Industry analysts warn that over‑commercialisation could alienate casual viewers, especially younger audiences with shrinking attention spans who prefer short‑form clips on platforms like TikTok. As Anthony Palomba of the University of Virginia notes, “The prospect of watching a three‑hour game versus getting bite‑sized highlights on TikTok is difficult.” Data‑driven, AI‑powered programmatic ads promise higher monetisation, turning moments—like Steph Curry’s game‑winning three‑pointer—into instant shopping opportunities. Amazon, for example, leverages its ecosystem to track the full consumer journey from view to purchase. One potential remedy is a consolidated “one‑stop‑shop” that bundles multiple sports feeds, aiming to reverse the so‑called “enshittification” of streaming services—a term coined by Cory Doctorow to describe platforms that sacrifice quality for profit. While nostalgia for the era of a single cable package persists, experts caution against romanticising the past. As former NBA commentator Jon Lewis observes, “The old days were complicated in their own ways; today’s challenge is to balance revenue with a sustainable, fan‑friendly experience.”

Leeds, the largest European city still without a mass‑transit system, may finally see a tram line – but not before the late 2030s. The latest West Yorkshire Mass Transit plan, championed by combined‑authority mayor Tracy Brabin, received a fresh £200 million in development funding, part of a broader £2.1 billion allocation for the region.City council leader James Lewis, who began his career on a 1993 work‑experience placement with the council’s highways department, says the new scheme differs from past attempts. Instead of squeezing trams onto existing bus routes, the proposal envisions a dedicated line that could “float over or under the M621 motorway, similar to the Docklands Light Railway,” linking the White Rose shopping centre, Elland Road stadium, Leeds railway station and St James’s Hospital.The Treasury’s independent review, however, forced the government to demand a fresh business case that proves the need for trams rather than buses. This procedural hurdle has added roughly two years to the timetable, pushing the projected opening into the late 2030s. Brabin acknowledges the setback, noting critics now claim the project is effectively “cancelled,” but she insists the work is merely delayed, not abandoned.Leeds’ transport woes date back to the removal of its historic double‑deck tram network in 1959 and the construction of the M621, which many locals blame for isolating the city’s south side. A 2025 Treasury review warned that previous “Supertram” proposals failed because they could not demonstrate sufficient value for money, leading to the withdrawal of funding in 2005 and the abandonment of a trolley‑bus plan in 2016.Supporters argue the tram is essential for unlocking massive regeneration. Leeds United investor Pete Lowy predicts the line could catalyse up to £1 billion of investment, including 2,500 new homes, retail and leisure space, and a 15,000‑seat stadium expansion. Northern Powerhouse Partnership chief executive Henri Murison points to the emerging South Gateway development in Bradford as evidence that transport‑led investment is already materialising.Critics remain sceptical. Leeds University transport professor Greg Marsden questions how an 18‑year‑long project can still be justified, while local residents voice doubts that a tram can ever be built in a city they consider “not big enough.” Tom Forth, co‑founder of data‑city firm Information Group, blames centralised decision‑making in London, arguing that devolved funding would accelerate delivery.In the meantime, the council is focusing on improving bus services, which will come under public control in 2027. Centre for Cities analyst Rob Johnson notes that increasing bus frequencies could immediately benefit the 390,000 residents currently poorly connected, potentially delivering more mobility gains than a tram in the short term.Nevertheless, Brabin maintains that trams are “more attractive, carry more passengers, and generate more jobs and growth” than buses, and she reaffirms her promise: “I promised a tram, and a tram is what we’re going to get.” The pledge to have “spades in the ground” by 2028 for preparatory works remains on the table, even as the project navigates the Treasury’s stringent process.

Southampton have moved just three points off automatic promotion after a 3-0 victory over Blackburn, coupled with Ipswich’s 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth. The hosts extended their unbeaten run to 18 games in all competitions with a comprehensive victory at St Mary’s, secured by first-half goals from Cyle Larin and Ryan Manning and a late strike from Cameron Archer. The Southampton manager, Tonda Eckert, made five changes to the team which beat Derby 2-1 on Saturday but there was no disruption to the relentless rhythm which has catapulted the club up the Championship table and earned an FA Cup semi-final spot. Saints made the breakthrough in the 24th minute when Kuryu Matsuki set Archer free down the left, and he squared the ball perfectly for Larin to slot home. Shea Charles then went close with a rampaging run and shot, before Manning’s low shot deflected in past Blackburn keeper Balazs Toth two minutes from half-time. Matsuki missed a glorious chance to add a third after brilliant work from Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Larin left him with the goal at his mercy, and substitute Leo Scienza went close at the near post before Blackburn finally threatened. Daniel Peretz beat away Yuki Ohashi’s shot before Ryoya Morishita struck the post on the rebound. Archer completed the scoring late on to secure Southampton’s seventh win in a row, moving them up to fourth with a home fixture against second-placed Ipswich to come, after they head to Wembley and face Manchester City in the FA Cup. “I think no matter who we put on at the moment, they’re all ready to perform. It’s quite an easy decision at the moment to pick a team, because they’re all ready to go,” Eckert said after the game. Ipswich missed the chance to tighten their grip on second place as they slipped to defeat at Fratton Park. Conor Shaughnessy and Colby Bishop claimed quickfire goals as Portsmouth boosted their survival hopes with a crucial victory.

Itch! thrusts viewers into a nightmarish scenario where a hyper‑contagious disease forces victims to scratch themselves to death. The film’s most striking moment features a woman literally tearing her own skin, a set‑piece that showcases the director’s knack for visceral body‑horror despite a shoestring budget. The narrative then shifts to a cramped department store, where a rag‑tag group of uninfected shoppers must endure a claustrophobic dialogue‑driven showdown. While the premise echoes classic confinement thrillers such as John Carpenter’s The Thing and Assault on Precinct 13, the limited resources prevent the film from fully capitalising on these influences. Critics note that a larger budget could have amplified the already effective practical effects, and a tighter script would have deepened the human drama. The ensemble includes a widowed father (played by director‑screenwriter Bari Kang) juggling single‑parenthood, a cantankerous customer (portrayed by Douglas Stirling) who complains about price‑matching on Amazon, and several other archetypal figures. However, the screenplay struggles to give each character a distinct emotional arc, leaving audiences at a distance. Despite these shortcomings, the film’s core concept—an epidemic of fatal itching—offers a fresh angle for the under‑served eczema community and delivers moments of genuine horror. Itch! becomes as much a character study as a genre piece, though the balance tilts unevenly. The movie is available on UK digital platforms from 20 April 2026 and on US digital platforms from 21 April 2026.