There has never been a shortage of TV series that take place in Los Angeles, the longtime hub of the American television industry and its players. But the 2025 Emmy season features such a wealth of shows set and shot in and around L.A. that we couldn’t resist spotlighting how several of them use the iconic locale we call home.
‘Shrinking’
Jason Segel, left, Jessica Williams, Christa Miller and Ted McGinley in “Shrinking.”
(Apple)
The Apple TV+ comedy, which follows an interconnected group of co-workers, friends and neighbors, is set mainly in Pasadena and Altadena. Location manager David Flannery, a fifth-generation Pasadena native, notes, “So often [these cities] play for everywhere else in the world. But we want to show exactly where we are — which is just a little more specific than general L.A. — and that the characters are grounded in very real places.” These sites have included the Rose Bowl, Pasadena City Hall, Pasadena’s Central Park (featuring the landmark Castle Green building) and the South Pasadena train station. The Laird and Bishop family homes, with their adjoining backyards, may look like a set but are actually neighboring Altadena houses, both of which survived the Eaton fire.
‘Only Murders in the Building’
Martin Short, left, Selena Gomez and Steve Martin in “Only Murders in the Building.”
(Eric McCandless / Disney)
Although Hulu’s Emmy-winning comic mystery is the ultimate New York tale, its Season 4 opener sent its crime-solving lead trio to Tinseltown to pursue a movie adaptation of their popular podcast. Co-creator and showrunner John Hoffman, calling in during the show’s Season 5 shoot, says, “Last season had to start in L.A. It really kicks off a season that is specific to cinema, to moving images.” Filming took place on the classic Paramount Studios lot, at the historic Il Borghese condo building in Hancock Park and at an “ultra-glamorous, deeply L.A.” Hollywood Hills home, which served as studio exec Bev Melon’s party house.
‘Nobody Wants This’
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody in “Nobody Wants This.”
(Adam Rose / Netflix)
Creator-showrunner Erin Foster can’t imagine her Netflix rom-com about a progressive rabbi and a gentile sex podcaster set anywhere but her native Los Angeles. “You have to write what you know, and that’s what I know,” she says by phone from her West Hollywood home. “In L.A., people are following their dreams, so it says a lot about who someone is. I think the same applies to locations in a TV show: They all signal where [the characters] are in their life and who they are.” Some of these illustrative locales have included Westwood’s Sinai Temple, the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown, the Los Feliz 3 Theatre, Calamigos Ranch in Malibu and WeHo’s Pleasure Chest sex shop.
‘The Studio’
Seth Rogen and Catherine O’Hara in “The Studio.”
(Apple)
Seth Rogen and company’s raucous creation about a beleaguered movie studio chief is rooted in firsthand experience. “Seth knows this town very, very well,” says supervising location manager Stacey Brashear. “He and [co-creator] Evan Goldberg wrote in 90% of the locations, including the [John] Lautner-designed, Midcentury Modern houses that studio executives like to collect.” Among these eye-popping sites are the Silvertop house above the Silver Lake Reservoir and the Harvey House in the Hollywood Hills. Adds Brashear, “I feel like our locations are actual characters in the show.” Among the Apple TV+ series’ many other L.A. locations: the Warner Bros. studio lot, the Smoke House Restaurant in Burbank, Lake Hollywood Park and the Sunset Strip’s Chateau Marmont.
‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’
Chloë Sevigny and Javier Bardem in “Monsters: The Lyle Aand Erik Menendez Story.”
(Netflix)
This Netflix limited series revisits the 1989 murder of wealthy Beverly Hills couple José and Kitty Menendez by sons Erik and Lyle, a crime notoriously connected to Los Angeles. “It was such a period of decadence and grandeur, and Beverly Hills was kind of the poster child for that,” says production designer Matthew Flood Ferguson. “I wanted to recapture the [town’s] glamour and celebrity culture.” He also notes, of L.A.’s diverse architecture, “You can get quite a few different looks all in the same place.” These “looks” included a grand Hancock Park-area home standing in for the Mendendez mansion, Koreatown’s Wilshire Colonnade office complex, a 1970s-built Encino bank building, Beverly Hills’ Will Rogers Memorial Park and the former Sunset Strip site of Spago, restored to look as it did in its heyday.
‘Hacks’
Megan Stalter left, and Hannah Einbinder at the Americana at Brand in “Hacks.”
(Kenny Laubbacher / Max)
Unlike past seasons, in which L.A. often subbed for Las Vegas, Season 4 of “Hacks” is mostly shot and set in Los Angeles. Says Lucia Aniello, co-creator with Paul W. Downs and Jen Stasky, “Much of [the season] is getting back to the roots of L.A. comedy. It really is a love letter to Los Angeles — and to the comedy world.” Adds Downs, “The show is a lot about people outside of the industry looking in. By being in L.A., we got to really explore what that means.” Some key locations: CBS Television City, the Lenny Kravitz-designed Stanley House, the Americana at Brand and Echo Park’s Elysian Theater; the Altadena estate doubling for Deborah Vance’s Bel-Air mansion was lost in the Eaton fire.
‘Running Point’
Kate Hudson and Max Greenfield in “Running Point.”
(Katrina Marcinowski / Netflix)
Loosely based on the life of Lakers President Jeanie Buss, this Netflix comedy is “filled with a lot of L.A. DNA,” says co-creator and showrunner David Stassen. He adds that, like Buss, the show’s star, Kate Hudson, “is also part of a dynastic L.A. family. Plus, she knows Jeanie, she loves the Lakers and she grew up going to games.” Though much of the season was filmed downtown at Los Angeles Center Studios, location work included the Pacific Coast Highway south of Venice (where Cam, played by Justin Theroux, crashes his Porsche), downtown L.A.’s elegant Hotel Per La and homes in Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills. The L.A. skyline gets quite the workout here as well.
‘Forever’
Lovie Simone in “Forever.”
(Elizabeth Morris / Netflix)
Netflix’s reimagining of Judy Blume’s 1975 novel unfolds in 2018 Los Angeles, where it evocatively explores first love between teens Justin and Keisha. Showrunner and L.A. native Mara Brock Akil considers her adaptation “a love letter to Los Angeles and to the idyllic life we’re all trying to live in this city, where dreams are not isolated to one particular neighborhood.” Key parts of the story take place around Keisha’s home in the View Park-Windsor Hills area, with the show’s many other L.A. locations including Ladera Park, St. Mary’s Academy in Inglewood, the Grove and the Original Farmers Market, Griffith Park and the Santa Monica Pier. Adds Akil, “A lot of people [in L.A.] are moving around on public transportation, which I wanted to shine a light on too.”
Activists in Paris dyed a fountain red to symbolise what they called “the bloodbath” taking place in Gaza. The protesters said a lack of political will to confront Israel’s actions in Gaza was increasingly being seen as “a form of complicity” with genocide.
A LUXURY superyacht owned by the US billionaire who transformed Starbucks into a global brand has been spotted squeezing through a murky Dutch canal.
Howard Schultz’s 254-foot vessel, named Pi, boasts a range of over 4,500 nautical miles and onboard spa facilities, including a glass-bottomed swimmingpool.
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A superyacht called Pi passed through the Woubrugsebrug in the Netherlands on WednesdayCredit: Alamy
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The yacht belongs to Ex-Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, estimated to be worth $6b (£4.5b)Credit: AP:Associated Press
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The yacht has a sleek, modern interior
The huge yacht, believed to be worth $200m (£150m), can accommodate up to 12 guests in six cabins and a crew of 18 people.
At a staggering 254 feet long and 37 feet wide, Pi ranks as the 183rd biggest yacht in the world, according to Wikipedia’s latest list of motor yachts by length.
The vessel is powered by MTU engines, which make it capable of speeds up to 18 knots.
It features its own helicopter landing pad as well as various onboard luxury spa facilities.
Built by Dutch boat builder Feadship, it was delivered to Schultz at the 2019 Monaco Yacht Show, where it won Best Yacht in Its Class and Motor Yacht of the Year.
Schultz’s net worth surpasses $6b (£4.5b), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
He built the bulk of his fortune as the CEO of Starbucks, initially leading the company from 1986 to 2000.
Under Schultz, Starbucks grew from a small Seattle-based chain into a global coffee empire.
Schultz returned to the helm during the 2007–2008 financial crisis, after the company faced major store closures in a bid to cut costs.
He remained CEO until 2017, then returned briefly as interim CEO from 2022 to 2023.
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The main salon of the superyacht Pi, featuring a large off-white sectional sofa and teal rug
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A master suite on the Pi
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The Pi superyacht is 254 feet longCredit: Alamy
Inside the invite-only superyacht ‘sea hotel’ with four-story penthouse – & another $450m ‘twin’ ship is on the way
Meanwhile, the luxury Four Seasons hotel franchise recently announced its plans to launch a superyacht cruise ship, dubbed the Four Seasons.
The superyacht promises to be decked with “sea limousines”, luxury restaurants, a cigar room and even a four-story private penthouse suite.
Set to launch in January 2026, the ‘sea hotel’ will sail on over 30 voyages in its first year, cruising through the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Mediterranean.
Seven nights along the rivieras of Cassis, France and Portofino, Italy, for example, will cost north of $25,000 (£18,500).
While reservations for the first voyages opened in January 2024, they are on an invitation-only basis for loyal Four Seasons guests.
The exclusivity is “driven by the need to manage extraordinary demand”, according to the luxury hotel franchise.
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Set to launch in January 2026, the ‘sea hotel’ will go on more than 30 voyages in its first yearCredit: Four Seasons
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The 190-passenger Four Seasons will feature 14 decks and 95 residential-style cabins with ocean viewsCredit: Four Seasons
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Passengers will be able to dine in the “Michelin-calibre” onboard restaurant – although only breakfast will be included in the priceCredit: Four Seasons
From Jack Harris: For a few weeks now, the Dodgers have been in the “treading water” portion of their season, trying to work through injuries in their pitching staff and inconsistencies in the lineup to remain atop the National League West standings.
On Tuesday, in a 9-5 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, two of their coldest hitters finally gave them some comfortable space to breathe.
In a game that was close until the final few innings, Michael Conforto and Max Muncy both showed long-awaited signs of life at the plate, each reaching base three times and each hitting late home runs to help the Dodgers pull away on a cool night in Cleveland.
“It’s big,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It adds the length [to the lineup] that we expected coming into this season.”
For much of this year, that length had been missing, the Dodgers forced to navigate around subpar production from both veteran sluggers — both at the plate and in the field.
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NBA PLAYOFFS RESULTS
All Times Pacific
Conference finals
Western Conference
No. 1 Oklahoma City vs. No. 6 Minnesota at Oklahoma City 114, Minnesota 88 (box score) at Oklahoma City 118, Minnesota 103 (box score) at Minnesota 143, Oklahoma City 101 (box score) Oklahoma City 128, at Minnesota 126 (box score) Wednesday at Oklahoma City, 5:30 p.m., ESPN Friday at Minnesota, 5:30 p.m., ESPN* Sunday at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m., ESPN*
Eastern Conference
No. 3 New York vs. No. 4 Indiana Indiana 138, at New York 135 (OT) (box score) Indiana 114, at New York 109 (box score) New York 106, at Indiana 100 (box score) at Indiana 130, New York 121 (box score) Thursday at New York, 5 p.m., TNT Saturday at Indiana, 5 p.m., TNT* Monday at New York, 5 p.m., TNT*
Wayne Randazzo, the television voice of the Angels, was detailing just how poorly the team’s relievers had performed. He recited the Angels’ earned-run average in the late innings, inning by inning. Over 5.00. Over 6.00. In the ninth inning, at that time, over 7.00.
“The numbers,” Randazzo said, “are gargantuan.”
What a colorful, descriptive and absolutely apt adjective. Not the “struggling” or “scuffling” or “slumping” a broadcaster typically offers, bland adjectives presented with the assurance that better times are ahead. No team can win with that kind of bullpen performance, and no one can guarantee that better times are ahead for a relief corps where only the closer has a successful track record.
For all that has gone wrong on the field for the Angels in modern times, they have struck gold in the broadcast booth. In pairing Randazzo with longtime analyst Mark Gubicza, the Angels just might have their best broadcast team since Dick Enberg and Don Drysdale half a century ago.
Carlos Rodón pitched seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball, and Devin Williams barely survived a perilous ninth inning to earn his first save since April 17 in the New York Yankees’ 3-2 victory over the Angels on Tuesday night.
Yoán Moncada homered in the ninth as the Angels ended a stretch of 16 scoreless innings in the series with two runs and three hits off Williams, the Yankees’ embattled new reliever. Williams lost the closer role last month after a shaky beginning to his New York tenure, and he hadn’t had a save opportunity since April 25.
After Moncada led off the ninth with a homer on his 30th birthday, Taylor Ward and Luis Rengifo singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Ward scored when Jo Adell grounded into a forceout, but Williams got pinch-hitter Logan O’Hoppe on a foul popup to secure his fifth save and the Yankees’ seventh straight series win.
From Anthony De Leon: When the Sparks traded for Kelsey Plum, the buzz around her reunion with former championship teammate Dearica Hamby centered on one thing: their pedigree elevating the franchise.
On Tuesday night, fans got a glimpse of the potential that the duo could attain. The chemistry. The comfort. The way they fed off each other’s energy — stepping up when the Sparks needed it most, looking to build momentum off a previous hard-fought victory.
By the fourth quarter of an 88-82 loss to the Atlanta Dream (4-2) on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, the Sparks (2-4) were on the verge of a comeback. A steal by Hamby near midcourt turned into an outlet on the fastbreak to Plum, who quickly dished it back for the finish, trimming the deficit to 66–63.
The second half belonged to them. Plum and Hamby combined for 39 points to rally the Sparks from a 40–31 halftime hole. Like clockwork, Plum buried a clutch three-pointer to cut the lead to 71–70 — the closest L.A. would get. Hamby’s late free throws pulled them to within two in the final minutes.
From Kevin Baxter: Carlos Vela, the first player signed by LAFC and still the club record-holder in goals, assists, games and minutes played, announced his retirement Tuesday. The team said in announcement that Vela will work with LAFC as its first Black and Gold Ambassador. He will also be honored on Carlos Vela Night at BMO Stadium on Sept. 21.
“Helping to build LAFC and winning trophies for the club is a highlight of my career,” Vela, 36, said in a statement issued by the team. “This club means so much to me and my family, and I am proud of everything we have accomplished together with the great fans of Los Angeles. I am excited to begin this next chapter in my journey here in L.A.”
Vela signed a designated-player contract with LAFC in August 2017, eight months before the team’s first game. He led LAFC to the playoffs in his first season, then set the MLS single-season goal-scoring record with 34 in 2019, when the team won the first of two Supporters’ Shields. Vela was named the league’s MVP that season
From Kevin Baxter: The last time Bruce Arena and Dave Sarachan stood together on the sidelines at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy were beating the Colorado Rapids in the MLS Western Conference semifinals. That was 2016 and the win was the pair’s 18th playoff victory in eight seasons with the Galaxy.
It was also the last game they coached together in Carson.
They’ll be back on Wednesday, only this time Arena and Sarachan will be in the opposite technical area, standing in front of the San José Earthquakes’ bench. And in some ways it’s a bittersweet return. Because while both men have mostly fond memories of their time with the Galaxy, they return with the home team hungry and winless through 15 games, the longest drought in franchise history.
That makes the homecoming both welcome and challenging.
“I have nothing but good memories of my time in L.A. with the Galaxy. So it’s nice to go back,” Arena said.
“I like watching them and they’ve had tough times. But they’re better than their record indicates. We’re the next team up, which will be in some ways very, very challenging because you know they’re due to have success.”
From Kevin Baxter: With the World Cup, one the U.S. will play at home, just 380 days away, Captain America has decided to take a pass on the national team’s last major competition ahead of the tournament.
That’s Pulisic’s choice, of course. He’s played a grueling schedule with AC Milan this season, one that concludes Sunday, a week before the national team reports to camp in Chicago.
And he has permission.
“Christian and his team approached the Federation and the coaching staff about the possibility of stepping back this summer, given the amount of matches he has played,” said Matt Crocker, U.S. Soccer’s sporting director, noting that Pulisic has played more than 4,400 minutes for club and country the last 12 months.
Nor is Pulisic alone in his absence. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Josh Sargent and Yunus Musah, Pulisic’s teammate in Milan, were also left off the 27-man roster summoned to training camp ahead next month’s Gold Cup, although some of those players will be participating in the Club World Cup.
Yet even if reason and rules are strongly on Pulisic’s side, the optics are bad.
Let’s hear from you. Could a smoother path to the College Football Playoff be worth losing the Notre Dame-USC rivalry? Vote here and let us know. Results announced next week.
NHL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE, RESULTS
All times Pacific
Conference finals
Western Conference
Central 2 Dallas vs. Pacific 3 Edmonton at Dallas 6, Edmonton 3 (summary) Edmonton 3, at Dallas 0 (summary) at Edmonton 6, Dallas 1 (summary) at Edmonton 4, Dallas 1 (summary) Thursday at Dallas, 5 p.m., ESPN Saturday at Edmonton, 5 p.m., ABC* Monday at Dallas, 5 p.m., ESPN*
Eastern Conference
Metro 2 Carolina vs. Atlantic 3 Florida Florida 5, at Carolina 2 (summary) Florida 5, at Carolina 0 (summary) at Florida 6, Carolina 2 (summary) Carolina 3, at Florida 0 (summary) Wednesday at Carolina, 5 p.m., TNT Friday at Florida, 5 p.m., TNT* Sunday at Carolina, 5 p.m., TNT*
* If necessary
THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1901 — Parader, ridden by Fred Landry, overcomes a bad start to win the Preakness Stakes by two lengths over Sadie S.
1904 — Bryn Mawr, ridden by Eugene Hildebrand, wins the Preakness Stakes by one length over Wotan.
1958 — European Cup Final, Brussels: Francisco Gento scores the winner in extra time as Real Madrid beats AC Milan, 3-2; 3rd consecutive title for Los Blancos.
1969 — European Cup Final, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid: AC Milan striker Pierino Prati scores 3 in 4-1 win over Ajax; second title for I Rossoneri.
1975 — 19th European Cup: Bayern Munich beats Leeds United 2-0 at Paris.
1978 — Al Unser wins his third Indianapolis 500, the fifth driver to do so, edging Tom Sneva by 8.19 seconds.
1980 — 24th European Cup: Nottingham Forest beats Hamburg 1-0 at Madrid.
1985 — The San Diego Sockers beat the Baltimore Blast 5-3 to win the MISL title in five games.
1995 — Jacques Villeneuve overcomes one penalty and wins by another in the Indianapolis 500. Villeneuve drives to victory after fellow Canadian Scott Goodyear is penalized for passing the pace car on the final restart.
1997 — 5th UEFA Champions League Final: Borussia Dortmund beats Juventus 3-1 at Munich.
2000 — Dutch swimming star Inge de Bruijn sets her third world record in three days, adding the 100 freestyle mark to the 50 and 100 butterfly marks she set previously at the Sheffield Super Grand Prix. De Bruijn becomes the first swimmer to finish under 54.00 in the 100 freestyle at 53.80 seconds.
2003 — Patrick Roy officially announces his retirement from the NHL.
2003 — 11th UEFA Champions League Final: Milan beats Juventus (0-0, 3-2 on penalties) at Manchester.
2006 — Sam Hornish Jr. overcomes a disastrous mistake in the pits and a pair of Andrettis — Marco and father Michael — to win the second-closest Indianapolis 500 ever, by .0635 seconds.
2007 — Duke has an almost unfathomable comeback fall short in a 12-11 loss to Johns Hopkins in the NCAA lacrosse championship game. The Blue Devils never finished their 2006 season, and then make it all the way back to the title game.
2011 — Novak Djokovic extends his perfect start to the season at the French Open, beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 for his 40th straight victory this year. Djokovic’s 40-0 start to 2011 is the second-best opening streak in the Open era, which started in 1968.
2011 — UEFA Champions League Final, London: FC Barcelona beats Manchester United, 3-1; 4th title for Barça.
2020 — The Boston Marathon canceled for the first time in its 124-year history. The race had originally been scheduled for April 20 before being postponed for five months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
2022 — UEFA Champions League Final, Paris: Carlo Ancelotti becomes first manager to win CL x 4 as Real Madrid beats Liverpool, 1-0.
THIS DAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1918 — Boston’s Joe Bush pitched a 1-0 one-hitter against the Chicago White Sox and drove in the lone run. The only Chicago hit was by Happy Felsch. It occurred when he threw his bat at the ball on a hit and run.
1939 — Philadelphia pitcher Robert Joyce was victimized two straight days by New York’s George Selkirk. Joyce gave up two homers to Selkirk a day earlier. Joyce came on in relief on this day and gave up two more homers to Selkirk. Selkirk ended with four homers in four at-bats against the same pitcher over two successive games. The Yankees won 9-5.
1946 — The Washington Senators beat New York 2-1 in the first night game at Yankee Stadium. The first ball was thrown out by General Electric president Charles E. Wilson.
1951 — After going 0-for-12 in his first three major league games, Willie Mays of the New York Giants hit a home run off Warren Spahn in a 4-1 loss to the Boston Braves.
1956 — Dale Long of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit a home run in his eighth consecutive game, a major league record. Long connected off Brooklyn’s Carl Erskine at Forbes Field.
1968 — The American League announced the league will be split into two divisions. The East division will consist of Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, New York and Washington. California, Chicago, Kansas City, Minnesota, Oakland and Seattle will make up the West.
1979 — George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hit for the cycle and added another home run to beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 in 16 innings.
1986 — Joe Cowley of the Chicago White Sox set a major league record by striking out the first seven batters he faced. He lasted 4 2-3 innings in a 6-3 loss to the Texas Rangers.
1995 — The White Sox and Tigers set a major league record with 12 homers, and combined for an American League-record 21 extra-base hits in Chicago’s 14-12 victory in Detroit.
1998 — Arizona manager Buck Showalter intentionally walked Barry Bonds with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and the Diamondbacks held on to beat San Francisco 8-7.
2003 – Atlanta became the second team in major league history to start a game with three straight homers in its 15-3 win over the Reds. Rafael Furcal, Mark DeRosa and Gary Sheffield hit consecutive home runs off Jeff Austin in the bottom of the first. The Padres did it against the Giants on April 13, 1987.
2006 — Barry Bonds hit his 715th home run during the San Francisco Giants’ 6-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies to slip past Babe Ruth and pull in behind Hank Aaron and his long-standing record of 755.
2007 — Adrian Beltre tied a franchise record with four extra-base hits, including two homers, as Seattle pounded the Angels 12-5.
2010 — Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera hit three homers in a 5-4 loss to Oakland. Oakland’s Ben Sheets gave up three runs — on Cabrera’s first two homers — worked seven innings in his longest start of the season.
2012 — The Cubs end a twelve-game losing streak, their longest since 1997, with an 11-7 win over the Padres at Wrigley Field.
2013 — The Mets honor Yankees great Mariano Rivera, who has announced his retirement at the end of the year, by having him throw the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the two teams from the Big Apple at Citi Field, with retired Mets closer John Franco acting as his catcher for the occasion.
2016 — In the third inning of a game against the Dodgers, Mets P Noah Syndergaard is ejected for throwing at Chase Utley, in apparent retaliation for Utley’s aggressive slide which injured Mets SS Ruben Tejada in last year’s NLDS. Umpire Adam Hamari also tosses Mets manager Terry Collins for arguing his decision, then Utley gets his revenge when he opens the score with a solo homer off Logan Verrett in the 6th and adds a grand slam off Hansel Robles in the 7th. The Dodgers hit five homers in total as they win the game, 9-1.
2019 — Derek Dietrich continues his unlikely homer binge as he hits three, all two-run shots, in leading the Reds to an 11-6 win over the Pirates. With 17 homers this year, he has already topped his career high, and 12 of his last 17 hits have gone over the fence. For the Pirates, rookie Kevin Newman hits his first career homer, a grand slam off Lucas Sims.
2023 — Spencer Strider of the Braves becomes the fastest starting pitcher to record 100 strikeouts in a season, doing so in his 61st inning in an 11 – 4 win over the Phillies. Last year, Strider set the record for the fastest pitcher to reach 200 Ks in a season.
Compiled by the Associated Press
Until next time…
That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
Harvard students protested US President Donald Trump’s decision to cut all remaining federal contracts with the Ivy league university. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has ordered a halt to all international student visa processing, as it prepares to expand social media vetting for all foreign applicants.
Watch: Elon Musk says he is “disappointed” with Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”, in interview with CBS Sunday Morning
Elon Musk has criticised one of the signature policies of Donald Trump, marking a break from the US president who he helped to win re-election in 2024.
Last week, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed what Trump calls his “big, beautiful” bill, which includes multi-trillion dollar tax breaks and a pledge to increase defence spending. It will now head to the Senate.
Tech titan Musk told the BBC’s US partner CBS News he was “disappointed” by the plan, which he felt “undermines” the work he did for the president on reducing spending.
Musk was enlisted as Trump’s cost-cutting tsar – ending funds for US foreign aid among other projects – before announcing he would step back.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly,” Musk said in the interview with CBS Sunday Morning, a clip of which was released by the broadcaster before transmission.
He went on to argue that Trump’s plan “increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it”.
It is thought that the legislation could increase the deficit – or the difference between what the US government spends and the revenue that it receives – by about $600bn (£444bn) in the next fiscal year.
Furthermore, the bill “undermines the work that the Doge team is doing”, Musk said, using the acronym of the cost-cutting advisory body the Department of Government Efficiency.
Referring to Trump’s moniker for the legislation, Musk told CBS: “I think a bill can be big or beautiful. I don’t know if it can be both.”
Musk’s intervention highlights the ongoing tension within Trump’s Republican Party over the tax and spend plans, which faced an uneasy passage through the House due to opposition from different wings of the party.
Long a policy priority of Trump’s, the legislation pledges to extend soon-to-expire tax cuts passed during his first administration in 2017, as well as provide an influx of money for defence spending and to fund the president’s mass deportations.
The bill also proposes increasing to $4tn the debt ceiling – meaning the limit on the amount of money the government can borrow to pay its bills.
Musk’s comments on the issue imply a growing distance from Trump, who he helped to propel back to the White House last year with donations of more than $250m.
They come after the billionaire recently pledged to step back from Doge. Musk had stated that he wanted to help the government cut $1tn in spending by cancelling contracts and reducing the government workforce.
Musk also said last week that he planned to do “a lot less” political spending in the future, and that he was committed to leading electric car company Tesla for another five years.
Tesla faced protests, boycotts and a drop in sales over Musk’s work as the Doge chief, including his controversial efforts to lay off thousands of federal workers and curb foreign aid.
Musk defended his actions in his comments last week, saying: “I did what needed to be done.” He and Trump previously justified the cuts as a matter of weeding out what they saw as fraud and abuse within federal spending.
Brits getting ready to brave the infamous sunbed wars on Spain holidays may want to double check their destination’s rules – or face potentially hefty fines
12:57, 28 May 2025Updated 13:09, 28 May 2025
Tourists can be hit with £210 fines for reserving sunbeds(Image: Getty Images)
Brits who lay out their towels to reserve a sunbed for hours at a time have been warned they could face hefty fines of up to €250 (approximately £210).
The team at travel insurance comparison site Tiger.co.uk have warned Brits heading on Spain holidays to think twice before laying out a towel on the beach, as it could actually land you facing some hefty extra charges.
They explained: “In popular areas of Spain like Barcelona and Costa Blanca, tourists can now be fined €250 for reserving sunbeds, meaning waking up early to bag a spot for you and the family is no longer allowed. This rule was introduced following numerous complaints about sunbeds being reserved for hours with no one in sight.”
The rules were brought into force last year, in a bid to stop tourists from reserving spots on public beaches with towels and sunbeds, despite then not returning for hours a time – meaning other visitors had to make do with leftover space, causing issues such as fights breaking out, or crowding.
Every year Brits get into ‘sunbed wars’ (Image: Getty Images)
Council leaders in Calpe, in Costa Blanca, said that police would be given the power to remove unattended sunbeds or towels that were on the beach before 9.30am. Those caught breaching the rules will need to head to a municipal depot to get their belongings back – and get hit with the £210 fine in the process. The rules don’t just apply to those laying out a towel; tourists who try to keep a spot unattended for over three hours could also face similar fines.
It’s not just on the beaches where fights for sunbeds break out. The 5am ‘sunbed wars’ have become a classic part of summer holidays, as holidaymakers get up at the crack of dawn and brave a mad dash just to lay out their towels to ‘reserve’ the poolside sunbeds.
Every year, the chaos causes everything from fights breaking out to huge queues by the pool before the sun has even risen. Just recently, holidaymakers were spotted using a sneaky tactic in Tenerife to try and reserve their spot before the pool staff had even laid out the loungers, in a move that some have dubbed as “pathetic”.
It causes plenty of tension especially when people leave their towels on sunbeds but don’t return for hours at a time, leaving other tourists having to find alternatives even though there are empty loungers in front of them.
As a result, most hotels are trying to combat the madness by introducing rules around reserving sunbeds, such as having staff remove belongings that have been left unattended for hours.
Have you seen any ridiculous sunbed wars? Let us know at [email protected].
This Morning host Craig Doyle made a personal announcement about his mum on Wednesday
This Morning star Craig Doyle received a heart-warming show of support from his co-host Rochelle Humes on Wednesday (May 28) as he shared news of his mother being in hospital.
On today’s episode of the popular ITV show, Craig and Rochelle delivered the latest updates from the UK and around the world.
Following a chat with Deirdre Sanders about the upcoming phone-in segment on in-law issues, Craig took a moment to send his best to his mum in hospital.
Deirdre said: “We’re here to help with any in-law problem,” prompting Craig to jest: “Don’t know what she’s talking about. My in-laws are perfect, morning Dorothy.”
Craig quickly added: “Can I say hello to my mum who’s in hospital. Hello mum, how are you? Have you got the sound up? Good girl,” reports Wales Online.
Craig Doyle revealed that his mum was in hospital on Wednesday (May 28)
Rochelle chimed in with a warm message: “Hello mum! Hope you’re good. Love her.”
At the beginning of today’s programme, Rochelle praised Craig for his achievement in last month’s London Marathon.
“You’re stuck with Craig and I today, sorry about that,” she said, before turning to Craig: “How are you? I’ve not seen you for a little while and we’ve got a lot to catch up on.
“Since I’ve last seen you, you’ve taken on a big challenge and absolutely nailed it… The London Marathon.”
A photo was then displayed showing Craig proudly posing with his medal, alongside EastEnders icon Adam Woodyatt and TV host Jenni Falconer.
Craig completed The London Marathon last month
“Ah fantastic! [Jenni] had to have her knee up because it was sweaty day, let’s just say,” Craig shared about the marathon experience.
“I haven’t done one in about 20 years and I thought I was the same as I was 20 years ago, I’m definitely not. It was really, really tough, so congratulations to all of you who finished the marathon… I was slow, I enjoyed it, the crowds were unbelievable.”
In other segments of today’s programme, Craig and Rochelle spoke to renowned opera singer Lesley Garrett, who revealed her private struggle with cancer.
Additionally, Race Across the World contestants Fin and Sioned stopped by the studio to discuss the latest developments in the popular BBC travel show, while Sharon Marshall delivered the latest soap news directly from the set of Emmerdale.
Mark Storella breaks down Trump’s response to Russia’s Ukraine attack, his Putin ties, and whether sanctions may finally follow.
Mark Storella, former US deputy assistant secretary of state, analyses Trump’s reaction to Russia’s Ukraine attack, his relationship with Putin – and asks if sanctions are coming.
A Chinese national flag flies in front of a new, modern business complex in Beijing on August 15, 2013. China’s construction boom could be stalling out, according to Societe Generale, which sounded a warning last week that recent softening in demand for cement and earth-moving equipment could be an early warning sign. UPI/Stephen Shaver | License Photo
May 28 (UPI) — The Czech Republic accused China on Wednesday of being responsible for a “malicious cyber campaign” that targeted an unclassified network of the foreign ministry.
Little information about the cyberattack was made public, the Czech government said it began in 2022, affected an institution designated as Czech critical infrastructure and that it was perpetrated by well-known China-backed hackers APT31.
“The Government of the Czech Republic strongly condemns this malicious cyber campaign against its critical infrastructure,” the Czech foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.
“Such behavior undermines the credibility of the People’s Republic of China and contradicts its public declarations.”
APT31, which stands for Advanced Persistent Threat Group 31, is a collection of China state-sponsored intelligence officers, contract hackers and support staff that conduct cyberattacks on behalf of the Chinese government.
Seven Chinese nationals were charged in the United States in late March for their involvement in APT31, which federal prosecutors said has targeted U.S. and foreign critics of the Chinese government, business, and political officials over the last 14 years.
The Czech government said Wednesday it tied APT31 to the cyberattack through an “extensive investigation,” which “led to a high degree of certainty about the responsible actor.”
“The Government of the Czech Republic has identified the People’s Republic of China as being responsible,” it said.
NATO and the European Union — both of which Czech is a member of — were quick to condemn China following Prague’s revelation.
“We stand in solidarity with the Czech Republic following the malicious cyber campaign against its Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the security alliance said in a statement.
NATO did not blame China but acknowledged the Czechs’ accusation of Beijing for the attack and said that it has observed “with increasing concern the growing pattern of malicious cyber activities stemming from the People’s Republic of China.”
Similarly, the EU did not directly point the finger at China for the attack on the Czech Republic, but said there have been cyberattacks linked to Beijing targeting EU and its member stats.
“In 2021, we urged Chinese authorities to take action against malicious cyber activities undertaken from their territories. Since then, several Member States have attributed similar activities at their national level,” the EU’s high representative, Kaja Kallas, said in a statement.
“We have repeatedly raised our concerns during bilateral engagements and we will continue to do so in the future.”
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to “chart a unified and collective path towards a peaceful, prosperous, and just future”, following their meeting in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
In a world roiled by United States President Donald Trump’s threats of crippling tariffs and rising economic uncertainties, alternative centres of global power were on full display, with the GCC and China attending the ASEAN summit for the group’s inaugural trilateral meeting on Tuesday.
In their joint statement released on Wednesday, the GCC – comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – China, and ASEAN members Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar said they were committed to enhancing economic cooperation.
Chief among that cooperation will be the promotion of free trade, the signatories said, adding they looked “forward to the early completion of the GCC-China Free Trade Agreement negotiations” and the upgrading of the ASEAN-China free trade area.
“We reaffirm our collective resolve to work hand in hand to unleash the full potential of our partnership, and ensure that our cooperation translates into tangible benefits for our peoples and societies,” they said.
ASEAN and GCC members join hands for a group photo as they attend the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 27, 2025 [Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters]
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – whose country is currently chair of ASEAN and hosted the summits – told a news conference that the US remains an important market while also noting that ASEAN, the GCC, and China collectively represent a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $24.87 trillion with a total population of about 2.15 billion.
“This collective scale offers vast opportunities to synergise our markets, deepen innovation, and promote cross-regional investment,” Anwar said.
The prime minister went on to dismiss suggestions that the ASEAN bloc of nations was leaning excessively towards China, stressing that the regional grouping remained committed to maintaining balanced engagement with all major powers, including the US.
James Chin, professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, told Al Jazeera that the tripartite meeting was particularly important for China, which is being “given a platform where the US is not around”.
ASEAN and the GCC “already view China as a global power”, Chin said.
‘The Gulf is very rich, ASEAN is a tiger, China…’
China’s Premier Li Qiang, who attended the summit, said Beijing was ready to work with the GCC and ASEAN “on the basis of mutual respect and equality”.
China will work with “ASEAN and the GCC to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, increase macro policy coordination, and deepen collaboration on industrial specialisation,” he said.
Former Malaysian ambassador to the US Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz said China was “quickly filling up the vacuum” in global leadership felt in many countries in the aftermath of Trump’s tariff threats.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, poses for photos with China’s Premier Li Qiang before the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday [Mohd Rasfan/Pool via Reuters]
The economic future looks bright, Nazri said, for ASEAN, China and the Gulf countries, where economies are experiencing high growth rates while the US and European Union face stagnation.
“The Gulf is very rich, ASEAN is a tiger, China… I cannot even imagine where the future lies,” Nazri said.
Jaideep Singh, an analyst with the Institute of Strategic & International Studies in Malaysia, said ASEAN’s trade with GCC countries has been experiencing rapid growth.
Total trade between ASEAN and the Gulf countries stood at some $63bn as of 2024, making GCC the fifth-largest external trading partner of the regional bloc, while Malaysia’s trade with the GCC grew by 60 percent from 2019 to 2024.
In terms of foreign direct investment, FDI from GCC countries in ASEAN totalled some $5bn as of 2023, of which $1.5bn went to Malaysia alone, Singh said.
However, the US, China, Singapore and the EU still make up the lion’s share of FDI in Malaysian manufacturing and services.
US still ASEAN’s biggest export market
Even as China’s trade with ASEAN grows, economist say, the US still remains a huge market for regional countries.
In early 2024, the US took over China as ASEAN’s largest export market, with 15 percent of the bloc’s exports destined for its markets, up nearly 4 percent since 2018, said Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education (CME), a think tank based in Malaysia and Indonesia.
“The US is also the largest source of cumulative foreign direct investment in ASEAN, with total stock reaching nearly $480bn in 2023 – almost double the combined US investments in China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan,” Ferlito said.
Israel’s war on Gaza was also highlighted at the ASEAN-GCC-China meeting on Tuesday.
Delegates condemned attacks against civilians and called for a durable ceasefire and unhindered delivery of fuel, food, essential services, and medicine throughout the Palestinian territory.
Supporting a two-state solution to the conflict, the joint communique also called for the release of captives and arbitrarily-detained people, and an end to the “illegal presence of the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory as soon as possible”.
The civil war in Myanmar was also a focus of the talks among ASEAN members at their summit on Tuesday, who called for an extension and expansion of a ceasefire among the warring sides, which was declared following the earthquake that struck the country in March. The ceasefire is due to run out by the end of May. However, human rights groups have documented repeated air attacks by the military regime on the country’s civilian population despite the purported temporary cessation of fighting.
Zachary Abuza, professor of Southeast Asia politics and security issues at the Washington-based National War College, said that while Prime Minister Anwar may be “more proactive” – in his role as ASEAN chair – in wanting to resolve the conflict, Myanmar’s military rulers were “not a good faith actor” in peace talks.
“The military has absolutely no interest in anything resembling a power-sharing agreement,” he said.
A MUCH-LOVED jewellers is set to close its doors for good after more than 20 years on the high street.
The jewellery shop has launched an ‘everything must go’ sale, ahead of its closure.
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Whittakers Jewellers is closing its branch in Yarm
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Shoppers will be able to land massive deals in its closing sale
Whittakers Jewellers, which has been a staple of Yarm High Street for 21 years, has confirmed its final day of trading will be Saturday, May 31.
The long-running store first announced its closure back in November, sparking sadness among loyal locals.
Since then, big bold signs have filled the shop windows, shouting about the store’s closing down sale with jewellery fans flocking in for a final bargain.
But now, with the countdown officially on, fresh signs have gone up confirming its last day is just days away.
The store have slashed jewellery prices from as much as 70% off.
The store posted one hot deal to its Facebook, where a diamond ring was slashed from £7,350 to £2,190.
The deal meant shoppers would save a massive £5,000.
The family-run store has thanked customers for their loyalty over the years in a heartfelt Facebook message.
It said: “We are sad we are leaving but we have treasured the 21 years we’ve been here on the High Street.
“We think of our customers as family and friends… we will miss you all.”
Whittakers have built up a massively loyal customer base and is located between the Lucy Pittaway art store and The Keys pub.
Four members of the Evans family have run the business since March 2004.
Bosses of the jewellers told Teesside Live they had expanded over the years – and even opened the first Pandora shop in the country.
But they added they always looked to maintain a “genuine, homey feel”.
Fans of the jewellers say it will leave a huge hole in the town, with one heartbroken shopper writing: “It’ll be such a big loss to the high street and to me.
“I’ve had the pleasure of purchasing so many lovely items over the years”
Another added: “Big loss to Yarm High Street.”
While a third said: “Thank you for your beautiful jewellery and fabulous staff. You will all be greatly missed”
Popular retailer to RETURN 13 years after collapsing into administration and shutting 236 stores
It’s not the only jewellery giant feeling the pinch.
G Hewitt & Son, a 154-year-old jewellers, and one of the UK’s first Rolex retailers, launched a once-in-a-lifetime closing down sale last month.
The shop told followers on Facebook: “Everything must go – don’t miss out on huge savings.”
Meanwhile, The Watches of Switzerland Group – based in Leicestershire – has confirmed it will close 16 showrooms across the country and that 40 people were expected to leave the business.
Similarly, Terence Lett Jewellers, located on the high street in Witney, Oxfordshire, has announced its decision to shut up shop.
And loyal customers of Jane Allen Jewellers in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales were left distraught to hear the update and have been mourning the imminent loss.
With more and more historic jewellers disappearing from high streets, Whittakers’ final goodbye will be bittersweet for shoppers in Yarm.
Locals now have just days left to bag a bargain and say farewell to one of the town’s best-loved shops.
RETAIL SECTOR STRUGGLES
Its not just jewellery stores that are suffering to stay open.
It’s worth bearing in mind, larger retail chains often open and close branches based on customer demand and sales.
Sometimes a single store might shut because a lease is ending and the chain has decided it is better to direct cash into other shops or opening new ones.
However, the retail sector more broadly has struggled since the 2008 financial crash.
The Centre for Retail Research has said the industry has been going through a “permacrisis” during this period.
There are a number of reasons the sector is struggling, one being the rise of online shopping.
This has seen footfall to high street stores fall seeing large swathes of branches close across the UK.
Challenging economic conditions in recent years, including soaring inflation, have dented shoppers’ wallets and purses too.
While some bigger retailers have struggled to stay afloat, including Wilko, in recent years independent shops have suffered the most.
The Centre for Retail Research said more than 13,000 high street shops closed in 2024, with over 11,000 of these independents.
RETAIL PAIN IN 2025
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
This surge — fueled by competitive pressure and promises of enhanced customer insights — has institutions like Bank of America allocating $4 billion to AI and other new tech initiatives. While early adopters report efficiency gains and cost reductions, the sector faces a pivotal challenge: The average expected ROI timeline of two years reflects both optimism and pressure to demonstrate quick wins. Success hinges on overcoming fragmented implementations and workforce skepticism that could dilute returns.
The allure of AI-driven efficiency
Within AI budgets, financial institutions are prioritizing data modernization (58% of AI budgets) and licensing generative AI software (53%) to unlock customer insights and streamline operations. These investments aim to address long-standing inefficiencies — from legacy system overhauls to real-time fraud detection. Bank of America’s seven-year AI journey demonstrates this principle. The bank reduced service costs and increased client satisfaction scores by centralizing data from 20 million Erica virtual assistant users.
Yet the focus remains narrow. Nearly two-thirds of institutions view AI primarily as a tool for “bottom-line productivity”, while only 12% have implemented enterprise-wide AI strategies. This myopia risks creating advanced capabilities in silos — a customer service chatbot here, a risk-modeling algorithm there — without cohesive integration. AI governance must be defined as part of enterprise strategy, not an afterthought.
The execution gap: Strategy versus reality
Despite ambitious AI strategies, financial institutions face a stark execution gap. AI progress is threatened by fragmented data, talent shortages, and weak governance.
Data fragmentation: 58% of AI budgets target data modernization, but 18% of institutions cite poor data quality as a top barrier. Many institutions still wrestle with inconsistent customer data across credit cards, mortgages, and wealth management platforms.
Talent shortages: There are two pivotal talent issues. One is that talent ranks among the top barriers to AI success — finding, training, and retaining AI talent. Two is the workforce distrust that could derail even technically sound AI initiatives.
Governance vacuum: Only 23% of institutions have mature AI governance frameworks, leaving many unable to address model bias or explainability concerns.
These challenges compound when viewed through an organizational lens. With 34% of AI strategies defined at regional levels, a European bank’s chatbot project, for example, might use data protocols different from those of its American counterpart’s credit scoring model, limiting scalability.
The human factor: trust as a make-or-break variable
One of the great fallacies of the AI talent conundrumis that AI execution only requires technical or data science experience. However, the solution extends beyond hiring data scientists. The required talent mix covers strategy, technology, engineering, data science, business process, and risk and compliance. While AI technical talent is critical to cultivate, financial institutions should take their employees on the AI journey by upskilling them to use and benefit from AI investments. In the future, all talent must be AI talent. AI literacy will be essential — not just for specialists, but across all roles to effectively collaborate with, manage, and make the best use of AI-driven tools and insights.
Frontline employees resistant to algorithm-driven loan approvals or relationship managers skepticalof AI-generated client advice create adoption friction. AI’s potential falters without employee buy-in. Institutions reporting high AI adoption must:
Demystify AI: Financial institutions can assist their employees through transparent model documentation and employee co-creation workshops
Transparent upskilling: Bank of America’s Academy, the bank’s training arm, has turned to artificial intelligence to sharpen staff skills. Through AI-powered conversation simulators, employees rehearse client interactions and receive instant feedback. Last year, staff completed over a million such simulations, with many reporting that this practice leads to more consistent and higher-quality service.
Measure trust metrics: These metrics gauge how comfortable staff rely on AI outputs for decision-making, such as credit underwriting or customer advice. One research found that organizations with higher AI trust conduct regular reviews of AI outputs — 74% of successful companies check AI results at least weekly — ensuring oversight and improving confidence.
Ethical governance frameworks: Institutions with clear AI bias mitigation protocols report 28% higher workforce trust scores.
Strategic imperatives for AI-first leadership
To avoid becoming cautionary tales, financial institutions must:
Align AI spending with business outcomes: Tie data modernization projects to specific revenue goals. They must also phase generative AI deployments from low-risk areas (marketing content generation) to core processes (regulatory reporting).
Institutionalize AI governance: Banks can establish cross-functional councils to oversee model ethics and compliance. Implementing real-time monitoring for AI-driven decisions such as loan denials can also help with governance.
Bridge the talent gap: Focusing on AI literacy, creating “AI translator” roles to mediate between technical teams and business units, and providing explainable decisions by high-impact AI systems.
Prioritizeuse case alignment: McKinsey found that tracking institutions linking AI projects to specific KPIs generated the most impact on their bottom lines.
Unlocking AI’s potential requires dismantling silos between IT spending and business value. Institutions that marry technological ambition with organizational trust-building will likely move ahead. In this high-stakes transition, the ultimate metric won’t be algorithms deployed or dollars spent but sustained alignment between silicon and human intelligence. The race isn’t for the biggest budget, but for the most coherent strategy.
Jay Nair Executive Vice President and Industry Head for Financial Services in Europe, Middle East, and Africa| Infosys
About The Author
Jay Nair is the Executive Vice President and Industry Head for Financial Services in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Additionally, he leads the UK Public Service business for Infosys. He is also part of the Supervisory board for Stater.ni (which is largest independent end-to-end service provider for the mortgage market in the Benelux).
He has spent close to three decades in Engineering -both in process control engineering and since 1999, within the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance) sector. Jay has extensive experience in Business and Technology Consulting, Practice development, Engineering and Largescale enterprise-wide technology program management. He has led global teams and programs around in the Americas ,Europe ,India, China ,LATAM, and the Asia Pacific.
He has post graduate qualifications in both Software Engineering as well as Business Management.
Authorities are investigating the fatal shootings outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, as hate crimes and ‘terrorism’.
By Maria Briceño | Politifact
Published On 28 May 202528 May 2025
Following the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, DC, last week, some social media users claimed the incident was a “false flag” because of when and where it happened.
“So you’re telling me two Israeli diplomats got killed across the street from an FBI field office outside a Jewish museum that had *closed* 4 hours earlier,” said a May 22 X post. “And one day after Israel fired at European diplomats and Europe was talking sanctions and you don’t think it’s a false flag?”
Other X posts similarly speculated about the deadly shooting on May 21.
The “false flag” phrase stems from the misuse of literal flags. Historically, a false flag operation referred to a military force or a ship flying another country’s flag for deception purposes.
Some confirmed false flag operations have occurred throughout history. But they have been outpaced in recent years by conspiracy theories that label real events as “false flags,” or an attack that’s designed to look like it was perpetrated by one person or party, when in fact it was committed by someone else.
Unfounded false flag claims often follow mass violence incidents, including Israel’s war on Gaza, the 2022 Uvalde school shooting and the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
Historians warn that social media rumours alleging that big news events are “false flags” should be viewed sceptically. Real false flag operations are logistically complex and tend to involve many people.
PolitiFact found no credible evidence to support the claim that the Israeli embassy employees’ shooting is a false flag.
What we know about the shooting
The X post said the shooting, which happened on a Wednesday, is a “false flag” because the museum had closed four hours earlier. The museum usually closes at 5pm on Wednesdays, except for the first Wednesday of each month, when it closes at 8pm.
However, the American Jewish Committee hosted an event on May 21 at the museum, scheduled to end at 9pm.
Preliminary investigations say the shooting happened after 9pm local time when the two victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, said Pamela A Smith, the Metropolitan Police Department police chief, at a May 21 press conference.
Police identified the suspect as Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old man from Chicago, Illinois. Rodriguez chanted, “Free, free, Palestine” after he was arrested, Smith said. The Justice Department charged him with the murder of foreign officials and other crimes.
The shooting, which has widely been criticised, came as Israel’s actions in Gaza has caused a global outrage and protests calling for ceasefire.
Jeanine Pirro, interim US attorney for the District of Columbia, said on May 22 that the incident is being investigated as a hate crime and “terrorism”.
The Capital Jewish Museum is diagonally across the street from the FBI’s DC field office. FBI Director Kash Patel and the Israeli government have condemned the shooting.
There is no evidence that the shooting was a false flag. We rate this claim False.
Rizza Alee is from Indian-administered Kashmir. He takes us on a journey of his day-to-day life, and how it’s changed since May, when hostilities broke out between India and Pakistan in Kashmir. His video diary shows the uncertainty that comes with living in a region affected by a decades-old conflict.
To help you parse through the offerings, here’s a list of 10 films not to miss at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, which kicks off Wednesday.
YOU may have thumbed through an Argos catalogue over the years, but have you ever stopped to think about the name?
It turns out there is a key reason why the brand has its moniker – and its history is also tied to a popular supermarket too (and it’s not Sainsbury’s).
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There is a key reason why Argos has its nameCredit: Getty
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Argos is named after the Greek city of ArgosCredit: Getty
The Argos name doesn’t come from its founder – Richard Tompkins – but is taken from the Greek city of Argos.
It was also chosen as it would feature high up in alphabetical brand listings.
The history behind the brand is even more fascinating than the name – and despite the brand now being owned by Sainsbury’s, its early ties were with Tesco.
In the 1960s, the founder of Tesco, Sir Jack Cohen, signed up his grocery store chain to the Green Shield Stamps scheme.
This meant that Tesco customers could get stamps when they bought products at his shop.
They could then use stamps to buy products at the Green Shield Stamps catalogue stores which were located around the country.
The collaboration proved to be a huge success, and helped Tesco gain loyal customers.
It also helped Green Shield Stamps, who was owned by Richard Tompkins, and also gave him the idea that customers could also use cash to buy products from his catalogue.
He decided to rebrand Green Shield Stamps as Argos in 1973.
Argos actually lost Tesco as a client around 1977, when they ditched using the Green Shield Stamps scheme and focused on lowering prices across the chain.
I visited Argos’ Clearance Store and couldn’t believe how cheap everything was
In 1979, Argos was purchased by British American Tobacco and stopped issuing stamps entirely.
Just over a decade later, Argos was demerged and floated back on the stock market, but had now become a recognisable household brand.
By 2010, over 20 million copies of the catalogue were printed, with many people buying them ahead of Christmas to choose presents.
While Argos had major ties to Tesco when it was launched, it now is owned by one of its main rivals.
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Many Argos stores have closed in recent years and have been integrated into Sainsbury’s supermarketsCredit: Getty
In April 2016, Argos’ parent Home Retail Group agreed to a £1.4 billion takeover by Sainsbury’s – but the brand has struggled over the past few years.
A large number of the high street Argos stores have closed over the past few years, with many being replaced by an Argos outlet in Sainsbury’s stores.
A spokesperson for Argos previously told The Sun: “The transformation of our Argos store and distribution network has been progressing at pace for several years now, improving availability, convenience and service for customers.
“As part of this, we are continuing to open new Argos stores and collection points in many of our Sainsbury’s supermarkets, enabling customers to purchase thousands of technology, home and toy products from Argos while picking up their groceries.”
HISTORY OF ARGOS
FOUNDED in 1972 by Richard Tompkins, Argos revolutionised the British retail landscape with its unique catalogue-based shopping model.
The first store opened in Canterbury, Kent and quickly expanded, becoming a household name.
Customers could browse the extensive Argos catalogue, fill out a purchase slip, and collect their items from the in-store collection point.
The retailer was sold to British American Tobacco Industries in 1979 for £32million before being demerged and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1990.
In April 1998, the company was acquired by GUS plc.
Throughout the decades, Argos adapted to changing consumer habits, embracing e-commerce early on and launching its website in 1999.
This allowed customers to reserve items online for in-store pick-up, blending the convenience of digital shopping with the immediacy of physical retail.
By 2006, Argos became part of the Home Retail Group which was demerged from its parent GUS plc.
At the time, Home Retail Group also owned Homebase and Habitat.
In 2016, Argos, along with its Home Retail Group sister brand Habitat, was acquired by Sainsbury’s.
Since the acquisition, the Argos brand has been integrated into Sainsbury’s operations, significantly expanding its presence through dedicated concessions within Sainsbury’s supermarkets across the UK.
However, due to declining sales, Sainsbury’s discontinued Argos’ iconic printed catalogue in 2020.
Despite these setbacks, Argos has remained true to its roots, offering a wide range of products from toys and electronics to furniture and jewellery.
