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French novelist Laurent Mauvignier has won France’s most prestigious literary honor, the Goncourt Prize, for “La Maison Vide” (The Empty House). ”The book recalls the great realist authors of the 19th century, like Zola, Maupassant and Flaubert,” reports FRANCE 24’s Culture Editor Olivia Salazar-Winspear.

Primark saw sales drop in the UK as people spent less at the budget retailer, its owner Associated British Foods (ABF) said.In the year to September it saw a 3.1% fall in like-for-like sales compared with the year prior, which it said reflected weak consumer confidence.The company said it expected the “subdued” retail market to impact Primark sales into 2026.ABF said that it was exploring splitting off the fast-fashion retailer from its food business, where it owns brands like Twinings, Ovaltine and Ryvita.The entire business saw profits fall by 13% to £1.4bn for the year.Chief executive George Weston said though…

There are a couple of universal truths about the smart home. Yes, you will come to treat your robot vacuum like a member of the family, and no, you cannot escape the fact that there will always be one light that doesn’t turn on even though there’s simply no reason it won’t. These are just the facts.Beyond that, the only thing we know for sure about the smart home is that it’s tricky to get right. You have to navigate a tangle of standards and ecosystems, optimize your control systems, and design a lot of seemingly basic features yourself. The…

ReutersSir David Beckham has been knighted by King Charles during a ceremony at Windsor Castle, honoured for his services to sport and charity.The former Manchester United and England star was accompanied by his wife – now known as Lady Victoria – and his parents, Ted and Sandra.Sir David, 50, was dressed in a grey three-piece suit made by his fashion designer wife, which was inspired by a suit King Charles wore when he was younger.The footballer said: “[King Charles] was quite impressed with my suit. He’s the most elegantly dressed man that I know, so he inspired quite a few…

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. A rare seabird is recovering from a successful and life-saving surgery. A fisherman from Anconcito, Ecuador, found the juvenile Salvin’s albatross after he noticed that it appeared unwell. The bird had ingested four large fishing hooks and some fishing line and was brought to Puerto Lopez for rehabilitation and care. Local veterinarian Ruben Aleman removed the discarded fishing gear from the bird. After some extra R&R, the bird was released in late October on a nearby beach in Manabí province. “Through coordination with Ecuador’s Ministry of…

Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today’s top stories Dick Cheney, widely regarded as the most powerful vice president in American history, died yesterday, according to a statement from his family. He was 84. The cause of death was complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, the statement added. Read more about his life and legacy here. Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who extolled the power of the presidency, died Monday at the age of…

Carmakers around the world are facing fresh uncertainty about their ability to continue production after China accused the Netherlands of failing to cooperate on resolving a dispute over the seizure of the chipmaker Nexperia. The Dutch government took control of the EU-based automotive chipmaker at the end of September because of concerns about the company’s Chinese parent, Wingtech Technology. In response, China halted exports of Nexperia products, restricting access to the vital components used in everything from airbags to central locking.Carmakers including Volkswagen, Honda and Nissan have warned tthe geopolitical spat could halt production. Last week the European Automobile Manufacturers’…

The victim’s sister called it “one big Greek tragedy”—and she meant it.In September 2016, Nathan Carman took off in a fishing boat with his mother near Block Island. A few days later, a freighter spotted Nathan on a life raft off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. He was rescued. His mother, Linda, was never found.Such begins the story of The Carman Family Deaths, Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, based on a 2021 WIRED feature by Evan Lubofsky. Carman was, according to his father, the “first-born grandson of a Greek dynasty,” and when questions began to emerge following his rescue, suspicions…

Shawn French, host of the popular podcast The Determined Society, has signed with CAA for representation in all areas. French, a performance coach, keynote speaker and author, is looking to the Hollywood talent and sports agency to take his audience-pulling podcast where he candidly talks to celebrities, entrepreneurs, elite athletes and thought leaders to new media platforms. “The podcast space isn’t just growing, it’s evolving into a global storytelling platform. I wanted to partner with a team that not only understands that shift but can help lead it. CAA’s belief in my vision and their ability to amplify The Determined Society across…

A day after essentially accusing the Patriots of cheating during Sunday’s 24-23 loss, Falcons coach Raheem Morris reviewed the tape and put the blame on his own team, clarifying previous post-game remarks.Morris had implied New England illegally simulated the Falcons’ snap count on a key drive that came late in the fourth quarter with Atlanta trailing by a point. Near midfield facing second down, center Ryan Neuzil sent a snap toward quarterback Michael Penix Jr. that he wasn’t prepared to receive, resulting in an intentional grounding under duress.Morris previously said the Patriots confused Neural by simulating Atlanta’s snap count. “This was our…