DINNER PARTY INTEL: Gray Lady blows the final whistle
Meanwhile, Scottish islanders are plotting an Orkxit and ‘Barbie’ has caused unwelcome ripples in Asia
20 July 2023 - 04:00
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The New York Times has shut its sports department. Sports news will now be accommodated in The Athletic, a website the newspaper bought last year for $550m, for which subscribers will pay extra. The Athletic has 400 journalists (the Times sports department had about 35) and has yet to show a profit. It reported a $7.8m loss in the first quarter of 2023.
2. A liking for Vikings
Hundreds of years ago, the Orkney Islands off northeast Scotland were raped and pillaged by Vikings. Today they’d like a return of the invaders. There’s a move in the islands to secede from Britain and join Norway or even Denmark — an Orkxit to follow Brexit.
3. Barbie all at sea
Hollywood has long sucked up to China, with its huge potential market for films. That might be why a map in the Barbie movie shows the disputed South China Sea belonging to Beijing. It upset many of China’s neighbours, especially Vietnam, which delivered a démarche to Hollywood by banning the movie.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
DINNER PARTY INTEL: Gray Lady blows the final whistle
Meanwhile, Scottish islanders are plotting an Orkxit and ‘Barbie’ has caused unwelcome ripples in Asia
1. Last inning
The New York Times has shut its sports department. Sports news will now be accommodated in The Athletic, a website the newspaper bought last year for $550m, for which subscribers will pay extra. The Athletic has 400 journalists (the Times sports department had about 35) and has yet to show a profit. It reported a $7.8m loss in the first quarter of 2023.
2. A liking for Vikings
Hundreds of years ago, the Orkney Islands off northeast Scotland were raped and pillaged by Vikings. Today they’d like a return of the invaders. There’s a move in the islands to secede from Britain and join Norway or even Denmark — an Orkxit to follow Brexit.
3. Barbie all at sea
Hollywood has long sucked up to China, with its huge potential market for films. That might be why a map in the Barbie movie shows the disputed South China Sea belonging to Beijing. It upset many of China’s neighbours, especially Vietnam, which delivered a démarche to Hollywood by banning the movie.
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