Villain
The gypsy moth, which has been cancelled. The Entomological Society of America, after taking advice from a “Romany activist”, says it will henceforth be known as the LDD moth. Perhaps, says Rod Liddle, it’s because “the gypsy moth is reportedly a highly invasive creature that descends, en masse, upon chosen rural areas and wreaks havoc”.
Hero
Elon Musk, who has admitted he rather hates running Tesla. How reassuring, says Giles Coren. I “bloody” hate my job too. “I hate banging out column after column, whanging on about nothing on the radio for hours and talking codswallop [on TV].” Musk’s outburst is a reminder that “we ALL hate our jobs… and there is simply no privilege bar”.
Villain
The Crown, which wanted to show punks throwing bottles at the Queen during her 1977 Silver Jubilee procession in its forthcoming fifth season. Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten, aka John Lydon (pictured), insists the scene “never happened” and refused permission for the Netflix producers to use their song God Save the Queen. “If you allow this to happen, you are allowing people to alter and rewrite your history,” the 65-year-old said.
Hero
Lithuania, the only country in Europe with a serious foreign policy, says Edward Lucas in The Times. The tiny Baltic state stands four-square against China and won’t be bullied into attending Beijing’s summits for former communist nations; it has held hearings on Uighur genocide; and it is offering humanitarian visas to Hong Kong refugees in a way that makes Britain look “stingy in comparison”.
Villain
Robot lawnmowers, which are maiming hedgehogs in Germany. A Hamburg animal welfare charity, which has taken in 46 hedgehogs this year, has pleaded with owners to limit their use. One victim, three-year-old Joana, lost her back legs to one of the killer robots and has learnt to walk again using artificial limbs and a wheeled frame.
Hero
A packet of ready salted crisps, which saved a man’s life in New York. Dylan Ubiles, who was stabbed in the lung, was saved by police officer Ronald Kennedy’s quick thinking. The trained paramedic barked at a bystander to buy him crisps and tape, then emptied the packet and used it to seal a hole in Ubiles’s chest – stopping his lung from collapsing.