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15 September

In the headlines

The queue to visit the Queen’s coffin, dubbed the “Elizabeth Line”, is now four miles long. More than 1,000 volunteers from the Samaritans, Scouts and Salvation Army have stepped forward to look after the tens of thousands of waiting well-wishers. Cultural institutions and businesses along the Thames have opened their facilities for public use around the clock. Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is planning to scrap an EU-era cap on bankers’ bonuses, says the FT, to boost the City’s competitiveness and help economic growth. The move comes with political risks: “Are they trying to help out Starmer’s new speechwriter?” says commentator Sam Freedman on Twitter. A shooting star was seen by hundreds of people in Scotland and Northern Ireland last night. The celestial fireball, below, streaked across the sky at around 10pm.

Architecture

The Cultural Tutor recently compiled a Twitter thread featuring an example of traditional architecture from every single country in the world. Among the stunning selections are Armenia’s Tatev Monastery, Columbia’s gothic Las Lajas Shrine, and Germany’s hilltop Hohenzollern Castle. See the full list here.

Quirk of history

On the way to the Queen’s coronation in 1953, one of the maids of honour found herself in the same carriage as the Keeper of the Privy Purse – effectively the treasurer to the monarch. As is customary, Lord Tryon was carrying a ceremonial purse. When the maid of honour, Lady Jane Vane-Tempest-Stuart, mentioned she was hungry, he reached into the embroidered gold accessory and pulled out a huge handful of Mackintosh toffees.

Zeitgeist

There’s a new autumnal trend sweeping social media, says Grazia: “dark academia”. The hashtag, which has racked up 1.7 million Instagram posts, is all about stylised learning – think libraries of cloth-bound books, wire-rimmed spectacles and chalk cursive on blackboards. To achieve the moody look, try pairing polished penny loafers with cable-knit socks, and carrying around a collection of Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic short stories.

Gone viral

A video appearing to show a member of the Ukrainian army pausing his advance to budge a hedgehog off the road has racked up 1.3 million views on Twitter. “This hedgehog has higher morale than the troops of the Russian Federation,” said one Ukrainian on Twitter. “The hedgehog should be employed by the Russian army,” wrote another. “At least he is capable of slowing us down!!!”

Inside politics

Perhaps sadly for any remaining Corbynistas, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is not going to be a vehicle for the republican movement, says Paul Waugh in the I newspaper. Starmer is “relaxed, indeed happy, in the presence of royalty”. During the Platinum Jubilee, he explained that when he was knighted for his services as director of public prosecutions, his parents said it was “the proudest day of their lives”.

Snapshot

It’s the world’s largest “corn maze”, says style website Hypebeast. Located in Spring Grove, Illinois, the 28-acre agricultural artwork has had multiple themes over the years, but this season celebrates the 60th anniversary of the James Bond films. It was created with high-tech tractors that use GPS to plant their crop in tightly controlled patterns, and will be open to the public until 30 October.

Quoted

quoted 15-09-2022

“All you need to make a movie is a girl and a gun.”

French director Jean-Luc Godard, who died this week