business 
From Tuesday to Saturday, Andrea Legri makes approximately three kilos of sausage a day for his stall on Testaccio market. At about nine on any given morning, he may well be in the back section of the stall, which is visible through glass, his hands steadying the tabletop machine that feeds the minced pork into … Read more
I had just put something in the oven when the phone rang. It was my husband, who hesitated for a moment before he said: “I’ve just been stung by a stingray. Can you come down to the beach?” He’d taken the car to drive down for a swim, so I was going to have to … Read more
On a shelf between Alexander McQueen shoes, Louis Vuitton handbags and Versace heels in the police evidence room are an 18-inch machete and a serrated zombie knife. Alongside the expensive fashions bought with the proceeds of serious fraud are the tools needed to achieve it, says DCI Paul Curtis. “These are serious offenders and for whatever … Read more
The impact of AI has been felt across industries from Hollywood to publishing – and now it’s come for modelling. H&M announced last week that it would create AI “twins” of 30 models with the intention of using them in social media posts and marketing imagery if the model gives her permission. In a statement, … Read more
The dilemma Six months ago I met a man I used to work with when I was young and he was middle-aged. Now I’m middle-aged and he is old. We established an incredible sexual and romantic connection. This was so powerful and beautiful. He told me I make him feel so free and so accepted … Read more
There’s nothing funny about your co-worker being assassinated. But it was the death of my beloved colleague and friend Hisham al-Hashimi that led me into the world of standup comedy. I knew it would trash my hard-won career in international security, but I didn’t care any more. Hisham had run a workshop with me in … Read more
My cat Lucy, a blue Burmese, is the fluffiest, most adorable little feline in the world. She’s also the cattiest of all cats, an ill-tempered spawn of the underworld who takes arbitrary swipes at my other cats for having the temerity to exist. Lucy recently had a litter of three kittens. I don’t have kids … Read more
The engine shuddered to life around half past noon local time on Sunday, and with a guttural roar, the 92-foot-tall Spectrum rocket lifted slowly away from its launch tower, marking the first liftoff of its kind on the European continent. The rocket, launched by Isar Aerospace from within the Arctic Circle at a spaceport on … Read more
Why are you expected to be quiet in an art gallery? Thierry Dupond, Charente-Maritime, France Send new questions to [email protected]. Readers reply It’s so as not to disrupt the concentration of other patrons; who if you made a noise would find it a painter hear, grisaille about the disturbance, make encaustic remarks to the effect … Read more
Tucked into the rolling hills between Bertinoro and Cesena, Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba’s home is not just a place to live, it is a testament to the seamless fusion of art, nature and design. For the celebrated sculptor, artist and designer, whose whimsical creations have captivated the design world, this sanctuary is both a refuge and … Read more