Billy Joel admitted in a recent interview that he almost omitted “Just the Way You Are” from his 1977 album The Stranger because he felt the ballad was “too soft, too mushy.” While recording, Joel played the track for Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow, and Ronstadt famously urged him to keep it, calling it a hit record. Joel credited Ronstadt for persuading him to include the song, which went on to become one of his most beloved singles and earned two Grammy Awards in 1978. The song was written for Joel’s first wife, Elizabeth Weber, and he has said that his love songs have often complicated his relationships. Despite his personal reservations, the track has become a wedding staple, with many couples citing it as the song that helped them stay together. Paul McCartney has publicly praised the composition, saying he wishes he had written it himself, a compliment Joel found “amazing.” The story highlights how a single collaborator’s encouragement can change a musician’s legacy.
Roma have confirmed that Pierluigi Gollini will miss the Champions League fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford because a back injury sustained in training has left him unfit. The Italian club had already been relying on Gollini as a stop‑gap after first‑choice keeper Mile Svilar went down with a long‑term injury, but a late fitness test in Manchester proved negative. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini now faces a choice between former Milan goalkeeper Devis Vasquez, who was added to the squad after Svilar’s injury, and 19‑year‑old Giorgio De Marzi, who has represented the United States at under‑20 level. Roma’s tactical plans for the match also include a more attack‑oriented lineup, with Leonardo Balerdi and Rodrigo Mora expected to start, aiming to exploit a United side that is currently in crisis. The match will kick off at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CEST) on Saturday, and Roma’s selection will be finalised shortly before kickoff. The decision will determine whether Roma can field a reliable goalkeeper for the high‑stakes game.
Netflix has introduced an experimental AI‑powered “AI Discover” tab in its TV app, aimed at helping members find new shows and movies. The tab surfaces themed recommendations, such as “Something Light,” “Family Movie Night,” and “Quick Watches,” letting users pick a mood or activity and receive a curated list. If a recommendation is not liked, users can give feedback, and the system will remember the preference for future suggestions. Netflix says the feature is powered by a new intelligence layer that learns from real‑time member input. The tab will appear as a “Discover” option in the top menu and is currently rolling out in the United States to English‑speaking members on supported TVs. The rollout follows Netflix’s recent announcement of roughly 1,000 layoffs amid slowing growth and declining user engagement. The company has not yet disclosed how many users will have access to the feature or how long the experiments will run. The move signals Netflix’s continued investment in AI to drive engagement despite cost‑cutting measures.
Yum Brands posted quarterly earnings that surpassed Wall Street forecasts, with adjusted earnings per share at $1.56 versus the $1.49 expected by analysts. Revenue matched expectations at $2.05 billion, while net income jumped to $1.62 billion, up from $397 million a year earlier. The company’s same‑store sales were flat overall, but Taco Bell’s sales fell 4 % after a cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce drew diners away. Yum said the chain has since rebounded, with U.S. Taco Bell outpacing industry growth since late September. During the quarter, Yum completed the sale of Pizza Hut, divesting its mainland China operations to Yum China and the rest to LongRange Capital. KFC’s U.S. sales shrank 6 % while international same‑store sales grew 5 %, and the chicken chain’s system sales in China and Europe helped lift its overall performance. The results highlight Yum’s resilience amid a food‑borne illness scare, but the company still faces pressure from a competitive U.S. quick‑service market.
Punjab villages are restoring mosques that were destroyed after Partition, with Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims working together. In the villages of Jakhiwal, Punawal and Umarpura, community members have donated land, money, bricks and labour to rebuild or build new mosques. Sikh elder Bibi Rajinder Kaur in Jakhiwal persuaded her grandson to donate land, while Hindu priest Jaspal Sharma in Punawal gave land and hosted a feast when the mosque opened in February. In Umarpura, Sikhs helped restore an antique Muslim shrine, and local donors emphasised that the area is a place of love and unity. The Guardian photo essay shows the cooperation, with villagers of different faiths contributing bricks, cement and money. The initiative reflects a broader pattern of inter‑faith tolerance in Punjab, where festivals such as Eid and Gurpurab are celebrated together. The project is led by people who remember the violence that split families and homes between India and Pakistan. By rebuilding these places of worship, the villagers are healing old wounds and demonstrating that community solidarity can transcend religious differences. Their collective effort offers a hopeful model for reconciliation.
Art therapist Ursula Kermer has spent a decade leading Mehr ist Mehr, a volunteer network that creates handmade textiles for people facing difficult life circumstances. The project transforms individual knitted squares into blankets, boleros, and sensory tools like twiddle muffs.
These items are distributed to families managing childhood cancer, individuals struggling with heating costs, and patients in rehabilitation centers. Kermer notes that while the project cannot resolve underlying crises, the consistency of the weekly knitting circles provides a form of communal medicine.
Donors often remain anonymous, though Kermer documents the journey of each piece through photography. The initiative aims to build resilience by connecting strangers through the shared process of creating something whole from mismatched parts.
The New Zealand men's and women's rugby league teams have named their squads for the Rugby League World Cup semi‑finals, with Kalyn Ponga returning to the Kiwis after a broken‑arm injury. Ponga, who missed the opening match against Australia, is expected to start against Tonga in the men’s semi‑final at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night. The squad also includes Phoenix Crossland, who will replace the suspended Jacob Laban, and Charnze Nicoll‑Klokstad, who steps in for the banned Ronaldo Mulitalo. On the women’s side, coach Ricky Henry has assembled a side featuring the returning Warriors centre Mele Hufanga and the powerful ball‑carrier Leianne Tufuga. The Kiwi Ferns will face Fetu Samoa, who have won their last two pool matches and are seen as a formidable opponent. Henry praised Hufanga’s “big game” performance and highlighted the partnership of Stacey Waaka and Mackenzie Wiki on the right edge. Both squads will play at McDonald Jones Stadium, with the men’s match at 10:05 pm and the women’s at 7:45 pm. The outcomes will determine which teams advance to the final and secure a place in the “big dance”.
Patrick Stewart, the legendary Star Trek: The Next Generation captain, died at 86 on October 28, 2026, sparking an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues worldwide. In the wake of his passing, co‑stars Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner reflected on their friendship and shared anecdotes on the Dropping Names… podcast. The duo recalled a memorable moment when Stewart, in character, shouted “F*** the universe!” during a rehearsal, a joke that still makes the cast laugh. Guests on the show included LeVar Burton, Dean Devlin, Joel McHale, and Alan Tudyk, each offering stories that highlighted Stewart’s warmth and humor. Marina Sirtis posted a touching tribute on social media, while Tudyk humorously described waking up to Stewart hovering over him after a nap. The podcast, launched in January, has become a platform for former TNG actors to honor Stewart, with many episodes featuring his name and memories. Fans can listen to the full episode on the Dropping Names series, which celebrates Stewart’s legacy and the enduring camaraderie of the TNG ensemble. Stewart’s death marks the end of an era for Star Trek fans, but his influence continues through the series and the heartfelt remembrances.
When an iPhone rings, the interface changes depending on whether the device is locked or unlocked. A locked screen displays only a slide‑to‑answer control, while an unlocked screen offers both answer and decline buttons. The decline option appears in a compact banner or across the full screen, but it is always present when the phone is unlocked. If a user wants to reject a call without using the on‑screen button, they can double‑tap the side button to send the caller straight to voicemail. Alternatively, pressing either volume button silences the ring without declining the call, regardless of the screen’s lock state. iPhone also provides a Message option that lets callers receive a text instead of a voicemail, with several pre‑set replies or a custom message. These replies can be edited in Settings > Phone > Respond with Text, allowing users to quickly explain why they cannot answer. For persistent spam or unknown callers, the Screen Unknown Callers setting offers options to silence, ask for a reason, or block the number entirely.