Abhishek Banerjee (Image/PTI)

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee News agency ANI quoted party sources as saying that they will inform Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about the mob attack on them in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district and will also approach the court in connection with the incident.This development comes after Abhishek Banerjee was attacked with bricks, stones and eggs while meeting families affected by post-poll violence in Sonarpur. TMC national general secretary suffered injuries near his eye and alleged BJP He accused the group of planning the attack, alleging that an attempt was made on his life and that the police failed to provide adequate security.According to party sources, Banerjee will formally inform Speaker Om Birla about the incident and will seek legal recourse over the attack.Five people have been arrested in connection with the case and were produced before a court in Baruipur on Monday. The accused have been identified as Akash Gayen, Kajal Das, Debashish Dutta, Nirmalya Sengupta and Tapan Maiti.The issue has created a major political controversy in West Bengal, with the TMC alleging a pattern of attacks against its leaders. On Sunday, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also claimed that he was attacked near Chanditala police station in Hooghly district while presenting a delegation regarding the post-poll violence.Kalyan Banerjee alleged that during the incident, BJP supporters attacked his head, due to which he suffered injuries. They later protested outside the police station and described the attack as an ‘attempt to murder’. The BJP denied the allegations and claimed that local residents were expressing anger against TMC leaders.Reacting to the attack on him, Abhishek Banerjee described the incident as ‘political violence and state sponsored terrorism’ by the BJP. Thanking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for expressing concern, he said opposition parties should remain united to protect democratic institutions and constitutional values.“Thank you, Rahul ji, for your concern and continued support. We remain united and resolute in our fight to protect the soul of India, protect its democratic institutions and uphold the values ​​enshrined in our Constitution,” Banerjee said in a post on Twitter.The BJP condemned the violence but said the incidents reflected public anger against TMC. West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh said that no one has the right to take the law into their hands, and claimed that public resentment against TMC has been building for years.

Mumbai, June 1 (IANS) Bollywood star Jackie Shroff paid an emotional tribute to veteran actress Nargis on her 97th birth anniversary on June 1.

bollywood star jackie shroffOn June 1, an emotional tribute was paid to the great actress Nargis on her 97th birth anniversary.I am missing one indian cinemaOne of the most famous stars, Jackie shared a classic black and white photo of Nargis from her younger days through a nostalgic social media post.Along with the picture, Jackie wrote, “Nargis ji, always in our hearts,” followed by a folded hands emoji.

Adding further to the nostalgia, the actor used the evergreen song ‘Dil Ki Girah Khol Do’ as the background score. This song from the 1967 film ‘Raat Aur Din’ was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey and is still one of the memorable tracks associated with Nargis’s film career.Nargis, born on 1 June 1929, is considered one of the finest actresses in the history of Indian cinema. She made her debut as a child artiste in ‘Talaash-e-Haq’ and later rose to fame as a leading lady through films like ‘Barsaat’, ‘Andaz’, ‘Awara’, ‘Shree 420’, ‘Chori Chori’, ‘Jaagte Raho’ and the Oscar-nominated classic ‘Mother India’.Talking about his performance in ‘Mother India’, it is one of the most famous portrayals in Indian cinema.For those unaware, it was during the making of ‘Mother India’ when Nargis grew close to actor Sunil Dutt, whom she later married.The pair became one of the most acclaimed couples of Bollywood. They are the parents of the actor Sanjay Dutt and daughters Namrata Dutt and Priya Dutt.Nargis died on 3 May 1981 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Sanjay Dutt, in many of his past interviews, has talked about how difficult it was to cope with his mother’s death despite being closest to her.Meanwhile, talking about Jackie Shroff, the actor remains one of the most active stalwarts of the industry. The actor was recently seen in ‘The Great Indian Superhero’, which released on May 29 and received positive response from the audience.Over the years, Jackie has been a part of acclaimed projects like ‘Hero’, ‘Ram Lakhan’, ‘Parinda’, ‘Gardish’, ‘Rangeela’, ‘Devdas’ and many more.Jackie is one of the few Bollywood stars who constantly remembers and pays tribute to industry legends on their birthdays, birth anniversaries, death anniversaries and other important occasions.–IANSRD/

The world’s richest people have become richer than ever due to the continuous emergence and development of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and infrastructure technologies. The total wealth of the world’s richest people has increased to approximately $2.9 trillion. The rise mainly occurred over the past month, when tech stocks surged as investments in artificial intelligence surged. Despite the usual suspects dominating the list, there have been some changes in status and fortunes that have escalated at a rate rarely seen in business history.Check out the list of top 10 richest people in the world, according to the latest Forbes report (June 2026), below.

List of richest people in the world

Source: Forbes

The richest people in the world in 2026

1. Elon Musk

Estimated net worth: $835 billionElon Musk is still in the position of being the richest person in the world, there is a huge difference between him and any other person in terms of wealth. The sources of his personal wealth are primarily SpaceX and Tesla Inc., although he has also shown interest in some artificial intelligence ventures. SpaceX has grown from merely a private aerospace corporation to one of the world’s most valuable companies, while Tesla continues to dominate the electric car sector. Elon Musk is the closest person to reaching $1 trillion net worth.

2. Larry Page

Estimated net worth: $309 billionLarry Page is considered to be the second richest man in the world and is one of the few people who has crossed the $300 billion mark. Larry Page co-founded the Google search engine with Sergey Brin in 1998 during his studies at Stanford University. The huge investments made by the company in areas like artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services have been the main reason for the skyrocketing of Google’s market cap.

3. Sergey Brin

Estimated net worth: $285 billionSecond place goes to Sergey Brin, Larry Page’s lifelong business partner. These two men have been instrumental in transforming a scientific enterprise into one of the largest commercial enterprises in human history. Sergey Brin has been working quietly for a few years; However, as recently reported, Sergey Brin has been more actively involved in Google’s initiatives related to artificial intelligence. The main source of Sergey Brin’s wealth is represented by shares of the Alphabet company, which is closely related to AI.

4. Jeff Bezos

Estimated net worth: $277 billionJeff Bezos built Amazon from an online bookstore into a company that transformed shopping, logistics and cloud computing. More than thirty years after starting the business, he remains one of the richest men in history. While Amazon accounts for the majority of his wealth, Bezos has expanded his interest in space exploration through Blue Origin and a growing collection of technology investments. Their fortunes are also continuously rising along with the massive growth of digital commerce and cloud services.

5. Larry Ellison

Estimated net worth: $276 billionOracle co-founder, Larry Ellison, managed to register the biggest gain in wealth among the world’s wealthiest individuals last month. Oracle’s expansion into the development of infrastructure for artificial intelligence has helped increase investor confidence and boost its value. Ellison’s massive stake in Oracle stock has been instrumental in building his fortune.

6. Michael Dell

Estimated net worth: $244 billionMichael Dell started building computers in his university dorm room in Texas before creating one of the world’s most recognized technology companies. What started as a small operation eventually grew into Dell Technologies, a leading supplier of business hardware, servers, and infrastructure solutions. The recent surge in demand for AI-related computing devices has significantly boosted Dell’s assets.

7. Mark Zuckerberg

Estimated net worth: $217 billionMark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while studying at Harvard University, which became the world’s largest social networking platform. The company later evolved into Meta, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp. At 41, Zuckerberg is one of the youngest people in the global top ten. His wealth mainly comes from his ownership stake in Meta, which continues to generate billions in advertising revenue every year.

8. Jensen Huang

Estimated net worth: $182 billionThe rise of Jensen Huang has been one of the most impressive stories of the AI ​​age. The Nvidia co-founder spent decades building a company known primarily for gaming graphics cards before becoming a center for artificial intelligence development. Nvidia’s chips are now used in data centers and AI systems around the world. As demand for those processors increased, so did the value of the company.

9. Bernard Arnault

Estimated net worth: $148 billionBernard Arnault is the only non-American in the list of the top ten richest people globally. The businessman is the owner of LVMH, a luxury conglomerate that controls various companies including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany & Co. and Sephora. The source of her wealth revolves around luxury fashion products, jewelery and beauty products. Despite changes in spending on luxury goods, LVMH has dominated the industry, which has helped Arnault remain wealthy.

10. Steve Ballmer

Estimated net worth: $141 billionAfter the formation of Microsoft in 1980, Steve Ballmer joined it and later became the CEO of the company. Although his tenure as a leader was quite controversial, he took a wise decision to retain his majority stake in the firm upon his retirement. With Microsoft’s growth in the fields of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, the firm’s shares have become much more valuable. Additionally, Steve Ballmer also owns the basketball team Los Angeles Clippers, which has gained considerable value over time.

FAQ: Richest People in the World

Elon Musk holds the title of the richest person in the world with a net worth of $835 billion as of June 2026.

The richest non-American on the list is France’s Bernard Arnault.

These ultra-rich individuals largely belong to the technology industry. Most of his net worth comes from companies operating in the software, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and semiconductor sectors.

At the age of 41, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest among the world’s 10 richest people.

Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final to win back-to-back trophies. (AP)

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: IPL Trophies are won on the field, but championship dynasties are built in the boardrooms, auction tables and strategy meetings.Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)’s historic back-to-back title wins are the result of an approach that extends far beyond the playing XI. From andy flowersStrategic efficiency and long term planning of Mo Bobat Dinesh KarthikRecognizing the talent of player management and Mallolan Rangarajan, a powerful backroom team quietly built one of the most successful phases in the franchise’s history. Rajat Patidar-led RCB defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.TimesofIndia.com brings to you the people behind RCB’s winning machinery:Andy Flower (head coach)

Andy Flower was appointed head coach of RCB ahead of IPL 2024. (ANI)

The turnaround for RCB started when they appointed Andy Flower as head coach ahead of IPL 2024 and he has led them to two IPL titles in three years.Andy Flower is perhaps the greatest coach of modern cricket. He has mastered all three formats and has an extraordinary resume. He transformed a struggling England team into a world-beating team, overseeing three Ashes wins (2009, 2010–11 and 2013), England’s first global title at the 2010 T20 World Cup, and a historic Test series win in India in 2012, their first in 28 years. Flower later served as a consultant to Australia’s 2023 ODI World Cup-winning campaign before leading Trent Rockets to The Hundred title in 2022 and RCB to their first IPL title in 2025.RCB captain Rajat Patidar also praised Flower, calling him the greatest of all time.“I think he is one of the best coaches, the way he handles players, not just the players who are playing. I think for him the players who are not playing and the new players who are playing their first IPL season are equally important. He spent a lot of time with each individual. So, you know, I don’t have words for him, but he is the best coach I have played with.”Mo Bobat (cricket director)

Mo Bobat (R) is the director of cricket at Royal Challengers Bangalore. (PTI)

Mo Bobat arrived at RCB as Director of Cricket ahead of IPL 2024, and brings with him over a decade of experience at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). As England Men’s Performance Director, he played a key role in building the talent pipeline that contributed to the country’s ODI and T20 World Cup triumphs, while also helping to revitalize the Test team under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Bobat previously worked with RCB as a consultant.After RCB’s win over GT in Qualifier 1, Bobat talked about the number of match-winners in the team, which ultimately proved to be crucial.Bobat had said, “We are obviously happy that we had a number of people who contributed to the win. We had a number of people who stood up with both bat and ball. And you need that to go far in competitions. We are not dependent on one or two players with the bat or one or two players with the ball. And that is a really pleasing thing.”“And if we do this often enough, and if everyone contributes and fulfills their roles, the results should take care of themselves,” Bobt explained his philosophy.Dinesh Karthik (mentor and batting coach)

In Dinesh Karthik, the young members of the RCB team have got an elder brother to guide them. (ANI)

After last year’s IPL, RCB wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma credited Dinesh Karthik for the change in his game.“That man saw in me what no one has ever seen in me. Everyone looked for flaws in me, but that man saw the goodness in me.” Everyone else used to find faults in me, but that man saw my strengths),” Jitesh had told TimesofIndia.com.This year, it was Venkatesh Iyer who worked closely with Karthik behind the scenes when he was not getting game time. When he got the opportunity, Venkatesh scored unbeaten 73 runs while batting at number four in the absence of Patidar due to concussion. From then on, he became a regular in the team.

RCB coaching staff after IPL 2026 title. (Image: X)

In Dinesh Karthik, many Indian players got the elder brother figure who was missing in the RCB dressing room earlier.“When you’re a coach, the dynamics are very different. I’m very happy to see that I have an opportunity to impact someone while I’m playing.” Karthik told TimesofIndia.com during ILT20.Malolan Rangarajan (Spin bowling coach, Player Identification Manager and RCB Women’s head coach)

Malolan Rangarajan is the head coach of RCB’s WPL team and the scout and spin bowling coach of the men’s team. (Image: X)

If Andy Flower and Mo Bobt shaped RCB’s approach, Mallolan Rangarajan helped build its foundation. Former Tamil Nadu off-spinner, Rangarajan has emerged as one of the most respected talent scouts in Indian cricket. As RCB’s head of scouting and fielding coach, he has played a key role in identifying and nurturing players who fit into the franchise’s long-term plans rather than simply chasing star names.Known for his keen eye on talent and deep understanding of domestic cricket, Rangarajan has been instrumental in strengthening RCB’s squad depth, ensuring that the franchise has a steady pipeline of players ready to step in when required. His influence extended beyond recruiting, with his work in the fielding department helping to raise the team’s athletic standards. While the spotlight is often on marquee players and high-profile coaches, Rangarajan’s contributions behind the scenes have been crucial in helping RCB build a balanced, flexible team capable of winning back-to-back IPL titles.Malolan Rangarajan is also the head coach of the RCB women’s team. He has been at the forefront of the Hinterland Scouting initiative, a methodology that explores the Indian cricket landscape at a much deeper level and identifies talent that might otherwise go unnoticed.Omkar Salvi (bowling coach)

RCB’s bowling performance in the IPL 2026 campaign was excellent. Omkar Salvi is the bowling coach of the team. (ANI)

After winning the title, captain Rajat Patidar praised bowling coach Omkar Salvi for revamping RCB’s attack.“I have known Omkar Salvi sir since I started playing my first Ranji Trophy season,” Patidar said.

“Since then, I have been watching him closely. He spent a lot of time with every bowler. I would say there was a lot of hard work in the way Salvi sir worked with the team. We can’t always see what’s happening in the meeting room when he is talking to the players. He spent a lot of time with them individually and I think that really helped every bowler.”

Most robots are made to look like something. Engineers designing machines to navigate in the real world have, for decades, reached for the same reference points: the human skeleton, the quadrupedal gait of a dog, the crawling of insects. These biological templates have produced impressive machines, but they have an underlying assumption that a robot needs forward, backward, and a preferred direction of travel. A team from Duke University’s General Robotics Lab has now directly challenged that notion, and the result is a machine that looks unlike anything in the robotics catalog and, more importantly, moves unlike anything that’s come before.

Duke’s omnidirectional robot with no front or back

The robot is named Argus after the all-seeing giant from Greek mythology, and the name fits. It has 20 modular, telescoping legs that extend outward from a central core, each fitted with a depth camera, giving it an almost perfect circular field of view. There is neither front, nor back, nor above, nor below. It can move, roll, climb, freeze and manipulate objects in any direction, without needing to turn or redirect itself first. The work, led by engineering professor Boyuan Chen with doctoral student Jiaxun Liu and postdoctoral researcher Boxie Xia, is published in the journal Nature. science robotics.

The design principles behind Argus and what it actually measures

The conceptual foundation of Argus is a design principle the team calls Dynamic Isotropy. Instead of asking what the robot should look like, the theory asks how evenly it can move in every direction in space. The team quantified this as a score from 0 to 1, where 1 represents a theoretically perfect machine that can move in any direction with exactly the same force. According to the published study, most advanced robots in use today, including state-of-the-art quadrupeds, humanoid robots, and traditional drones, score below 0.6 on this measure. Argus’s score is 0.91, which is close to the theoretical limit. As Chen said: “When a robot can accelerate equally in every direction, it no longer needs to face the world in any particular way. Back and forth become the same. Left and right become equal. The character of the whole problem of robot control changes.”

Why the dodecahedron geometry of Argus produces almost perfect motion symmetry

To reach that score of 0.91 it was necessary to solve the geometry problem first. The team ran more than 1,500 simulated robot configurations to identify which arrangement of legs came closest to their theoretical maximum. The winning design placed 20 identical cable-driven legs on top of a regular dodecahedron, a three-dimensional geometric solid with 12 pentagonal faces. This arrangement produces almost exactly uniform distribution of both force and visual coverage in all directions. Each leg is telescoping and cable-driven, meaning it can extend and retract to push against surfaces, and each has its own depth camera so that the robot’s perception simultaneously matches its physical reach in every direction. The result looks less like a machine and more like a sea urchin, which is not a coincidence. The study clearly notes the similarity, and the geometry behind it is the same principle that gives sea urchins their remarkable mechanical stability.

Argus detected forests, sand and wet surfaces in real-world tests

It’s one thing to build a robot that performs well in simulation; The Duke team tested Argus extensively in the real world, running it on the Duke campus and surrounding area. According to the study, the Argus rolled on concrete, grass, dense foliage, soft sand, wet surfaces and tree bark without losing stability regardless of its orientation. It cleared obstacles up to five inches high. It climbed vertically between two closely parallel walls by alternately grasping and pushing with different subsets of its legs. It carried a ten-pound payload at almost full speed and pushed a large cube around a location while rolling continuously. Doctoral student Jiaxun Liu, co-first author of the paper, said: “The first time we saw it navigate through trees and rough terrain, even through heavy collisions, we knew it was something different.”

How does Argus keep going even when his legs are broken or his motors are damaged?

One of the more practically important findings from the research concerns the robot’s resilience to damage. Because its 20 legs each contribute only a fraction of the total movement, and because the design distributes force evenly rather than relying on a small number of vital limbs, the Argus continues to function even if one or more motors fail, or a leg breaks. This is no small advantage. Most robots with reduced limbs suffer significant degradation in capability or complete failure if a vital joint is lost. Argus’s architecture makes it structurally tolerant of partial failure in a way that reflects the same mathematics that makes it ubiquitous: Nothing is so impactful that losing it will break the system.

The future of robotics beyond biological design templates

The team is clear that Argus is a proof of concept rather than a finished product, but the implications for robotics design are substantial. Postdoctoral researcher Boxee Xia said the robot proves that dynamic symmetry is not just a theoretical exercise; This produces a deployable machine capable of handling real-world challenges. Chen described Argus as the first member of what he envisions as a broader family of dynamically symmetrical machines: “robots that don’t need to mimic dogs or humans to be agile, tough, and useful.“Researchers have also produced designs with up to 40 legs that score even higher on dynamic isotropy, although these are impractical as prototypes right now given the added mechanical complexity. However, Argus’s dodecahedral architecture sits at a useful inflection point complex to reach the theoretical ideal, which is actually quite simple to build and test in the field.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Met Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing on Monday.The leaders met at Hyderabad House here in the national capital as President U Min Aung Hlaing is visiting India from May 30 to June 2 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.This is the first visit of Min Aung Hlaing to India in his current capacity as President. He will also be accompanied by a high-level delegation of cabinet ministers, senior officials and prominent business leaders.Earlier, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval Met Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing on Sunday.“NSA Shri Ajit Doval met President of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing today,” Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said in a post on Twitter.Earlier, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar met the President of Myanmar on Saturday and appreciated his positive approach towards strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.In a post on Twitter, Jaishankar said, “Delighted to meet President of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi today. Appreciate his positive sentiment towards deepening our long-standing bilateral cooperation. Looking forward to his meeting with PM Narendra Modi to take our partnership forward for peace, progress and prosperity.”After completing the program in Bodh Gaya, Min Aung Hlaing reached New Delhi.Hlaing reached Bodh Gaya in Bihar on Saturday, where External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed the visit and highlighted India’s civilizational and spiritual ties with Myanmar.Shortly after arrival, President Min Aung Hlaing visited the sacred Mahabodhi Temple, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site and UNESCO World Heritage Site.Speaking at the weekly press briefing earlier on Friday, Jaiswal outlined the broad scope of the upcoming bilateral discussions.

Marcelo Bielsa has made the biggest selection decision of Uruguay’s FIFA World Cup campaign by leaving out veteran striker Luis Suarez from his final 26-man squad. The former Barcelona and Liverpool forward, Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer, was one of the notable omissions when Bielsa unveiled his squad on Sunday.

While Suarez missed out on a place in the tournament, midfield star Federico Valverde and striker Darwin Nunez are leading a young team that reflects Bielsa’s long-term vision for the national team.

39-year-old Suarez had not completely closed the chapter of his international career Despite announcing his retirement from Uruguayan duty. The experienced forward recently suggested that he would be open to a comeback if the national team requires his services during the World Cup.

However, Bielsa opted to recall the striker, who has been absent from the international setup for almost 20 months. The decision comes months after Suarez publicly criticized the Argentina coach’s management style, which he claimed had created divisions within the dressing room.

Suárez said earlier this year, “I retired from the national team to make room for other players, and because I felt the moment had come when I could no longer be useful to the team. But if they need me, I will never refuse the national team. As long as I’m playing, as long as I’m active, that’s impossible.”

Relations between player and coach appeared strained after Suárez accused Bielsa of creating a difficult atmosphere within the team. Although the former striker later said he had apologized for those comments, it was not enough to convince Bielsa to include him in his World Cup plans.

Suarez’s omission was not the only major talking point From the squad announcement. Nahitan Nandez, another experienced international who featured regularly during the qualification campaign, was also ruled out as Bielsa continued his transition towards a young core.

Bielsa backs youth for World Cup

The team selection underlines Bielsa’s commitment to building a team around players rather than relying on experienced veterans. Uruguay’s defensive foundation will be led by Ronald Araújo, José María Jiménez and Mathias Oliveira, who will provide a mix of leadership and physicality at the back.

Bielsa has in midfield Put their trust in a dynamic group featuring Federico ValverdeRodrigo Bentancur, Manuel Ugarte and Nicolás de la Cruz. This quartet epitomizes the high-intensity pressing style and tireless work rate that has become the hallmark of Bielsa’s teams throughout his managerial career.

The attack will be led by Darwin Núñez, who remains the primary goal-scoring threat for Uruguay despite a difficult club season. The striker has not featured for Al-Hilal since February after the Saudi Pro League side shuffled their foreign player registration following the arrival of Karim Benzema.

Despite concerns over his lack of recent game time, Bielsa remains confident in Núñez’s ability to lead on football’s biggest stage.

Uruguay have been drawn in Group H and will open their World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia on June 15. They will then face Cape Verde in what is expected to be their toughest test before concluding the group stage against Spain.

With Suarez absent and a new generation taking center stage, Bielsa’s Uruguay are heading into the tournament hoping their youthful energy can compensate for the loss of one of the country’s greatest footballers.

Uruguay squad for the 2026 World Cup

Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet, Fernando Muslera, Santiago Mele

Defenders: Guillermo Varela, Ronald Araújo, Jose Maria Jimenez, Santiago Bueno, Sebastian Casares, Mathias Oliveira, Joaquin Piquerrez, Matias Viana.

Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte, Emiliano Martínez, Rodrigo Bentancur, Federico Valverde, Agustín Canobbio, Juan Manuel Sanabria, Giorgio de Arrascaeta, Nicolás de la Cruz, Rodrigo Zalazar, Facundo Pellistri, Maximiliano Araújo, Brian Rodriguez

Forwards: Rodrigo Aguirre, Federico Vinas, Darwin Nunez

– ends

Russell T Davis’ new show on TV is the talk of the town these days. ‘Tip Toe’ is a brand new series featuring two lesbian neighbors whose boundaries and relationships are tested throughout the show. Davis recently took a look at what goes on behind the scenes with all the actors and crew members and what he wants from the show.

Russell T Davies on making ‘Tip Toe’

Speaking to the BBC, Davies explained how he addresses serious topics in a humorous manner in most of his shows. Elaborating on his process, he said, “Honestly, I see the world going from bad to worse these days. I am very worried about the future of my nieces and nephews.”When asked if he wanted the show to shed light on the issues, Davis only said that he wanted us to live in that reality. He further commented, “I wish television could change the world. If I could I would write more and change it faster. However, I feel compelled to comment on the world.”Speaking further about the show, Davis said that one of the highlights of ‘Tip Toe’ was the fact that alan cumming Was leading it. He told that he had been trying to cast the famous actor in one of his projects for the last 20 years.

Alan Cumming and david morrissey Consider their roles on the show

Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, who are leading the show, also opened up about their roles and working together. Talking about some of the challenging scenes, Morrissey said, “We had to do some difficult things, but the best thing about being with an actor who’s a friend is you can really push it.”Cumming also said, “As the series goes on and we all start liking everybody, and start worrying about them, you almost forget [I’m dead]. But we don’t know how it happened, or when in the story it happened. It’s really clever, it’s mysterious.”

What is the story of ‘Tip Toe’?

The TV series is based on Alan Cumming, who plays Leo Struthers, a 59-year-old man who owns a bar in Manchester’s Gay Village. David Morrissey plays Clive, an electrician and his neighbor in the area. Set in modern Britain, the show deals with the themes of a violent, homophobic feud as the surrounding social strata begins to change.

In a world increasingly illuminated by artificial light, truly dark skies have become a rare treasure. According to researchers, more than 80% of the global population now lives under light-polluted skies, making it difficult to see anything but the brightest stars in many urban areas. Yet a handful of remote deserts, mountains, forests and protected reserves offer exceptional night-sky conditions. These locations provide some of the clearest views of the planets, constellations, meteor showers, and the galaxy, and also serve as important sites for scientific research. From Chile’s Atacama Desert to the vast landscapes of Namibia and Australia, these are among the darkest areas on Earth to see the stars.

10 darkest areas around the world

1. Atacama Desert, ChileThe Atacama Desert in northern Chile is often considered the gold standard for astronomical observations. It is one of the driest places on Earth, with some areas receiving almost no rainfall. Combined with its high altitude and exceptionally clear atmosphere, these conditions make it ideal for studying the universe. The desert hosts world-renowned observatories, including ALMA and the European Southern Observatory’s Paranal Observatory. On moonlit nights, the Milky Way appears so bright that it can cast hazy shadows on the ground.

Atacama Desert, Chile

2. Namib Desert, NamibiaThe Namib Desert is one of the oldest deserts in the world and one of Africa’s premier stargazing destinations. Its low population density, dry climate and lack of urban development create remarkably dark skies. Visitors can enjoy unobstructed views of the southern celestial hemisphere including the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two dwarf galaxies visible to the naked eye.3. Mauna Kea, Hawaii, United StatesStanding 4,207 meters above sea level, Mauna Kea offers the clearest astronomical viewing conditions anywhere on the planet. The mountain rises above most of Earth’s atmospheric water vapor and cloud cover, giving astronomers a stable and transparent window into space. Several major international observatories are located near its summit.4. Aoraki McKenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, New ZealandLocated on New Zealand’s South Island, the Aoraki MacKenzie International Dark Sky Reserve covers more than 4,300 square kilometres. Strict controls on outdoor lighting help preserve the area’s pristine night skies. Tourists can easily see the Milky Way, star clusters and many constellations of the Southern Hemisphere that are not visible from northern latitudes.

5. Jasper Dark Sky Preserve, CanadaLocated within Jasper National Park in Alberta, the Jasper Dark Sky Preserve is one of the largest accessible dark-sky preserves in the world. The combination of mountainous scenery and minimal light pollution creates excellent conditions for observing stars and planets. This preserve is especially popular during meteor showers and annual astronomy festivals.6. Galloway Forest Park, ScotlandDespite being located in the United Kingdom, Galloway Forest Park remains one of the darkest places in Europe. Named as Dark Sky Park, it offers remarkably clear views of the night sky. On favorable nights, visitors can see more than 7,000 stars, while in heavily light-polluted cities one may see only a few hundred stars.7. Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, IrelandLocated on the southwest coast of Ireland, the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve is recognized as one of the world’s premier dark-sky destinations. Its remote location, rugged landscape and low levels of artificial light provide excellent conditions for viewing planets, galaxies and the Milky Way throughout the year.8. Tibetan PlateauThe Tibetan Plateau, often called the “Roof of the World”, offers high altitude viewing conditions that rival those of many professional observatories. Thin air, low humidity and limited growth contribute to exceptionally dark skies. Many remote parts of the plateau provide breathtaking views of the Milky Way stretching beyond the horizon.9. Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania, United StatesCherry Springs State Park has become one of North America’s most famous locations for amateur astronomy. Surrounded by forests and away from major cities, it has extremely low levels of light pollution. Stargazers regularly gather here to observe deep sky objects, including nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters.

Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania, United States

10. Australian Outback, AustraliaMuch of the Australian Outback is sparsely populated, making it one of the darkest inhabited regions on Earth. The combination of vast open landscapes and minimal artificial lighting creates ideal conditions for stargazing. The area around Uluru and remote parts of Western Australia offer extraordinary views of the southern night sky, including the center of the Milky Way.

Why are dark skies becoming rare?

Light pollution is increasing around the world as cities expand and artificial lighting becomes more widespread. Scientists have found that excessive light at night can affect wildlife behavior, disrupt ecosystems and reduce people’s ability to connect with the natural world. For astronomers, dark skies are essential for observing faint celestial objects and making new discoveries about the universe.

Preserving humanity’s window to the universe

Many of the world’s darkest regions are now protected through dark-sky reserves, national parks, and conservation initiatives. These efforts help ensure that future generations can continue to experience awe-inspiring views of the planets, stars, and galaxy. As light pollution continues to spread, these rare patches of darkness are becoming increasingly valuable, providing scientists with vital observing conditions and helping people maintain a direct connection with the night sky and the wider universe.