Book review: Sayaka Murata's builds a dystopian world of sexless marriages in Vanishing World
In Sayaka Murata's Vanishing World, marriage is reduced to a platonic contract between man and woman.
PHOTOS: BUNGEISHUNJU, GRANTA BOOKS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
10 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
WHSmith prices 'should be illegal' after selling £4.19 Pepsi
Welsh snooker legend Mark Williams recently posted a picture of a checkout screen in WHSmith, where it showed a 500ml bottle of Pepsi Max costing £4.19. Williams was at Heathrow Airport at the time. Airports across the country are slightly notorious for charging inflated prices. At the time of writing, a 500ml bottle of Pepsi Max from Tesco costs £1.59. Customers subsequently blasted the store. WHSmith pricing should be illegal in general, no clue how they get away with it One said: "WHSmith literally sold off their entire High Street business but kept travel hub shops for this very reason. It's like printing money and they don't care about the customers." Another commented: "Smiths are proper cosy cosy with all the airports, word is they mark up their prices by 50% and go halters with the airport the shops located in". Someone else replied: "I paid that in Liverpool airport a couple of weeks ago, couldn't believe my eyes". Another said: "WHSmith pricing should be illegal in general, no clue how they get away with it". Some, however, defended the pricing. Recommended reading: Replying to the previous post, a user commented: "It's in an airport mate". To which he responded: "Expensive in other WHSmith stores too hence why I said general". Airports tend to be expensive due to a combination of factors, including high operational costs, the captive audience they serve, and the unique challenges of operating within a confined space. These costs are then reflected in higher prices for food, beverages, retail goods, and services within the airport, as well as in airline ticket prices, which often include airport fees.
Economic Times
11 minutes ago
- Economic Times
...You'll have to take the Tequila Express
Tourism used to be a simple equation. You went somewhere, checked out views, temples, eateries, and soaked in whatever else the place had to offer. But, now, sights and shopping aren't enough. You need a side of spectacle. Think vibes, curated playlists, mood lighting, the right Instagram filter. And if you've got extra dosh, throw in a themed train ride - with a tequila bar - that could make a mariachi weep. Hop on to the Tequila Express. This isn't some novelty name - it's a real train chugging across Mexico's agave-covered terrain. First launched in 1997 to kickstart 'tequila tourism', it took a break and is now back - refurbished, refuelled, and ready to serve 1.2 mn tipsy tourists a year. And this isn't just transport. It's a full-blown rolling fiesta connecting Guadalajara with Tequila, Mexico, complete with enlarged windows, soft lighting, piped-in mariachi music, and flat-screens flashing tacos and distilleries - basically, Agave Netflix while you sip your third shot before noon. Meanwhile, rival trains like the Jose Cuervo Express charge even more to wobble through the same cactus-studded scenery. The best bit? Tequila is now a Unesco World Heritage site. So, yes, getting sloshed on a train officially counts as cultural enrichment. Moral of the story: It's not where you go, but how you sell the ride. Just add lime and call it heritage. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Everything 'e' won't make you a millionaire. Just look at e-pharmacies Are Indian banks staring at their worst in 7 years? How Uber came back from the brink to dislodge Ola Will Royal Enfield's back to the future strategy woo GenZ? Stock Radar: Cummins India stock breaks out from Ascending Triangle pattern on daily charts; check target, stop loss Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus Multibagger or IBC - Part 9: With exceptional margins, can this small-cap stock make it to the big league? These large- and mid-cap stocks can give more than 30% return in 1 year, according to analysts
UPI
11 minutes ago
- UPI
Interior Department approves modifying federal coal mining project in Montana
The Department of the Interior Friday announced approval of a mining plan modification for Bull Mountains coal mine in Montana. It authorizes Signal Peak Energy LLC to mine roughly 22.8 million tons of federal coal. Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum (pictured in April) touted it as an example of "energy leadership." File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo June 6 (UPI) -- The Department of the Interior on Friday announced approval of a mining plan modification for Bull Mountains coal mine in Montana. It authorizes Signal Peak Energy LLC to mine roughly 22.8 million tons of federal coal. It also permits the company to mine 34.5 million tons of adjacent non-federal coal. The mine is in Musselshell and Yellowstone counties and exports coal to Japan and South Korea. "By unlocking access to coal in America, we are not only fueling jobs here at home, but we are also standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our allies abroad," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. The Trump administration policy of increasing fossil fuel production stands in stark contrast to Biden administration policies. In October 2024 the Biden administration announced $428 million in funding for 14 federal energy projects in small towns historically known for coal production. The Trump administration is in the process of attempting to undo that clean energy approach while doubling down on coal, oil and gas production. For the Bulls Mountain coal mine, the Interior Department said Friday it is using emergency permitting procedures to disregard normal environmental review. The Interior Department said in an April statement that the procedures reduce what would normally be "a multi-year review process down to just 28 days at most." The department asserts that the procedures using the radically shortened review process still upholds environmental standards. "The Bull Mountains project is proof that we can meet urgent energy needs, work with local communities and uphold strong environmental standards," Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Adam Suess in a statement. The Interior Department said it is using "alternative arrangements" for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the 1969 law requiring federal agencies to assess potential environmental effects of their decisions. According to the Interior Department, "These alternative arrangements apply both to actions not likely to have significant environmental impacts and to actions likely to have significant environmental impacts." The Trump administration is using a so-called national energy emergency declared by President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 to avoid fully complying with full environmental regulations agencies would normally have to follow. Under the alternative arrangements, companies would notify the department they want those alternative arrangements. The official responsible for reviewing the application would then "prepare a focused, concise, and timely environmental impact statement addressing the purpose and need for the proposed action, alternatives, and a brief description of environmental effects." According to the Interior Department, the Bull Mountains project is expected to generate "over $1 billion in combined local, state and county economic benefits, including wages, taxes and business activity."
