Monthly Archives: June 2024

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 17 premieres June 6 on Paramount+.

Criminal Minds: Evolution is coming back for Season 3! Paramount+ announced the news this morning on social media. Before Season 2 of Criminal Minds: Evolution even gets rolling, Paramount is betting big on a familiar facefor viewers. In an era where the Nielsen ratings can be a bit of an adventure for traditional shows, Criminal Minds has remained a mainstay. (During the earliest parts of the pandemic, the series enjoyed a turbo charge as people either revisited the series or discovered it for the first time.) The switch to Paramount+ for the recent entries has also reinvigorated longtime fans. Not too long ago, ComicBook caught up with Adam Rodriguez to unpack what's made the recent seasons so rewarding. There's some key cinematic differences at play here.

"Oh, man, well first of all, thank you, because we feel the same way. I mean, we're just so reinvigorated to be doing the show on Paramount+ now in more than one way. I mean, it's obviously Criminal Minds: Evolution," he told us. "So it's slightly differentfrom what Criminal Minds was. But we've got these characters that have been around for all of these years, and have built up this relationship with the audience that we now get to explore in a new way."

He added, "So it lends itself to feeling more cinematic just in the amount of breath, time, and space that we have to do that kind of exploration. I think another big part of that is the addition of Anthony Pietro, who's our Director of Photography now, is amazing and just has a has a great eye and a great feel for the show. And on top of all of that fits into the culture of the show as well."

As Season 2 gets ready to blow the doors offof Paramount+, here's a fresh synopsis: "This season of CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION stars Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Zach Gilford, Ryan-James Hatanaka with Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster. Guest stars include Clark Gregg, Felicity Huffman, Liana Liberato, Paul F. Tompkins, Tuc Watkins and Brian White."

"In the wake of last season's shocking finale, the upcoming all-new season of CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION picks up as the FBI's elite team of profilers investigates the deadly mystery of GOLD STAR. As the conspiracy unfolds, the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is met with an unexpected complication when serial killer Elias Voit negotiates a deal that transfers him to federal custody in the BAU's own backyard. The team faces its biggest threat yet and cannot emerge unscathed from the mind-bending consequences."

Are you stoked for more Criminal Minds? Catch all of our pop culture discussion at @ComicBook on social media!

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Criminal Minds: Evolution Renewed for Season 3 - ComicBook.com

In the first three months of 2024, stock markets continued the strong performance trend that was evident in the late part of 2023. However, some of the key drivers of this performance have changed, writes Patrick Farrell, Chief Investment Officer, Charles Stanley.

Performance at the end of 2023 resulted from the more encouraging tone from central banks on potential interest rate cuts. This was a significant change from the higher-for-longer messaging that was with us for much of last year. This optimism continued into 2024 as the market started to expect significant cuts starting as early as March with the expectation that there would be a rate cut at every meeting from then. The pace of interest-rate cuts expected by the market was overly optimistic and was not supported by the messaging from central banks.

As the optimism started to erode and rate cut expectations started to lessen the focus for shares moved to the earnings reporting season for the last three months of 2023. This was positive overall. And it gave investors renewed confidence that everything was fine and that the US economy was strong.

As a result, there was a broadening of market performance across companies and sectors and less, albeit still significant, focus on the Magnificent Seven stocks (Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta Platforms and Tesla) that had dominated market performance during 2023.

At least four of the Magnificent Seven were significant contributors to the performance of the index. This is particularly true in the case of Nvidia, as it beat some of the already lofty earnings expectations for the final three months of last year. Nevertheless, the earnings season in general was better than expected across the board and was the key driver of performance first three months of the year.

This broadening of performance away from just the big names is a sign that the US economy remains strong, particularly with a lift in consumer discretionary shares resulting from stronger consumer spending.

This strength is helping some other parts of the world, such as the economically struggling regions of Europe and Japan, to generate stronger-than-expected earnings results as well. This has resulted in stronger share performance across global sectors.

Considering the global sector performance over the last three and 12 months, there are initial indications of some sector rotation. However, this trend is unlikely to fully flip around in the short term, as technology and communication sectors retain strong growth prospects, even though much of the future optimism has already been priced into the market.

The strong performance for the quarter, driven by the better earnings results, tended to overlook the rapidly reducing expectations on interest rate cuts over 2024. Earlier in the year, investors were anticipating as many as seven to eight 0.25% rate cuts in the US over the year. It is now expected to be around three rate cuts, which was much more in line with indications coming from the central banks. This change in expectations saw US bond yields rise (as rates are expected to be higher for longer) but had little negative impact on shares considering the stronger earnings results.

Where to from here?

The key drivers for performance across asset classes moving forward are likely to focus on the following.

Company earnings

Many companies have been able to adapt, and prepare for, a slowdown in demand. This has not come through in the US, and now companies are more optimistic about the future and are positioning themselves accordingly. The first-quarter earnings have been generally positive, but companies that gave cautious outlook were punished. Momentum in sales and profits at the big cloud computing companies Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet has justified their lofty valuations.

Rate cut expectations

There is likely to be more stability in speculation around interest rate cuts expected for this year as we travel through the second quarter, as central banks provide more guidance on key factors and timing. It is likely that the European Central Bank (ECB) and potentially the Bank of England (BoE) will start reducing rates before the Fed, as the higher rates have resulted in more material impacts on those regions than in the US, where the economy remains strong.

Central banks have highlighted that they are more comfortable about the continuation of the falling inflation that we have been experiencing. But are not convinced yet that it will sustainably move back to target levels. Inflation is still too high and stickier results from here will see central banks put it back into focus and will delay rate cut expectations as a response. It should be noted that the risks of sticky inflation are higher than the chances of undershooting inflation, and this is a risk for policy decisions over the next few months.

If the economy gathers momentum from here, these risks are amplified and rate-cut expectations will quickly reduce. This risk is more important in the US, where growth is strong, and less so for Europe and the UK, which is why there is the likelihood that European central banks will cut rates independent of the Fed.

Geopolitical risk

Gold and oil prices have been increasing as the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East and Ukraine pick up pace. This is a risk for markets, with the rising oil price not helping to bring down inflation. It therefore needs to be watched carefully and could be a key factor for the elections in many democratic nations this year. To discuss any of the themes in this article or for information on how Charles Stanley can partner with your business, contact Head of Strategic Partnerships, Tom Hawkins on 020 3627 3990, or email IST@charles-stanley.co.uk.

The value of investments, and the income derived from them, can fall as well as rise. Investors may get back less than invested. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. Charles Stanley & Co. Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Click here to learn more about Charles Stanley

About Patrick Farrell

Patrick is the Chief Investment Officer at Charles Stanley and has over 30 years experience in investment and management roles at some of Australias largest asset management companies. He was CIO for the Suncorp Group, the largest general insurance group in Australia, as well as BT Financial Group, the wealth and asset management arm of Westpac, one of Australias big four banks. Prior to that he held leadership roles in the areas of tactical asset allocation, collectives research and fixed interest portfolio management. He holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in pure and applied mathematics roles from the University of Western Australia and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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The evolution of market sentiment in the first quarter and beyond - IFA Magazine

Pour overs are a staple of specialty coffee. Beloved by coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike, this brewing method is considered to extract the true expression of a coffees innate characteristics.

As the wider coffee industry continues to evolve, so does pour over. Every year, we see a range of both manual and automated pour over devices launched on the market helping to push the boundaries of extraction and flavour even further.

Many of these new brewers have been firmly embraced by the specialty coffee community, appearing on more and more coffee shop shelves and home brew bar setups. So with an increasingly wider variety of brewers and devices available, where could pour over be heading next?

To find out more, I spoke to Nicole Chabot, co-founder of Graycano, and Sasa Sestic, founder of Nucleus Coffee Tools.

You may also like our article on a brief history of manual brewing methods.

Although we often talk about pour over like its a relatively new brewing method, it actually dates back to the early 1900s.

One of the precursors in the evolution of pour over brewing was the launch of the Melitta brand in the early 1900s. After Melitta Bentz fashioned a brewer using a brass pot and a filter, the Melitta brand became one of the first to start selling commercially-available paper filters. This changed pour over brewing forever.

After the iconic Chemex launched in 1941, Hario debuted its Vector 60 (or V60) manual brewer in the early 2000s. The product was named for its 60 angle of the cone, which the company says helps to facilitate extraction.

The Clever Dripper also gained popularity in specialty coffee following its launch in 2008. This brewer combines both pour over and immersion-style brewing, which can enhance mouthfeel and texture.

In 2010, the flat bottom Kalita Wave entered the market and also became a coffee shop favourite. The devices horizontal grooves help to reduce contact between the paper filter and brewer walls, which minimises extraction inconsistencies.

Year after year, a range of new manual pour over brewers launch on the market. Each one has its own unique twist, with many different trends impacting design and functionality.

One of the biggest influences, however, is the World Brewers Cup an annual competition where some of the worlds best baristas showcase their manual filter brewing skills.

While the majority of winners have used either the Hario V60 or the Kalita Wave in their routines, we saw 2023 winner Carlos Medina use the Origami and 2024 World Brewers Cup Champion Martin Wlfl win with the Orea V4.

At the 2022 competition, Wlfl also used another new manual pour over brewer the Graycano. This conical-shaped device has a big focus on design and materials, and has become increasingly popular at the World Brewers Cup.

Nicole Chabot is a co-founder of Graycano.

Heat retention and design have become more important features of pour over brewers, she says. We wanted to combine modern design with unique materials to improve extraction efficiency.

Each brewer includes an aluminium core and air pockets, which improve temperature stability and heat retention.

The brewer also includes asymmetric ribs, which agitate the water, Nicole adds. In turn, you achieve a more even extraction and reduce the risk of channelling.

As a way of preserving flavour and aroma as much as possible, a growing number of baristas and competitors have started using techniques similar to flash brewing. In response, some equipment manufacturers have designed brewers with this in mind.

One example is Nucleus Coffee Tools Paragon, which was developed in partnership with researchers at the Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW).

Sasa Sestic is the founder of Nucleus, as well as ONA Coffee and Project Origin. He is also the 2015 World Barista Champion.

Studies have shown that when brewing temperatures are higher, we lose more aromatic volatile compounds, he explains. For instance, more volatile compounds are lost at 96C (204.8F) than 90C (194F).

This research led Nucleus and ZHAW to explore the concept of extract chilling. The 2021 Australian Barista Champion Hugh Kelly most notably used this method (albeit for espresso rather than filter) in his routine at the world finals.

With a focus on post-extraction chilling, the Paragon includes a cooled ice rock or ball that is placed underneath the pour over brewer for the first 20 to 30 seconds of extraction.

By rapidly cooling filter coffee just after extraction, we can capture more volatile compounds in the final beverage, Sasa explains. As coffee comes into contact with the cooled ice rock, it instantly chills, which means fewer aromatic compounds escape into the surrounding environment.

Alongside rampant innovation in manual pour over brewing, automation has played an increasingly important role in how we prepare filter coffee both at home and in coffee shops.

The most obvious reasons are to improve the efficiency and consistency of extraction by minimising the risk of human error. And given that a 2019 survey by UCC Coffee found 80% of consumers value consistency when visiting a caf above all else, this only further emphasises why specialty coffee has embraced automation.

Temperature stability and agitation are key elements of automated pour over brewers. Despite how skilled baristas or home brewers may be, leveraging the power of automation minimises the risk of human error. As a result, consumers receive higher-quality pour over which is especially important considering the higher prices paid for these drinks.

Launched in early 2021, Marco Beverage Systems automated SP9 countertop brewer features a unique boiler system and recirculation chamber that ensures water temperature remains consistent throughout extraction.

The Moccamaster is another popular automated brewing system that is more widely used in homes. The machine maintains a stable temperature between 92C and 96C (197.6F and 204.8F) helping home brewers and coffee enthusiasts to also achieve consistent results.

Its evident that there is an endless pursuit of higher quality when it comes to pour over in specialty coffee, and this is undoubtedly influencing the future of filter coffee preparation.

With new pour over innovation, we can get more out of coffee, Sasa says. The more innovation there is, the more we can understand about how to extract desirable characteristics and reduce the negative ones improving everyones experience.

The design and shape of manual pour over devices as well as the materials used to manufacture them will also continue to shape trends. There has been a clear shift towards more aesthetic and visually-appealing brewers in recent years which still optimise extraction, but also catch peoples attention on coffee shop shelves.

Looking at brewer material in particular, manufacturers are investing in more innovative ways to improve temperature stability. Glass, plastic, steel, and ceramic are no longer the only options, which affects how we extract coffee potentially opening up new ways to experience flavour, mouthfeel, and aroma.

Ultimately, it seems automated solutions will continue to dominate the market as both coffee shop operators and avid home brewers choose to prioritise consistency and efficiency.

At the same time, the skill of manual brewing will undoubtedly also play a key role in the future of pour over. The fact remains that manual brewing methods often add to the consumer experience, and showcase craftsmanship and skill in ways that arent always possible with automation.

But the general shift towards automation has many benefits. Automated brewers can be useful talking points for baristas to engage with customers, and showcase just how far technology has advanced in the coffee industry.

More importantly, however, baristas can focus more of their attention on enhancing the customer experience, while automated brewers manage coffee extraction for them. Undoubtedly, this could change the barista-customer interaction in specialty coffee shops forever.

In recent years, design, shape, and materials have become increasingly important factors for pour over brewers changing extraction and therefore flavour. But theres plenty more room for further innovation.

Time will only tell how pour over brewing will continue to change. So with new manual and automated devices launched on the market year after year, its an exciting time for specialty coffee.

Enjoyed this? Then read our article on what coffee shops need to know about the future of pour over.

Photo credits: Graycano, Sinan Muslu, SCA Germany, Specialty Coffee Association

Perfect Daily Grind

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The ongoing evolution of pour over coffee: What's next? - Perfect Daily Grind

Paramount+ has renewed the 'Criminal Minds' revival for a third season, prior to the Season 2 premiere tomorrow, June 6.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 is still hours away, but the show has already been renewed for a third season, and stars Joe Mantegna and Zach Gilford spoke to PopCulture.com about the exciting news. Paramount+ has announced that the Criminal Minds revival has been picked up for an additional season, with production starting later this year. News comes ahead of the second season, which premieres tomorrow, June 6, with the first two episodes.

While speaking with PopCulture, Gilford, who joined last season as unsub Elias Voit, admitted that "as a fan of the show, I'm super excited." However, he isn't so sure what to think as a character on Evolution. It was a pleasant surprise when it was announced that Gilford would be returning for Season 2, and it's unknown how things will go for him since he doesn't know if Voit will be coming back. Either way, though, the Friday Night Lights alum said he'll be "excited to watch and see what happens, but no promises."

Mantegna did bring up the fact that Voit is "like a bad penny. He keeps showing up. So he's certainly beaten the hell out of me plenty of times. So we'll see what happens. But we'll see. I don't think we're done with Voit just yet."

The actor would know a thing or two about coming back, as Joe Mantegna has portrayed David Rossi since the overall third season of Criminal Minds. Now that the show will be going through at least Season 18, Mantegna revealed he loves how the show has "allowed us to push the envelope even more. As you can imagine, we deal with some pretty serious stuff, and people will say, 'Oh God, that's so creepy. It's this, it's that. It's so intense.' And because of that you had certain restrictions on network TV where you couldn't quite push that intensity to a certain level."

"Now, I mean, the language restrictions are different," Mantegna continued. "We don't have to cut to a commercial. So I mean it allows us to really do... It's the correct phrasing. It's evolution. We've been able to evolve and I think it's been improvement. Some shows maybe doesn't affect so much, but I think with our show it really allowed us to step up the game and I fans appreciate that. That's why I think it's bigger and better than ever."

It's exciting knowing that more Criminal Minds: Evolution is already on the way when the next season hasn't premiered yet. But now that will just make these upcoming episodes even better. Filming has completed for Season 2 but it wouldn't be surprising if the finale ended on yet another cliffhanger. That's still several weeks away, so for now, fans will just have to tune in to Season 2, premiering tomorrow, June 6, on Paramount+. New episodes will drop weekly. Season 3 of Criminal Minds: Evolution will be coming soon.

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'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Stars Joe Mantegna and Zach Gilford React to Early Season 3 Renewal (Exclusive) - PopCulture.com

2023 was an abnormal year for the Kansas City Chiefs offense and Patrick Mahomes, who struggled to connect with receivers deep down the field.

During a media availability session on Thursday, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy spoke to reporters about the effort that Kansas Citys coaching staff put in to develop more explosive plays for Mahomes and his speedy new pass-catchers.

When asked about the deep ball specifically, Nagy explained that he and his staff have made a point to innovate and rethink their approach.

There was quite a bit, Nagy said about his work on the deep passing game. Its a unique question because we always try to go into every year with that mindset. You want to have the initiative to be great at that and practice it from day one. Weve had some success early on, weve got to keep it going, but its a mindset.

Over the past few seasons, defenses have been playing deeper coverage against the Chiefs, causing Mahomes to throw more underneath routes and drive more methodically down the field.

Nagy acknowledged the strategy, but made it clear that he wants Mahomes and the rest of his offense to be cautiously aggressive against deeper coverages.

I think weve seen an evolution not just against the Chiefs in recent years but also the NFL in general the deep shots arent there as much, Nagy continued. [We] just [want to have] that balance of being able to have that touchdown to check-down mentality, but be smart with when we do take those shots.

The explosive passing attack was almost non-existent for the Kansas Citys offense last season, as the Chiefs receivers struggled to create separation down the field.

With the additions of Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy, Mahomes should have ample opportunities to challenge opposing defenses.

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Matt Nagy explains the evolution of Chiefs' deep passing game - Chiefs Wire

Speaking with TVLine, showrunner Erica Messer said of the serial killer: "This season, we get to play into probably his greatest weapon, which is his mind. He gets to really flex that in front of the team. Weve never been able to have a killer in custody like this, somebody that we have to consult with. It is an evolution of what our heroes have had to do in the past."

But how and when can viewers watch the new season in the UK? Read on for everything you need to know about Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2.

While Criminal Minds: Evolution airs on Paramount Plus in the US, with season 2 starting to arrive on Thursday 6th June on that side of the pond, the series instead airs on Disney Plus in the UK.

The episodes are considered as part of the main series of Criminal Minds on the platform, meaning Evolution season 2 will stream as Criminal Minds season 17 in the UK.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, also known as Criminal Minds season 17, will start airing new episodes in the UK on Disney Plus from Friday 14th June 2024.

The first two episodes will arrive at once, while future episodes will then arrive once a week on Fridays, just over a week after each of them arrives on Paramount+ in the US.

The central cast from Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1 are all returning for season 2, while they are also joined by Ryan-James Hatanaka as Tyler Green, who recurred frequently in the previous run but has been made a series regular.

Meanwhile, it has also been announced that Felicity Huffman will be guest starring in the season, playing Dr Jill Gideon, a biological psychiatrist and the ex-wife of Mandy Patinkin's Jason Gideon, who led the first three seasons of Criminal Minds.

Other guest stars for season 2 include Agents of SHIELD's Clark Gregg, whose character is heading up the FBI, Paul F Tompkins, Tuc Watkins and Brian White.

Here's a full list of the main cast for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2:

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You can watch the full length trailer for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 right here now.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 premieres on Disney Plus on Friday 14th June. You can sign up to Disney Plus for 7.99 a month or 79.90 a year now.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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How to watch Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 in the UK - Radio Times

Typically, wed say its difficult to review a season of a show based on only a couple of episodes, but with Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17, we can be pretty confident in saying this ones going to be a wild ride. Admittedly, at least part of our confidence comes from being longtime viewers and knowing this cast is always going to deliver no matter what. On the other hand, its precisely because we know the first 15 seasons procedural formula so well that we can say, without a doubt, that this season totally breaks the mold.

We might have started to play with, or even chip away at, the formula during last seasons Sicarius case. But something about Gold Star just feels like its going to go above and beyond even that. Its actually a positive that, after watching so many procedurals, we truly have no idea where Criminal Minds: Evolution is trying to lead us. The new season certainly lets us know, pretty quickly, that whatever Gold Star refers to, theres some kind of major, high-up connection. And that would kindahave to be true for no spoilers here since both are in the trailer the FBI Director and Voit to get in on the action.

Ok, so. Here are some thoughts:

The first two episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 release on Thursday, June 6 on Paramount+. After that, the remaining episodes in the 10-episode season will release weekly on Thursdays.

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Advance Review: 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Season 17: Gold Star Case Breaks The Mold - Fangirlish

Denmark reached the semi-finals of the previous mens European Championship three years ago, where they took England to extra time, but heading into this summers tournament, several nagging concerns dangle over the heads of coach Kasper Hjulmands charges

Kasper Hjulmand has been in the job almost four years and is now leading Denmark to what will be, slightly surprisingly, their first back-to-back European Championship appearances since they competed in the 2000 and 2004 editions. However, his popularity is on the wane and the mood surrounding him is not what it was back in 2021.

Denmarks progress through to the semi-finals of those Euros certainly occurred under exceptional circumstances following Christian Eriksens cardiac arrest during their opening group match on home turf in Copenhagen, but it also created a swell of goodwill around the team which would actually flow into Danish football as a whole.

Today, nobody doubts Hjulmands ability as a coach, but there is a conversation about whether hes getting the absolute most out of a talented generation. Are older members of the squad being given too much game time? Are their likely successors being afforded too little? And is Hjulmand remaining too loyal to players who are not featuring regularly enough for their clubs?

The situation is hardly toxic nobody is demanding Hjulmand be dismissed but their qualification campaign was hugely uninspiring (there were losses to Kazakhstan and Northern Ireland, though a 2-1 win against San Marino might have been the low point) and concerns over a lack of evolution are beginning to gather pace.

How to follow Euro 2024 onThe Athletic

This should have been Celtics Matt ORiley and his omission will cause some disappointment.

Alexander Sund-Nielsen is an analyst for Copenhagen-based outlet Kvart i Bold. He says of ORiley, who was born in London and qualifies for Denmark via his mother, All we hear is how great hes done at Celtic and theres bewilderment why he hasnt been called up more. He is a good example of someone everyone wants to see in the squad but hasnt been regularly because of the old gang.

ORiley is a really intriguing playmaker and goalscorer, but he did not make the cut. And that does not leave many young players to choose from here. In fact, only two of the 26-man squad are 21 or younger (compared to seven 30 or over, with an eighth leaving his twenties before their first game of the tournament a week on Sunday) and one of those two, Rasmus Hojlund, plays for Manchester United, so hardly counts as an up-and-comer.

There is not a single player from the domestic Superliga, either, so it is difficult to see anyone really emerging under the Euros lights.

Andreas Skov Olsen maybe? He has just completed the most productive season of his career with 34 goal contributions (scoring 26 times in all competitions), reaching double figures for league goals for the first time since arriving at Belgiums Club Bruges in January 2022. He is still 24, which seems strange given how long he has been around.

At his best, theres an ambition and regality to the way Olsen carries possession forward; he is a very optimistic player. He also strikes the ball beautifully with his left foot and has the kind of quality that people can fall for during international tournaments.

The plus side of the continuity for which Hjulmand is criticised is a squad full of players familiar with each other: particularly in defence and midfield. Kasper Schmeichel and Simon Kjaer were doubts for the tournament having withdrawn from recent squads but are in the 26, and there is huge experience elsewhere Joachim Andersen, Joakim Maehle, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Jannik Vestergaard so the Danes will possess a tough centre against group opponents Slovenia, England and Serbia.

In attack, there is probably too much dependence on Hojlund (seven goals in qualifying), who started to score more frequently for United in the second half of his first English season but is still not ready to assume that sort of responsibility at international level.

Another issue is a reliance on players who are not playing regularly for their clubs.

Eriksen, another Dane at Old Trafford, is the obvious one, but Hojbjerg had a peripheral role for Tottenham last season and while he did start to appear in the Premier League more often towards the end of the campaign, Mikkel Damsgaard has also had a couple of disrupted years with Brentford.

Those with long memories will recall Maehle tweeting Vi skal ikke hjem, vi skal videre when Denmark spanked Russia 4-1 in the group stage of the previous Euros three years ago.

And, because of the circumstances around that game and the euphoria it generated, many will also remember the snippet of Danish-language commentary that did the rounds, when the same phrase was used after Andreas Christensens blistering finish to make it 3-1 with 10 minutes to go.

Vi skal ikke hjem, vi skal videre.

So, what does that mean?

Roughly: Were not going home, were going further!

Its a line from a cult Danish 1970s film called The Olsen Gang In Jutland, which is a madcap adventure story about a hunt for gold in Germany after the Second World War which goes repeatedly wrong but carries on regardless. YouTube it. Youll get the picture.

And look out for that one again this summer if the Danes do well again.

Sund-Nielsen says that expectations are more muted now than they were for the World Cup (Qatar 2022 Denmark finished bottom, with one point and one goal, in a group containing France, Australia and Tunisia). Based on the qualification, theres little reason to be overly optimistic. (But) Crashing out in the group will be a disappointing finish. I think the bare minimum expectation is getting out of the group. I dont think anyone expects more than that, to be honest.

So for achievement, theres little expectation. But for the tournament itself, theres a lot of excitement. Qatar was never popular and with Germany so close and beer being allowed theres a whole different excitement about this one. No one is talking about boycotting anymore (as happened in Denmark with Qatar, due to the host nations human-rights record) but just getting excited to spend the summer in Danish shirts. The mood is great although with more pessimism about their performance than weve had in recent tournaments.

Personally, I dont see us as a force to be reckoned with this year. The team needs a new generation of energy and leadership and it will inevitably be something that has to happen after the Euros.

Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel (Anderlecht), Frederik Ronnow (Union Berlin), Mads Hermansen (Leicester City)

Defenders: Andreas Christensen (Barcelona), Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), Jannik Vestergaard (Leicester City), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray), Alexander Bah (Benfica), Joakim Maehle (Wolfsburg), Rasmus Kristensen (Roma), Victor Kristiansen (Leicester City)

Midfielders: Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), Thomas Delaney (Anderlecht), Morten Hjulmand (Sporting Lisbon), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur), Christian Norgaard, Mathias Jensen, Mikkel Damsgaard (all Brentford), Jacob Bruun Larsen (Burnley), Andreas Skov Olsen (Club Bruges)

Forwards: Anders Dreyer, Kasper Dolberg (both Anderlecht), Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United), Jonas Wind (Wolfsburg), Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig).

(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)

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Denmark Euro 2024 squad guide: A lack of evolution fuels doubts hanging over Hjulmand's side - The New York Times

Recent research on stick insects demonstrates that genes related to lost traits may be preserved over evolutionary time scales due to their multiple roles in biological processes, allowing for the potential re-emergence of these traits. This study sheds light on the complex genetics of trait preservation and re-emergence, pointing to broader implications for evolutionary biology.

Traits can disappear through evolution if they become unnecessary or too resource-intensive to sustain. Its commonly thought that the genes associated with these traits will also deteriorate over time, potentially preventing the traits from reappearing. However, there are numerous examples in nature of once-lost traits reappearing in descendent lineages.

According to Giobbe Forni, a Research Fellow at the University of Bologna, Mapping the presence and absence of traits onto a species tree suggests that some traits may have been lost in the lineages leading to extant species and then subsequently reinstated. Wings in stick insects are considered one of the more iconic instances of this evolutionary process.

This suggests that the genes associated with these traits might be conserved, possibly for millions of years. However, there has been limited research on the molecular basis of this re-emergence, which means the mechanisms responsible for preserving these genes remain largely speculative until now.

In a new study published in Genome Biology and Evolution, Forni and his colleagues shed light on another complex trait that has been lost in some stick insectsthe production of males. Loss of the ability to produce males results in populations of only females, which reproduce by parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction. The study reveals that genes that are highly connected in regulatory networks and involved in multiple biological processes may be maintained long after a trait is lost, providing a potential avenue for trait re-emergence over long evolutionary time scales.

A stick bug.

In the new study, Forni and his co-authors Barbara Mantovani, Alexander S. Mikheyev, and Andrea Luchetti performed a comparative analysis of three species of stick insects in the genus Bacillus. While Bacillus grandii marettimi populations are composed of males and females that reproduce sexually, Bacillus atticus populations have lost the ability to produce males, comprising only females that reproduce by parthenogenesis. A third species, Bacillus rossius, includes both sexual populations and parthenogenetic populations that have lost the ability to produce males. By studying the fates of genes involved in male reproduction in these three species, the authors sought to investigate the extent to which genes are preserved after trait loss and the potential mechanisms driving this preservation.

The researchers first identified gene networks whose expression was correlated with either male or female reproduction in the sexual species B. marettimi and then evaluated the same genes in B. atticus and B. rossius. Surprisingly, male-related genes exhibited no signs of weakened selection or accelerated evolution compared with female-related genes in the parthenogenetic species. Furthermore, male-related patterns of gene expression were partially preserved across both parthenogenetic species.

Delving deeper, the researchers found that genes in female-related networks were primarily expressed in female reproductive tissues, while those in male-related networks were expressed in male and female reproductive tissues, including both sexual and parthenogenetic females. This suggests that male-related genes may also play roles in female reproduction. The involvement of a gene in multiple biological processes is known as pleiotropy, and this phenomenon may explain the preservation of male-related genes in these parthenogenetic stick insects, as previously hypothesized.

Photograph of a stick insect. Credit: Filippo Castellucci

Moreover, the authors found that genes that were highly connected to many other genes in the network were more likely to be expressed in the reproductive tissues of parthenogens, suggesting that a genes network connectivity may also influence its gene preservation after trait loss. Taken together, these findings indicate that the molecular ground plan of the once-lost male reproductive process may persist due to pleiotropic effects on other traits, explains Forni. Different genes may undertake different trajectories of preservation and decay depending on the level of pleiotropy within the gene regulatory network.

This study not only sheds light on genetic architecture persistence after trait loss but also offers a potential glimpse into the emergence of rare males and cryptic sex (i.e. episodic generation of males and sexual reproduction), which have been observed in an increasing number of lineages that were thought to have lost the ability to produce males long ago. This opens up new potential avenues for research, with implications that may reach far beyond stick insects.

Looking at how widespread genetic preservation after trait loss is on a larger scale remains fundamental. Although the Bacillus species complex offers a nice framework to address these issues, it would be useful to analyze a larger species complex where multiple transitions between reproductive strategies have occurred, notes Forni. While it is often necessary to rely on model species to discover and dissect biological processes, it is even more important to test our hypotheses in a wider context. This will be possible only if we dedicate more effort to observing and analyzing the amazing diversity of organisms and their intricate adaptations.

Reference: Parthenogenetic Stick Insects Exhibit Signatures of Preservation in the Molecular Architecture of Male Reproduction by Giobbe Forni, Barbara Mantovani, Alexander S Mikheyev and Andrea Luchetti, 4 April 2024, Genome Biology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae073

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Breaking Evolution's Rules: Scientists Uncover Surprising Reemergence of Once-Lost Biological Traits - SciTechDaily

The Big Picture

Great news for fans of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU): Criminal Minds: Evolution has been officially renewed for a third season at Paramount+. This renewal comes just one day before the highly anticipated premiere of Season 2, set to debut with a double episode drop on June 6, followed by new episodes every Thursday. The new season picks up with the BAU diving into the deadly mystery of "Gold Star." As the team unravels the conspiracy, they encounter an unexpected complication when serial killer Elias Voit (played by Zach Gilford) negotiates a deal that brings him into federal custodyright in the BAU's own territory.

The first season ended dramatically with Voit revealing potential knowledge about Gold Star. In a shocking turn, Director Bailey (Nicholas DAgosto) releases Voit, but during a deal attempt, Voit kills Bailey. Now in custody in the FBI building, Voit remains a threat.

Showrunner Erica Messer explained in an interview with TV Line, This season we get to play into probably his greatest weapon, which is his mind. He gets to really flex that in front of the team. Weve never been able to have a killer in custody like this, somebody that we have to consult with. It is an evolution of what our heroes have had to do in the past.

Messer continued, I feel like Elias has a Plan A through Z. We saw in the finale that he had his familys [fake] identities all set up, he was lying to them saying, I got caught up with bad guys, its not that Im a bad guy. That was his plan let me get away and get my family safe and Ill lay low for as long as I possibly can. And then when he realized [the BAU] was closing in on him, thats when he said Gold Star to Doug Bailey.

Season 2 boasts a cast featuring original Criminal Minds stars Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Ryan-James Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster. The season also includes notable guest stars such as Felicity Huffman, who will portray Dr. Jill Gideon, the ex-wife of Mandy Patinkin's character, Jason Gideon. Additional guest stars include Clark Gregg, Liana Liberato, Paul F. Tompkins, Tuc Watkins, and Brian White.

Criminal Minds: Evolution acts as a continuation of the original Criminal Minds series, which enjoyed a successful 15-season run on CBS before concluding in 2020. The first season of Evolution premiered on Paramount+ in 2022, reviving the beloved crime procedural with a fresh twist and darker undertones.

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates and exclusive content on Criminal Minds: Evolution and other Paramount+ series.

A group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) using behavioral analysis and profiling to help investigate crimes and find the suspect known as the unsub.

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'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Gets a Big Update Ahead of Season 2 - Collider