A whole political and cultural era is passing, and who better than the Duchess of Sussex as a symbol of all we have left behind

Are peonies a life philosophy? Are “life philosophies” even philosophy? I have to hold on to the idea that they aren’t, even in the face of a decade or so of Instagram blitzkrieg, most currently in the form of Duchess Meghan’s eight-part new TV show, which dropped on Netflix first thing this morning. With Love, Meghan seems to have migrated fully formed from Mark Zuckerberg’s social media platform on to Ted Sarandos’s streaming service, powered by the hashtags that bypass the need for joined-up sentences, let alone thinking. Or as Her Grace explains: “Everyone’s invited to create wonder in every moment.” This is an offer not even promised by most major religions.

The mildest way to describe this show is as a ghastly artefact of a particular cultural era that recently met its apocalypse. But more on that later. To anyone who says, “It’s just meant to be fun”: bullshit. Netflix reportedly paid $100m (£78m) to Prince Harry and the manic pixie dream duchess for an overall deal, so for the streamer it’s meant to make back at least a small amount of the big amount of money they’ve lost, when audiences failed to connect with the Sussex-authored documentaries about global justice activists and polo. For Meghan, it’s supposed to assist her transformation into domestic guru. If you don’t mind arching an eyebrow at the lifestyle lunacies of fellow Montecito resident Gwyneth Paltrow, then at least have some consistency and give yourself a pass on this one. This show is sensationally absurd and trite, and if you watch it, you know it.

Country’s government says deal with TSMC needs assessment as opposition claims it will reduce defences

• Business live – latest updates

Taiwan’s government has promised its most advance semiconductor technology will not be moved to the US under a new $100bn (£79bn) deal signed between the chip maker TSMC and Donald Trump, amid accusations that it is allowing the island’s national security to be undermined.

The government said the deal must still go through government assessments, which would take into account the interests of the country as well as investors.

After three consecutive years of growth, viewership fell this year after 2024’s Barbenheimer buzz

Viewership for the telecast of this year’s Oscars ceremony was down 7% from 2024, according to figures from Nielsen.

After three consecutive years of growth, viewership slipped to just over 18m in the US, across network ABC and the Oscars’ new online partner, Hulu – whose stream was dogged by problems.

Financial implications of losing Championship status are stark for Portsmouth, Sheffield United and Blackburn

Hundreds of youngsters rush down to the front row of the Tony Currie Stand as the final whistle sounds at a sun-soaked Bramall Lane, eagerly clamouring for autographs from the Sheffield United Women’s players. They plead at the top of their voices to be the recipient of a Sheffield United shirt that is going to be presented to a lucky fan by the men’s team manager, Chris Wilder, who has also been watching from the stands. Looking at the grins on the faces of most of the 3,754 attendees, they had a great afternoon out. On the pitch, however, a scene of red and white dejection tells a different story.

Sheffield United’s head coach, Ash Thompson, and his staff have troubled expressions on their faces while some players have sunk to the ground after a 2-0 defeat against Portsmouth leaves them one point above the Championship relegation zone with five games of the season remaining. Portsmouth, who are bottom, are beside themselves after finally securing their first win of the campaign, hugging, beaming and dancing in front of their travelling supporters, with hope in their eyes 10 months after their last league win.

Imani Perry’s Black in Blues traces the ways blue is woven through Black history, from Miles Davis to Toni Morrison

What makes blue Black?

In her latest book, Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, the scholar and writer Imani Perry traces the spanning, interdisciplinary connection between the color blue and the Black diaspora.