Qataris throw in the towel in the Manchester United bidding bonanza: Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani has reportedly decided to withdraw his USD 6.1 bn offer to fully take over the Red Devils after long negotiations over price, the Associated Press reports, citing an unnamed source with knowledge of the matter. Al Thani’s offer valued the club at nearly double its USD 3.3 bn market price.

Al Thani’s withdrawal now throws the fate of the club’s sale into question: The Glazers — the American family which currently owns the club — are now left with only one publicly announced bidder, British b’naire Jim Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe is reportedly willing to accept an initial minority stake of 25% for an undisclosed investment that would value the club at over USD 6.1 bn, Asharq Business reports, citing unnamed sources it says are close to the matter. The Premier League club has seen bids coming in since the beginning of the year, with US-based hedge fund Elliott Investment Management also getting in on the action earlier this year.

What makes true crime podcasts so comforting for some women? Women falling asleep to stories of stalking, kidnapping, and murder may seem morbid, but experts say it makes sense, according to CNBC. The genre, which describes real criminal cases in detail, is generally popular — it is ranked at the top of Apple and Spotify podcasts. It is also a favorite among a third of polled Americans — but is more popular with women, who are twice as likely to tune in than men. But women’s love for the grotesque is not a new trend — historically, over two-thirds of crime fiction readers have been women.

It’s about control and preparation, not sadism. Women make up 60% of victims of murder by a familiar person (whether an acquaintance or a family member) — so why do they enjoy tales of violent crimes? It may be a coping mechanism. Awareness that they make up the vast majority of murder victims means that women’s anxiety still spikes while they listen to details of the crimes, but doing so allows them to confront the fear in a controlled environment. An associate professor of psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University interviewed by CNBC believes that many women also find these podcasts educational, and that by learning the pitfalls that lead to victimhood, they might be able to stop it from happening to themselves.

The narration also helps. True crime podcast hosts often speak in softer and calmer voices than those presenting more upbeat shows, making the genre a prime candidate for people looking to wind down. The lulling timbre may be a comforting background noise for someone drifting off. Another source of comfort may lie in knowing that the case was solved, providing closure, and reassurance that the perpetrator was persecuted, promoting a sense of safety.

Just a quick wardrobe change: Adobe rolled out previews of new experimental technology, including the high-tech Project Primrose, a dress with an interactive digital display (watch, runtime: 3:18). The dress can display different patterns and images through a programmable screen that can be changed with the touch of a button or a specific movement of the dress. Adobe has previously introduced the “smart fabric display” technology, but its previous demonstrations were limited to flat surfaces and small handbags, the Verge notes.

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