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Gunners slip to meek 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage ‘What happened today, it cannot happen again’ Mikel Arteta bemoaned Arsenal’s meek New Year’s Eve 2-1 defeat at Fulham as the club’s worst performance of the season, warning that they will come nowhere near challenging for the title if they repeat it. From their position at the top of the table a few weeks before Christmas, Arsenal have now dropped 11 points in their past five games, leaving them in fourth place at the turn of the year. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bP36DSX

Luke ‘the Nuke’ tipped to be Lionel Messi of darts as he reaches quarter-final on way to £500,000 prize On Saturday night, as the 16-year-old darts sensation Luke “the Nuke” Littler surged to an easy win over one of the game’s greatest ever players, a TV commentator remarked: “It’s almost as if the kebab shop is closing at 10 and he’s rushing to get there on time.” The Warrington teenager is known for celebrating wins with a takeaway and was landing repeated 180s as he swatted aside Raymond van Barneveld, who had won several world titles before Littler was even born. There was something paternal about how the older champion congratulated the rising star. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vczMXo9

The Magpies manager needs results but his side face Liverpool, City and Villa in the league – and Sunderland in the FA Cup When results go awry, football clubs tend to have only one response. Sometimes the act is undertaken with a sense of ruthlessness, sometimes relief, sometimes with the dutiful sombreness of somebody taking a faithful labrador to the vet for the final time, but always there is a feeling of necessity. “I’m sorry, Nigel/Antonio/Steve, but there’s no other way.” Inevitably, though, the result is the same: whatever is going wrong at the club, however good a job has been done before, the manager is the one who takes the blame. That is just the nature of the modern game. Managers may just about be given time to work their way through a dip, but nobody ever sees the other side of a slough. Which should concern Eddie Howe. Newcastle are in a dip at the moment, the Christmas defeats by Luton and Nottingham Forest meaning they have lost eight of their last 12 games. They a...

2nd ODI: Australia, 8-258, beat India, 8-255, by three runs Annabel Sutherland’s late wickets seal dramatic series win Australia absorbed Deepti Sharma’s historic five-wicket haul and Richa Ghosh’s batting masterclass to notch a nailbiting, series-clinching three-run win over India in the second women’s one-day international in Mumbai. After a bungling, butterfingered fielding display from India allowed Australia to post eight for 258, the hosts looked well on track in their reply at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) before faltering late to finish on eight for 255. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/YobVBwO

Galatasaray and Fenerbahce were set to play in Riyadh on Friday Tribute to founder of modern Turkey was reportedly rejected The Turkish Super Cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce scheduled to be played in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, on Friday was postponed over what the clubs have described as “some problems” in the event’s organisation. At the heart of those issues, according to media reports, was the wish of the two teams to wear T-shirts featuring the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during the warm-up before the evening kick-off. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/LoIR2VA

A charismatic performer and fine composer who played a key role in the development of bossa nova The singer, composer and guitarist Carlos Lyra, who has died aged 90, played a key role in the development of bossa nova, the “new wave” in Brazilian music of the late 1950s. This cool, sophisticated fusion of samba-canção (samba song), jazz and western classical influences emerged from the bars and clubs of Rio de Janeiro to become massively popular in the US and around the world. Unlike many other early bossa heroes, Lyra was both a charismatic performer and a fine songwriter, known for his exquisite melodies. He was also determined to bring a political edge into a style associated with gently languid songs about young women and sunshine. Interviewed for the BBC series Brasil, Brasil in 2007, he told me that bossa was “the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie … something that came from the middle class for the middle class”. And this was something that he was determined to change. Continu...

Updates as all 24 Championship clubs play on a packed night Any comments? Feel free to email Dominic Half time: Southampton 0-0 Plymouth. Wigan v Carlisle is about to kick off. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ay3pES8

Nicolás Maduro orders ‘defensive’ manoeuvres as British Navy deploys vessel in territorial dispute Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro has ordered more than 5,600 military personnel to participate in “defensive” exercises, after the UK deployed a warship to waters off the coast of Guyana in a show of support for the former British colony. Maduro said he was launching an action “of a defensive nature in response to the provocation and threat of the UK against peace and the sovereignty of our country”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/lUaJbnZ

French goalkeeper to end 11-and-a-half-year stay at club Lloris has been on fringes under Ange Postecoglou Hugo Lloris is primed to end his storied 11-and-a-half-year Tottenham career with a free transfer to Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer. The French goalkeeper will go with something of a whimper having endured a spell on the fringes at Spurs. Yet there is no doubt about his status as one of the most important figures in the club’s modern history. Captain for the previous eight seasons, he made 447 appearances in all competitions and has an extensive catalogue of outstanding performances. Lloris’s chief regret, apart from the way he is set to slip out of the exit door without fanfare, will be his failure to win a trophy with Spurs. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/mZclhMS

Wellwishers are asked to plant flowers in Birmingham-born poet’s name or donate to Vegan Society or Inquest Benjamin Zephaniah was laid to rest at a private funeral on Thursday. The Birmingham-born British poet and campaigner died on 7 December aged 65 and had been diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly before his death . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rOZCoHd

Slashing the headline rate may offer short-term gains, but the responsible route may be better bet for Jeremy Hunt Since the summer, there have been rumours that the government is looking to cut inheritance tax. The prospect of an early election has only heightened speculation that this is coming in the March budget. While commentators and pundits argue over the question of whether or not a cut is coming, they miss the more important question: how would an inheritance tax cut be made? When he stands up on 6 March, Jeremy Hunt will have two options for how he could make such a cut. The first, reported to be popular on the right of the party, is simply to cut the headline rate. Arun Advani is an associate professor of economics at the University of Warwick and a research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/F3raNsy

Premier League updates from the 7.30pm GMT kick-off Live scoreboard | The latest Premier League table Drop Michael an email or tweet @michaelbutler18 Gary Naylor has sent in an email. “In a parallel universe... We cannot put too much pressure but we need this type of quality. We have a young team. In time we will find the right balance. At the moment is a tough period. But we need to stay positive.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/DlA3mg1

Premier League updates from the 8.15pm GMT kick-off Live scoreboard | And feel free to drop Will an email Neither No 9 starts as Haaland is still sidelined through injury, while Calvert-Lewin is on the bench for Everton. I would argue that is a bigger blow to Everton that City. Everton (4-5-1): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gomes, Onana, Garner, McNeil; Beto. Subs: Virginia, Keane, Calvert-Lewin, Danjuma, Godfrey, Coleman, Chermiti, Hunt, Dobbin Man City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Akanji, Ake; Rodri, Silva, Nunes; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish. Subs: Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Kovacic, Gomez, Gvardiol, Bobb, Susoho, Lewis, Hamilton Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/S3LQYHV

English player references ‘two world wars and one World Cup’ Williams beat Germany’s Martin Schindler 4-3 in third round Scott Williams has sparked controversy at the PDC world darts championship by referring to “two world wars and one World Cup” after his third-round victory over Germany’s Martin Schindler. Williams won a thrilling encounter by four sets to three as the tournament resumed at London’s Alexandra Palace after its Christmas break. The qualifier fought back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to win the deciding set amid a raucous atmosphere – but it was his post-match interview that caught wider attention. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/e2cVvgH

Jarrett Stidham to start final two games of the season QB is being shut down to avoid an injury guarantee in his contract The Denver Broncos are benching Russell Wilson in favor of backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham this week against the Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN reported on Wednesday. While that report indicates a performance move, dueling reports from NFL Network and Pro Football Talk said on Wednesday that the Broncos are giving serious thought to shutting Wilson down for the final two games to avoid injury, given his contract situation. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/GfkJvth

Our cartoonist on those who left a mark on the game in the past year. And, yes, he did have to work hard to cut his list down Like what David does? Consider supporting our journalism Get yourself a copy of a cartoon in the Guardian Print Store Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/oMkOUCm

Updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off at Old Trafford Live scoreboard: all today’s results and latest scores Get in touch: drop Barry an email with your thoughts Those teams: Manchester United have made four changes to the team that lost against West Ham last time out. Diogo Dalot returns from suspension and lines up at left-back in place of Luke Shaw, who is injured. Raphael Varane returns from illness in place of Willy Kambala, whilie Antony is dropped to the bench, with Marcus Rashford coming in as United look for their first goal in four games. Christian Eriksen starts for the first time since getting injured in mid-November and replaces Scott McTominay in midfield. Unai Emery makes two changes from the VIlla side that drew with Sheffield United. Diego Carlos comes in at centre-back, with Ezri Konsa likely to move to right-back as cover for the suspended Matty Cash. Leander Dendoncker starts in midfield, in place of Moussa Diaby. Continue reading... from The Guardian https:/...

Pop superstar watches Chiefs play Raiders at Arrowhead Raiders v Chiefs opens NFL triple-header on Christmas Day Pop superstar Taylor Swift walked into Arrowhead Stadium alongside Santa Claus on Monday to watch her boyfriend and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce as they played the Las Vegas Raiders in a Christmas Day showdown. Swift and Kelce have become one of the hottest celebrity couples in the world since they began dating early in the season, and the 12-time Grammy Award-winner has watched her boyfriend numerous times at Arrowhead Stadium. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ktRAHLp

Ncuti Gatwa makes a delightful full appearance as the Doctor in a fun-packed extravaganza. He oozes charisma, flits from charming to serious in the blink of an eye – and saves Davina McCall’s life Not many people will have had “Jabba the Hutt Goblin King gets impaled on a church spire and Doctor Who generates a Christmas single about eating a baby” on their bingo cards for 2023, but that is exactly where we find ourselves after this joyful introduction to the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). From the preview clips of him dancing in a kilt in a club, you might have thought Gatwa’s Doctor was going to be a very different proposition to what has gone before. But across this special, he showed he has everything he needs to be a charismatic and defining Doctor for the second Russell T Davies (RTD) era. Whether representing the gin-and-tonic division of health and safety, bounding across roofs, showing off his mavity gloves, or telling a policem...

Rangers beat Motherwell 2-0 at a wet and wild Fir Park, and with victory returned to touching distance of the Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic. Kieran Dowell started and finished the move for the opening goal in the fourth minute before Todd Cantwell fired in a second after 16 minutes of a first half which should have brought more goals. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/XG97UKO

Ten Hag: ‘The players on the pitch are good enough’ David Moyes says West Ham ‘making pretty good strides’ Erik ten Hag insisted he can turn Manchester United’s season around after they fell to an insipid 2-0 defeat at West Ham at the London Stadium. United, who have lost 13 times in all competitions this season, dropped to eighth in the Premier League after another blunt display. They have not scored in four consecutive games and their £72m striker, Rasmus Højlund, was substituted in the 57th minute, but Ten Hag pointed to injuries when he was asked about his future. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/BKzJbZO

Man City 4-0 Fluminense (Álvarez 1 88, Nino 27og, Foden 72) Guardiola’s men prove too strong for Copa Libertadores holders This was the chance of a lifetime and Manchester City grasped it, completing their week in Saudi Arabia with a second straightforward win to sit atop the globe and grasp the Club World Cup. Perhaps it was fitting that Julián Álvarez, a star in becoming a champion with Argentina a year ago, began and finished what ended up as a lesson in control against the Brazilian side Fluminense. A moment like this might never come again, Pep Guardiola had cautioned; City met it and have now completed the full house of major trophies that rubber-stamps their era of dominance. An own goal by Nino and a close-range finish by Phil Foden were bookended by Álvarez’s contributions and the only sour note, as City sought to celebrate after full-time, was a bizarre on-pitch confrontation between players and officials from both sides. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://...

Research carried out on pigs showed they ate almost 40% less food after ingesting the capsule Dieters everywhere know that, no matter how inventive a chef you may be, nothing leaves you buzzing like sugary or fatty food. Now science might have the answer: a vibrating pill, swallowed before eating, that creates feelings of fullness. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/9fxBltn

Police chief says ‘premeditated violent attack’ at Charles University appears to have been inspired by massacres abroad A student at Prague’s Charles University shot and killed more than 15 people and injured 24 others, nine of them seriously, before being found dead, in what is believed to be the worst mass shooting in the Czech Republic’s modern history. The city’s police chief, Martin Vondrášek, told a press briefing on Thursday evening that the death toll may rise further, adding that the shooting had been “a premeditated violent attack”, apparently inspired by similar massacres abroad. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/osK3mkG

Department announces increase to £29,000 with no timeline given for planned rise to £38,700 Ministers have rowed back on plans to hike the earning threshold Britons need to bring foreign family members to live in the UK to £38,700. Instead, the government has confirmed plans to increase the threshold to £29,000 in the spring. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3CAE0rI

Sniffing emotional tears from women can cut male aggression by more than 40% and cause changes in brain Human tears carry a substance that dampens down aggression, according to researchers, who believe the drops may have evolved over time to protect wailing babies from harm. Sniffing emotional tears from women reduced male aggression by more than 40% in computerised tests, and prompted corresponding changes in the brain, though the scientists behind the study think all human tears would have a similar effect. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/O5Tdh8F

Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zITtrGW

League Cup updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off at Anfield Live scoreboard | And feel free to drop Scott an email Liverpool make six changes to the starting XI sent out for the dull goalless draw with Manchester United. Caoimhín Kelleher, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott come in for Ibrahima Konaté, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah, who are on the bench, and the rested pair of Alisson and Ryan Gravenberch. West Ham also make six changes to their starting line-up, in the wake of their 3-0 win over Wolves. Alphonse Areola, Angelo Ogbonna, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Ben Johnson, Pablo Fornals and Saïd Benrahma replace Łukasz Fabiański, Kurt Zouma, James Ward-Prowse, Emerson and Lucas Paquetá, who are benched, with Nayef Aguerd missing out altogether. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0o7dXEm

Demonstrations demanding safe return of hostages, and accidental deaths of three Israeli hostages have not dampened mood for continued ground assault in Gaza Friday nights in many parts of Israel are quiet; during Shabbat, there is no public transport, and more observant Jewish believers refrain from using electricity or doing anything that could resemble work. The 24 hours of rest is often spent at home with family. Last Friday, however, about 1,000 people took the rare step of protesting on the streets of Tel Aviv after nightfall, after the news that three Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip had been shot dead by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fItzckZ

At the liaison committee, the PM is shocked to learn nobody else realises just how well everything is going It’s a Christmas miracle. Thank the Lord. Just over a week ago at the Covid inquiry, Rishi Sunak was struck down with near total amnesia . He really couldn’t remember a thing. Who he was, what he was doing. Not even if he had even been present. It could have been a doppelganger throughout the pandemic. On Tuesday lunchtime, though, there were clear signs of improvement. Not total, mind. That will take time. But certainly glimpses of a partial recovery. At one point he could even locate two warships in the Red Sea. Though mostly he chose to answer the questions he wished he had been asked. The ones for which he had prepared. Spontaneity is still well beyond him. Small steps and all that. Depraved New World by John Crace (Guardian Faber, £16.99). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy and save 18% at guardianbookshop.com . Delivery charges may apply. Continue rea...

PM seemed outraged to be asked questions about a peer and PPE after visit to Italy and Giorgia Meloni Rishi Sunak hadn’t felt this loved up since his early days with Akshata. He’d only gone to the Brothers of Italy convention in Rome out of curiosity and to return a favour. Giorgia Meloni had been the only world leader to make the effort to turn up to his spectacularly pointless AI summit in Bletchley. The one where he had come to the stunning conclusion that AI could be both good and bad. You can’t buy that level of insight. Thankfully. What he hadn’t expected was an instant attraction. The connection that comes between soulmates. For the first time in ages, Rish! felt truly seen. Truly heard. He felt complete. Someone with whom he could share his innermost fascisty thoughts without fear of being judged. Who would listen to his dreams of sending refugees to Rwanda and make them her own. By the end of the weekend they had had no need of a verbal language. Their minds and bodies were ...

The idea that executive pay should reflect American remuneration to help retention has no basis in reality The unofficial – but determined – campaign to allow FTSE 100 chief executives to be handed US-style megabucks pay packages has a new pin-up. He is the familiar figure of Michael O’Leary of Ryanair, who isn’t running a Footsie company but is on course for a blowout bonus that, the megabucks lobbyists will argue, demonstrates the case for incentivising bosses with even bigger financial carrots. O’Leary is looking good for a €100m bonus under a 2019 scheme that required the airline’s share price to head to the moon, which it is almost doing to the necessary degree. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/4FHVrGY

England and West Indies have both gone for all-out attack in what has become a wonderfully entertaining gung-ho confrontation Three games in, and there has been something of the Wild West (Indies) about this series. Games have been chaotic and entertaining, characterised by reputations being made and ruined, by those with a wayward aim being punished in duel after duel, by people being trigger-happy with their six-shooters, by the sight of innocent bystanders ducking for cover. And as for England, well, there’s a new sheriff in town. Two and a half years after his international debut, after 19 one-day internationals and precisely as many Twenty20s, three months after he was left out of a World Cup squad and two after the England and Wales Cricket Board announced a fresh list of centrally contracted players without him on it, Phil Salt has established himself as a key member of this white-ball side. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/A5lwgj7

Anfield held harrowing recent memories for Manchester United but Erik ten Hag’s side returned to the scene of last season’s crime to blunt Liverpool with an unexpected show of defiance. Jürgen Klopp disliked the pre-match talk of another Liverpool landslide; he will have liked the eventual outcome even less. Liverpool’s run of 11 straight home wins this season was halted by a resolute United performance in front of Anfield’s biggest crowd for over half a century. The extra 7,000 seats in the upper tier of the new Anfield Road stand merely increased the frustration among the home crowd as Klopp’s side squandered the chance to return to the Premier League summit. Diogo Dalot was dismissed in the 94th minute for two stupid shows of dissent in quick succession but Liverpool lacked the composure or time to inflict fresh torment on their great rivals. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rafjck1

Run of seconds at Cheltenham ends for trainer ‘He’s a brilliant horse to ride,’ says Gavin Sheehan For all but the final half-second of the December Gold Cup on Saturday, it seemed Richard Hobson’s long litany of frustrations at the home of jumping would extend into the new year. He arrived with a 0-43 record at Cheltenham that included four runners-up from his past five starters and 11 second-place finishes in all – but left as the happiest trainer in Gloucestershire thanks to Fugitif’s last-gasp success in the day’s feature race. Even Gavin Sheehan, Fugitif’s jockey, thought he was booked for second at best as they came down the hill still well adrift of a strong pace, which had been set from the off by Frero Banbou and Il Ridoto. Mid-race, it was hard to believe either horse would last home, but while Frero Banbou gave way in the straight it was clear as Il Ridoto jumped the last that Bryony Frost, his rider, had judged the fractions almost to perfection. Continue reading... ...

Early responses to the Prince Harry verdict suggest that lessons have not been learned How a crisis in the British press is reported is often the best way of judging how the industry hopes to deal with it. And Saturday’s coverage of Prince Harry’s £140,600 in damages after winning his phone hacking case suggests business as usual. This is not only disappointing for all of us who believe in the power of British journalism, but disastrous for the industry itself. All but one national newspaper either left the story off its front page altogether, or offered the view that, while Harry might have scored a partial victory against Mirror Group Newspapers, he was still a liar, according to Piers Morgan, the former editor criticised in the judgment. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/dg75Mvm

Premier League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off Live scoreboard | Latest tables | And feel free to mail Luke “ My thoughts: I prefer Cloughie’s single breasted to Tel’s double effort,” emails Jeremy Boyce. “Does anyone know whose idea it was to hold hands ? Too late to ask them now. Shell suit tops and skimpy shorts, Stuart Pearce’s thighs. Forest may be riding low by today’s comparison, but will Spurs ever win a European Cup/Champions League ? Never mind two on the bounce.” Unless my memory is playing tricks on me, I remember the holding-hands being discussed during the live coverage on the day, I think both managers were asked about it. As I remember it, Clough just did it instinctively when they were walking out, and Venables was happy to go with it. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fIx2NB1

Hungary’s Viktor Orbán has blocked aid for now, but the decision to begin membership negotiations should be celebrated When tens of thousands of lives have been lost, and Ukrainians remain under Russian occupation or assault, it seems perverse to focus on symbolism. The harsh reality is that the country faces another cold, bleak winter, locked in a military stalemate, with more wounded soldiers and grieving families. It needs massive material support to continue its fight. Yet the EU’s agreement to open membership talks with Ukraine – and Moldova – on Thursday is nonetheless welcome and important. While the path to accession is in reality long and winding, this decision reaffirms solidarity with Kyiv. Volodymyr Zelenskiy greeted it as a triumph for both his country and Europe: “A victory that motivates, inspires, and strengthens.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zFnNOui

Soaring violence is creating an explosive situation that can only be peacefully defused with a just political solution The scale and sheer horror of the war in Gaza has rightly captured the world’s attention. But surging violence in the occupied West Bank should sound the alarm too. Last year was the bloodiest since 2005. This year is worse. Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, has called the situation “potentially explosive”, warning of the intensification of violence and severe discrimination against Palestinians. According to UN data , more than 450 have been killed by Israeli security forces or settlers this year, the majority following the Hamas massacre on 7 October. Twenty-eight Israelis in the West Bank have been killed by Palestinians in 2023. Raids on the Jenin refugee camp continued on Thursday, with a densely packed population living in fear and with access to healthcare severely affected, according to charities. Such operations have repeatedly led to the deaths of ci...

The agreement on fossil fuel phase-out is full of loopholes, but those of us fighting for climate justice won’t give up As Cop28 ended after 14 gruelling days, many people were clutching at straws and looking for meaning in the mere mention in the text of a transition from fossil fuels . There will be headlines talking about what huge progress it is simply to say this – even without any requirement for real action. This would have been very welcome 20 or even 10 years ago, but it wasn’t the gamechanger needed to prevent climate catastrophe, to end the era of deadly fossil fuels, or to save the north star of 1.5C . To claim that it is a triumph, or anything even close to that, is simply a lie. Asad Rehman is executive director of War on Want Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/X9JjqzA

Texas mother sued to obtain procedure after learning of non-viable pregnancy, but state supreme court overruled decision A Texas woman fled her home state to obtain an abortion after Texas’s top court ruled last week that she cannot terminate her non-viable pregnancy despite risks to her life and future fertility. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/LeySQnz

The Tory splits over lockdown were shallower and less treacherous than on immigration. But ominously they run along similar lines In the past decade, Nigel Farage has traumatised the Conservative party and transformed it for the worse. His suggestion that he could return to politics after his stint on reality TV will trigger paroxysms of Tory despair. The prospect of the former Brexit party leader’s comeback only emphasises that Rishi Sunak is fighting for his political life after his party’s civil war restarted over immigration. The prime minister’s appearance at the Covid inquiry is unlikely to help much. His flagship scheme to boost the restaurant industry after the first lockdown was known in Whitehall as “ eat out to help out the virus ”. The Tory splits over shutting down the country were shallower and less treacherous than on immigration, which has replaced Europe as the party’s great division . But they run along similar lines, with each side having their own facts...

Atlético beat Almería to move up to third in La Liga Leverkusen held to draw but extend Bundesliga lead The La Liga game between Granada and Athletic Bilbao was abandoned after a supporter died having suffered a cardiac arrest in the stands, both clubs said. The game was initially suspended in the 17th minute as paramedics tried to resuscitate the fan and it was eventually abandoned an hour later. The date for the resumption of the match, in which Bilbao were leading 1-0 following a goal by Inaki Williams in the sixth minute, will be announced soon, La Liga said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/mKUVpZa

Spurs coach played for the Hungarian great at South Melbourne in the 90s while picking up his attacking ethos on the way Ange Postecoglou turned to his father. “Get off the pitch,” he said, “you’re going to get arrested.” It was 1991 and South Melbourne had just beaten Melbourne Croatia to win the NSL Grand Final. It had been an exhausting, ridiculous game. Melbourne Croatia had finished top of the regular-season table, had been the better side on the day, had taken the lead, had seemed to be on their way to the title, only to concede in the 88th minute. South Melbourne had missed three penalties in the shootout. Melbourne Croatia twice had kicks for the match. Postecoglou had to convert the fifth penalty to keep his side in it. And in sudden death, South Melbourne had won it. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7o6aq5G

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy slams Israeli ‘death and destruction’ and urges UK travel ban on violent settlers • Read more: Labour will oppose expulsions of Palestinians and bar violent settlers from UK The Labour party today delivers its strongest criticism of Israel over its attacks on Palestinians, describing the death and destruction in Gaza over the past two months as “intolerable” and attacking two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers for “totally unacceptable” support of illegal settlements in the West Bank. In a sharp change of tone, David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, with the full backing of party leader Keir Starmer, attacks the Israeli authorities for “turning a blind eye” to violence by settlers in the West Bank, which has “forcibly displaced” more than 1,000 Palestinians from their homes since the attacks on Israel by Hamas on 7 October . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Y2yAPuE

Police say 13 protesters arrested during march from Bank Junction to Parliament Square Israel-Hamas war – live updates Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered in Parliament Square, London, on Saturday to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The protesters marched from Bank Junction to Westminster, with many holding signs with the words “Free Palestine” and “End the siege”. Some protesters chanted: “One, two, three, four, occupation no more, five, six, seven, eight, Israel is a terrorist state.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/chbGuIP

Health board launches investigation after family forced to hold second funeral service after hospital in Cwmbran, south Wales, told them of its mistake An investigation has been launched after a family cremated the wrong body due to a mix-up at a hospital in Wales. An NHS board has apologised over the incident in which relatives held a funeral service after being given the body of a different person, who is not believed to have any surviving family members. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ME1WpuP

You can sympathise with the country’s desire to crush Hamas, and yet fear it is taking the wrong path in Gaza When will it end? Some ask that question in despair, willing an end to the pictures of crushed buildings and destroyed lives, the succession of bleak images that come out of Gaza every day. Some ask the question to exert pressure, with the UN security council debating a call for a ceasefire today. Others wonder if the answer rests on Washington, detecting a new urgency in secretary of state Antony Blinken’s repeated call for Israel to close the “gap” between its declared intention to protect civilians and “ the actual results that we’re seeing on the ground ”. Put the question to senior military figures, Israeli and American, as I’ve done this week, and you hear a variety of responses. Some predict an end to the current intensity of bombardment in days, others talk in weeks. But the more fruitful question might not be when, but why. Why is the fighting still going on, even no...

Effective governance of Britain’s nuclear industry is critical to saving a hazardous industry from itself There will be many reasons why Britain’s energy secretary, Claire Coutinho, went public with her unease about “ serious and concerning ” allegations raised by the Guardian this week over cybersecurity, site safety and a “toxic” workplace culture in Sellafield. There was the “ longstanding nature ” of the matters in question, raising questions over the site’s management. Neighbouring governments have had serious concerns. The plant holds enough plutonium to potentially make thousands of atomic bombs of the size that obliterated Japan’s Nagasaki in 1945. By asking for assurances from its state-controlled owner and its regulator, Ms Coutinho emphasises that effective governance of Britain’s nuclear industry is a critical issue. This is a sensible response to these scandals. The cabinet minister is right to publicise her concerns about a hazardous industry that can infl...

Nothing in the former prime minister’s record or his testimony so far suggests he is a reliable witness or capable of genuine contrition Boris Johnson’s testimony to the Covid inquiry on Wednesday began with an apology to victims of the pandemic and their relatives, but when pressed to specify what he was apologising for, the former prime minister could not say. That tension between affected sincerity and evasion of responsibility characterised Mr Johnson’s appearance. The function of the inquiry is not to solicit contrition but to establish facts. That task is hampered in Mr Johnson’s case by the disappearance of thousands of WhatsApp messages dating from the crucial period in early 2020 when vital decisions were being taken – or not taken. Mr Johnson’s explanation for this gap in the record was too garbled to be convincing. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/4s2xnFN

Codebreaker at Bletchley Park during the second world war who translated Adolf Hitler’s will and later became a journalist Rena Stewart, who has died aged 100, worked at the Bletchley Park codebreaking centre during the second world war and subsequently helped to interrogate German intelligence officers. She also translated Adolf Hitler’s will, before going on to become a pioneering female journalist with the BBC. Stewart studied French and German at the University of St Andrews before joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the female equivalent of the army, and in early 1944 she was posted to Bletchley Park. Her fluency in German led to her being put to work in a small sub-section of Bletchley’s book room, where deciphered German army and air force messages were collated in book form to provide reference documents for long-term intelligence analysis. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/KZSY4jC

This malign deportation scheme is a distraction from years of broken pledges Suella Braverman wasn’t sacked from her post as home secretary three weeks ago because of her zeal in promoting the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda – a policy she once described as her “dream”. It was an intemperate attack she made on the police in the Times that led to her dismissal by the prime minister she had defied in making it. But anyone who thought – or hoped – that her replacement by James Cleverly would bring an end to this vicious, wrong-headed policy was mistaken. Rishi Sunak’s government remains wedded to its project of sending asylum seekers from all over the world to central Africa. To that end, Mr Cleverly travelled to Kigali on Tuesday and signed a treaty with the Rwandan government. Last month, the UK supreme court ruled that the existing deal, based on a memorandum rather than a treaty, is illegal. A new monitoring committee to oversee the arrangements for detainees, and an appe...

People are not even safe in Rafah as Israeli bombardment spreads across the south of the Gaza Strip, and living conditions are described as desperate Israel-Hamas war – live updates Palestinians across Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis fled an increasingly fierce Israeli bombardment to try to find shelter in the southernmost city of Rafah, with many evacuating on foot to an area already overcrowded and also being hit by airstrikes. “The Israeli air and artillery bombardment on the city of Khan Younis over the past two days has been relentless, particularly last night,” said 23-year-old Batoul, who asked not to give her family name for security reasons. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/79rpTGj

In a game that was akin to a breathless five a-side, Manchester City slipped from mastering Tottenham to a sloppiness that should infuriate Pep Guardiola. Dejan Kulusevski was the visitors’ hero. As this helter-skelter contest neared added time, Brennan Johnson skated along the left and popped the ball into City’s area and the No 21 – via what looked a shoulder – beat Ederson to make it 3-3. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0ncVWYa

Following Nigel Harman’s shock late withdrawal, the remaining couples take on Musicals Week. Whose dancing will be dirty? Whose will be Wicked? And will anyone leave this weekend? Well, he’d never been in the dance-off. Nigel and Katya have twice been left in the bottom two on the judges’ scoreboard, including after last week’s rumba, but were saved both times by the viewer vote. Mini-Den from EastEnders/Dr Max from Casualty (delete according to your taste in serial drama) is clearly popular with voting viewers. With his stage experience, Musicals Week played to his strength, I suspect he would’ve been knocked out before the final but now we’ll never know. A huge shame. After three months of hard work, he must be gutted to pull out just a fortnight short of the final. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/W87HLXl

A ‘highly naturalised’ assumption within many families about who will care for ageing parents can be a vexed issue for the daughters left carrying the load Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email I think of Clarice Beckett often. Not so much for the early 20th century painter’s exquisite, misty seaside landscapes. Instead I think of Beckett because she was a single childless woman upon whom the burden of care for elderly parents fell. Beckett, considered by some to be Australia’s greatest female artist, lived with her parents for her entire adult life and, as they grew frailer and sicker, her days were increasingly consumed with housekeeping and nursing duties. To hold on to her own life and purpose, she would leave the family’s bayside Melbourne home at dawn to paint , return for a day of chores, then at dusk venture out again, trundling her painting trolley. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/t0HTPq8

Saracens 12-18 Northampton Late Lewington try gives hosts hope but Saints hold firm Around this time last year, Northampton surrendered a big lead in the final quarter to lose yet again at Saracens. This time, they did not. Saracens found themselves in the news this week, not for the usual excellence of their play, but the decision of their – and England’s – captain, Owen Farrell, to step away from the international game for a while. If this performance was anything to go by, Farrell’s presence is more important to the teams he plays in than his bewildering number of critics might realise. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/RMQcJk8

Sharing walls or floors in apartment buildings means sharing noise, but it doesn’t have to lead to conflict Six years ago, in the haze of new motherhood, Adrianne Wright found herself facing an unexpected problem: a disgruntled neighbor. Her daughter had been born nine weeks premature. “There was a lot going on, understandably, from getting used to this new chapter to dealing with some of the health complications that she was experiencing, with […] noisy machines at home to monitor breathing.” The last thing Wright, the founder of the communications agency Think Rosie, wanted was to receive noise complaints from the neighbor living below her brownstone apartment in New York City’s Park Slope neighborhood. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/6jJLO0E

The annual summary of your listening habits has become a phenomenon – but marketing wheeze aside, Wrapped doesn’t reflect what we truly love As a marketing exercise, it’s hard not to be hugely impressed by Spotify Wrapped. In less than a decade, the streaming giant has somehow managed to turn what’s essentially a bit of automated data-scraping into a global event. It’s a triumphant exercise in underlining the platform’s dominance in its field – this year, it arrives with the slogan Wrapped Or It Didn’t Happen, as if music consumed via Spotify is the only music that matters – and indeed in getting free advertising by encouraging users to share on social media Spotify’s personalised and heavily branded lists of most-streamed artists and listening trends. This year, the arrival of Spotify Wrapped results was heralded by a huge billboard advertising campaign, brand partnerships ranging from Amazon to FC Barcelona, a London launch gig that stars Sam Smith, Charli XCX and Chase and Status a...

People have entered the UK in record numbers since the points-based system came in and ministers want to reverse this Since the UK introduced a points-based visa system post-Brexit, ministers have talked tough on immigration while allowing employers to look abroad to plug workforce gaps and encouraging universities to bring in overseas students. Last week Conservative MPs demanded urgent action after it emerged that net migration – the number of people immigrating minus the number emigrating – was a record-breaking 745,000 in the calendar year 2022. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/HhzWbEo

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A new exhibition collates more 800 objects to give insight into the zine scene, a way to democratize art and journalism A medium that basks in the unruliness and unpredictability of the creative process, zines are gloriously chaotic and difficult to pin down. Requiring little more to produce than a copy machine, a stapler and a vision, zines played a hugely democratizing role in art during the 20th century and have managed to stay popular and relevant in spite of web-based innovations, like blogs, that might have supplanted a less compelling medium. The Brooklyn Museum’s substantial and exciting new exhibit, Copy Machine Manifestos, offers a welcome, thorough examination of zines made by artists. With over 800 objects on display, Copy Machine Manifestos is a crucial step toward documenting the zine scene, even if, in zine terms this show is a proverbial drop in the bucket. As the exhibition co-curator and art historian Drew Sawyer put it in an interview: “Even if we wanted to be very...

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Chelsea, QPR and Tottenham player who as England manager displayed one of the sharpest football brains of his generation As a player, coach and manager, Terry Venables possessed one of the sharpest football brains of his generation. His career reached its peak when he guided England to the semi-finals of the European championships on home ground in the summer of 1996, losing to Germany on penalties. But that was only after beating Scotland with an unforgettable goal from Paul Gascoigne, and trouncing a highly rated Netherlands team with the finest display seen from the national team since the World Cup victory 30 years earlier. Venables, who has died aged 80, went into those matches already knowing that he would be replaced once the tournament was over, thanks to the dim view taken by some senior members of the Football Association, his employers, of his outside activities. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/gx6YPVq

Everton burned with a sense of injustice over the record 10-point deduction that has revived relegation fears just when it seemed Sean Dyche’s side had left them behind. Manchester United performed with cool heads and cold intent instead, and savoured their biggest victory of the season as a result. Erik ten Hag’s team’s previous seven league wins this season had been by a single goal margin but here they ran out comfortable victors, eventually, over an Everton team reeling from the heaviest sporting sanction in Premier League history. A stupendous overhead kick from Alejandro Garnacho set United on their way to an impressive win, in which the 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo excelled on his full debut, before a second-half penalty from Marcus Rashford took the contest away from the hosts. Anthony Martial added the gloss with his first goal of the season late on. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1fspmlQ

Cheltenham regular wins first Grade One at Haydock Pic D’Orhy wins 1965 Chase after Shishkin’s refusal If a six-and-a-half-length success in the first Grade One of the campaign – his first at the highest level – is as good as it gets for Royale Pagaille this season, the delight of his trainer and rider in the winner’s enclosure here on Saturday made it plain that it will be more than enough. Venetia Williams’s nine-year-old has been beaten in the last three runnings of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and remains an outsider at around 25-1 to make it fourth time lucky. But he is the epitome of the big, old-fashioned staying chaser that has always been Williams’s stock in trade, and if the mud happens to be flying at the Festival next March, who knows? Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/oLxH2VM

Organisers of London protest against anti-Jewish hatred demand that far-right leader stays away, after he claimed to support it Organisers of a march against antisemitism billed as Britain’s biggest since the second world war have demanded that the far-right leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon stay away. Yaxley-Lennon, who uses the name Tommy Robinson, has claimed to support the aims of the march through central London due to be held this Sunday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/lVGOrzn

Threefold increase since 2019 means focusing on immigration may be a risky move for the PM at next election Of Boris Johnson’s many broken promises, his failure to “bring back control” of post-Brexit immigration is the one that Tory MPs believe matters most to their voters. Johnson has long fled the scene – Rishi Sunak is instead getting the blame from his “new Conservative” backbenchers who predict they will be punished at the ballot box in the “red wall” of the north and Midlands. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/irAJH2q

Right wing of party says income and inheritance taxes must be reduced, but Labour says growth has ‘hit a dead end’ Hunt announces sweeping tax cuts for firms and workers Autumn statement: live coverage and reaction Jeremy Hunt is facing pressure to go further on tax cuts, while dozens of Conservative MPs have vowed to block any future tax rises by their government. After the chancellor announced a surprise 2p cut to national insurance in the autumn statement on Wednesday, he faced immediate calls from the right wing of the party to cut income tax or inheritance tax in the spring budget. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Kqatms8

Concerns rise that Moscow has been stockpiling missiles and waiting for sub-zero temperatures for maximum disruption Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updates The first snow of the year fell in Kyiv on Wednesday, blanketing Ukraine’s capital in a layer of white and raising concerns about a potential Russian attack on the country’s energy infrastructure. Last October, Russia began relentless waves of attacks on critical infrastructure that lasted for months and left millions of people without heating, electricity or water for parts of the winter. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/BZqzU7R

Usually boosted by tourist spending, Stratford-upon-Avon’s residents and businesses lament cost of living crisis “I think he’s past hope now really: we need a change.” Former Conservative voter Kevin Sinclair, jumping on his bike after a pub lunch in sunny Stratford-upon-Avon, has little hope for Rishi Sunak’s latest reset – the tax-cutting plans mooted for Wednesday’s autumn statement. “I can’t believe that he’s had David Cameron back in. It doesn’t reassure me at all,” says the 65-year-old. Asked if his scepticism is widely shared in this true blue Tory seat, he says: “It is with a lot of my friends and family, yes. I think things are going terrible.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wd0nGrm

After becoming chief secretary to the Treasury, this was Trott’s moment to crash and burn on the media round Just over a week ago Laura Trott received a call from Rishi Sunak. Would she like to join the cabinet as chief secretary to the Treasury? Come the following Tuesday, she might have wished she had thought a little harder before taking up the offer. Instead, she was left to crash and burn on the morning media round. It turns out that Laura Trott is the unthinking person’s Helen Whately. That bad. Mishal Husain began the BBC Today programme by asking for Trott’s thoughts on Patrick Vallance’s evidence to the Covid inquiry. What did she make of the discrepancy between what the former chief scientific adviser had said about the Eat Out to Kill Someone scheme and Sunak’s own account . That the then chancellor had not bothered to consult any of the scientific team before setting out to find how many old people he could let die before the inevitable next lockdown. Depraved New World ...

Giant orb similar to one opened in Nevada refused by Sadiq Khan after potential light pollution deemed unacceptable It might be good enough for Las Vegas, but the Sphere – a dazzling orb-shaped 90 metre-high music venue that doubles as a giant digital billboard – is unlikely to be coming to London after the mayor rejected a planning application. Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) had applied to build the 21,500-capacity structure in Stratford, east London, close to the Olympic Park. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5Pxy4Da

Far-right politicians want to execute militants convicted of 7 October attacks, but relatives say this risks lives of Gaza hostages Israel-Hamas war – live updates Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas have clashed with far-right Israeli politicians who want to bring in the death penalty as a possible sentence for captured Palestinian militants. The families said on Monday that even talk of doing so might endanger the lives of their relatives. The row underlines the deep divisions in Israel over how to deal with the hostage crisis. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/gtEIloH

OpenAI has been at the centre of a Silicon Valley corporate drama since the recent sacking of CEO Sam Altman OpenAI staff threaten to quit en masse unless Sam Altman is reinstated Sam Altman’s OpenAI exit leads to rollercoaster for sector The firing of Sam Altman as chief executive of OpenAI on Friday took the tech world by surprise and has triggered a Silicon Valley corporate drama. Altman is not just the CEO of the company behind the ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot. He is also the figurehead of a revolution in AI that has enthralled the public and investors but also alarmed industry insiders and experts . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5w8kpW9

Oscar winner Ariana DeBose voices an all-singing heroine in an overstuffed yet underpowered attempt to replicate the success of Frozen A decade ago, at a time when both Disney and Pixar’s animation output was not exactly unsuccessful but entirely unmemorable, Frozen became a sticky $1.2bn game-changer, a box office hit that turned into an all-consuming phenomenon. It won Oscars, produced earworms that burrowed (a little too) deep, spawned a $1.45bn sequel, led to a hit Broadway musical and showed Disney how to dust off the contemporarily critiqued princess narrative rather than throw it away completely. Opening in the same Thanksgiving slot 10 years later, with a script co-written by Frozen’s Jennifer Lee, Wish is a bullishly positioned successor, another self-aware, formula-tweaking Disney Princess narrative with as many radio-friendly power ballads as there are Christmas-timed merchandising opportunities. But Wish feels less like Disney’s new Frozen and more like an off-brand rip-o...

A hand cupped around the ear, badge slap and knee slide from the Manchester City and England duo Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp are images from a 3-1 derby defeat that will haunt the Old Trafford crowd. Manchester United were a goal up thanks to Katie Zelem’s penalty, after a handball in the area from their former captain Alex Greenwood, , and could argue that they had another incorrectly ruled out for the ball having gone out of play on the byline. Replays were inconclusive. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0Tzhpwl

Scotland host Norway hoping to finish top of Group A All the live scores | Email John or tweet him on X here At Hampden, the bagpipe guitars of Big Country can be heard. It’s a night of celebration at Scotland Fitba HQ. For Scotland: Jacob Brown makes his first start. The Luton striker is handed his eighth cap as Clarke made four changes following Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Georgia. Jack Hendry, Stuart Armstrong and Kenny McLean also came in as Ryan Porteous, Billy Gilmour, Ryan Christie and Lyndon Dykes dropped to the bench. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/75HI1kW

Exeter 25-24 Gloucester Exeter play down delay in paying players as ‘clerical error’ On the field there are reasons to be optimistic for Exeter, back up to third in the Premiership table after a thrilling last-gasp win sealed by a long-range penalty by Henry Slade. Off the pitch, though, not all is sweetness and light with the Chiefs confirming their squad were paid late last month and annual losses of around £4m for the last tax year expected to be announced within the next 10 days. Exeter officials remain adamant that a slight delay in paying their players’ wages was a “simple clerical error” and strenuously refute the idea the club is in danger of going out of business. The Guardian has been told that a staff member processing the wages unwittingly tried to pay them via the wrong bank account, leading to the players being paid 10 hours late on the 31 st October. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/15Zq84Y

Game by game coverage of second semi-final from Turin Sinner sinks Medvedev to reach final | And you can mail Tom With the utmost respect to home favourite Jannik Sinner this is the final, right? Even if Sinner beats the winner, this is pretty much the match to decide the title of best men’s tennis player for 2023. Novak Djokovic has won three of the four grand slams, Carlos Alcaraz beat the world No 1 to claim the other. The 36-year-old Serb has seen off the young phenom in their two other meetings this year. Djokovic outmatched Alcaraz in Paris en route to the French Open title and then clawed his way to victory in the final of the Cincinnati Masters in a classic. They have both lost already at this ATP Finals, which is why this meeting is at the last four stage and not for the overall crown. Sinner’s win over Djokovic was a suprise, but Alcaraz’s form has not been as consistent by his own lofty standards since claiming the title at Wimbledon. The 20-year-old’s coach, Juan Car...

The Booker prizewinning novelist, who has died aged 87 , was intelligent, curious – and warmly supportive of younger writers AS Byatt obituary It was always a joy to receive an email from the Booker prizewinning novelist AS Byatt. It might range from Nietzsche to newts to the weather in northern France (where she had a house) to the splitting migraine she’d had since Tuesday and why some writer was completely misguided about something or other. But no, she was dreadfully sorry, but she couldn’t write anything because she was deep in a novel of her own. And PS have I read the new novel from [insert name of as yet unheard-of novelist], it is really terrifically good. Her email address was “arachne” (she was fascinated by insects and myths), she would sign off as ASD (after her second husband, Peter Duffy) and many people called her The Dame (she received a damehood in 1999). A quintessential bluestocking and unrepentant intellectual, AS Byatt was literary nobility for many years. Th...

Flyer campaign raises fears war could spread to areas IDF previously said were safe Israel-Hamas war – live updates Israel has dropped leaflets into southern Gaza telling Palestinian civilians to leave four towns on the eastern edge of Khan Younis, raising fears that its war against Hamas could spread to areas it previously said were safe. The flyers told civilians in Bani Shuhaila, Khuza’a, Abassan and al-Qarara that anyone in the vicinity of militants or their positions was “putting his life in danger”, local people told Reuters. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0znxW8a

Labour MP said she was voting in favour of ceasefire on behalf of people of Yardley, against party whip Israel-Hamas war – latest updates In her resignation letter, as she quit Labour’s shadow cabinet over Keir Starmer’s stance on Gaza, Birmingham Yardley MP, Jess Phillips, said she had voted “with my constituents, my head and my heart” on the issue. Phillips was the most high-profile Labour MP to resign in order to back an SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza , in defiance of the party line. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3a264gF

Former home secretary is making it clear she will be thorn in PM’s side, especially on small boats and Rwanda UK politics live – latest updates In the coming days, Suella Braverman is planning to release a “grid of shit” to dominate the news agenda which, according to her allies, includes a physical copy of the “document” that details her secret deal with Rishi Sunak in exchange for backing him as Tory leader. She has already left No 10 in no doubt she intends to be a thorn in the prime minister’s side after her sacking as home secretary. A brutal letter to Sunak on Tuesday was followed by a call for emergency legislation to block off legal challenges to his Rwanda plan today. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ZerwKEW

David Cameron plays catchup with foreign affairs, old and new colleagues … and his place setting UK politics live – latest updates The alarm went off at 7.45am. Big Dave eased himself out of bed. For the first time in months, he caught himself smiling. Today was going to be a good day. For the last seven years he had felt somewhat aimless. Drifting towards futility. Sure, he had money. What former prime minister didn’t? Though he was only a jobbing millionaire. Shame Greensill had gone bust before he could cash in his share options. But all he tended to do these days was potter out to the shepherd’s hut and browse the John Lewis website. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fO7u3JS

Staff say they fear rising numbers of deaths at hospital on third day without power, and with shooting and bombing outside Israel-Hamas war – live updates Dozens of corpses lay on the courtyard outside Gaza’s largest hospital, covering the ground next to a blue refrigerated truck that had long ceased to be able to keep the bodies cool. Most of the bodies were shrouded in colourful blankets originally meant for the living, after the hospital ran out of white bodybags. A severely burnt arm protruded from one of the blankets. Elsewhere, according to video footage seen by the Guardian, the charred body of a child was visible among the soft folds of the material. “We are under siege,” said Munir al-Boursh, a doctor who is also a Palestinian health ministry undersecretary, speaking from inside Dar al-Shifa hospital. The facility had intended to dig a mass grave until Israeli tanks and snipers encircled the the complex on Friday, making movement around it impossible. Continue reading......

Even as Storm Debi battered Manchester, thousands turned out to line the route as the cortege wound past Old Trafford “He was internationally famous …” the Reverend Grace Thomas said, “but he was most at home with his family.” The head of the Manchester United Foundation John Shiels and the former United chief executive David Gill, who delivered eulogies, both made reference to his intense privacy. And that perhaps was the most striking aspect of the memorial service for Sir Bobby Charlton at Manchester Cathedral on Monday: he would have hated it, but he would have gone through with it because he recognised he had a responsibility to do so. This was the public event ; the family service will be held on Tuesday. The Football Association was represented by Prince William, Manchester United by a host of players, former players and managers and the wider football world by the likes of the Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, the England manager, Gareth Southgate, and the Manchester City c...

Daly and Lewington score tries in 50-12 thumping Fin Smith inspires Northampton to victory over Exeter Mark McCall was delighted at the way Saracens were able to adapt in adversity after a thumping 50-12 win against Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park. The reigning Premiership champions travelled to the north east without a number of their England stars, who were rested after coming straight back in last week. They then lost lineout caller and second row Callum Hunter-Hill in the warm-up, with back-rower Ollie Stonham coming into the starting line-up out of position at the last minute. Despite that, Sarries were able to overcome a slow start to wrap up the bonus point by half-time and make it three wins on the spin, to the delight of director of rugby McCall. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/FMR7hCI

‘It hasn’t been a great tournament but I’m pretty confident’ Head coach Mott backs Jos Buttler to continue as captain Matthew Mott insists he and Jos Buttler are the men to take England’s white-ball teams into the future, albeit with the head coach declining to share the lessons he learned after what has been a lousy World Cup defence. By finishing seventh with a third win of the campaign – beating fifth-placed Pakistan by 93 runs – England at least secured their place in the 2025 Champions Trophy. But six defeats are their most at a 50-over World Cup, despite arriving in India among the favourites. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/o6tb021

The latest Opinium poll shows Keir Starmer’s personal rating has slumped but the Tories are also suffering from internal divisions Israel-Hamas war – live updates Labour is perceived by voters as far more divided in the wake of party splits over the conflict in Israel and Gaza, amid concerns that there may be further frontbench resignations on the issue this week. Keir Starmer has also taken a hit, with the latest Opinium poll for the Observer showing a slump in the proportion of voters who regard him as a strong leader compared with a month ago. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nCxYWBX