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Harry Randall and buoyant Bristol keen to carry form into new year

England scrum-half returned from injury to a side on the crest of a wave and will hope to catch Steve Borthwick’s eye Harry Randall and Bristol enter the new year with high hopes. The scrum-half has returned to fitness ahead of schedule after hamstring surgery and marked his 150th Bears appearance in the win against Newcastle last Saturday . Pat Lam’s side approach the Prem encounter with Sale at Ashton Gate on Friday after five straight victories, sitting fourth in the table, their attractive style having clicked. A fresh assault on the playoffs looks likely. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nR5U96P

Billionaires added record $2.2tn in wealth in 2025

Just eight billionaires accounted for a quarter of the gains, led by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison and Larry Page The richest 500 individuals in the world added a record $2.2tn to their wealth in 2025, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index , with just eight billionaires accounting for a quarter of the gains. The gains increased their collective net worth to $11.9tn, bolstered by billionaire Donald Trump ’s 2024 election victory and booming markets in cryptocurrencies, equities and metals. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/S6aAEe9

Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of JFK, dies after leukemia diagnosis

Schlossberg, 35, revealed in November diagnosis of rare mutation of cancer of blood and bone marrow Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of the 35th US president, John F Kennedy, died on Tuesday after revealing in November she had been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. She was 35. Her passing was announced in a social media post by the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. “Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts,” the post said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/cRD9SHG

Arsenal v Aston Villa: Premier League – live

⚽ Premier League updates from the 8.15pm GMT kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Follow us on Bluesky | And email Scott Arsenal make two changes to the side that started the 2-1 win over Brighton. Jurriën Timber returns from injury, while Gabriel makes his first start since early November. Myles Lewis-Skelley drops to the bench, but Declan Rice misses out altogether with a minor knee problem. Kai Havertz returns to the bench, available for the first time since the opening day at Manchester United. Aston Villa make five changes to their starting XI after the 2-1 win at Chelsea. Ollie Watkins is rewarded for his match-turning cameo at Stamford Bridge, stepping up along with Jadon Sancho, Amadou Onana, Lucas Digne and Lamare Bogarde. Ian Maatsen, Donyell Malen and captain John McGinn drop to the bench, while Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are suspended. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jxOLk96

Man shot dead by police after two-vehicle collision in Thetford

Norfolk police say man believed to be driver of one of the vehicles shot by armed officers after leaving scene holding a handgun The police watchdog has launched an investigation after a man in his 60s was shot dead by officers in Norfolk. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was examining what led led police to fire twice after two vehicles crashed into each other in Thetford on Sunday evening. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/TOIs1hv

Bernie Sanders criticizes AI as ‘the most consequential technology in humanity’

Republican senator Katie Britt also proposes AI companies be criminally liable if they expose minors to harmful ideas US senator Bernie Sanders amplified his recent criticism of artificial intelligence on Sunday, explicitly linking the financial ambition of “the richest people in the world” to economic insecurity for millions of Americans – and calling for a potential moratorium on new datacenters . Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with the Democratic party, said on CNN’s State of the Union that he was “fearful of a lot” when it came to AI. And the senator called it “the most consequential technology in the history of humanity” that will “transform” the US and the world in ways that had not been fully discussed. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/RxIrcwY

Monolithic belief of Guardiolismo has fractured in new era for tactics | Jonathan Wilson

The old ways are over and nobody is entirely sure what is to follow but football revolutions once experienced are never forgotten If you want a picture of the future, imagine Michael Kayode winding up to take a long throw – forever. Or at least that was how it seemed in October. Already, though, the picture has begun to change. This was the year of the backlash, and then a bit of a backlash to the backlash. For almost two decades football had accepted the guardiolista consensus. Football was about possession, about the press, but most of all about position, about the careful manipulation of space. Much-improved pitches meant first touches could be taken for granted: players receiving the ball didn’t have to focus on getting it under control but could instead be parsing their options. The game had become chess with a ball, a matter of strategy more than physicality. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/60MScqL

Ollie Watkins’ second-half double earns Aston Villa comeback victory at Chelsea

For 58 minutes the notion of Aston Villa as plausible title challengers was laughable. They were second best at Stamford Bridge, were 1-0 down to an inspired Chelsea and looked destined to rue Unai Emery’s decision not to start Ollie Watkins. Few managers are more cunning than Emery when it comes to turning a game, though. The Spaniard is never slow to act and his substitutions were key to Villa recording their 11th consecutive win in all competitions. Watkins equalised five minutes after coming on and the celebrations were wild when the striker punished Chelsea’s collapse in the second half with a lethal winning header in the 84th minute. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/9b1YR6i

In the battle against antisemitism we must accept that Zionism means different things to different people | David Slucki

Among Jews the meaning of the term has evolved – but there is still no consensus. And when people talk past one another there are real-world consequences The 14 December Bondi Beach attack targeting Jews at a Hanukah celebration has brought the issue of antisemitism into sharp national focus. In response, the New South Wales government announced measures to further curb hate speech and symbols, and, more controversially, new protest powers. This event and the government’s response have once again raised questions about the relationship between Jews, Israel, Zionism and anti-Zionism. Zionism is a Jewish national movement that sought to create a Jewish state, then to secure and sustain it. But “Zionism” is also a contested label: for many Jews it signifies safety, continuity and belonging; for Palestinians – and for many others – it denotes dispossession and ongoing domination. It’s clear that for different people, the word Zionism means very different things, which leads to people ta...

Manchester United v Newcastle: Premier League – live

⚽ Premier League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Table | Mail Scott The rewards on offer tonight. Seventh-placed Manchester United will leapfrog their old north-west pals Liverpool into fifth place with a win. Newcastle start the game in the bottom half of the table, but should they win by two goals this evening, they’ll nip in ahead of Manchester United and into seventh. Any victory would take Newcastle above Crystal Palace and into eighth. Manchester United make two changes to their starting XI following the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa. Bruno Fernandes is injured, so his captain’s armband is taken by Lisandro Martínez, making his first start since his return from injury. Casemiro takes Fernandes’s place in midfield, returning as he is from a one-match suspension. Leny Yoro drops to the bench. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/gV2lIjc

Don’t fret the first night and nap if you need: how to sleep well, away from home

Disturbed sleep is very common as you adapt to a new environment, but with good sleep hygiene and some practical adjustments you can quickly settle in Read more summer essentials Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email As the working year draws to a close, many of us only have one hope for the season, and that’s a decent night’s sleep. While not every family visit or post-Christmas getaway is going to be a trip to Rancho Relaxo, a few things can help us catch holiday kip. Pre-departure apps can be useful, so can pillow mists and thermoregulation, but when it comes to maximising rest on the road, some say less is more. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/xtF3zfB

Trump approves deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans

Critics say deployment is unwarranted and could cause fear in the city, which has seen a decrease in violent crime rates The Trump administration is deploying 350 national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, launching another federal deployment in the city at the same time that an immigration crackdown led by border patrol is under way. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on Tuesday that guard members, as they have in other deployments in large cities, will be tasked with supporting federal law enforcement partners, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Parnell added that the national guard troops will be deployed through February. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vHF1TV4

Bari Weiss yanking a 60 Minutes story is censorship by oligarchy | Margaret Sullivan

Weiss ought to cut her losses, green-light the piece, and try to start acting like an editor – not like a cog in the machine of authoritarian politics and oligarchy One tries to give people the benefit of the doubt. But now, when it comes to Bari Weiss as the editor in chief of CBS News, there is no longer any doubt. A broadcast-news neophyte, Weiss has no business in that exalted role. She proved that beyond any remaining doubt last weekend, pulling a powerful and important piece of journalism just days before it was due to air, charging that it wasn’t ready. Whatever her claims about the story’s supposed flaws, this looks like a clear case of censorship-by-editor to protect the interests of powerful, rich and influential people. The 60 Minutes piece – about the brutal conditions at an El Salvador prison where the Trump administration has sent Venezuelan migrants without due process – had already been thoroughly edited, fact-checked and sent through the network’s standards desk an...

Arsenal v Crystal Palace: Carabao Cup quarter-final – live

⚽ Updates from 8pm GMT kick-off as Chelsea await victors ⚽ Live scores | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail Taha Arsenal: Arrizabalaga, Timber, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Merino, Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Jesus Subs: Raya, Salmon, Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Saka, Gyökeres Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/MieFzoO

No Christmas gifts yet? Don’t panic – here’s your festive survival guide

Skip the Christmas scramble with our last-minute decor and gifting hacks; Jo Malone spills her shopping secrets; and the best tequila for festive tipples with a twist • Don’t get the Filter delivered to your inbox? Sign up here Ten years ago and newly married, I was invited to spend Christmas with my husband’s extended family. “We’re not doing gifts this year, there are too many of us,” my husband told me in early December when I queried who to buy for. So, I showed up with a roll of novelty Christmas pudding bin bags and wine for the hosts. Imagine my embarrassment later that day when his aunt, uncle and cousins all handed me gifts so beautiful and thoughtful I still use them today. I resolved then to never enter the festive period without an arsenal of last-minute gift ideas in my back pocket – and also not to take everything my husband says as read. The best LED face masks, tested: 10 light therapy devices that are worth the hype How I Shop with Jo Malone: ‘I like my bed steame...

Mass clearout of England leadership not in ECB plans after Ashes failure

McCullum’s position likely to come under scrutiny ECB believes mass sackings would be a mistake The England and Wales Cricket Board is eager to avoid a mass ­clearout of England’s senior leadership in the wake of another humiliating away Ashes series defeat. England’s hopes of winning the urn were expunged inside 11 days for just the fourth time in the contest’s 143-year history with Sunday’s 82-run defeat in Adelaide, and a fourth Ashes whitewash is on the cards in Melbourne and Sydney, unless the tourists can arrest a dismal 18-match run without a win in Australia that stretches back to 2011. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/kFMfPlq

The Guardian view on Labour’s difficult year: denial of hard choices is no longer an option | Editorial

All the incentives in Westminster politics militate against confronting difficult issues, but a failing government may as well try honesty The formula for stable government, according to Britain’s constitution, is a big parliamentary majority and divided opposition. Sir Keir Starmer’s predicament proves that those conditions are not sufficient. The prime minister’s inability to convince voters that he has an agenda for national renewal, and the demoralising effect that has had on the Labour party, make a leadership challenge look plausible after local elections next May. Maybe sooner. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/JQljg0U

Unseen Tennessee Williams radio play published in literary magazine

The Strangers, a horror tale written during the playwright’s college days, appeared in the Strand magazine this week As one of the 20th century’s most successful playwrights, Tennessee Williams penned popular works at the very pinnacle of US theater, including A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Years before his almost unparalleled Broadway triumphs, however, the aspiring writer then known simply as Tom wrote a series of short radio plays as he struggled to find a breakthrough. One is The Strangers, a supernatural tale offering glimpses into the accomplished wordsmith that Williams would become, and published for the first time this week in the literary magazine Strand . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ShFbZKR

US army lawyer fired as immigration judge after defying Trump deportation agenda

Christopher Day was fired barely a month into the job after granting asylum to migrants at a high rate A US army reserve lawyer detailed as a federal immigration judge has been fired barely a month into the job after granting asylum at a high rate out of step with the Trump administration’s mass deportation goals, the Associated Press has learned. Christopher Day began hearing cases in late October as a temporary judge at the immigration court in Annandale, Virginia. He was fired around 2 December, the National Association of Immigration Judges confirmed. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/pJ6AMTK

Trump administration unveils plans to end gender-affirming care for minors

Proposal would prohibit Medicaid funds from being used to cover puberty blockers, hormone treatments or surgical procedures US politics live – latest updates The Trump administration unveiled new actions aimed at eliminating transition-related medical care for minors across the US on Thursday, referring to such treatments as “sex-rejecting procedures”, a term used by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As part of the effort, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will initiate a rule-making process that would prevent hospitals from offering puberty blockers, hormone treatments, or surgical procedures to minors if they wish to participate in Medicare or Medicaid. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/eh2IiQp

Oscars to move over to YouTube starting in 2029

Exclusive global rights to the year’s biggest night in film will move to the video platform for a four year period The Oscars will be moving from broadcast to online as part of a multi-year new deal with YouTube. From 2029, the video platform will have exclusive global rights to Hollywood’s biggest night, including the ceremony but also red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content and Governors Ball access. The deal will run until 2033. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/t5fKGk2

US designates Colombia’s biggest drug cartel Gulf Clan as terrorist organization

Marco Rubio calls drug-trafficking militia, present in at least 20 of Colombia’s departments, ‘violent and powerful’ The US has designated the Gulf Clan, Colombia ’s largest and most powerful illegal armed criminal group, as a foreign terrorist organisation. The notorious drug-trafficking militia with its roots in far-right paramilitary forces, is present in at least 20 of Colombia’s departments, and dominates people- and drug-smuggling routes through the Darién Gap. It has also battled unsuccessfully against leftwing rebels for control of criminal networks along the Venezuelan border. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/yjiN3km

Morrisons becomes first UK supermarket to delay net zero targets

Britain’s fifth-biggest grocer postpones goal by 15 years to 2050, saying revised plan will now cover entire supply chain Morrisons has become the first UK supermarket chain to postpone its net zero carbon emission targets, delaying them by 15 years to 2050. Britain’s fifth-biggest grocer said its new targets would cover the entire supply chain, as well as Morrisons stores, including emissions from agriculture and land-use sources. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Z5YjdLs

Two girls, 9 and 11, awarded $31.5m after sister’s California torture death

Arabella McCormack, 11, died after being tortured and starved by adoptive family and police and church failed to intervene A lawsuit over the death of an 11-year-old California girl who was allegedly tortured and starved by her adoptive family reached a settlement on Friday totaling $31.5m from the city and county of San Diego as well as other groups. The suit was brought on behalf of the two younger sisters of Arabella McCormack, who died in August 2022. The girls were ages six and seven at the time. Their adoptive mother, Leticia McCormack, and McCormack’s parents, Adella and Stanley Tom, are facing charges of murder, conspiracy, child abuse and torture. They pleaded not guilty to all charges, and their criminal case is ongoing. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/6E5yp8d

Football Association to pass on fan anger over World Cup ticket prices

Prices 10 times those promised in initial bid Fifa not expected to change policy for 2026 The Football Association will pass on England supporters’ concerns about high 2026 World Cup ticket prices to Fifa. However, despite the growing outrage, it is understood none of the international federations expect world football’s governing body to change its policy. Anger among supporter groups continued on Friday after it emerged that the cheapest tickets will cost 10 times the price promised in the original bid for the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the tournament. For England fans it will mean having to pay at least $220 (£165) for group games – when the bid document’s ticket model stated the cheapest seats should be $21 (£15.70). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nRfX7CO

Disappointing Oracle results knock $80bn off value amid AI bubble fears

Weaker-than-forecast quarterly data for Larry Ellison’s tech company shows slowdown in revenue growth and big rise in spending Business live – latest updates Oracle ’s shares tumbled 15% on Thursday in response to the company’s quarterly financial results, disclosed the day before. Roughly $80bn vanish from the value of the business software company co-founded by Donald Trump ally Larry Ellison, falling from $630bn (£470bn) to $550bn and fuelling fears of a bubble in artificial intelligence-related stocks. Shares in the chipmaker Nvidia, seen as a bellwether for the AI boom, fell after Oracle’s. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Ckpu8ye

Leon to cut jobs and close fast food restaurants

The 71-outlet chain was recently bought back by its co-founder, who says Leon must downsize as more customers work from home Fast food chain Leon is planning to close restaurants and cut jobs, less than two months after it was bought back from Asda by its co-founder John Vincent. The chain said on Wednesday that it had appointed administrators to lead a restructuring programme, and it was considering how many of its 71 restaurants would need to shut. It did not say how many roles could be affected. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/NTBRvgu

US puts sanctions on network said to funnel Colombian mercenaries to Sudan

US treasury accuses Colombian nationals and companies of aiding the RSF, which has committed horrific war crimes The United States has sanctioned four people and four companies accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group accused by Washington of committing genocide. Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US treasury said the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/VN6opQ9

Democrats urge Pentagon to release video of strike on alleged drug boat

Trump team faces mounting pressure as members of Congress allege that the deadly attack was unlawful US Democrats on Sunday pushed the Trump administration to release video of a second strike on an alleged drug boat incapacitated in the Caribbean, continuing to escalate pressure on the Pentagon amid accusations the attack was unlawful. Eleven people died in the 2 September attack , including two men killed in a follow-up strike as they reportedly clung to wreckage for an hour. That killing has been met with intense scrutiny and accusations of war crimes after the Washington Post reported defense secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill them all” . Adm Frank Bradley of the US navy, who oversaw the attack, told lawmakers on Thursday there was no such order – and the Pentagon has defended the legality of the attack. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rf8uLkq

Man arrested after people at Heathrow allegedly attacked with ‘form of pepper spray’

Police think incident at airport car park involved theft of a suitcase and ‘people known to each other’ A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after people were allegedly attacked with a “form of pepper spray” at a multistorey car park at Heathrow airport Terminal 3, police have said. The Metropolitan police said armed officers were called to the terminal’s car park at about 8.11am to a report of people being assaulted. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/gslvehj

MLS Cup final: Inter Miami v Vancouver Whitecaps – live buildup

Inter Miami host Vancouver for MLS championship Drop Beau at line on Bluesky or email In a big country, dreams stay with you … Or, in this case, two big countries, with the Vancouver Whitecaps representing Canada. These two clubs are in opposite corners of the continent. Unless MLS expands to Alaska or Hawaii, the distance between Miami and Vancouver is about as big as you can get. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/puBoX76

Cloudflare apologises after latest outage takes down LinkedIn and Zoom

Web infrastructure provider says problem lasted half an hour and was not an attack, weeks after larger outage Cloudflare has apologised after an outage on Friday morning hit websites including LinkedIn, Zoom and Downdetector, the company’s second outage in less than a month . “Any outage of our systems is unacceptable, and we know we have let the internet down again,” it said in a blogpost , adding that it would release more information next week on how it aims to prevent these failures. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/JFWax3i

Chatbots can sway political opinions but are ‘substantially’ inaccurate, study finds

‘Information-dense’ AI responses are most persuasive but these tend to be less accurate, says security report Chatbots can sway people’s political opinions but the most persuasive artificial intelligence models deliver “substantial” amounts of inaccurate information in the process, according to the UK government’s AI security body. Researchers said the study was the largest and most systematic investigation of AI persuasiveness to date, involving nearly 80,000 British participants holding conversations with 19 different AI models. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/r25WwqP

Advertising giant WPP relegated from FTSE 100 after nearly 30 years

Market value of ad group that was once world’s largest plummets from about £24bn in 2017 to £3.1bn WPP has been relegated from the FTSE 100 after nearly 30 years, as the advertising multinational struggles to stem an exodus of clients and match the artificial intelligence and data capabilities of rivals . The market valuation of WPP, once the world’s largest advertising group, has plummeted from about £24bn in 2017 to £3.1bn. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Xr69FmU

Production of French-German fighter jet threatened by rivalries, chief executive says

Relations between French company Dassault and the German unit of Airbus are reportedly ‘very strained’ The leaders of France and Germany have a “strong willingness” to build a new fighter jet together despite bitter internal rivalries, according to the chief executive of engine manufacturer Safran. A row over who should lead between French aerospace company Dassault and the German unit of Airbus has threatened to break apart the countries’ efforts to make a next-generation fighter jet. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5AQfNO7

India orders phone makers to preload devices with state-owned cyber safety app

Critics voice concern as government says its Sanchar Saathi app combats cybersecurity threats for 1.2bn telecom users India’s telecoms ministry has privately asked smartphone makers to preload all new devices with a state-owned cybersecurity app that cannot be deleted, a government order showed, a move likely to antagonise Apple and privacy advocates. In tackling a recent surge of cybercrime and hacking, India is joining authorities worldwide, most recently in Russia, to frame rules blocking the use of stolen phones for fraud or promoting state-backed government service apps. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/HkPg0TJ

Rainforests, rivers and sacred sites ‘ripped to shreds’ by feral pigs, Queensland traditional owners warn

Destruction wrought by pig-borne disease is thining the canopy of bunya pine forests and the problem is getting worse, experts say Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast High up in an ancient conifer rainforest, at what was once the largest Indigenous gathering place in eastern Australia, there is sunlight where there shouldn’t be. Among the eponymous pine trees of the Bunya Mountains, in south-east Queensland, a deadly disease has taken root. Walking through the forest, Adrian Bauwens, a Wakka Wakka man, says pockets of sunlight have replaced what is “usually quite a dense canopy where’s it’s quite heavily shaded”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jkBbZzN

UK retailers urge faster end to tax break on low-value imported goods

Primark, Currys and Boohoo criticise government for waiting until 2029 to phase out exemption on customs duty British retailers including Primark, Currys and Boohoo have criticised the government for waiting until 2029 to end a tax break on low-value imported goods that has allowed them to be undercut by the likes of Shein and Temu. The British Retail Consortium, which represents all the major retailers, said there were 1.6m parcels arriving in the UK every day, double the number from last year, and “businesses cannot afford any delay on scrapping the existing rules”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ucs4lTH

Reeves freezes fuel duty for now as she confirms 3p-a-mile electric vehicle charge

Rishi Sunak’s ‘temporary’ 5p-a-litre cut to be reversed in stages from next September in effort to keep EVs attractive Budget 2025 – live updates Fuel duty will be frozen again, but only for five months until September 2026, the chancellor has announced, as she confirmed a new 3p-a-mile charge for electric cars from 2028. Rachel Reeves will freeze fuel duty in April at 52.95p a litre for petrol and diesel – a 16th successive year without a rise – but the so-called “temporary” 5p cut introduced by Rishi Sunak will be reversed in stages from September. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wyRPa87

Rush Hour 4 in the works at Paramount after reports of Trump intervening

Brett Ratner, accused of sexual misconduct by several women, will bring his hit franchise back to the big screen Rush Hour 4 is reportedly a go at Paramount – after Donald Trump intervened on behalf of the movie. The studio will now release the next sequel by Brett Ratner, the director, who had retreated from Hollywood after numerous allegations of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo movement. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/CAYzp7r

‘It’s hell for us here’: Mumbai families suffer as datacentres keep the city hooked on coal

As Mumbai sees increased energy demand from new datacenters, particularly from Amazon, the filthiest neighbourhood in one of India’s largest cities must keep its major coal plants Each day, Kiran Kasbe drives a rickshaw taxi through his home neighbourhood of Mahul on Mumbai’s eastern seafront, down streets lined with stalls selling tomatoes, bottle gourds and aubergines–and, frequently, through thick smog. Earlier this year, doctors found three tumours in his 54-year-old mother’s brain. It’s not clear exactly what caused her cancer. But people who live near coal plants are much more likely to develop the illness, studies show , and the residents of Mahul live a few hundred metres down the road from one. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7F9AtXc

European football: Olise inspires Bayern’s 6-2 comeback; Barça enjoy happy homecoming

German champions win in style; Undaz stuns Dortmund Torres strikes twice on return to revamped Camp Nou Bayern Munich raced from two goals down to crush visitors Freiburg 6-2 in the Bundesliga, with Michael Olise scoring twice and setting up three more goals, to maintain the champions’ unbeaten run and lead the title race. Bayern, who saw their 16-match winning run in all competitions end with a 2-2 draw at Union Berlin before the international break, found themselves two goals down after 17 minutes. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/BG3nwNr

Brahms: Symphony No 1, Tragic Overture album review – Petrenko and the Berliners give Brahms organic momentum

(Berliner Philharmoniker) Brahms’s Tragic Overture leaps to life while there is much interest in a careful reading of the composer’s First Symphony in this new recording from the Berlin Philharmonic with their chief conductor The Berlin Philharmonic’s in-house label continues its mission to document chief conductor Kirill Petrenko’s considered interpretations of the classical canon. In this case, it’s Brahms’s First Symphony, captured live at the Philharmonie just two months ago, coupled with the Tragic Overture, recorded last year. For this performance, Petrenko examined Meiningen Court Orchestra scores marked up with specific directions given by the composer himself. The results may strike some as interventionist, however there’s an organic momentum here that is hard to resist with a pronounced flexibility that, according to the excellent booklet essay, clarifies Brahms’s “furious struggle against the bar line”. Balance is impeccable, although solos seem over spotlighted at times b...

Peers call for independent body to take control of Telegraph sale

Lords say culture department has mishandled process and suggest CMA or Cabinet Office oversee new auction The government has been urged to take control of the sale of the Telegraph through an auction run by a body such as the UK competition regulator or the Cabinet Office. Peers called on the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, to wrest the sale process from RedBird IMI, which is majority funded by the United Arab Emirates, in questions put to Labour minister Fiona Twycross in the House of Lords on Wednesday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/pJ3vY2l

‘The job of a lifetime’: Line of Duty to return for seventh season

The hit BBC crime drama is coming back to screens for the first time since its record-breaking 2021 finale BBC hit crime drama Line of Duty has been confirmed to return for a seventh series. A new six-part season following police anti-corruption investigations was today announced by the BBC. “ We couldn’t be more delighted to be returning for a seventh [series],” said creator Jed Mercurio. “Corruption in this country is supposed to have come to an end while Line of Duty was off air so I’ve been forced to use my imagination.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/4ZakpMg

David Nicholls to adapt The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ for BBC

One Day author leading writing team bringing one of the best-known literary creations of the 1980s to life A writing team led by the One Day author, David Nicholls, and that includes Caitlin Moran is bringing Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ to the small screen in a 10-part BBC One adaptation of the classic tale of teenage life in British suburbia. Nicholls, who described the book as “a classic piece of comic writing and an incredible piece of ventriloquism on Sue Townsend’s part”, will adapt the book that produced one of the best-known literary creations of the 1980s. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Av6Ltly

Steelers v Bengals, Bills v Buccaneers and more: NFL week 11 – live

Updates from across the games at 6pm GMT start Giants fire Daboll after lost season | Mail Graham TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 7-6 Bengals 5:19, 1st quarter Joe Flacco hits his favourite receiver Tee Higgins with a deep strike for the 28-yard touchdown. Another shootout brewing? Cinci took the one earlier in the season 33-31 in Flacco’s debut as a Bengal. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1muz3in

ATP Finals tennis: Carlos Alcaraz v Felix Auger-Aliassime semi-final – live

Updates from the second semi-final in Turin Sinner sees off De Minaur to reach final Get in touch! Email Katy with your thoughts First set: Sinner 1-1 De Minaur* (*denotes next server) Ooohs and aaaahs from the crowd on a lovely first point, with slicing and dicing and drop shots and lobs and eventually a De Minaur winner, which lands bang on the baseline. Even the Italians are applauding the Australian. “Just another 80 of those will do,” quips Laura Robson on commentary. And look, look: 0-15 morphs into 0-30 and 0-40 . Sinner hasn’t been broken this week at all. He fends off the first bp with an unreturned serve; De Minaur slaps into the net on the second. Another snarling serve and it’s deuce. Then advantage Sinner and game. Sinner maintains his perfect record. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Xz7N2j4

Schubert 4 Hands album review – affectionately searching accounts from two pianists in emotional synergy

Bertrand Chamayou, Leif Ove Andsnes (Erato) Leif Ove Andsnes and Bertrand Chamayou find lyrical intimacy and finely tuned emotional balance in Schubert’s late masterpieces for four hands Schubert’s late works for piano four hands have attracted some starry pairings over the years, from Benjamin Britten and Sviatoslav Richter to Radu Lupu and Murray Perahia. Pulling them off requires an affinity for the composer’s distinctively private soundworld and a willingness to share a single instrument, often requiring a different way of thinking about the mechanics of making music. Leif Ove Andsnes and Bertrand Chamayou are thoughtful musicians, and it’s immediately apparent from these affectionately searching accounts that they possess an emotional synergy. The great F minor Fantasia finds the Norwegian spinning seamless lyrical lines over the Frenchman’s cushioned bass. Dynamics are impeccably sculpted; the central Largo is weighty with perfectly balanced trills throughout. They can be play...

French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal pardoned and to be released from prison

Eighty-one year-old, who has prostate cancer, can now be transferred from Algeria to Germany for medical treatment The French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has been pardoned and is to be released from prison, the Algerian presidential office said in a statement on Wednesday. The move, which will mean Sansal can be transferred to Germany for medical treatment, comes after the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, urged Algeria to free Sansal. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ahj6QuV

England play Generation Game against All Blacks with overhaul of traditional order of selection

Steve Borthwick has picked six British & Irish Lions on his bench with a further nod to the growing importance of the endgame Selecting your best XV to start a big rugby match feels increasingly quaint these days, as redolent of a different era as the Generation Game or Starsky & Hutch. To the point where you half expect to find the home team sheet to face New Zealand this weekend has D-N-A-L-G-N-E printed at the top of it. Even with the All Blacks in town, the traditional order of selection no longer applies. Instead it is all about the endgame. On this occasion Steve Borthwick has picked six British & Irish Lions on his bench compared with only four in his starting lineup. At some point around the 50th minute on Saturday there will be a mass discarding of XXL tracksuits and a whole fresh set of white orcs will rumble on. As South Africa’s “Bomb Squad” have long since shown, it can be mighty hard to combat. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/cviXLWe...

Ghislaine Maxwell eyeing commutation, whistleblower tells House Democrats

Epstein associate is also receiving special treatment in prison, Democrats say, according to whistleblower Ghislaine Maxwell , Jeffrey Epstein ’s longtime associate and co-conspirator who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex-trafficking crimes , is reportedly preparing a “commutation application” for the Trump administration to review, according to new allegations from a whistleblower shared with House Democrats. Democrats on the House judiciary committee announced on Monday that they had received information from a whistleblower that indicates that the British former socialite, 63, is working on filing a commutation application. They also said Maxwell had been receiving special treatment at federal prison camp Bryan in Texas – the minimum-security facility she was transferred to earlier this year. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/l2Gkhs1

WSL roundup: Manchester City go top, Liverpool and West Ham stay winless

City overtake Chelsea with a 2-1 win against Everton West Ham fail to beat Leicester to keep them bottom For a while the mood was buoyant in Dagenham as West Ham fans felt their early season woes were finally lifting. Leading Leicester with four minutes to play, news filtered through that Liverpool had conceded a 93rd-minute equaliser to share the points with Brighton in a 1-1 draw. It meant that three points would lift the Hammers off the bottom of the Women’s Super League for the first time this season. Rehanne Skinner’s and Gareth Taylor’s teams have been in lockstep and they somehow contrived to mirror each other once again. As their relegation rivals had done minutes earlier, the Hammers’ conceded in the 97th minute to burst their supporters’ bubble and drop two points in a 1-1 draw, ensuring the parity between the two continued. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/mxj39rU

Championship roundup: Norwich sack Manning after defeat to Leicester

Leicester condemn Norwich to eighth straight home loss Club: ‘We have no choice other than to make a change’ Liam Manning has been sacked by Norwich in the wake of a 2-1 home defeat by Leicester , which left them 23rd in the Championship, with nine points from 15 games and without a win at Carrow Road since May. The Canaries have lost all seven of their home matches in the Championship this season, with another defeat coming in the Carabao Cup, and are now four points adrift of safety. After going ahead on 62 minutes through Mathias Kvistgaarden’s second goal in successive games, Norwich were pegged back by substitute Bobby Cordova-Reid 10 minutes later and then suffered a nightmare ending when Jordan James headed home a dramatic second for the visitors. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7DHnPEm

US stock market values tumble amid reports of high layoffs and hiring freezes

The S&P 500 index fell 1% as the government shutdown left investors ‘groping around in the dark’ for up-to-date data Fears that the US economy is slowing, with firms shedding jobs and imposing hiring freezes, sent Wall Street tumbling on Thursday. The S&P 500 index of leading firms was down 1% as investors also highlighted concerns about the potential for a slump in the value of businesses that have benefited from huge investments in artificial intelligence. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 1.5%. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/UMg8S7k

Disgraced former king of Spain’s memoir details ‘enormous respect’ for Franco

The book, published 11 years after Juan Carlos’ abdication, chronicles his anointment as heir to the dictator, as well as the death of his younger brother A newly published memoir by Spain’s disgraced former king chronicle his anointment as heir to the dictator Francisco Franco, his role in saving democracy from a coup attempt in 1981 and his grief at the death of his younger brother when the two were “playing” with a pistol as teenagers. The book, published 11 years after Juan Carlos’ abdication and exile, is titled Reconciliation, but it appears to do anything but, instead detailing how he feels abandoned and misunderstood by his son and heir, King Felipe VI, and by other close family members. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/PQYXt0b

Brazil to seek independent inquiry into deadly police raid that killed 121 people

Brazilian president Lula called police assault on two of Rio’s largest clusters of favelas ‘disastrous’ and a ‘massacre’ Brazil ’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , has said his government will seek an independent investigation into what he called a “disastrous” police “massacre” that left at least 121 people dead. Four officers and at least 117 others were killed when police launched a major assault on two of Rio’s largest clusters of favelas, the Complexo do Alemão and the Complexo da Penha, early last Tuesday to execute 100 arrest warrants. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vF1NZ9u

Trump policies loom large over New Jersey’s unpredictable governor’s race

Race between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli is drawing attention as preview of 2026 midterms After last year’s election, when Republicans made significant inroads in the state, New Jersey voters will cast ballots in an off-year, unpredictable gubernatorial race that voters and experts say feels different from any in recent memory. Democrat Mikie Sherrill , a former navy pilot and federal prosecutor who represents New Jersey’s 11th congressional District, is facing Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a businessman and former state lawmaker, who is making his third bid for governor, this time with Donald Trump’s endorsement. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/unXiqFz

Nexperia halts chip supplies to China in threat to global car production

Dutch-controlled company informs customers about suspension but is said to want to de-escalate trade war Nexperia, the EU-based automotive chipmaker at the centre of a geopolitical dispute, has suspended supplies to its Chinese factory, stepping up a trade war that threatens to halt production at carmakers around the world. The company wrote to customers this week informing them all supplies to a Chinese plant had been suspended. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/gRxSrYD

OpenAI thought to be preparing for $1tn stock market float

ChatGPT developer is considering filing for an IPO by the second half of 2026, according to reports OpenAI is reportedly gearing up for a stock market listing valuing the company at $1tn (£76bn) as soon as next year, in what would be one of the biggest ever initial public offerings. The developer behind the hit AI chatbot ChatGPT is considering whether to file for an IPO as soon as the second half of 2026, according to Reuters, which cited people familiar with the matter. The company is thought to be looking to raise at least $60bn. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ajG5q3J

Met museum sued by family over allegedly Nazi-looted Van Gogh painting

New York museum under fire from heirs of Jewish couple allegedly forced to surrender artwork upon fleeing to US The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is being sued by the heirs of a Jewish couple over a Vincent van Gogh oil painting they say was looted by the Nazis. The suit alleges the couple, Hedwig and Frederick Stern, bought the painting, Olive Picking, in 1935, the year before they were forced to flee their home in Munich. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/xQRY5WV

Man arrested after dog walker dies and two injured in west London stabbings

Dog walker was reportedly walking past Uxbridge house where man and child were stabbed Murder detectives are investigating after a man believed to have been walking a dog past a house where a row had broken out was stabbed to death. The man, 49, died in Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge, west London, in an incident where a man and a child were also stabbed. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/dfqDmLG

NHS trust pleads guilty after teenage girl absconded from 24-hour care and killed herself

Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, suffered with severe mental health problems and absconded from Worthing hospital in March 2022 An NHS trust has pleaded guilty to failures over the avoidable death of a teenage girl who killed herself after absconding from 24-hour supervision under its care. Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, who suffered with severe mental health problems, died on 20 March 2022, minutes after leaving the Bluefin acute children’s ward in Worthing hospital, part of University hospitals Sussex NHS trust (UHSussex). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/dlfWQK0

One killed and six injured after shooting at Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University

One armed person detained as historically Black school shooting comes amid rising violence at homecoming events At least one person was killed and six others wounded in a shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania late on Saturday, as students and alumni celebrated homecoming at outdoor festivities at the historically Black university, authorities said. A person who had a firearm was detained, and officials are investigating the possibility that there was more than one shooter but don’t believe there is any active threat to the campus, Chester county’s district attorney, Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe, said during a brief news conference early on Sunday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/HrpTRWJ

Honduran immigrant dies while fleeing ICE, bringing raids death toll to three

Jose Castro Rivera, 24, was killed Thursday morning after running onto a highway and being struck A 24-year-old Honduran man died while trying to flee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Virginia, bringing the death toll among those trying to escape detention in the Trump administration ’s mass deportation crackdown to at least three people. Jose Castro Rivera was killed on Thursday morning after running onto a busy highway and being struck and fatally injured while trying to evade ICE agents, local authorities said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/knVr7lW

I tried everything to get better sleep. These five items actually helped

I tested popular apps, earplugs and a speaker for under a pillow to uncover the secret to getting the elusive rest I need The best sleep masks in the US: I spent six weeks testing 24 masks, and these are my favorites Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things I’ve struggled with a lack of sleep and its after-effects for years. Besides a chronic pain condition that interferes with my sleep schedule, my sensitivity to sound and light means that it doesn’t take much to snap me out of slumber after I get there. At least I’m in good company: according to the National Institutes of Health , more than 50 million Americans struggle with such sleep disorders. After trying almost everything, I finally turned to tech about a year ago. I had skeptically dismissed these sleep-focused devices as snake oil – and some are – but a few have been genuinely helpful. From simple noise-canceling earplugs to a headband that literally interferes with your ...

Dejphon Chansiri and everything that has gone wrong at Sheffield Wednesday

What has happened, why has it happened and what happens now – and could a regulator have prevented this? The owner of Sheffield Wednesday, Dejphon Chansiri, has placed the club into administration . He has done the same with the company that owns Hillsborough, Wednesday’s stadium. As a result, administrators have taken over the day-to-day running of one of England’s historic clubs, with a view to stabilising financial performance and, ultimately, finding a new owner. Going into administration is a measure of last resort for any struggling business and carries sanctions in English football. Sheffield Wednesday have been docked 12 points by the EFL, leaving them adrift at the bottom of the Championship on -6 points, 13 behind Blackburn Rovers, the next side in the table. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/n1LSe3i

The week around the world in 20 pictures

The Louvre heist, daily life in Gaza, Russian strikes on Kyiv and sumo in London: the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Warning: this gallery contains images some readers may find distressing Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jyLsmRe

Danny Röhl off to losing start at Rangers as Brann cruise to victory

Danny Röhl discovered Rangers’ problems run deeper than former boss Russell Martin as the Light Blues were blitzed 3-0 by Brann in Bergen. The 36-year-old German head coach was installed as Martin’s successor on Monday with the Gers sitting sixth in the Premiership and having lost their opening two games in the Europa League to Genk and Sturm Graz. However, a new era at Rangers continued along familiar lines against a side third in the Norwegian top flight. Emil Kornvig scored five minutes before the break to give Freyr Alexandersson’s side a deserved interval lead, Jacob Sørensen added a second after 55 minutes with Noah Holm firing in a third in the 79th minute, on a night when once again the beleaguered Light Blues performed to an embarrassingly low standard. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/4h2Ypbv

US demands EU reverse new climate rules to allow surge in gas imports

US and Qatar say new rules will hinder imports of LNG, posing ‘existential threat’ to European economies The US has demanded that the European Union roll back its climate and human rights rules in order to allow greater imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as the Trump administration approved a controversial gas export hub along the Gulf of Mexico coast. A letter jointly sent by the US and Qatar, two of the three largest LNG exporters in the world, warned the EU that its new rules pose an “existential threat” to European economies as they would hinder imports of gas from countries such as theirs. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/AU4fwrV

Liverpool flight delay adds to troubled buildup to Eintracht Frankfurt trip

Technical problems prevents takeoff for several hours Four-match losing run precedes Champions League game Liverpool’s preparations for their Champions League match at Eintracht Frankfurt have been seriously disrupted after the team’s flight was delayed due to technical problems with the plane. Arne Slot and his squad were scheduled to depart Liverpool John Lennon airport at about 4pm on Tuesday after a training session at the club’s base. However, the flight was delayed for more than three hours, leaving Liverpool’s players waiting in the executive lounge throughout that time. Liverpool had to cancel Slot’s customary pre-match press conference and needed to take off in time to land in Germany before Frankfurt airport closed at 11pm German time (10pm BST). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/lBtAbpq

Grandchildren of Ruth Ellis, last woman to be hanged in UK, ask for pardon

David Lammy urged to consider 1955 case in light of evidence Ellis was abused by partner before she killed him The grandchildren of the last woman to be hanged in the UK are asking ministers to posthumously pardon her in light of evidence that she was emotionally and physically abused by her partner before she killed him. Ruth Ellis was executed in 1955 after killing David Blakely her partner , who she had met while working in the nightclub she managed two years earlier. At the time, she was portrayed as a “cold-blooded killer” but evidence has since emerged that Blakely, a racing-car driver, physically and emotionally abused her. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/NWwydQJ

Nasa looks to other companies for US moon program as Musk’s SpaceX lags behind

Nasa head said agency is opening up contracts for crewed lunar program Artemis after SpaceX had to delay timelines Nasa is looking to contract with other companies for its crewed lunar program as Elon Musk’s SpaceX is “behind” on its timeline, the space agency said on Monday. In an interview with CNBC, Sean Duffy, transportation secretary and interim head of Nasa, said the agency was “not going to wait for one company” as it pushes forward with its Artemis program to get astronauts on to the moon. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/oct/20/nasa-moon-program-elon-musk-spacex

English universities can raise tuition fees if they meet ‘tough’ standards, says Phillipson

Measure, which will allow increase in line with inflation, is part of white paper on post-16 education and skills University tuition fees in England are to rise in line with inflation, but only for institutions that meet “tough new quality thresholds”, the government has announced. In an attempt to put the higher education sector on a firmer financial footing, all institutions will benefit from increased fees for the next two academic years, starting next September, the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, told MPs on Monday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/oct/20/english-universities-can-raise-tuition-fees-if-they-meet-tough-standards-says-phillipson

Rangers’ managerial chaos continues as talks with Kevin Muscat break down

Manager follows Steven Gerrard in failing to agree a deal Ole Gunnar Solskjær also linked with the job Rangers’ messy search for a new manager has suffered its latest blow after talks broke down with Kevin Muscat. The 52-year-old follows Steven Gerrard in failing to agree a deal with the Rangers hierarchy despite detailed and advanced discussions. Danny Röhl, who has admirers on the Ibrox board, ruled himself out of the running after Muscat emerged as a clear favourite. The off-field scenario at Rangers appears increasingly chaotic. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5eVuWdM

Nottingham Forest approach Dyche and Mancini after Postecoglou sacked

Forest moving fast to replace Ange Postecoglou Fulham manager Marco Silva also on shortlist Nottingham Forest have sounded out Sean Dyche and Roberto Mancini regarding their vacancy, after sacking head coach Ange Postecoglou . Evangelos Marinakis, the Forest owner, made the call to sack Postecoglou just 40 days into the job during the club’s 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/c2DGIue

Disgraced former congressman George Santos released from prison in New Jersey

Trump commuted Santos’s seven-year sentence for fraud and identity theft after he had served less than three months Disgraced former US House member George Santos was released from prison in New Jersey late on Friday, hours after the Republican’s seven-year, three-month prison sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft was commuted by Donald Trump . An X statement attributed to Santos’s lawyer, Joseph Murray, called Trump “the greatest president in US history”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/TOkbQ86

Man who fought for Hamas in October 7 attack fled to US and lived in Louisiana, FBI alleges

According to complaint, Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi participated in attack on Israel, then applied for US visa The FBI has accused a Louisiana resident of participating in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 – then lying about his past and fraudulently obtaining a visa to live in the US. According to a recently unsealed FBI criminal complaint, Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi armed himself and gathered a group to cross from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel during the attack that left more than 1,200 people dead. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/WvGNSrE

Al Pacino on co-star and ex-girlfriend Diane Keaton: ‘She lived without limits’

The actor has paid tribute to his Godfather co-star and one-time romantic partner, saying she had a ‘once-in-a-lifetime gift’ Al Pacino has paid tribute to the his co-star and ex-romantic partner Diane Keaton who died last week . The 85-year-old actor had been filming in Paris and reportedly needed some time to put together his thoughts and feelings on Keaton, who died of pneumonia on Saturday at the age of 79. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vhbZlmW

Outcry after US strips visas from six foreigners over Charlie Kirk remarks

Cancellations represent escalating government-wide campaign to suppress criticism of rightwing influencer Civil liberties advocates are warning that the Trump administration’s decision to strip visas from at least six foreign nationals over social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s killing represents yet another example of dangerous government crackdowns on protected speech. On Tuesday, the state department announced it was systematically identifying visa holders who “celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk”, declaring in a social media statement that “the United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/AOHzu7h

Ragdoll review – Patty Hearst inspires an audacious account of power and privilege

Jermyn Street theatre, London Katherine Moar’s bold and taut drama about the kidnapping of a fictional heiress explores the toxic inheritance of the 1970s Katherine Moar’s riveting drama is inspired by the American heiress Patty Hearst who served a prison sentence for a bank robbery organised by a radical leftwing guerrilla group, the Symbionese Liberation Army. She had been abducted by the group months earlier and her court testimony told of how she was locked in a closet and raped during captivity. This memory play traces the fallout of such a case through a fictional encounter between heiress Holly (Abigail Cruttenden) and the attorney Robert (Nathaniel Parker) who lost her case. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/oiZbKYn

Sheila Canby obituary

American art historian and museum curator with a special focus on Iran and the Islamic world For more than four decades, Sheila Canby, who has died aged 76 from complications of lung cancer, devoted her working life to Islamic art, and to the arts of Iran in particular. She published extensively, created groundbreaking exhibitions – notably at the British Museum in London – and oversaw the installation of new galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/x7r8623

Asylum seeker accused of killing Walsall hotel worker seen ‘clearly excited’ after attack, jury told

Rhiannon Skye Whyte, 27, was stabbed 23 times with a screwdriver after shift at hotel where Deng Chol Majek lived An asylum seeker accused of stabbing a hotel worker 23 times with a screwdriver and leaving her to die was seen dancing and laughing in the aftermath of the attack, a murder trial jury has heard. Deng Chol Majek, who claims to be 19, was “clearly excited about what he had done” after inflicting fatal wounds on Rhiannon Skye Whyte, who worked in the hotel where he was living, Wolverhampton crown court heard. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/okalpn2

Miss Major, trailblazing US trans rights activist and Stonewall veteran, dies aged 78

Longtime organizer and founder of House of gg earned reputation as champion for liberation of Black trans women Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a trailblazer of the transgender rights movement , longtime community organizer and veteran of the Stonewall riots, died on Monday, her representatives announced. The acclaimed activist died at her home in Little Rock, Arkansas, surrounded by family, the House of gg (the final organization she founded and led) announced. She was 78, and the group’s statement did not give a cause of death. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/TwXNREG

Cape Verde seal historic debut place at World Cup 2026 and deny Cameroon

Blue Sharks beat Eswatini 3-0 to top qualifying group Cameroon second in Group D after draw with Angola Cape Verde have booked their place as debutants at the 2026 World Cup after a 3-0 home victory over Eswatini secured top spot in their African qualifying group. With a population of just under 525,000, the tiny Atlantic island nation will become the second-smallest country by population to play at a men’s World Cup finals, behind only Iceland, who qualified in 2018. More to follow Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vrqI3Nb

Obama takes aim at companies cutting deals with Trump: ‘We have capacity to take a stand’

Universities, law firms and businesses that have changed course should have stood by convictions, says ex-president Barack Obama took aim at institutions and businesses who made deals or worked out settlements with the Trump administration , noting on a new podcast episode: “We all have this capacity, I think, to take a stand.” In a talk with Marc Maron on the comedian’s last edition of his long-running WTF With Marc Maron , the former US president said institutions – including law firms, universities and businesses – that have changed course during the Trump administration should have stood by their convictions. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/frijNIh

Madagascar’s president says illegal power grab by military is under way

Soldiers from elite Capsat unit have announced they are taking over after weeks of youth-led protests Madagascar’s president said an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force” was under way, as an elite military unit that joined protesters on the streets on Saturday announced it was taking over the army. The Capsat unit’s intervention comes after weeks of youth-led protests, which started on 25 September against water and electricity shortages and expanded to calling for the resignation of the president, Andry Rajoelina, an end to corruption and radical overhaul of the political system. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/shCKM6n

Readers reply: Why do people become leftwing or rightwing?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts Why do people become leftwing or rightwing? Is it nature or nurture? Jane Shaw, France Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zyYnUVB

Australia chase down record score to defeat India in Women’s Cricket World Cup epic

Australia win by three wickets after being set 331 Captain Alyssa Healy sets tone with knock of 142 Australia completed a record women’s one-day international chase as Alyssa Healy’s commanding 142 powered the defending champions to a three-wicket win over India on Sunday. Set 331 for victory in the Women’s Cricket World Cup group-stage game, Australia reached their target with six balls to spare after Ellyse Perry guided her side home with an unbeaten 47 alongside Kim Garth. The victory, their third in four matches, lifted Australia to the top of the standings while hosts India are third after suffering a second straight defeat, having lost to South Africa earlier. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Ny8CclW

Aston Villa must stop crying foul and focus on the Europa League instead | Jonathan Wilson

There is no grand PSR conspiracy against Unai Emery’s side. They should be challenging Newcastle or Tottenham for fifth Four wins in a row, seven games unbeaten and suddenly life does not seem so bad for Aston Villa. They are up into mid-table and if a 2-0 victory over Feyenoord in the Europa League will not quite live in the memory in the way last season’s games against Bayern Munich , Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain do, a return to Rotterdam at least evoked the glory days of 1982. It will be a while yet before the frustration at missing out on the Champions League fades, but there does now seem to be a gathering recognition that Villa have a decent chance of winning the Europa League, potentially adding Istanbul’s Besiktas Park to De Kuip as a venue where they have won a European trophy. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/M9xSWdw

Trump’s strong-arming of Netanyahu led to a deal. He must sustain that pressure | Mohamad Bazzi

The US president long refused to use his influence over the prime minister. Last month, that appeared to change After nearly nine months in office, Donald Trump seems to have had enough of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, undermining his ambition to establish himself as a global peacemaker. Over the past few weeks, the US president finally decided to use his leverage to force Netanyahu to accept a new ceasefire and stop two years of genocidal war in Gaza. On Thursday, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, including an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory. It’s unclear what guarantees the US gave to Hamas and Arab mediators to ensure that Netanyahu would not resume the war after the hostage-prisoner swap – if negotiations on later stages of the deal are stalled. That’s what happened earlier this year, when Netanyahu accepted a truce that took effect in J...

Vicious review – Dakota Fanning’s evil box horror is an open-and-shut dud

The Strangers writer-director Brian Bertino struggles to get scares out of this poorly paced and increasingly incoherent disappointment Every now and then, Hollywood comes across a hit that can’t be neatly replicated, a one-off success story that should be praised, noted and promptly left well alone. The Strangers wasn’t supposed to do all that much back in 2008, released almost two years after it was made on the cheap, pushed around the schedule like it was toxic waste. But it was a surprise summer sleeper, making almost 10 times its budget and quickly entering the horror iconography hall of fame, with its nightmarishly mismatched masked villains and the chillingly hollow “Because you were home” non-explanation. A tortured decade of stop-start attempts to make a follow-up finally resulted in 2018’s underwhelming remix The Strangers: Prey at Night , a sequel entirely devoid of the clammy tension that made the original so unbearably effective. That really should have been the last hur...

Plaid Cymru leader predicts two-horse race with Reform in Welsh elections

Rhun ap Iorwerth says 2026 Senedd vote will pitch vision against division but will not be a poll on independence The leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has said next year’s Welsh parliament elections will be a two-horse race between his party and Reform UK. Ap Iorwerth said voters could choose to back Plaid’s vision of a progressive Wales or face the division upon which Reform thrives. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/T4J1w0t

Musk’s X settles lawsuit with ex-Twitter executives over $128m in unpaid severance

Four former executives say Musk falsely accused them of misconduct and fired them after he acquired the company Elon Musk and X have settled with four former top executives at Twitter, including the former CEO, who accused the billionaire of failing to pay $128m in promised severance pay after he acquired the social media company in 2022 and fired them. The former executives say that Musk falsely accused them of misconduct and forced them out of Twitter after they sued him for attempting to renege on his offer to buy the company. The plaintiffs are Parag Agrawal, Twitter’s former CEO; Ned Segal, Twitter’s former chief financial officer; Vijaya Gadde, its former chief legal officer; and Sean Edgett, its former general counsel. Musk and X have denied wrongdoing and said the executives were fired over their performance. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Ml5Xv4L

England’s golden generation were egotistical losers, says Steven Gerrard

Blames ‘culture within’ for squad’s lack of success Claims he has ‘unfinished business’ in management Steven Gerrard has described himself and the other stars of England’s so-called golden generation as “egotistical losers” who could not see beyond club-level rivalries and did not deliver on their potential because of an unfriendly environment. The former Liverpool captain, speaking as a guest on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, also admitted that he hated being away with the England squad. Gerrard won 114 caps, the first of them coming in 2000, and he appeared at six major tournaments. Yet success eluded him, with one of the major issues being the cliques from Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/NMmGkcs

Everyone wants answers for former rugby players like Lewis Moody but they are hard to come by | Andy Bull

Some studies find an increased MND risk for rugby players, others show the risk is equally high for others. The only way forward is more research Lewis Moody, 47, is the latest in a long line of players who has been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease that may or may not be linked to his career in collision sport. Over the past decade I’ve interviewed more of these men, and their friends and families, than I ever wanted to. Many of them chose to first reveal their diagnoses in the Guardian. First there’s the shock, then the sorrow, then the expressions of sympathy and support. And after all that, a lot of hard questions that are left unaddressed. The one thing everyone involved wants is clear answers, and unfortunately, they are very hard to come by. The current science can only tell you so much. The Motor Neurone Disease Association’s position is that the latest research suggests a correlation between traumatic brain injuries and MND, but that the same research has not prove...

Lack of school closure plan ‘an extraordinary dereliction of duty’, Covid inquiry told

Academy trust head Jon Coles says he nearly fell off his chair when Gavin Williamson said no plan was in place The leader of one of the largest academy trusts in England has described the Department for Education’s failure to do any planning for school closures before lockdown in March 2020 as “an extraordinary dereliction of duty”. Jon Coles, the chief executive of United Learning, told the UK Covid-19 inquiry he nearly fell off his chair when he read a statement from Gavin Williamson, the education secretary at the time, in which he said there was zero planning for closures because the priority was keeping schools open. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/cGERuhT

Postecoglou enters talks intent on keeping job at Nottingham Forest

Defeat at Newcastle is his seventh match without a win ‘You have to be up for the fight and the struggle’ Ange Postecoglou is determined to convince Nottingham Forest’s board to retain faith in his ­managerial ­philosophy when he holds talks with the club’s owner, Evangelos ­Marinakis, this week. The Australian was in defiant, almost jocular form after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle . It extended the manager’s winless run to seven games since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo last month. Yet Postecoglou, who unusually started with a back five, detected signs of progress as he prepared for vital talks with directors to discuss the future. “Yes, it’s a lost cause,” he said, sarcastically. “I see it as an exciting opportunity. You have to be up for the fight and the struggle. I’d be silly to be sitting here at the age of 60 if I lacked self-belief or fight. Even in the schoolyard I picked fights with people that beat me up.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.t...