News Update Today, Breaking News | Read Now

WRU chair says ‘system was essentially broken’ in Wales Fan group insists there is ‘no appetite for a merger’ Richard Collier-Keywood, the embattled chair of the Welsh Rugby Union, has insisted he has the support of fans and players in Wales as the WRU attempts to drive through radical plans to cut one of the four professional sides. Giving evidence before the House of Commons Welsh affairs select committee, Collier-Keywood – who is facing the threat of a vote of no confidence in his leadership – said he believed “the rugby system was essentially broken” in Wales before he took over and there was widespread acknowledgment that it needed to change. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/SZgt6HW

Donald Trump opens White House briefing touting a stack of papers labeled ‘accomplishments’ on the anniversary of his second inaurguation The supreme court did not issue a decision today on the legality of Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs. It’s not immediately clear the next date the court will issue opinions. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/HmTCtbq

France winger left San Diego Wave by mutual agreement Daniëlle van de Donk delights in London City debut London City Lionesses have signed the France winger Delphine Cascarino on a three-and-a-half year deal, the Women’s Super League newcomers continuing their eye-catching recruitment drive by acquiring another highly rated international. The 28-year-old won six Champions League titles with OL Lyonnes. Her most recent club was the NWSL side San Diego Wave, with whom she parted ways on Sunday by mutual agreement, having wanted to move back closer to home. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zbnkBZY

Unai Emery did not hold back. In his programme notes – at least the words were attributed to him – the Aston Villa manager turned to caps lock. “THIS MATCH IS CRUCIAL,” he said, spying an opportunity. After Arsenal and Manchester City dropped points, a golden chance to return second and cut the leaders’ advantage to four points. Everton, however, had other ideas and approaching the hour Thierno Barry pounced on a Emiliano Martínez fumble after a Pau Torres lapse to condemn Villa to a punishing defeat. They are almost unheard of around here, this only a third home league defeat since the start of last season. For David Moyes, who bounced back from the setback of Jake O’Brien’s first-half header being disallowed because an offside Harrison Armstrong was deemed to be interfering with play, this was a major triumph. For Villa, this threatened to be a frustrating afternoon from the moment Merlin Röhl clinked a post inside 11 seconds and things went from bad to worse when John McGinn was fo...

Warner Bros is also being pursued by Paramount Skydance, helmed by David Ellison, son of president’s ally Donald Trump bought at least $1m worth of bonds in Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), according to a financial disclosure form, days after he said would “be involved” in a proposed merger between the two companies. The White House released a financial disclosure report on Friday which showed that Trump made two purchases from Netflix and two purchases from WBD, each amounting to at least $502,000. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/s7wakET

Actor held without bond in New Mexico on child abuse charges stemming from twin brothers’ complaint With allegations of prior sexual misconduct against him continuing to mount, Timothy Busfield received an expression of support from his wife and fellow actor, Melissa Gilbert – as he was also ordered held without bond in connection with on-set child abuse charges in New Mexico. A statement that a representative for Gilbert, known best for her work on Little House on the Prairie, shared with media outlets said she “supports her husband” and was keeping “her focus … on supporting and caring for their … family, as they navigate this moment”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/b0upCx3

Newly appointed Malcolm Offord, who became a Tory life peer in 2021, plans to stand for Holyrood in May UK politics live – latest updates The multimillionaire financier who has been made leader of Reform UK in Scotland has refused to say how wealthy he is, claiming that is a private matter. Malcolm Offord, formerly a Conservative party life peer, was announced by Reform’s leader, Nigel Farage, as the party’s first Scottish leader, 10 weeks before a Scottish parliament election in which Reform is expected to win up to 18 seats. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/8yxSlq1

Apparent suicide of Alexei Panov comes after disappearance of oligarch Vladislav Baumgertner and amid corruption scandal Europe live – latest updates Authorities in Cyprus are investigating the “unnatural death” of a diplomat at the Russian embassy. “The incident at the embassy is being treated as an unnatural death because it seems, based on the autopsy, it was a suicide,” said Cyprus’s police spokesperson, Vyron Vyronos. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/m2TOetN

Bath fly-half up against fellow Scot Duhan van der Merwe ‘I’d imagine there’ll be a couple of late shots,’ he says Finn Russell is braced for a potentially bruising reunion with his Scottish international teammates but is intent on winning the “bragging rights” when Bath host Edinburgh on Friday in their Champions Cup pool decider. Russell has already messaged Duhan van der Merwe to warn him to expect a tough night and says the English champions are seeking to sharpen their attacking game in pursuit of a crucial home draw for the knockout phase. With the victorious side at the Rec set to top pool 2, Scotland’s playmaker is anticipating a physical examination from an Edinburgh team he knows extremely well. “I’d imagine there’ll be a couple of late shots and being held on the ground which is always the case when you’re against your old side,” said Russell, who spent the first half of his professional career at Glasgow Warriors. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://if...

Maitlin Paige White accused of soliciting donations as Matthew Childress, whose daughter died at Camp Mystic A Florida woman allegedly posed as the grieving father of a teenager who died in July’s deadly Camp Mystic flooding in Texas and tried to raise money, leading to her being criminally charged with online impersonation, according to authorities. According to court records reviewed by multiple outlets, Maitlin Paige White, 28, of Crestview, Florida, is accused of posing as Matthew Childress and soliciting donations in the days after the death of his 18-year-old daughter, Chloe Childress, who was working as a counselor at Camp Mystic in Kerr county, Texas. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/IP8SFrM

Also: advice to reduce screen time, how to maximize your toaster oven, the best gloves and at-home fitness staples This piece was originally published in the Filter US newsletter on buying fewer, better things. Sign up here to get early access to it Each week we cut through the noise to bring you smart, practical recommendations on how to live better – from what is worth buying to the tools, habits and ideas that actually last. At this time last year, I was a full-time student, throwing on the requisite leggings and an oversized sweatshirt for evening classes and late-night library sessions. This year, I’ve joined countless others in office life, zipping in and out of conference rooms and hopping on video calls for interviews and meetings. I love any excuse to shop, but many office-friendly pieces, including pricey blazers and crisp button-downs, are far outside my price range. The 27 best fashion gifts in the US – curated by our favorite stylists and creators Eight winter clo...

Celtic win 4-0, equalling biggest victory of the season Bowie scores equaliser as Hibs and Motherwell draw 1-1 Martin O’Neill warned Celtic could be in trouble if they do not strengthen their squad despite resuming his supervision of the team with a 4-0 victory over Dundee United . A dominant display seemingly banished concerns there might be lasting damage from Wilfried Nancy’s brief but torrid tenure , when Celtic lost six out of eight games. O’Neill returned to oversee a first clean sheet since his final game in caretaker charge and equal the two biggest wins of the Premiership season, which also came under his watch. Two first-half goals in five minutes, from Yang Hyun-jun and Arne Engels, sent Celtic on their way, with substitute Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda scoring after the break. “We played really well,” said the 73-year-old. “It was nice to see players performing well, playing with confidence, and it was just nice to win.” This story will be updated Continue re...

Nicolás Maduro seized, Russian drone strikes rock Kyiv, anti-ICE protests erupt in Minneapolis and Storm Goretti lashes Britain – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/pfhuPMw

Lawsuit accuses AI chatbots of harming minors and includes case of Sewell Setzer III, who killed himself in 2024 Google and Character.AI, a startup, have settled lawsuits filed by families accusing artificial intelligence chatbots of harming minors, including contributing to a Florida teenager’s suicide, according to court filings on Wednesday. The settlements cover lawsuits filed in Florida, Colorado, New York and Texas, according to the legal filings, though they still require finalization and court approval. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ljaySO3

Mayor Jacob Frey called the Department of Homeland Security’s justification for the killing of a woman during an immigration operation ‘bullshit’ Minnesota woman fatally shot by ICE agent during raid, video shows Miranda Bryant , the Guardian’s Nordic correspondent, also has written this handy explainer on why Donald Trump is renewing calls for a takeover of Greenland : Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/NUfoMx3

But some argue new ‘Smart Play’ technology undermines the Danish construction toy’s gift for harnessing a child’s own imagination It may be time to retire that hyperspace zoom noise you perfected while playing with Lego spacecraft. No longer must you “pshww-pshww” to convince your playmate their enemy space station has been doomed by your lasers. “Smart” bricks, with play-sensitive miniature speakers, are being added to the arsenal of the Lego enthusiast in a move the Danish toy giant believes will combine creative play with technology without the need for a screen. The smart bricks – in the shape of a normal two-by-four Lego brick – are being launched in three Star Wars-themed sets and are powered by a custom-made chip smaller than a single Lego stud. When installed in Luke Skywalker’s X-wing fighter, they make the required “woosh” noises, depending on how the player twists and turns the craft through the air. The hard-to-impersonate bleeps and blips of the droid R2D2 are also repli...

⚽ Premier League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Follow us on Bluesky | And email Billy The table: Just to underline how important this game is to both sides, this is how the bottom five looks in the Premier League. Defeat for West Ham tonight and it’s a seven-point gap to safety. It is unclear how quickly an agreement will be reached for Wilson to leave West Ham … There are indications the former Newcastle striker’s departure may come towards the end of the transfer window, but is unclear whether as free agent or if West Ham will try to sell him. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bWrNCPS

William Defoor, 26, to appear in court Tuesday after arrest for alleged attack on vice-president’s Cincinnati home A man arrested during an incident where someone appeared to be trying to break into the Ohio house of JD Vance with a hammer is to appear in court on Tuesday. The vice-president on Monday thanked law enforcement in Ohio for arresting someone he referred to as a “crazy person” who had turned up at his Cincinnati home overnight. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/p6Er8tj

Cricket veteran in good spirits and hopeful of moving out of intensive care as recovery continues Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Damien Martyn is awake and talking, one week after being placed into an induced coma in a Gold Coast hospital with meningitis. The 54-year-old has been able to talk with friends and family, including ex-teammate Adam Gilchrist, and is said to be overwhelmed with the support offered. “It’s been an unbelievable turn of events in the last 48 hours,” Gilchrist said in a statement. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/h56qnc7

The operation to capture the Venezuelan president and his wife involved at least 150 aircraft, months of surveillance – and reportedly a spy in the government It took the US two hours and 28 minutes to snatch President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the small hours of Saturday morning, an extraordinary display of imperial power that plunges 30 million Venezuelans into a profound uncertainty. But it was also months in the planning. Critical to Operation Absolute Resolve was the work of the CIA and other US intelligence agencies. From as early as August, their goal was to establish Maduro’s “pattern of life”, or as Gen Dan Caine, the chair of the US joint chiefs of staff, described it, to “understand how he moved, where he lived, where he travelled, what he ate, what he wore, what were his pets”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/f3J8qZW

Aston Villa continue to surpass expectations as they bounced back from defeat by Arsenal to cement their place in the top three with an 11th straight home win. Ollie Watkins celebrated his 250th appearance for the club with his fourth goal in three games and John McGinn added two more after the interval. Villa’s ability to score out of next to nothing epitomises their season. They managed this game superbly, inflicting a fourth straight defeat on Nottingham Forest, but if the league table was made up of their expected goals difference they would have started this weekend in 15th place. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Nq3HsIl

Updates from Alexandra Palace semis, from 7.30pm GMT Follow us on Bluesky | And get in touch: email Niall Luke Littler Age: 18. From: Warrington. Seeded: No 1. Nickname: The Nuke. Title odds: 1-2. Path to the final: R1 bt Labanauskas 3-0, R2 bt Davies 3-0; R3 bt Sulovic 4-0; R4 bt Cross 4-2; QF bt Ratajski 5-0. Best worlds performance: Champion (2025). Ryan Searle Age: 38. From: Devon. Seeded: No 20. Nickname: Heavy Metal. Title odds: 22-1. Path to the final: R1 bt Landman 3-0, R2 bt Dolan 3-0; R3 by Schindler 4-0; R4 bt Hurrell 4-0; QF bt Clayton 5-2. Best worlds performance: Semi-finalist (2026). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/tIDBgry

⚽ Premier League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail John Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin, Xhaka, Geertruida, Mayenda, Le Fee, Adingra, Brobbey. Subs: Patterson, Neil, Rigg, O’Nien, Mundle, Isidor, Hjelde, Harrison Jones, Tutierov. Man City: Donnarumma, Matheus Luiz, Dias, Ake, O’Reilly, Silva, Gonzalez, Foden, Savio, Cherki, Haaland. Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Doku, Rodri, Gvardiol, Khusanov, Mukasa, Lewis, Reigan Heskey. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/JzySNrm