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Agony and ecstasy in La Liga after a survival battle for the ages | Sid Lowe

At the end of a ‘crazy, crazy day’, Elche were safe. But opponents, Girona, were down with Mallorca and Oviedo Eder Sarabia wasn’t out there to see the tightest, tensest battle there has ever been end with liberation at last, but his mum and dad were and he wasn’t far away. Suspended for the final night of a season like no other, Elche’s coach was hidden down in the dressing room instead, watching the game that he knew was “us or them” on a TV set perched precariously upon a metal crate. There, as staff ran in and out delivering messages until it was his turn to set off on a sprint, he saw the match that defined five teams’ fate finish 1-1. Mobile in hand, alerts beeping, most of all he saw suffering. “Terrible, terrible, terrible,” he called it later, but by then at least it was done. Elche were safe. Their opponents, Girona, were down. Real Mallorca, like Real Oviedo, were going with them. “Crazy, crazy day, crazy match, a lot of emotions: this league was really crazy,” Sarabia sai...

Overheated chemical tank in southern California ‘will fail’, EPA chief says

Lee Zeldin says ‘low-volume release’ of flammable chemicals is most likely amid fears of explosion at Orange county facility near Disneyland Government officials in Orange county, California , have warned that an overheated chemical tank “will fail” and could result in a chemical explosion in the area, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator said on Sunday. “We’re being told that the tank will fail, but there are different scenarios as to what that means,” Lee Zeldin, told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. Zeldin, a former Republican congressman with no prior experience in environmental policy, was chosen by Trump as the head of the EPA . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5BQlwkE

F1 2026: Canadian Grand Prix race updates – live

️ Lap-by-lap news from Montreal race (9pm BST) ️ Send your thoughts to Alex by email here “We had a meeting yesterday and it’s all good, everything is settled,” says a smiling Kimi Antonelli as he’s asked trackside about his flashpoint with George Russell during yesterday’s sprint race . Toto Wolff will not want a repeat of Canada last year when two teammates – McLaren, not Mercedes – collided on the track. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Ly8rnHp

F1 Canadian Grand Prix: qualifying – live

Follow latest updates from Montreal (Q1 at 9pm BST) Russell wins sprint race with Antonelli third | Email Philip Ouch. Lance Stroll’s car is in pieces. Suspension problem, Collins diagnoses. Lewis Hamilton zooms by on a scooter, setting a good example to any watching kids by wearing a helmet. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/IGrVswK

Pajor’s brilliance delivers Women’s Champions League victory for Barcelona against Lyonnes

Five times the bridesmaid, finally the bride, the Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor shrugged off the pain of all her Champions League final losses, scoring twice, as they punished a profligate Lyonnes to earn a fourth European title. Pajor stole the show, before Salma Paralluelo’s sublime double at the death doubled their tally. The Polish forward moved two goals clear of Alessia Russo’s nine to secure this season’s golden boot, but it was the trophy with sweeping ribbon-like handles that was all Pajor coveted. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/6mGlWPx

Domestic abuse law fails to recognise danger of tech abuse, Lords committee told

Policy adviser Jen Reed says tech-facilitated abuse has become ‘increasingly prevalent’ and calls for its inclusion in Domestic Abuse Act The Domestic Abuse Act fails to fully recognise the danger of technology-facilitated abuse, such as location tracking or hidden stalkerware, a Lords select committee has heard. Tech abuse has become “increasingly prevalent” and “very commonplace now within a domestic abuse context”, said Jen Reed, the head of policy at University College London’s Gender and Tech Research Lab, during an evidence session. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/UK7pre2

San Francisco turns to AI to save whales from ship strikes as deaths soar

Climate change is pushing starving grey whales to San Francisco Bay, where ship strikes led to 40% of 21 deaths Ferries, cargo ships and tankers cut through choppy waters in the San Francisco Bay on Tuesday as a whale surfaced nearby, its spout barely visible against the white caps. Until now, whales could easily go unnoticed by mariners, but an AI-powered detection network launched this week is designed to track them day and night. The system, called WhaleSpotter, scans the bay around the clock for whale blows and heat signatures up to 2 nautical miles away, alerting mariners to slow down or reroute when whales are nearby. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nIrNeV1

Married at First Sight contestants urged to contact police over rape allegations

Metropolitan police says it is yet to receive criminal reports following claims made in BBC programme Police have urged potential victims of sexual assault who appeared on Married at First Sight (MAFS) UK to contact them, after female participants made allegations of rape and sexual misconduct. A BBC Panorama episode that aired on Monday evening documented accusations from contestants about their time on the reality TV show. Two women, who are not named, alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands, while a third woman who agreed to be identified, Shona Manderson, accused her on-screen husband of taking things too far during sex. All the men deny the claims. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/WeT83tq

West Ham could have to raise £100m in player sales if they are relegated

Club reported £104.2m loss in last set of accounts Bowen, Fernandes and Summerville would have suitors West Ham will be under pressure to raise more than £100m through player sales if they are relegated. The club reported a loss of £104.2m in their last set of accounts and their financial problems will deepen if they are no longer in the Premier League. They are on the brink of going down after losing 3-1 at Newcastle on Sunday . Their fate will in effect be confirmed if Tottenham draw at ­Chelsea on Tuesday night and sealed if Spurs win. West Ham are realistic enough to know they will probably be in the Championship next season. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/RPTlpaA

Farm Fatale review – freaky scarecrows make hay out of climate crisis

Southbank Centre, London Between a sci-fi concert for eggs and an interview with a bee, the scarecrow broadcasters in Philippe Quesne’s oddball performance piece make the case for art as salvation and for farms as the lifeblood of humanity Bump into one of these scarecrows at night and you’d be forgiven for running a mile. But stick around to listen to this hay-laden gang of crop-protector castaways, who no longer have crops to protect nor birds to scare thanks to the climate crisis, and you’ll see they have only good intentions. The sensorily ambitious Farm Fatale joins five scarecrows with faces of melted plastic and voices of children swallowed by machines in the artificial studio of their pirate radio station. It is set in the near future, when the air is hard to breathe and birdsong is recorded. The only people getting by are the industrial farmers capitalising on the ruin of others. When the scarecrows interview a bee, with a microphone charmingly taped to a pitchfork, the little...

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ motley crew brought a burst of fun to the NBA playoffs

The Wolves probably won’t win a title without big roster changes, but their postseason run made their case as one of the league’s most entertaining teams The Minnesota Timberwolves are out of the NBA playoffs . It’s a miracle it took this long. In their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, they saw two starters and another key reserve suffer significant injuries . The Nuggets entered the series on a 12-game winning streak and were favored from the jump. After somehow winning that series in six games, finding Denver’s weak points and pummeling them until they broke, the Wolves met an even more daunting opponent in the San Antonio Spurs. Though they’d have been forgiven for tiredly accepting a sweep, the Wolves swiped Game 1 on the Spurs’ home floor, then a close Game 4 at home. After that, the tank finally ran empty. But even in the losses – including Friday night’s in Game 6 – the Wolves found ways to frighten. They’d go down 18-3 and then tie the game by the end of the fir...

New Zealand sink England in rain-hit final women’s ODI to tie series

3rd ODI: England 181-7; NZ 141-4. NZ win by 17 runs (DLS) Play halted with tourists ahead on DLS – series drawn 1-1 New Zealand shared the series spoils – and the ICC Championship points – after winning the final one-day international at Cardiff on Saturday with six wickets in hand. Lauren Bell had initially reduced the tourists to 40 for three, before giving everyone a scare for next month’s World Cup when she toppled over in her follow-through and briefly left the field for treatment. She returned to bowl the 26th over of New Zealand’s run-chase, but the umpires called a halt to proceedings shortly afterwards. By then, a combination of Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze had batted together for long enough and with enough assertiveness to ensure New Zealand were well ahead on DLS to level the series 1-1. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/cJprX7I

Thirteen years in the making: Madrid’s search for a saviour set to end in Mourinho return

The idea that one day Mourinho might return to the Bernabéu had hung in the air, if not really as a serious possibility. Now the impossible is probable The last time José Mourinho was at the Santiago Bernabéu, he parked up in the bus. That night in late February the Benfica manager was suspended, a red card from the first leg of the Champions League playoff meaning he wasn’t allowed on the touchline he had prowled 13 years and a lifetime ago, so Real Madrid prepared a media booth for him to watch from. Situated on the eighth floor, Spanish radio to the left of him, Portuguese to the right, Cabin No 6 had been supplied with nuts, fruit, salad and jamón sandwiches. As kick-off approached, a crowd gathered by the door. But if the camera phones were out, he wasn’t. Mourinho never showed. Instead, he stayed in the basement 10 floors below, watching from an iPad on board the bus and leaving the post-match press conference to his assistant, João Tralhão. The next time he comes, which could b...

American poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney wins Dylan Thomas prize for ‘blistering’ debut poetry collection

The £20,000 award for writers aged 39 or under goes to Joy Is My Middle Name, a collection about navigating race, addiction and womanhood A debut poetry collection with themes including race, addiction and womanhood has won this year’s Swansea University Dylan Thomas prize . American poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney took home the £20,000 prize – awarded to writers aged 39 or under in honour of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who died at that age – for her debut collection Joy Is My Middle Name. She was announced as the winner at a ceremony in Swansea, Thomas’s birthplace. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ptjb3ka

Forgiveness of a Monster review – psychodrama jostles with standup in foggy autofiction

Sherman theatre, Cardiff Connor Allen’s autobiographical show is a twister that winds in everything from gothic mystery to therapy sessions in an ambitious, rather incoherent mix Connor Allen’s autobiographical show features plenty of smoke and mirrors, literal and figurative. Smoke swirls from a pit on a darkened stage, jagged mirrors stand like rocks across it. It is an emotionally anguished play featuring a mixed-heritage protagonist (played by Allen) who has been abandoned by his Jamaican father and raised by his Welsh mother. His inability to forgive his father takes him back to Jamaica where he experiences a psychic watershed. This twister of a drama shifts ambitiously in form and tone, sliding between gothic thriller, family psychodrama and standup-style direct address at one point when Allen interacts with the audience with tipples of gin in warmly comic tones. At Sherman theatre, Cardiff , until 23 May Continue reading... from The Guardian htt...

Man sentenced to two years in prison for stealing unreleased Beyoncé music

Kelvin Evans pleads guilty to stealing hard drives and laptops from a car before singer’s Atlanta tour dates in 2025 A man arrested for stealing hard drives containing unreleased Beyoncé music has pleaded guilty in an Atlanta court on Tuesday. Kelvin Evans was arrested by the Atlanta police department in September in connection to a July 2025 car robbery where two suitcases containing Beyoncé music and tour plans were stolen from a rental car. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/afB8mS2

Keegan Bradley targets Ryder Cup 2027 return as player after haunting captaincy stint

‘It’s going to be really hard … but how fun would that be?’ Bradley is in field for this week’s PGA Championship Keegan Bradley still reflects on the pain of captaining the United States to a home Ryder Cup defeat last year but says he would love to make the 2027 team as a player. Bradley took full responsibility as his USA side endured a chastening first two days at Bethpage Black last September, slipping to a record 11.5-4.5 deficit, before a valiant fightback fell short. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/V1OU9YI

Premier League set to reject extended powers for VAR next season

VAR will rule on corners and second yellows at World Cup PGMO fears change will put more pressure on officials The Premier League is to reject widening the scope of VAR next season after talks with the refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO). Under a regulation change approved by the International Football Association Board (Ifab) in February, the video assistant referee will be permitted to rule on the award of corners and second yellow cards from next month, with referees to use the powers at the World Cup after a request from Fifa. Ifab has made the new law discretionary, however, allowing leagues and competitions to decide whether to adopt it. The Premier League’s final decision will be made by the clubs at their annual general meeting next month, but PGMO has advised against extending the use of VAR. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7BkyUe5

Wizards eye Dybantsa, Boozer, Peterson and Wilson at No 1 after winning NBA draft lottery

Washington last picked No 1 overall in 2010 Wizards had worst record in the NBA this season The league’s worst team this season are getting the No 1 pick in the NBA draft. The Washington Wizards won the draft lottery on Sunday and are poised to pick first overall for the first time since choosing John Wall in that spot in 2010. Wall was the Wizards’ on-stage representative for this year’s lottery. Utah won the right to pick No 2, Memphis will pick No 3 and Chicago will pick No 4. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zpxD5j0

Foal review – British Asian’s search for belonging ripples between tenderness and rage

Finborough theatre, London Titas Halder’s raw solo play relays one young man’s feverish struggle in the face of racism, deftly played by Amar Chadha-Patel in his stage debut Titas Halder’s striking new one-man play is about a young British Asian man, A.K., growing up in Britain and experiencing increasingly brutal incidents of racism: bullying in the playground; casual jibes at work; parents who no longer feel safe in their family home. And at the centre of it all: a funny and sensitive man, struggling to find himself and fracturing in two. This is a strangely arresting production but there are some issues too. It feels like there’s a fairly specific play hiding in here but we’re only given scraps of details. A.K. spends his youth growing up on unnamed “Island” and later moves to the city, where he lives in a dingy flat on Seven Sisters Road. There are fleeting references to Walkmans in his childhood and, later, an allusion to the murder of Jean Charles de Menezes but the writing wav...

Fabio Wardley v Daniel Dubois: boxing heavyweight title – live

Main-event ring-walks scheduled for 11pm BST Wardley v Dubois is bout of uncertainty | Mail Alex “A real Rocky moment for Zak Chelli,” reckons Carl Frampton . It certainly was – the full-time supply teacher/boxer will be the talk of his school on Monday morning. Wow! We’ve had a stunning stoppage victory already in Manchester – and it isn’t the main event. Fulham’s Zak Chelli, a supply teacher by trade, has produced a sensational upset to defeat the Cuban former world champion David Morrell. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Bz6YMO4

‘Your homes will be destroyed, your family killed’: the US has dropped millions of war propaganda leaflets – but do they work?

An exhibit of psyops leaflets released in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya finally shows American people the messages that were made in their name By Moustafa Bayoumi For over a century, the United States military has been dropping propaganda leaflets in deliberate psychological operations, or psyops, to achieve success in war. But the key question behind the effort remains unanswered: does it even work? In 1918, the US released more than 3m leaflets behind enemy lines by plane and hydrogen balloon. To their delight, they found the leaflets helped erode morale and unit cohesion among the Germans in the first world war. Or so the story goes. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/GZBO42I

Middlesbrough fury at ‘spying’ row as ‘venomous’ welcome awaits Southampton

Investigation too late for Saturday’s game at the Riverside Boro want process sped up amid sanctions uncertainty Middlesbrough remain furious with Southampton after catching a man they believe is a member of Tonda Eckert’s backroom staff allegedly spying on a vital training session ahead of Saturday’s Championship playoff semi-final first leg at the Riverside Stadium. Boro have reported the incident to the English Football League, as spying on opposition training is in breach of its regulations. The EFL is investigating the alleged misconduct and, as of Friday, was still waiting for an explanation of what happened from Southampton. Boro want the disciplinary process to be expedited but, as things stand, expect Saturday’s game to proceed as planned. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/kOK59Ns

Whirlpool warns of ‘recession-level’ slump as Iran war and tariff ruling hit sales

Appliance giant slashes earnings forecast and hikes prices by 10% with another 4% spike planned With the war in Iran and economic concerns putting pressure on consumers and how they spend their money, Whirlpool is having to adjust to Americans delaying big-ticket purchases while also raising prices to help stabilize its North American business. The company known for brands such as KitchenAid, Maytag and its namesake, said that the Iran war led to a “recession-level industry decline” in America as consumer confidence collapsed in late February and March. Revenue dropped nearly 10% in the quarter as sales of major appliances in North America declined more than 7%. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/cl5D0UH

Influencer Clavicular faces charges in Florida tied to alligator shooting video

Video shows ‘looksmaxxing’ influencer shooting an apparently already dead alligator in the Everglades A controversial social media influencer known as Clavicular is facing charges in connection with a live stream showing him shooting an apparently already dead alligator in the Everglades, local Florida media has reported. Clavicular, whose real name is Braden Eric Peters and is known for the practice of “looksmaxxing”, faces charges of unlawfully discharging a firearm in a public place or residential property, according to legal files obtained by television station ABC6 in South Florida. The charges stem from his alleged actions in a 26 March live stream. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/tzV1a0x

Ex-US spy for Israel calls for Gaza ethnic cleansing as he seeks Knesset seat

Jonathan Pollard, who served 30 years for selling US military secrets, advocates ‘forcible removal’ of Palestinians Jonathan Pollard, a former US navy intelligence analyst jailed for 30 years for spying for Israel , has said he will stand for election to the Knesset this year on a platform of ethnic cleansing. Speaking to Channel 13 television , Pollard said: “I personally prefer the forcible removal of all current residents of Gaza, and the annexation of Gaza and its repopulation by us.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0icDJsw

Fire causes ‘substantial damage’ to Book of Mormon theater in New York

‘Deep-seated fire’ forces temporary closure of Eugene O’Neill Theatre, which is home to the long-running musical Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A fire broke out Monday in the Broadway theater that hosts the The Book of Mormon , forcing the long-running musical to close, at least temporarily, as the historic venue undergoes repairs. The blaze, which began in an electrical room, caused “substantial damage” to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, according to David Simms, New York fire department assistant chief. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Nz81sn7

Teens storm Scientology church in New York in latest ‘speed running’ incident

Group broke through locked door in Manhattan, damaging property and injuring a staff member, church says A group of youths forced their way into a Scientology church in New York on Saturday in the latest in a string of nationwide “speed running” incidents that have gone viral on social media in recent weeks. The group broke through a locked door to gain entry to the Church of Scientology on West 36th Street in Manhattan, throwing objects, damaging the property and injuring a staff member as worshippers and visitors attended a seminar, the church said in a statement to the Guardian. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/DT40gLP

Bournemouth beat Crystal Palace with ease to keep Champions League dreams alive

By month’s end, Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner will depart their respective clubs. Having both taken their clubs into uncharted territory, neither’s task is yet complete. Bournemouth’s victory, a game all but won in the first half, was one for the club with their Premier League position as the priority. Bournemouth’s hopes of emulating Palace this season in playing European football for the first time were increased by a deserved, convincing win. The Champions League may even be in reach, Europa League permutations permitting. “We are in a good spot but need more points,” said Iraola, determined to leave a legacy and delighted by a “most dominant performance … we want to give the players the chance to play in Europe next season, it would be massive.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/D4MHjiq

Miami Grand Prix: main race qualifying after Norris wins sprint race – live

️ F1 qualifying updates from 9pm BST ️ McLaren one-two in sprint race | Mail Philip Button, who has a world title, confident that George Russell will be competitive come main qualifying as the Mercedes driver pursues a championship of his own. The heat is on in Miami. Drivers kept as cool as they can be by umbrellas as the cars receive their last touches. Jenson Button probably quite happy to not be wearing a race suit. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nDQgkot

Olly Stone shines for Notts, Surrey’s Sibley hits century: county cricket, day two – as it happened

The Nottinghamshire bowler took five Leicestershire wickets at Grace Road while Dom Sibley dug in against Sussex A wicket at Grace Road , where Notts are pounding Leicestershire round the ground. Jack Haynes a fourth wicket for Ben Green. Joe Clarke is approaching his hundred. Notts 426-5. A pretty good looking crowd at Taunton, some huddling against a brick wall for warmth. Joe Root at first slip polishes the ball, Will Smeed, slow starting again, still on nought. Jack White on the money. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Gpk6E2u

Ancient Roman gravestone found in New Orleans back yard returned to Italy

Nearly 2,000-year-old artifact handed over by FBI matches piece missing from museum near Rome for decades A nearly 2,000-year-old Roman grave marker discovered in a New Orleans backyard has now been returned to Italy. The marble epitaph – dating back roughly 1,900 years – was officially handed over to Italian officials in Rome on Wednesday during a ceremony led by the FBI. The event also marked the repatriation of another antiquity recovered in the US, the agency said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vo7wPYZ

Voting rights groups sue to block Louisiana from suspending primary elections

State’s governor has ordered congressional primary halted until state can redraw districts and dilute Black vote The American Civil Liberties Union filed a suit on behalf of Louisiana voting rights groups on Friday, asking a state court to block the state’s governor, Jeff Landry, and secretary of state, Nancy Landry, from suspending congressional elections . Landry suspended the state’s congressional primary election on Thursday – even after early voting had begun – to enact new districts for the 2026 election. The move came after the supreme court’s 6-3 decision in the Louisiana v Callais case on Wednesday, which invalidated swaths of the Voting Rights Act and declared that a Louisiana congressional district with a majority-nonwhite voting population violated equal protection provisions of the US constitution. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5GfShb9

Venice Biennale jury quits amid row over participation of Russia

Decision follows backlash from Italian government and European Commission The jury of the Venice Biennale has quit just days before the prestigious art exhibition is due to begin, amid a row over the decision to allow Russia to participate. The resignation of the five-member international jury was announced late on Thursday in a brief statement by the Venice Biennale organisers, and came a day after the Italian culture ministry sent inspectors to Venice in search of information about the decision to allow Russia to have a pavilion at the event. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Dg8rKbe

US gas prices hit $4.23 high as Hormuz fears drive oil surge

Blockade threat in vital strait and Trump’s stance lift crude, pushing pump prices to highest level since 2022 Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Average US gas prices have hit a new high at $4.23 a gallon, their highest since 2022 and a record since the start of the war with Iran, according to the motor club AAA. The price of Brent crude, the benchmark that influences the price of gasoline in the US, now stands at $114.60 a barrel, up nearly 25% from the recent low since mid-April. US gas prices a year ago averaged $3.16 a gallon. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ENKcd0t

‘Stole a charity’: Elon Musk accuses Sam Altman of betrayal in courtroom showdown

Trial is culmination of a years-long feud between Musk and Altman that has become increasingly vicious The trial pitting Elon Musk against Sam Altman and OpenAI began in earnest on Tuesday with opening arguments, as lawyers for the two tech moguls seek to convince a California jury of their client’s version of the AI company’s history. The trial is set to feature testimony from both billionaires, as well as some of the most powerful executives in the tech industry. Musk’s attorney argued that Altman, OpenAI and its president, Greg Brockman, broke a foundational agreement to better humanity when the non-profit pivoted towards a for-profit structure. Musk, who left OpenAI in 2018 after co-founding it with Altman and Brockman three years earlier, also alleged that his co-founders unjustly enriched themselves as the company raised billions of dollars and grew into the AI behemoth it is today. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zuRhtm3

89-year-old man arrested over Athens double shooting

Multiple people injured when gunman opened fire inside a social security office and later an appeals court An 89-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of shooting and wounding several people in attacks on government buildings in Athens. Hours after the double shooting in the Greek capital, authorities announced a suspect had been detained in the western port city of Patras, reportedly attempting to flee to Italy. His arrest followed a countrywide manhunt. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5mMYbHn

World Cup will be ‘bonanza of sportswashing’ under Trump, say human rights groups

Fans warned of uncertainty around protests and policing Lise Klaveness set to raise concerns over ICE with Fifa This summer’s World Cup will be a “bonanza of sportswashing” according to human rights organisations, who claim the Trump administration is using sport as a political tool to “cover up abuses”. With supporter groups warning they have “absolutely no clue” what will happen to fans if they do “stupid stuff” in the US during the tournament, the Sport and Rights Alliance (SRA), which includes Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, has called for more to be done to ensure the protection of individual rights at the World Cup, which begins in six weeks. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/HzUniGQ

European football: Inter fritter away two-goal lead; goalkeepers sent off for fighting in Spain

Nikola Vlasic scores Torino equaliser in 2-2 draw Dortmund seal Champions League spot with 4-0 win Champions-elect Inter were held to a 2-2 draw at Torino on Sunday, with the Serie A leaders letting slip a two-goal lead and leaving the title race ticking over with four rounds left. Inter appeared to be cruising after Marcus Thuram put them in front in the 23rd minute and Yann Bisseck doubled their lead 16 minutes after the break with another header but Torino clawed their way back into the game. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/6amVSxh

Drowning in the banter-sphere: how can the Premier League rivals handle the heat? | Barney Ronay

The current season has become a meme-war without end, an endless rolling wall of gloat and taunt in which players and managers must try to block out the noise In his new book, Saved, Gianluigi Buffon talks about feeling crushed by nerves even at the peak of his playing career. The day before the 2006 World Cup final Buffon and Gennaro Gattuso walked past the French squad after training and were immediately sent into a tailspin by their opponents’ intimidating size and athleticism. “We don’t stand a chance,” Gattuso joked, not actually joking. Buffon spent most of the night smoking in the hotel corridor with half the Italy team. At breakfast nobody could speak. They turned up at the stadium already feeling exhausted. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/SG5Amqi

Coco Gauff reaches fourth round despite vomiting on court at Madrid Open

American beats Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 Gauff struggles as virus spreads through locker room Coco Gauff described how difficult it has been for players to remain healthy at the Madrid Open this year after she reached the fourth round despite vomiting on court and struggling with a virus that appears to have torn through the locker room . “I think I got a little cocky because I’ve been at tournaments where there were viruses and I never got it,” she said. “I saw it going around, I was like, ‘I’m not going to get it.’ And then here I am. I think it’s hard because you don’t know who’s sick, who’s not. I do a good job at using hand sanitiser and washing my hands and wiping my [training] mats and stuff before I use them. But sometimes some things are just hard to avoid when you’re all in a big building like this and have to pass each other and use the same equipment. Hopefully everybody’s all good by Rome.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/r85Cb6I

Northampton strengthen grip on top of Prem after thrilling win against Bath

Northampton 41-38 Bath Fin Smith clinches win with last kick If only these two could play each other every week. Having wowed the rugby world a fortnight ago with their Champions Cup quarter-final at the Rec, scoring 11 tries between them, here they went one better and scored 12. Six each, obviously. The scores were level as the clock ticked red. The crowd were as breathless as the players. And then, alas, the winning moment came not from a moment of brilliance – although Fin Smith tried it with his dummy and drop-goal attempt. He missed that, but the television match official had spotted one of those agonising high tackles by a tall man on a dipping, slightly shorter one. Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi it was who clipped the bustling Henry Pollock on the chin. Smith did not miss the subsequent penalty, the first penalty taken at goal, the last kick of the match. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ELeoilI

US millionaire big-game hunter dies after being crushed by elephants

Ernie Dosio, a 75-year-old vineyard owner, was hunting an antelope species in Africa when the incident occured Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox An American millionaire big-game hunter has died after being crushed by a group of elephants during a hunting expedition in Gabon. Ernie Dosio, a 75-year-old vineyard owner, was hunting yellow-backed duiker, an antelope species, in the central African country of Gabon when the incident occurred last Friday. While in the Lope-Okanda rainforest, he and his guide unexpectedly came across five female elephants accompanied by a calf. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/y2A9NjX

Lockheed Martin CEO sees Trump’s Pentagon as ‘golden opportunity’ for growth

Jim Taiclet spoke in earnings call as company expands contracts with the US government amid the Iran war Lockheed Martin’s CEO has called the Trump administration a “golden opportunity” for the company as it expands its contracting work for the federal government amid the conflict in the Middle East. In an earnings call on Thursday covering the first quarter of 2026, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet told investors that the company is well positioned “based on more available resources for us”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/W0S5BGs

US saw record high of 5,668 books banned in libraries in 2025, says agency

Most-banned book was Sold, a 2006 novel by Patricia McCormick about sex trafficking in India Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox The American Library Association (ALA) has reported a record high in the number of books banned in US libraries. In 2025, 5,668 books were banned – representing 66% of the total number challenged – with an additional 920 censored through access restriction, such as relocation on the library shelves. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1vmLQHD

Lewis Moody ‘picking up baton’ left by Doddie Weir with MND fundraising cycle ride

Former England captain plans to ride 500 miles in seven days 2003 World Cup winners among the fundraisers The former England captain Lewis Moody has said he is “picking up the baton” left by Doddie Weir after announcing plans to lead a 500-mile, seven-day cycling challenge this summer to raise funds for the fight against motor neurone disease. Moody will be joined by many of his fellow 2003 World Cup winners, including Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Ben Kay, as well as his teenage sons on a journey from Newcastle to the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, with all proceeds going to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/anVqxWd

Taiwan president blames China for forced cancellation of Eswatini trip

Lai Ching-te abandons visit after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoke overflight permission Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, has cancelled his trip to Eswatini, the democratic island’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, after his government said several countries had revoked overflight permits because of “intense pressure” from China. Lai was to leave on Wednesday for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/tF0ev51

Kash Patel sues the Atlantic for $250m over article alleging heavy drinking and absences - US politics live

FBI director’s lawyers accuse magazine of publishing ‘a sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece’ Kash Patel sues the Atlantic over bombshell story Sign up for the Breaking News US email My colleague Jeremy Barr has more on the lawsuit filed by Kash Patel against the Atlantic. Patel’s legal team accused the magazine and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick of publishing “a sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece” on 17 April. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sy7nrvJ

Republican senator criticizes Trump’s ‘holy war’ with Pope Leo

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, a long supporter of Trump, says president’s feud with the pope is a ‘distraction’ A Republican lawmaker has condemned what he refers to as Donald Trump’s “holy war” against Pope Leo XIV. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, a long supporter of Trump and the ultraconservative Maga movement, condemned the president’s attacks on the pope during a Fox News interview on Saturday . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rK0qLRN

Arteta’s desire for complete control may derail Arsenal’s wobbling title drive | Jonathan Wilson

Now Guardiola has granted his players freedom to improvise, it’s the Gunners’ manager who is the stickler for blueprint over instinct At half-time in the Carabao Cup final , Arsenal’s hopes of a quadruple remained strong. They were unbeaten in 14, 11 of them won. They were drawing 0-0 against Manchester City and it wasn’t unreasonable to think that if the second half carried on as the first half had, they would eventually find a winner – quite possibly from a corner. They had drawn a Championship side in the sixth round of the FA Cup and a Portuguese side in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They held a nine-point lead in the Premier League. This was shaping up to be the greatest season in Arsenal’s history. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/aAqVzrU

Man charged over 2002 Jam Master Jay killing to plead guilty, documents show

Jay Bryant negotiating plea deal in New York death of Run-DMC star, over which one conviction has been overturned One of the three men charged in the killing of Jam Master Jay plans to plead guilty, court records show, in what would be the first admission anyone has made in court to any role in the Run-DMC star’s death in 2002. Jay Bryant pleaded not guilty to murder after his 2023 indictment, but his lawyer and federal prosecutors told the court in recent letters that they were negotiating a plea agreement. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/qC3sbOk

Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike ruled out for rest of season and World Cup with France

Forward could be out until 2027 with suspected achilles tendon rupture Ekitike is club’s leading goalscorer this season with 17 goals The Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup with the injury he sustained against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, Didier Deschamps has confirmed. Ekitike suffered a suspected achilles tendon rupture in the first half of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final second leg defeat and could be sidelined until next year as a result. The full extent of the 23-year-old’s injury has not been confirmed – he underwent scans on Wednesday and Liverpool are expected to provide an update later this week – but the head coach of the France national team has ruled Ekitike out of his plans for this summer’s World Cup. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/mGIXU8z

Suspect accused of planting pipe bombs on eve of January 6 faces new charges

Brian Cole Jr, accused of planting the devices near the RNC and DNC buildings in DC, faces two more felony counts The individual accused of placing pipe bombs near the headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic national committees on the night before the January 6 Capitol attack is now facing two more felony counts, as detailed in a newly released indictment on Wednesday. Brian Cole Jr, 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia , had previously been arrested in December and charged with transporting and positioning two improvised explosive devices outside the DNC and RNC buildings. The updated indictment introduces charges of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and carrying out an act of terrorism while armed. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sz1mDPT

US edges closer to popular vote deciding winner of presidential elections

Virginia signs national popular vote bill into law, joining interstate compact with 17 other states and District of Columbia A national majority vote for president is one step closer to reality after the Virginia governor, Abigail Spanberger, signed the national popular vote bill into law, joining an interstate compact with 17 other states and the District of Columbia. Under the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, states would assign their presidential electors to the winner of the popular vote, regardless of the results within the state. The compact takes effect when states representing a majority of electoral votes – 270 of 538 – pass the legislation and thus would determine the winner of the presidential contest. With Virginia, the compact now has 222 electors. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/de9iZ4m

Brazil’s former spy chief who fled country arrested by ICE agents in US

Alexandre Ramagem fled country after he was sentenced to 16 years for his role in plotting military coup in Brazil When Brazil ’s former president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for an attempted coup, six other members of his cabinet were also found guilty and all began serving their sentences – except for one. Days before the verdict, Alexandre Ramagem, Bolsonaro’s former spy chief, fled by car to Guyana and boarded a flight to the United States, where he has remained ever since. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/VqBJ4ze

Zero Stars review – Sara Pascoe and Roisin Conaty are brilliant in this travel show about awful tourist traps

The two comedians tour the world in search of overpriced attractions, dodgy food – and trips you really wouldn’t want to go on The last thing the world needs is another celebrity travelogue. You have to assume that the genre that gave us Coastal Railways with Julie Walters and Rob Brydon’s Honky Tonk Road Trip is commissioned by drawing names and places out of two tombola drums. The celebrity travelogue is smug. The celebrity travelogue is lazy. The celebrity travelogue insults our intelligence like little else. And so it is with a mixture of delight and horror that I announce that this one isn’t bad. Zero Stars is a rare exception to the form, mixing a novel premise with bearable hosts. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/yqAF1ki

Richard Tice’s firm alleged to have broken law by failing to pay tax

Report says company did not pay tens of thousands in tax on dividends given to Reform UK deputy leader and trust Richard Tice’s company has been accused of breaking the law by allegedly failing to pay tens of thousands of pounds in tax on dividends that were paid to him and his offshore trust. Reform UK’s multimillionaire deputy leader is alleged to have received at least £91,000 in excess payments as a result, the Sunday Times reported . Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates – whose analysis was cited by the newspaper – said that further analysis suggested that the total in tax that should have been paid by Tice’s company was about £120,000. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QncDoza

European football: Bayern break Bundesliga goals record and close on title

Goretzka hits leaders’ 102nd goal in 5-0 win at St Pauli Ferran Torres double helps Barcelona beat Espanyol 4-1 Bayern Munich crushed hosts St. Pauli 5-0 in the Bundesliga to set an all-time season scoring record while also extending their lead at the top to 12 points with five games left to play. The Bavarian club, who host Real Madrid next week in their Champions League quarter-final second leg after their 2-1 win in Spain, are within touching distance of the league title on 76 points, with second-placed Borussia Dortmund stuck on 64 after their 1-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/lRvXy1O

Tyson Fury v Arslanbek Makhmudov: heavyweight boxing – live

Conor Benn v Regis Prograis also at Tottenham Stadium Makhmudov on Russia’s grizzlies, God and Tyson Fury Send thoughts to Alex on email | Sign up for The Recap More elite-level pre-fight previewing: Donald McRae on the reasons behind Tyson Fury’s latest comeback. I encourage you to give it a read. For me, it’s everything,” Fury said of boxing. “It’s everything that I love to do and it’s something that I’ll continue to do.” He then added, with aching simplicity: “It’s been a while and I’ve missed it.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/CKFowWk

The week around the world in 20 pictures

Crisis in the Middle East, Russian shelling in Ukraine, Artemis’s lunar flyby and World Press Photo winners – 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/p5U09S2

I've tested nearly every Sonos product – here's the good and bad about its portable speakers

They’re pricier than the competition, but have key features: the music doesn’t skitter when you step out of Bluetooth range and they can handle water and dust How do Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 compare against hearing aids? I put them to the test Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things Over the past eight years, I’ve reviewed dozens of portable speakers from every top brand. And I can confidently say that Sonos makes three of the best portable speakers of them all. There’s Sonos Play, the brand’s newest portable and the Goldilocks of its lineup in size, sound and features. The Roam 2, a Toblerone-shaped speaker that’s small enough to go anywhere . And the Move 2, a powerhouse that doesn’t sacrifice bass performance. The little one: Sonos Roam 2 Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/COjIotH

‘I’m broken-hearted’: father pays tribute to student, 21, stabbed in Primrose Hill

Finbar Sullivan, who ‘loved movies and making films’, had gone to London park to use new camera, says father A film student who was stabbed to death in London’s Primrose Hill was a “beautiful, lovely, outgoing, loving” man, his father has said. Finbar Sullivan, 21, was stabbed in a fight in the north London park in the early evening on Tuesday and was pronounced dead at the scene. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/58chCdV

Teens accused of bombing attempt at Mamdani home openly discussed plans to kill

Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested 7 March with alleged homemade devices at Gracie Mansion in New York Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Two teen alleged Islamic State supporters accused of trying to detonate explosive devices during a protest outside the home of New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani , freely discussed how many people they might kill, with one remarking: “I want to start terror, bro,” according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday. The teenagers, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi , were arrested on 7 March for allegedly igniting two improvised explosive devices during an anti-Islam protest outside Gracie Mansion. Authorities claim that Balat, 18, lit one device and threw it in the direction of the protesters. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/9wuyrt0

American journalist released a week after being kidnapped in Iraq

Freelancer Shelly Kittleson was reportedly held by Iran-backed militia which says she must now leave country The US journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad street corner last week, has been released, according to an Iraqi official with direct knowledge of the situation. Kittleson was freed in the afternoon, said the official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly. He did not share her current whereabouts but said that before her release, she had been held in Baghdad. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zCJZd8S

Cars make way for bikes as Sydney commuters saddle up to circumvent ‘crazy’ fuel costs

The shock of the oil crisis is playing out on Australian streets, where bike shop sales are up and cycle lanes are busier Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Before the 1970s global oil crisis, city planners in Copenhagen were considering removing bike lanes. Bicycles were considered outdated now car was king, and just 10% of locals were cycling regularly. But as economic shock waves reverberated around the world, Denmark, which almost entirely relied on imported oil, took a dramatic U-turn, with citizens staging mass protests in the middle of highways demanding better cycling infrastructure. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/tvuKDFR

Leeds fans will take over London for FA Cup semi-final, Daniel Farke promises

Club in FA Cup last four after shootout win at West Ham ‘I feel humble. You can see how much it means to them’ Daniel Farke promised that Leeds fans will take over London after their side secured an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea thanks to a breathless win against West Ham on penalties . Leeds appeared to be cruising to an easy victory at the London ­Stadium, only for West Ham to force extra time by fighting back from 2-0 down with stoppage-time goals from Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/pOPiw50

Brighton stun Arsenal in Women’s FA Cup shock; Liverpool also through to last four

Brighton two wins away from first major trophy Liverpool edge out Charlton in extra time Arsenal made a surprise exit at the quarter-final stage of the Women’s FA Cup for the second successive season as Brighton stunned the record 14-time cup winners at Borehamwood. Liverpool managed to avoid it becoming a day of shocks as they struck late in extra time to eventually find a way past a stubborn Charlton Athletic side, but they was no such joy for Arsenal, who paid the price for a performance that was well below their best. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/D7O5swV

Leeds hold nerve to win shootout after West Ham’s dramatic fightback

The familiar London Stadium rush for the exit has never been so misjudged. A lot of West Ham fans decided they had seen enough when Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Leeds within touching distance of a first FA Cup semi-final since 1987, but how wrong they were. The non-believers reckoned without their side forcing extra time with a wild fightback from 2-0 down and were not allowed back in to see a ridiculously game go the distance. It ended with Finlay Herrick, a 20-year-old goalkeeper whose experience of senior football extended no further than 10 games during a loan spell with National League side Boreham Wood earlier this season, coming on for his West Ham debut after Alphonse Areola went down injured. Talk about a baptism of fire. Soon West Ham’s No 4 goalkeeper was in a penalty shootout. To add to the mix, it took place at the West Ham end amid unconfirmed suggestions that those in charge of stadium security did not want the kicks taken in front of the 9,000 travelling Leeds. Continue ...

I accidentally emailed a stranger 10 years ago. He has been invited to family celebrations ever since | Emma Wilkins

The delight of ‘meeting’ a person from a different country and time zone is one of the wonders of the internet. Perhaps one day we will host a party in his honour One of the many people my husband’s clan and I invite to family celebrations isn’t related to us by blood or marriage. He isn’t dating one of us, he hasn’t met any of us, and none of us – were he to attend – would know his face. But from time to time he gets an invite to a birthday of someone he has never met and is asked to bring a plate. He has never come, but he always responds with excitement and warmth. He’s not technically “one of us”, but he shares a surname with some of us and over years earned himself the ultimate sign of group acceptance: a nickname. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Sm3xKri

Halting $400m White House ballroom project is national security risk, Trump officials say

US National Park Service lawyers cite materials that will be installed to make ‘heavily fortified’ facility Donald Trump’s administration is arguing that a judge’s order to halt construction of a $400m White House ballroom creates a security risk for the US president as his team asks a federal appeals court to pause the ruling. In a motion filed on Friday, US National Park Service (NPS) lawyers say that the federal judge’s order to suspend construction of the new facility is “threatening grave national-security harms to the White House, the president and his family, and the president’s staff”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/LYlUrdQ

Children as young as 12 buying and selling knives and weapons via the internet

Government must ‘come down very hard’ on online trade in knives and weapons, says policing and crime minister Sarah Jones Children are setting up online businesses selling knives in the same way they trade clothes, the policing and crime minister Sarah Jones has said. Jones heard how children as young as 12 were buying and selling the weapons on the internet and social media at the opening of the new National Knife Crime Centre in Bloomsbury, central London, on Thursday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/WHQ2g0Z

Swedish PM offers deal that could see far-right allowed into government

Party, which has neo-Nazi roots, will hold ‘important ministerial posts within immigration’ if four-party coalition wins in September The Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, has said that he will allow the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) into government for the first time – and give its members key ministerial posts – if his coalition wins the next general election. Despite becoming Sweden’s second biggest political party after the Social Democrats in the last election, SD currently plays only a supporting role in the minority-run coalition. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/FQj4lPp

Tottenham Supporters’ Trust expresses ‘serious concerns’ over De Zerbi’s support for Greenwood

New Spurs head coach supported Greenwood at Marseille Greenwood had charges including attempted rape dropped in 2023 The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has strongly criticised the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as the club’s head coach, expressing “serious and far-reaching concerns” over his past support for Mason Greenwood. In a statement released soon after De Zerbi signed a five-year contract on Tuesday, the Trust said his arrival placed a “heavy strain” on unity at a time when Spurs are battling against relegation from the Premier League. It also called on Spurs and the Italian to publicly reassert their “commitment to the values that fans hold dear – chief among them equality, respect, and integrity”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/IgRQJ2n

Chip Taylor obituary

Songwriter and musician best known for the enduring hit Wild Thing, made famous by the Troggs and Jimi Hendrix In a career spanning seven decades, Chip Taylor, who has died aged 86 of cancer, wrote songs recorded by a huge array of artists from Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt and the Hollies to Janis Joplin, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Emmylou Harris. Yet it was the primitive but irresistible Wild Thing , composed in a matter of minutes, that became his best-known calling card. He wrote it in 1965 when commissioned to write a song for Jordan Christopher and the Wild Ones, but their version was not a hit. However, when the Troggs recorded it the following year it topped the US chart and became a smash around the world. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/VeEMCRi

Rachel Reeves to tell G7 accelerating shift to clean energy is best defence against energy price shocks

Starmer to convene major energy industry and insurance figures to draw up emergency plans amid continued blockade of strait of Hormuz Rachel Reeves will warn G7 nations they must move faster on clean energy to insulate economies against global price shocks from oil and gas as she and the energy secretary Ed Miliband meet G7 finance and energy ministers on Monday. Keir Starmer will also gather major energy industry and insurance figures to thrash out what emergency measures might be needed to contain the continuing crisis from the blockade of the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Z3GjwFc

Chesney the kangaroo found after hopping away from farm for three days

Marsupial escaped from enclosure at Wisconsin’s Sunshine Farm on Wednesday after he was spooked by stray dogs How does a kangaroo escape a petting zoo? It’s not the opening line to a dad joke. If you’re Chesney the kangaroo, you scale an 8ft (2.5-meter) fence and go on the lam for three days, giving your keeper sleepless nights and sending residents of a small Wisconsin town on a search that would end happily on Saturday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wVlGt27

Goal-shy Leicester rooted to bottom of WSL but manager and fans not giving up

Relegation playoff against a WSL2 side beckons if Rick Passmoor’s team cannot end seven-game losing run The sight of two unwaveringly optimistic young girls waving their “Foxes never quit” flags proudly in the air – despite the swirling rain at the King Power Stadium – summed up the never-say-die attitude required for a relegation battle that Leicester are going to need now more than ever, after their chances of staying up decreased significantly with this defeat on Sunday. Even before losing against Brighton, Leicester’s hopes had sustained a big blow with the sight of Oona Siren hitting a superb, looping volley into the net to secure for 11th‑placed West Ham a valuable point in a lunchtime kick-off. The 1-1 draw at home against London City Lionesses edged West Ham further away from the bottom side Leicester, who went on to be deservedly beaten 1-0 by Brighton and find themselves four points adrift with four games remaining. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sh...

Hundreds of organised protests show resilience of Iranian regime, experts say

More than 850 public demonstrations of support held since start of war and at least 1,400 arrests, research reveals Parents of Iran school bombing victims describe their worst day Iran’s regime has organised more than 850 public demonstrations of support of the government since the beginning of the war and launched a continuing crackdown on unrest that has led to at least 1,400 detentions, research reveals. The high number of pro-regime gatherings and the increasing number of detentions underlines the resilience of the Islamic Republic despite a month-long campaign of intensive airstrikes by the US and Israel, experts said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/4QqVcIB

New York City hospitals drop Palantir as controversial AI firm expands in UK

The decision follows activist pressure as Palantir faces growing scrutiny over NHS and UK government deals Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox New York City ’s public hospital system announced that it would not be renewing its contract with Palantir as controversy mounts in the UK over the data analytics and AI firm’s government contract. The president of the US’ largest municipal public health care system, Dr Mitchell Katz, testified last week before the New York City Council that the agreement with Palantir would expire in October. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/YmxCat9

Pretty Lethal review – Amazon’s ballerina action thriller puts on a decent enough show

A group of American dancers face off against Hungarian gangsters, and a hammy Uma Thurman, in a cheap and cheerful Friday night adventure Last year’s Ballerina, or as Lionsgate’s marketing team would prefer us to say From the World of John Wick : Ballerina, failed as both proof that the Keanu Reeves -led franchise could support expansion and that “ballet action thriller” could be a worthy new genre. The title, in whichever format audiences came across it, was both confusing and misleading, the film ultimately featuring very little in the way of actual dance moves. For those who left the cinema enraged at Ana de Armas’s lack of arabesque kills, they can get their fill at home this week with Amazon’s fresh-from-SXSW actioner Pretty Lethal, a film all about ballet dancers actually using their skills to slaughter a string of eastern European bad guys. It’s a neat idea, positioning women who might be untrained fighters but who have grit and stamina learned from a gruelling form of dance ...

‘There’s something sassy about this’: the reinvention of the sari – in pictures

The sari has gone through many changes over its 5,000-year history. The Offbeat Sari , a new exhibition running at Bunjil Place gallery in Melbourne until 30 August, celebrates the garment in its contemporary form. Featuring more than 50 ensembles, it showcases contemporary sari design’s materials, silhouettes and styling Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/p6UvV7w

Valerie Perrine, Superman and Lenny actor, dies aged 82

Perrine gained notoriety for a naked TV role and was acclaimed for her roles opposite Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman and Jeff Bridges Valerie Perrine, who was Oscar nominated for her performance in Bob Fosse’s 1974 Lenny Bruce biopic and played Lex Luthor’s girlfriend in the Richard Donner Superman films, has died aged 82. Writing on Facebook , the film-maker Stacey Souther announced her death, saying: “It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Ll40UhN

Moma brand recalls porridge products over possible mice contamination

Customers told not to eat affected pot and sachet products and to return them to place of purchase for refund Several porridge products in the UK have been recalled over a possible mice contamination at their manufacturing site. The British porridge and oat drink brand Moma issued a warning for seven versions of its pots and two of its sachets. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/inTGIe0

Newcastle promise action after alleged racist abuse stops derby with Sunderland

Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida allegedly abused Referee stops game per anti-discrimination protocol Sunderland’s Tyne-Wear derby victory at Newcastle was overshadowed by reports that Lutsharel Geertruida had been the subject of racist abuse from home fans. The Premier League will now investigate after the referee, Anthony Taylor, stopped the match in line with the league’s on-field anti-discrimination protocol early in the second half. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QdwjvLa

Chessum makes Tigers purr on return from England duty as Bristol fall short

Leicester 33-19 Bristol Victory lifts Leicester into third place in Prem table Swapping the bright Saturday night lights of the Stade de France for the rusty old Crumbie Stand can be a real mental challenge. There is certainly less demand for foie gras in Aylestone but for certain people nothing beats a constant diet of rugby. England’s Ollie Chessum did occasionally look a tad weary during another selfless 80-minute shift but a vital 33-19 Leicester win made all those hard yards worthwhile. The result not only hoists the Tigers into third place in the Prem table but Gabriel Hamer-Webb’s spectacular last-gasp try earned what could prove a vital extra point when the playoff maths are totted up. Bristol, who had been pressing for a couple of bonus points of their own, were ultimately left empty-handed and down in fifth place after a game that was never less than intense and absorbing. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/EXbf7C5

Josh Kerr surges to 3,000m gold for Britain at world indoor championships

Kerr wins final in a time of 7min 35.56sec Scot holds off Hocker and Schrub to regain title After the injuries and the trash talk, Britain’s Josh Kerr delivered where it mattered most on Saturday night by winning a thrilling 3,000m world indoor title with a last-lap surge. It had been billed as the race of the championships, with all three 1500m medallists from the Paris 2024 Olympics going mano a mano once more. On that occasion Kerr had been pipped to the line by the American Cole Hocker, who took a shock gold medal , with Yared Nuguse taking bronze. This time, though, Kerr was not to be denied. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3Q1RwI9

Arizona desert town breaks record for hottest March temperature in US history

Martinez Lake, about 145 miles west of Phoenix, reached 110F (43.3C) on Thursday amid scorching south-west heat Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox A small community in the Arizona desert has broken a record for the highest March temperature ever recorded in the US, as the south-west bakes in a blistering late-winter heatwave. The astonishing temperature was recorded just outside Martinez Lake, Arizona, which reached 110F (43.3C) on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/psjRiFw

Meg Jones to captain England at Women’s Six Nations with Zoe Stratford pregnant

Jones was vice-captain in Red Roses’ World Cup triumph Centre to lead team in Six Nations opener against Ireland Meg Jones has been chosen to lead England’s world champions in 2026 after the regular Red Roses captain, Zoe Stratford, announced her pregnancy on Wednesday. Jones, who was vice-captain when England beat Canada to lift the World Cup last September, will take over from Stratford for the upcoming Women’s Six Nations. England kick off their campaign against Ireland on 11 April at Twickenham when a tournament-record crowd of more than 60,000 will be in the stands. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5ixDYIT

What is the £1.3bn MFS mortgage scandal and what is private credit?

A worldwide freezing order has been imposed on Paresh Raja, the owner of a UK mortgage provider A £1.3bn worldwide asset freezing order has been granted against the tycoon accused of fraud after his UK mortgage lending business collapsed. Paresh Raja, the founder and chief executive of Market Financial Solutions (MFS), is now barred from dissipating assets worth up to the suspected value of funds allegedly missing from his mortgage and buy-to-let lending company, after orders from courts in London and Dubai. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/aEiTQOu

Colombian president accuses Ecuador after ‘27 charred bodies’ found near border

Relations deteriorate as Gustavo Petro claims government of Trump ally Daniel Noboa bombing targets in Colombia President Gustavo Petro has accused Ecuador of bombing targets inside Colombian territory, saying later that the burned remains of nearly 30 people had been found near the border, in a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighbouring countries. The Colombian leader said on Tuesday that an attack which had left “27 charred bodies” did not appear to have been carried out by Colombia’s own forces or any illegal armed groups which he said do not have armed planes. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/PKafd31

Bank of America settles Epstein survivors’ lawsuit

Lawyer for women who accused bank of facilitating their sexual abuse calls settlement ‘one more step’ to justice Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Bank of America has settled a civil lawsuit brought by women who accused the bank of facilitating their sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein , court records showed on Monday. Lawyers for the bank and the women told Manhattan-based US district judge Jed Rakoff in a 12 March telephone call that they had reached a “settlement in principle”, a court filing said. The terms of the settlement were not immediately clear. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Zgj1t6X

Paris paradox: did Borthwick liberate England or was it down to player power? | Gerard Meagher

Despite a huge upswing in performance against France, the head coach still has a case to answer for what went wrong in the Six Nations Did England play like that because of Steve Borthwick or in spite of him? For all that the Rugby Football Union will deep dive, look under the bonnet, get into the weeds – pick your own favourite bit of corporate speak – it is the fundamental question that Bill Sweeney and his review panel must ask in the coming weeks. Did Borthwick liberate his players against France , or did they take matters into their own hands? As usual, the panel will include input from Sweeney and Conor O’Shea as well as those from outside the building who insist on anonymity. It is said that despite the huge upswing in performance in defeat against France, the RFU is still determined to establish what went wrong during this Six Nations. That is a positive sign because when the dust settles, this still goes down as their worst-ever championship. The noises coming from the RFU s...

Quick on the draw: the worldwide appeal of sketching 100 people in a week

Liz Steel and Marc Taro Holmes live on opposite sides of the globe, but connected through a sketching challenge. Now it’s a phenomenon If you’re lucky, you may spot Liz Steel tucked into the corner of a sun-dappled Sydney cafe, water-soluble pencils and markers in hand. Half a world away, Marc Taro Holmes is led by his sketchbook on to the thawing streets of Montreal, “like a bear coming out of hibernation”. The duo are co-founders of #OneWeek100People challenge, an informal global initiative that asks artists to sketch 100 people in seven days. The challenge, now in its 10th year, took place this week, but Steel and Holmes stress it is entirely for enjoyment and anyone can take it up and post with the hashtag at any time. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zZj8Lpi

KPop Demon Hunters sequel confirmed at Netflix: ‘This is only the beginning’

The streamer’s biggest film of all time, also nominated for two Oscars, is getting a followup A sequel to record-breaking hit KPop Demon Hunters has been officially confirmed at Netflix . The film will again be a collaboration between the streamer and Sony with Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the writer-directors, returning. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/KxB2ry8

Billionaire Zara founder Amancio Ortega to receive €3.23bn dividend

Payment for Inditex founder, the world’s 15 richest person, tops last year’s dividend of €3.1bn The billionaire founder of Zara is to receive a company record €3.23bn (£2.8bn) dividend this year from the world’s biggest fashion retailer. Amancio Ortega, who still controls 59% of Spain’s Inditex and whose daughter Marta Ortega Pérez is now chair, will receive half his dividend in May and half in November – as will other shareholders. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/UMS2g1d