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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Ar5FUcl

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

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

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

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 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

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 ...

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

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

Wil Anderson, Lano and Woodley, Aaron Chen, Urzila Carlson and more share memories from 40 years at MICF, including fires, camels and weddings First MICF: 1988 Lano and Woodley in Space is on 4-5 April and 11 April Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/02HsmRi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

Crisis in the Middle East, a Russian drone attack in Lviv, cherry blossom in Tokyo and the return of BTS – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vb5mkw8

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

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 ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

Crisis in the Middle East, Ramadan in Gaza, the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics and Paris fashion week – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jOulkbP

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

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

Karoline Leavitt tries to assuage anxiety over rising gas prices and says they could drop ‘lower than they were prior’ to start of US military action in Iran Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Hegseth says the aftermath of the conflict is “going to be in America’s interests” and says it “will not live under a nuclear blackmail” from Iran . It comes shortly after the defence secretary reiterated president Donald Trump’s threat that if Iran does anything to prevent the flow of oil in the strait of Hormuz , it will be hit “twenty times harder”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/on963Tq

Social media company tells MPs of continual fight against state-backed efforts, with Russia being most prolific Elon Musk’s X said it had suspended 800m accounts over a 12-month period as it fights the “massive” scale of attempts to manipulate the platform. The social media company told MPs it was continually fighting state-backed attempts to hijack the agenda on its network, with Russia the most prolific state actor, followed by Iran and China. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Nsvq1ZK

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Exclusive: MoD-contracted workers assisting Ukrainians in a way ‘no other nation has been willing to do’, says minister In an unmarked and undisclosed location in western Ukraine, British and Ukrainian engineers work side by side to fix damaged military hardware, crawling under the chassis of artillery systems and pulling apart the insides of British-donated howitzers. Until now, the existence of this facility, along with three other similar sites inside Ukraine, has been kept quiet, buried in neutral language to avoid drawing too much attention to the sites, given the sensitivities of all military-linked work inside Ukraine. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/n2v4OsL

Crisis in the Middle East, Ramadan in Gaza, a blackout in Havana and Stella McCartney at Paris fashion week – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Jdxn75r

Sculptor and educator who embedded art within the new town of Glenrothes and encouraged students at the Glasgow School of Art to move beyond the studio The sculptor and educator David Harding, who has died aged 88, insisted that art should stand in the same weather as everyone else. As town artist for Glenrothes, Fife, in the late 1960s and 70s, he embedded sculpture in underpasses, bus stops, and housing schemes, working with planners rather than against them and using the same concrete and brick as the surrounding streets. The result was not ornament but argument: that public space could carry memory, poetry and dissent. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/x9c7jo2

⚽ Premier League updates from the 8.15pm GMT kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Table | Follow us on Bluesky | And mail Scott ⚽ Brighton v Arsenal, Man City v Nottingham Forest – live Newcastle make two changes to their starting XI following their 3-2 home defeat to Everton. Nick Pope, an error or two in him of late, loses his place in goal to Aaron Ramsdale, while Harvey Barnes comes in for the ill Nick Woltemade. Manchester United make just one change to their first XI after their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. Noussair Mazraoui replaces Diogo Dalot, who drops to the bench. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/kVLxmJP

His credits range from Men Behaving Badly to Wuthering Heights, and now he’s playing Huw Edwards. What would you dearly love to know about the actor and documentary presenter? It’s delightful that Martin Clunes has won so many plaudits for his performance in this year’s Wuthering Heights, alongside Margot Robbie’s Cathy and Jacob Elordi’s Heathcliff. He plays Cathy’s drunk but generous, cruel yet humorous father in a part that could easily have drifted into the background. But he makes such an impression that the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw reckons he “ pretty much pinches the whole film ”. It’s not as if Clunes hasn’t brushed shoulders with the Hollywood A-list before. You might remember him as Richard Burbage, opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes and Judi Dench, in 1998’s Shakespeare in Love – a role with added resonance given that his father, Alec Clunes, who died when Clunes was eight, was a distinguished Shakespearean actor. Other roles include 1992’s Carry On Columbus (the la...

It was possible to spin his 2025 arrival as a clean slate but the former businessman soon lost the confidence of key players The wait continues for confirmation that Charles Allen’s brief, troubled – and ultimately ineffectual – tenure as chair of the British Horseracing Authority is over. In racing terms, however, he is nine-tenths out of the saddle, his backside inching towards the turf and gravity is about to take over. Even in the thankless and intractable world of racing politics, few stars have waned as rapidly as that of Lord Allen of Kensington, a former businessman and senior broadcasting executive who arrived in September at the BHA promising to restructure the sport’s governance and, in the words of his day-one mission statement, “develop British racing into a modern commercial and cultural powerhouse”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/WOa9F4z

From a landmark Tracey Emin show at Tate Modern to the first female painter in the Royal Academy’s main space, the art world is finally catching up “Do women have to be naked to get into the Met Museum?” the feminist art collective Guerrilla Girls asked in their famous 1989 poster . It pointed out that fewer than 5% of the artists in the modern art sections were women, but 85% of the nudes were female. They could have asked the same question of any major art gallery in the world. Four decades later, this year’s biggest UK exhibitions finally show a different picture. Dame Tracey Emin might be naked in many of her self-portraits, but that isn’t what got her into Tate Modern for a landmark retrospective . Rose Wylie , 91, is the first female painter to have a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy . The Colombian artist Beatriz González (who died, aged 93, in January) is at the Barbican . And that is just this week’s openings. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vXyV...

Body of Nathan Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was found in pond north of Atlanta in February The son of the rapper Lil Jon drowned after ingesting hallucinogenic mushrooms, officials in the US state of Georgia said. The body of Nathan Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was found in a pond north of Atlanta in early February. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/FMYgOHt

The building appears to be among many devastated in Trump’s ‘major combat operations’ as long expected attacks arrive US-Israeli attack on Iran – live updates US and Israel strikes on Iran: what we know so far Iran’s parents had just dropped their children off for class on Saturday morning when they found themselves racing back to school gates, as bombs began to fall across the country in a joint US-Israel attack. At one elementary school, according to Iran’s state-controlled media, they arrived to find devastation. At least 80 children had been killed in the strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, the IRNA news agency reported, with dozens more unaccounted for. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/EN3j7Mm

Russian airstrikes in Kyiv, Ramadan in Gaza, Trump’s State of the Union address and snow in New York City – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/JDqopnc

Liz Kendall to launch consultation next week that will also explore alternatives such as curbs on infinite scrolling Ministers will take another step towards banning social media for under-16s next week as they launch a consultation on the policy, with government insiders increasingly certain Keir Starmer will back the idea. Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, will publish the terms of reference for the consultation, which is expected to explore options including an age limit and less hardline action such as curbs on infinite scrolling. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bT5jVUZ

Molson Coors says site, as well as national call centre in Wales, ‘no longer financially sustainable’ The Cornish brewery that makes Doom Bar ale is to be closed by its US owner, throwing the popular beer brand’s future into doubt and putting about 200 jobs at risk. The drinks company Molson Coors said it plans to shut Sharp’s Brewery in Rock, Wadebridge, along with its national call centre in Wales, saying it was “no longer financially sustainable”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bcdiBDg

Laurence des Cars steps down days after parliamentary inquiry called Paris museum a ‘state within a state’ The president of the Louvre in Paris has resigned, four months after a gang of thieves broke into the museum’s Apollo gallery and made off with €88m (£76m) of Napoleonic jewellery in France’s most dramatic heist in decades . Laurence des Cars, who had offered to step down in the immediate aftermath of the burglary, tendered her resignation to Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday in what the French president called “an act of responsibility”, the Elysée Palace said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/9tacFsq

Peter Wright confronted in high court over evidence on newspaper’s relationship with convicted investigator The former editor of the Mail on Sunday has denied claims he misled the Leveson inquiry into press standards over the newspaper’s involvement with corrupt private investigators. Appearing at the high court, Peter Wright, who edited the Sunday newspaper from 1998 to 2012, said some of the allegations aimed at the title – which include landline tapping and bugging – were “just incredible”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/USwViKW

George Ford: ‘We want to get to root of the problems’ Second straight loss destroyed championship hopes George Ford has vowed that England will conduct a “properly honest” and “uncomfortable” review of their Six Nations humiliation against Ireland on Saturday. The hosts collapsed spectacularly in the face of an Irish onslaught at Twickenham, falling 22-0 behind after half an hour, with Ford’s surprising inaccuracy at fly-half exemplifying an error-strewn team display. The Sale No 10 missed two kicks for touch which proved terminal to England’s hopes of applying pressure in the decisive early stages. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/I9Fmu3j

Fermín López caps 3-0 win over Levante Atalanta strike late to beat Napoli 2-1 Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga with a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Levante as Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong and substitute Fermín López struck at Camp Nou. Last season’s champions moved to 61 points from 25 games, one ahead of Real Madrid after their rivals’ defeat by Osasuna on Saturday. Barça had slipped to second following last week’s 2-1 loss to Girona but rarely looked troubled by a Levante side second from bottom on 18 points. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/P15IBU3

After Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, officials said ‘nobody is above the law’. Sadly that doesn’t seem true Schadenfreude isn’t a particularly noble sentiment. But who cares, eh? These days bad things never seem to happen to bad people; accountability is fleetingly rare. So I think we should all take a moment to really appreciate how glorious the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Thursday was. Not only was the disgraced royal dragged in for questioning like a mere commoner; the arrest happened on his 66th birthday. Instead of birthday cake, he got his just deserts. And, to top things off, the occasion was immortalized with a photo – an instant classic – of Andrew leaving the police station looking shell shocked and decrepit. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/CE3ImX1

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was one of world’s most wanted drug traffickers One of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers – the Mexican cartel boss known as “El Mencho” – has reportedly been killed by his country’s security forces. The drug lord, whose real name is Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes , was killed on Sunday in the western state of Jalisco, Mexican newspapers reported, citing government sources. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wmjc3Mq

Wales 23-26 Scotland Finn Russell scores 11 points in second-half turnaround Scotland pulled off a dramatic comeback win against Wales to back up their impressive Calcutta Cup success the previous week. Hosts Wales had the lead at half-time thanks to a spark lit by the wing Josh Adams but the visitors managed to fight their way to victory with a feeling they were lucky to come away with five points. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/dqDK9fC

New signing makes mark as leaders see off Falkirk Dundee win at Aberdeen; Kilmarnock snatch draw Hearts got their Premiership title push back on track with a 1-0 win over Falkirk at Tynecastle. The Jambos, beaten 4-2 at rivals Rangers last weekend, broke the deadlock just before half-time when the January signing Islam Chesnokov lashed home his first goal for the club. Hearts held out to move five points clear of Rangers, who travel to bottom side Livingston on Sunday. Ethan Hamilton’s late goal gave Dundee a 3-2 win at 10-man Aberdeen , who had Liam Morrison sent off just before half-time. The Dons had gone in front after 13 minutes when Kevin Nisbet’s shot was fumbled by the Dundee keeper, Jon McCracken, and looked to have gone over the line before Toyosi Olusanya knocked in the rebound. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/FszO5CX

Fatalities and injuries reported in avalanches across Tirol after prolonged snowfall and windy conditions At least five people have been killed in a string of avalanches in Austria, authorities said on Saturday. The government office of the Tirol region said intense snowfall over the last week had led to accumulations of up to 1.5 metres (5ft). Combined with strong winds and weak snowpack below, the conditions were especially susceptible to avalanches, it said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1xoO7re

Australian collections of the endangered and notoriously unpredictable flowers have popped off in recent years, as ‘personas’ like Putricia, Stinkerella and Smellanie prove a hit with nosy spectators Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here From little things glorious fetid things grow. Corpse flower blooms, once vanishingly rare, are becoming more commonplace in Australia. More than a dozen bloomed across the country in 2025, including the infamous Putricia in Sydney , Morpheus in Canberra, Big Betty in Cooktown, and Spud and co in Cairns. But with plants kept in gardens across the country, and blooming more frequently after their first flower, you could catch a whiff of one soon. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/VaQ4Ume

The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Ramadan in Gaza, Russian airstrikes in Odesa and flooding in France – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/acQ1NmD

Political tensions rise after fatal attack at protest in Lyon as Emmanuel Macron hits out over remarks by Italian PM A French prosecutor is seeking murder charges against seven suspects in the fatal beating of a far-right activist that has fuelled political anger beyond France’s borders, prompting Emmanuel Macron to tell Italy’s Giorgia Meloni to keep out of French affairs. Quentin Deranque, 23, died from head injuries after being attacked by at least six people on the sidelines of a far-right protest in Lyon on 12 February. Most of the 11 suspects who have been detained are from far-left movements. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/EnXTOSb

The Grammy winner will star alongside Edward Norton and Javier Bardem in a film inspired by an early 20th century revolutionary, directed by rapper Residente Fresh off his victorious Super Bowl half-time show, Bad Bunny will take on his first lead acting role. The rapper and sometime actor will star in Porto Rico, a love letter to his home of Puerto Rico directed by the veteran rapper René “Residente” Pérez Joglar. As announced by Deadline , the film boasts a starry cast including Viggo Mortensen, Javier Bardem and Edward Norton, as well as executive producer Alejandro G Iñárritu, director of Birdman and The Revenant. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Z6T3eC1

Labour can justify local government reform. It cannot justify delaying elections. Tweaking maps won’t enrage voters; stagnant pay and broken services will Being forced to abandon plans to delay local elections in England with fewer than three months’ notice is not just another policy U-turn by the government. It brings to a head issues of aptitude and judgment. The rationale seemed sound: avoid electing councillors to bodies that would be abolished under Labour’s reorganisation of local government. The political problem was that 21 of the 30 councils were Labour-led. That created a perception – fair or not – of democratic manipulation. The elections should have gone ahead. The Electoral Commission last December warned of “unprecedented” uncertainty around them. The commission was clear: “Scheduled elections should as a rule go ahead as planned, and only be postponed in exceptional circumstances.” Changing course late in the day puts their smooth running at risk and piles pressure ...

⚽ Champions League updates from the first-leg matches ⚽ Live scores | Follow us over on Bluesky | And email Scott The free kick is just to the right of the Juve box. Gabriel Sara whips it in viciously. All Davinson Sánchez has to do is tickle the ball with his eyebrow to send it across Michele Di Gregorio and into the top left. He couldn’t miss! Sara put that on a plate, a world-class delivery. And the hosts respond to Juve’s turnaround with one of their own. What a match this is! Galatasaray 2-2 Juventus. Juan Cabal brings down Barış Alper Yılmaz, flying down the right, just to the side of the box. Cabal goes into the book, and nearly earns a second booking by pawing at the referee’s arm, Danny Makkelie telling him to get his hands off in angry fashion. And from the resulting free kick … Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/oX07tpO

Top dozen horses for Aintree all rated 160 or above I Am Maximus is top weight above Nick Rockett The unveiling of the weights for the 2026 Grand National started with a montage of clips from 50 years ago, when the world’s most famous steeplechase was at its lowest ebb, the crowd had dipped below 10,000 and the track was odds-on to be sold off for housing. It was, as Ruby Walsh pointed out on the voiceover, a reminder of how the National has been revived and transformed. A glance back no further than the 2011 Grand National, however, also offers clear evidence of how much the great race has changed, even in the space of 15 years. The field, of course, is now down to a maximum of 34, rather than the 40 runners that we all grew up with, but it is the depth of quality in the names, ratings and weights that were published on Tuesday that stands out. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/O2dJvKV

Official rules say government should keep gifts worth more than £140 unless ministers pay the value over that limit Keir Starmer has bought a pair of personalised silver cufflinks which were given to him by Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, according to the latest transparency records . The cufflinks, which were worth more than £140, were an official gift from the Trumps during the US president’s second state visit last September. They were the second gift from Trump that Starmer has chosen to buy, having paid for a personalised necklace last year. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/WIN9GgL

Dana Eden, 52, co-creator of hit TV series Tehran, reported to have taken her own life on Sunday, according to Greek police The co-creator of an Israeli hit TV series has been found dead in a hotel room in Athens where the fourth season of the spy thriller is being filmed. Dana Eden, 52, was discovered by her brother late on Sunday, Greek police said, attributing her death to suicide. Her passing was described as “a moment of great sorrow for the family, friends, and colleagues” by Donna and Shula Productions, the international production company set up by Eden. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie . In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org , or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue ...

Ofelia Torres, 16, spotlighted her dad Ruben’s illegal detention last fall during Trump’s crackdown in Chicago A Chicago teenager, whose father was detained by immigration authorities while she navigated cancer, died on Friday, a family spokesperson said. Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old in Chicago, had been undergoing treatment for an aggressive and rare form of cancer since late 2024. As she and her family struggled with the medical procedures, her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, was detained by immigration authorities while at a Home Depot in October, leading to a contentious and public case that highlighted the human effects of the Trump administration ’s aggressive immigration crackdown . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/lK4cZS6

Love has long been framed as a pursuit of the young, but this narrative lags behind reality As Valentine’s Day approaches, we are once again flooded with the usual suspects: roses, chocolates, sophisticated dinners and glossy ads featuring young heterosexual couples staring earnestly into each other’s eyes. The problem isn’t just that this version of romance is exclusionary – though it is – it’s that it’s profoundly out of step with how love is actually being lived, negotiated and reimagined in contemporary Australia. Culturally, love has long been framed as a pursuit of the young. From Romeo and Juliet to Normal People, from Bridget Jones to When Harry Met Sally, romantic fulfilment is depicted as something you secure early; ideally before your knees give out or your mortgage locks in. The message is consistent: find love in your twenties or thirties, settle down, and then coast (emotionally paired and narratively complete) until death do you part. Lisa Portolan is an academic. Her...

Residents who escaped violence tell of bandits riding in on motorbikes and shooting indiscriminately Armed assailants on motorbikes killed at least 30 people and burned houses and shops during raids on three villages in north-west Nigeria’s Niger state early on Saturday, residents who escaped the violence told Reuters. The attacks on villages in the Borgu local government area, near the border with Benin Republic, are part of a surge in attacks blamed on “bandits” who have carried out deadly assaults, abductions for ransom, and displaced communities across northern Nigeria. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/BgWF9ip

At a moment of stagnation and political drift, Andy Burnham’s push for a new plan suggests the centre-left debate has moved beyond Downing Street Once a political leader’s net favourability sinks deep into negative territory, recovery is the exception, not the rule. It usually takes an economic rebound, a dramatic political reset or an opposition implosion to reverse the slide. Sir Keir Starmer’s personal ratings are in a danger zone from which few escape. Yet the prime minister, like the Bourbons, has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. He made a speech this week after coming close to being ousted suggesting he would “ fight ” on. He doubled down in parliament despite glaring errors in judgment. He forced out his cabinet secretary while his own failures remain unaddressed. He seemed to blame everyone but himself. When support slips and a leader answers with defiance, voters don’t see strength – they see denial. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this arti...

⚽ FA Cup fourth-round updates, 7.45pm (GMT) kick-off ⚽ Live scoreboard | Follow us on Bluesky | Email John Seven changes for Chelsea with Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro all stepping down. It still looks a pretty strong team though how cohesive will the starting team be? Si x changes, and with some regret for Hull , with the EFL a clear priority. Not much magic in a selection that drops Ivor Pandur, Charlie Hughes, John Lundstram, Joe Gelhardt, Oli McBurnie and Kyle Joseph. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Bto7I1c

Here’s how to follow along with our coverage – the finest writing and up-to-the-minute reports Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ZOiUq3G

Doubling of fish biomass and rebounding of endangered species shows government measures starting to work, biologists say The Yangtze River in China, which has been in ecological decline for 70 years, is showing signs of recovery thanks to a sweeping fishing ban. The ban was made more effective by the implementation of “evolutionary game theory”, which included finding alternative employment for fishers. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zToc7hd

US attorney general Pam Bondi and veteran affairs secretary Doug Collins clash with House Democrats; Trump hosts Netanyahu amid Iran tensions Transportation secretary Sean Duffy said the El Paso airport closure was to “address a cartel drone incursion”. “The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region,” Duffy said on social media. “The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/pkithxT

Kalshi says ‘incredible weekend’ after $145m in bets on Bad Bunny’s opening song and guests during half-time show Online prediction market Kalshi hit a daily record on Super Bowl Sunday, surpassing $1bn in trading volume, the company announced on Tuesday. Kalshi’s CEO, Tarek Mansour, called it an “incredible weekend”, telling CNBC that “Kalshi was the biggest brand of the Super Bowl this year, without running a Super Bowl ad”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5s4XuiY

Prosecutor claims Juan Pablo Guanipa was re-arrested due to non-compliance with terms of release One of Venezuela’s most prominent opposition politicians, Juan Pablo Guanipa, has been detained by security forces just hours after being released from prison, as the South American country’s leaders sent mixed signals about their commitment to political reform after Nicolás Maduro’s downfall. Guanipa, who is a close ally of the Nobel laureate María Corina Machado, emerged from nearly nine months’ detention on Sunday – one of at least 35 political prisoners to be freed over the course of the day. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/E0kI6oL

‘You can’t underestimate these guys any more’ Curran’s final-over heroics sealed four-run win England flirted with one of the great T20 World Cup upsets in Mumbai before getting their campaign under way with victory against Nepal by four runs and, although they did not lose the game, Sam Curran insisted they had lost any sense of complacency. “We take those two points and take great confidence, because it wouldn’t have been a nice dressing room this evening,” said Curran, who conceded just five runs in the final over to decide the game. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/P0tLEqS

The Seahawks quarterback was once seen as just another high-profile quarterback bust. But now he is one win from clinching the NFL title For the teams, the reality of the Super Bowl hits like deja vu: a ritual they’ve watched and fantasized about for years suddenly arrives, sucking them into its vast, chaotic center. For Sam Darnold, though, it’s a reality come full circle. San Francisco, after all, was the city that gave him a chance after he crashed and burned in New York and washed out in Carolina, long after most around the NFL had consigned him to history’s pile of first-round draft busts. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/KZkBa0w

Acts are alleged to have occurred in 2024 on set of TV drama The Cleaning Lady, which Busfield acted in and directed A grand jury in New Mexico has indicted the actor Timothy Busfield on child sex abuse charges, officials announced on Friday. Busfield was indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, the Bernalillo county district attorney’s office said in a statement. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453 or visit their website for more resources and to report child abuse or DM for help. For adult survivors of child abuse, help is available at ascasupport.org . In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood ( Napac ) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and ...

After weeks of talks mining companies say they cannot reach a deal that delivers value for shareholders Rio Tinto and Glencore have abandoned plans for a $260bn merger, walking away from a deal that would have created the world’s largest mining company. Rio Tinto said it was no longer considering a “merger or other business combination” with Glencore after it “determined that it could not reach an agreement that would deliver value to its shareholders”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/K3M9F0J

British firms could get more opportunities to supply defence equipment to Kyiv if agreement can be reached The UK could reap greater benefits from a €90bn (£78bn) EU loan for Ukraine, if it agrees to help pay the cost of borrowing, after European countries signed off long-awaited financial aid for Kyiv. British firms could have greater opportunities to supply defence equipment to Ukraine funded by the loan, if the government agrees a “fair” contribution towards EU borrowing costs. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/kjqIrtg

House passes package of five funding bills and DHS stopgap measure 217-214; measure now goes to Trump for approval Trump-Petro meeting could end in detente or discord with Colombia leader Donald Trump has continued to sow doubt in the election system. While appearing on former deputy FBI director Dan Bongino’s podcast on Monday, the president called on Republicans to “nationalize the voting,” in at least “15 places”, although he did not clarify which ones. “The Republicans should say, ‘we want to take over’,” Trump said in the interview . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fxwapbA

Demand for year 7 pupils is expected to fall by 7.6% over the next four years, with similar numbers expected in primary schools Schools in London could lose £45m in funding over the next four years as pupil numbers continue to fall, with secondary schools facing cuts to staff and curriculum as their budgets dwindle, a report has warned. Until now primary schools in the capital have been worst hit by falling birth rates, leading to around 90 school closures or mergers in the last five years, but the crisis is extending into secondary schools, which are facing large declines in numbers. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/8DOWqQi

Palace’s £48m bid accepted as Mateta ready for move Slot keen on bulking up squad with versatile defender Crystal Palace have had a £48m bid for Jørgen Strand Larsen accepted by Wolves, after the south London club reignited their interest in the Norway international. The striker, who joined Wolves on a permanent deal from Celta Vigo last summer for £23m, has scored one Premier League goal this season. The 25-year-old was a substitute for Wolves’s 2-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/H5AYNDR

Federal immigration operation has resulted in government agents killing two people, sparking weeks of protests A federal judge has denied a request by Minnesota’s state government to end the federal immigration operation in Minneapolis that has resulted in government agents killing two people , sparking weeks of protests. The state, along with the cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, had lodged a lawsuit after the death of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) agent this month, demanding an end to the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge in the city. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/stNQ894

1st T20: England, 125-4, bt Sri Lanka, 133, by 11 runs (DLS) Opener hits 46 as tourists win after rain delay It was an England victory set up by the wily, age-old brilliance of Adil Rashid, the vital part of their hopes for a World Cup triumph in the coming weeks. The masterful leg-spinner took three for 19 as Sri Lanka’s batting lineup collapsed in the first of three Twenty20s, losing five wickets for 22 runs. Sam Curran celebrated a late hat-trick, too, as the visitors were set a target of 134 in a 17-overs-a-side contest after rain delayed the start. They were guided by Phil Salt’s 46, but Tom Banton’s 15-ball 29 provided the real thrust, easing the tension in the middle overs. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jaceWym

Sundance film festival : there are some effective early moments in this ultra low-budget, audio-first horror but deja vu soon replaces intrigue There’s a swirl of creepy noises in A24’s new hyped-up horror Undertone – screaming, gargling, singing, banging – but nothing is quite loud enough to drown out the swirl of films it’s cribbing from. The debut feature from writer-director Ian Tuason, about horror podcasters who receive a set of mysterious recordings, has elements of Paranormal Activity, Session 9, Hereditary, The Ring, The Blair Witch Project and The Exorcist, enough sighs of familiarity to give horror fans a scary case of deja vu. It’s not that total originality is expected at this particular moment (this weekend’s Send Help has been touted as Misery meets Castaway), but given the genre’s overcrowd, it’s hard to see what pushes Undertone above the noise. What it does do is make for an impressively resourceful use of a low budget, the whole thing costing about $500,000. It’s ...

Fed voted to pause cuts to interest rate, which currently sits between 3.5% and 3.75%, after slashing it three times in fall The US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged after its first rate-setting meeting of the year on Wednesday, resisting enormous pressure from the White House to lower rates. A majority of members in the Fed’s federal open market committee (FOMC) voted to pause interest rate cuts after slashing rates three times in the fall. Rates currently sit at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/blgsv92

Composer says values of Trump-dominated Kennedy Center ‘are in direct conflict’ with symphony’s message Philip Glass , the celebrated US composer, has withdrawn the world premiere of his latest symphony at Washington DC’s John F Kennedy Center in protest of Donald Trump’s presidency. In a statement on Tuesday, the 88-year-old composer said: “After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Symphony No 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the symphony. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/BTbKJqv