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Chinese activist Teacher Li’s memecoin launch divides dissident community

‘Teacher Li’ is among the most prolific sources of unfiltered information from behind China’s Great Firewall. But an attempt to monetise it has proven controversial On Monday, two parallel visions of Chinese activism appeared on X. One was a video showing a small protest outside a school in western Sichuan province. The other, from a related account, was a post promoting a memecoin and something it called the “$Li vision”, adding that “some of the greatest coins had a rocky start”. The man behind both accounts is Li Ying, a Chinese art student turned activist based in Milan. His original X account, “Teacher Li is Not Your Teacher”, is one of the most prominent news feeds in the Chinese diaspora. To his nearly 2m followers, Li shares pictures and videos of happenings in China which would be censored inside the country. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rZvXfUD via IFTTT
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Rats get taste for drugs in Houston police evidence room

Police department officials lament ‘systemic problem’ and say rats ‘enjoying’ 400,000lbs of marijuana in storage Houston has found itself with a problem after drug-eating rats invaded the city’s police evidence room, according to officials. Last Friday, a handful of city officials including Houston mayor John Whitmire, police chief J Noe Diaz and Harris county district attorney Sean Teare gave a press conference in which they announced new efforts to clear out outdated evidence from the Houston police’s evidence room which has been infested with rats, KHOU reports. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ujcYJ0z via IFTTT

Marilyn Manson: Unmasked review – should a tour bus really need the age of consent pinned to the wall?

Abuse allegations – which he denies – pile up against the shock rocker in this chilling documentary, not helped by some of the sexual comments he makes about pre-teens Roll up, roll up – fun times are here again, especially for us ladies! Last week we had 2025’s first addition to the bulging files of true-crime stories, with the documentary series about rapist and serial killer Todd Kohlhepp ( The Amazon Review Killer ). Now we have the first documentary about a high-profile star claimed by multiple women to be a violent sexual predator long enabled by his fame, money and power to do exactly as he liked, to as many young women as he liked, without fear of consequence. Marilyn Manson: Unmasked is a meticulously assembled three-part account of the shock-rock musician’s career and what was allegedly happening behind the scenes. All of which, I should say, is denied by Manson (real name Brian Warner) and on screen by his quietly terrifying lawyer Howard King, whose favourite expression s...

Bump review – one of the warmest, fuzziest comedies on TV

The hit Aussie comedy about teenage parents has matured into something relatable, genuinely funny and frequently devastating. It will be missed The first series of Australian comedy Bump was an indubitably high-concept affair. Mere minutes after we were introduced to uptight, intellectually ferocious, all-round-type-A schoolgirl Oly, her life had been turned upside down. A sudden stomachache in the playground quickly progressed into vomiting in the school toilets then full-blown labour in the back of an ambulance – but know-it-all Oly (Nathalie Morris) had no inkling she was even pregnant. That the father was not her similarly nerdy boyfriend Lachie but a mildly delinquent classmate called Santiago (“Santi”) added even more world-shattering horror into the mix. Birth did not magically bestow Oly with motherly instincts. “Get that thing away from me,” she snarled when introduced to her newborn daughter. But once the shellshock and fury had dissipated, she did manage to adjust, and Bum...

‘We are improving in the way we suffer’: Amorim delighted by shootout success

Manchester United beat Arsenal on penalties in FA Cup ‘I felt since the first minute that today was our day’ A jubilant Ruben Amorim said he had sensed his Manchester United side would beat Arsenal at the outset of a controversial third round tie at the Emirates. Amorim’s side rode out a storm with 10 men to force penalties, sealing the win through Joshua Zirkzee’s clinical strike, and he claimed the outcome had been clear in his mind as soon as proceedings began. “The players were really tired but I felt since the first minute that today was our day,” Amorim said. “I also felt a connection with our fans, our staff. It was a very good day for us in that aspect.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/mVIZo9r via IFTTT

‘This place instilled constant fear in us’: the man who lived next door to the brutal Homs security unit for 50 years

For 50 years Taha Tadmori had a window to the surveillance complex of the Assad regime. As Syria starts a new chapter, he recalls the horrors he witnessed and the family he lost The three floors and subterranean prison of the Homs security directorate have loomed over 65-year-old Taha Tadmori’s daily life since he was a teenager. His family often shut their window blinds and doors in an attempt to block out the constant sound of screams and cries of pain from the facility’s basement prison, loud enough to reach their third-floor apartment overlooking it. The moustachioed man with a gentle smile was 15 when he watched the construction of the neighbouring building that would later terrorise him and other people in Homs. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/HiV9AoY via IFTTT

How Los Angeles wildfire smoke affects mental health

Wildfire smoke is linked to health issues like heart attacks and strokes. Research is helping us understand its impacts on our wellbeing Wildfires burning across the Los Angeles area have left 11 dead , thousands displaced , and over 10,000 structures destroyed. As authorities struggle to contain the blazes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged those in the area to monitor the local air quality on their weather app, or on airnow.gov . Wildfire smoke, a major source of air pollution, is linked to severe health issues including heart attacks, strokes and lung diseases like asthma. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QTRI6rP via IFTTT

Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger review – Rory Kinnear files a solid return as the bloke from Burnley

The businessman with a heart takes on crooked payday lenders in this predictable sequel that gets by on its heartfelt performances It won no prizes for subtlety, but cheerful, victory-of-the-underdog comedy Bank of Dave featured a stonking lead performance by Rory Kinnear as Dave Fishwick. He’s the Burnley businessman who made millions selling vans then took a stand against fatcat bankers by opening his own community bank, the Bank of Dave, in 2011. Now Kinnear is back for a sequel, this time taking on crooked payday lenders . Like the first film, Bank of Dave 2 is predictable and cliché-ridden but gets by on likable, heartfelt performances, and the knowledge that in real life some of this stuff actually happened. The film picks up two years after the original. The “Bank of Dave” on the high street in Burnley is still going strong – lending to ordinary people who struggle to secure loans from bigger banks. Dave is outraged to discover the sharp practices of payday lenders targeting...

Titanique review – camp musical sails into silliness with Céline Dion onboard

Criterion theatre, London It goes on and on but this madcap spoof of the blockbuster film has a sparkling cast, including Lauren Drew as Dion and Layton Williams as the iceberg Imagine James Cameron’s 1997 disaster film romance Titanic as a camp musical spoof narrated by Céline Dion, who famously sang its signature number. Every character onboard this ill-fated liner is a closet-door short of coming out – including Jack and Rose. Then add enough smutty double entendres and rapid cultural references to bedazzle a pantomime dame, alongside a score of mainly Dion songs (My Heart Will Go On is set to electric guitar). You might come close to preparing yourself for this madcap musical fantasia which has fetched up from off-Broadway to reprise (ruin?) the love story between Rose (Kat Ronney) – who is engaged to rich Cal (Jordan Luke Gage), with Grindr on his phone – and the poor artist Jack (Rob Houchen). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/KlkLCie via IFTTT

Migrant exploitation is a progressive issue. That’s why we will now take the toughest steps ever to stop it | David Lammy

Our new sanctions regime targets those profiting from irregular migration and organised immigration crime. We must be focused and smart In January 1946, the foreign secretary, Ernest Bevin, stared into the geopolitical fog. The second world war had only just ended. The cold war, which would last more than four decades, was only just beginning. It was hard to see six months, let alone six years ahead. But Bevin did not sit waiting for the fog to clear. He was a minister of action, who saw that what matters is not just what Britain says, but what it does. What matters is not just what Britain wants, but what it builds. What matters is having a strategy. This is why Clement Attlee’s 1945 general election manifesto was called Let Us Face the Future . David Lammy is British foreign secretary Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click...

What Does it Look Like to Renew Your Mind? - Your Nightly Prayer

Renewing our minds is a daily practice that helps us stay focused on God’s way in a world full of distractions. By meditating on His Word, inviting His Spirit into our lives, and intentionally reflecting on His goodness, we find strength to walk the narrow path. End your day with this prayerful reflection, and let His truth renew you. from Christianity.com https://ift.tt/V1v8hA6

NHS trusts declare critical incidents due to ‘exceptionally high demands’ in A&E

Hospitals include Cornwall, Birmingham and Liverpool, with one patient forced to wait 50 hours to be admitted A number of NHS trusts have declared critical incidents due to “exceptionally high demands” in emergency departments with a patient at one hospital forced to wait 50 hours to be admitted to a ward. Hospitals in Northamptonshire, Cornwall, Liverpool, Hampshire, Birmingham and Plymouth have declared critical incidents. East Sussex Hospitals Trust announced it is temporarily limiting visiting to one visitor per patient per day to reduce the impact of flu. It said in a statement: “This includes those accompanying people waiting in our emergency department. “Exemptions apply to end-of-life care, our special care baby unit and when visiting children under 16. Additional visitors will be permitted on compassionate grounds on a case-by-case basis for all of our other services.” East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust also declared the first critical incident in its history...

The Amazon Review Killer review – should we really still be watching this evil drivel in 2025?

Dismally grim and exploitative, this series about a murderer who posted online reviews of the tools he used to carry out his crimes is just the kind of television to avoid like the plague Right, you ’orrible lot. That’s quite enough seasonal goodwill for you. Time to get back to business. Your first new true-crime documentary of the year is here: The Amazon Review Killer. It is the dismally grim tale of estate agent, sex offender and serial killer Todd Kohlhepp. He was convicted in 2017 of seven murders and has since said that he is responsible for many more, though he has not given the authorities any details. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rjLsXvf via IFTTT

Demi, Jodie and Nicole: is Hollywood finally ready to recognise complex female characters over 40? | Natasha Ginnivan

At the Golden Globes, the spotlight was on women playing multilayered, courageous and middle-aged lead roles There’s something spectacular happening in movies and television at the moment and it’s not a superhero fight sequence or a motorcycle stunt off a cliff. No, it’s the celebration of courageous, multilayered middle-aged and older female characters being portrayed in all their complexity on screen. The Golden Globes highlighted this trend, handing out a swag of awards to the women who played these characters – often to their surprise. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/MXJfjz5 via IFTTT

NFL roundup: Bucs clinch another NFC South title as Titans land No 1 draft pick

Buccaneers beat Saints 27-19 to clinch NFC South Packers lose Love and Watson in 24-22 loss to Bears Titans earn No 1 pick with 23-14 loss to Tennessee Baker Mayfield used his legs and arm to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch their fourth straight NFC South title while putting Mike Evans over 1,000 yards receiving. Mayfield fired a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan for the go-ahead score and then scrambled 28 yards for a crucial first down on the next drive, leading the Buccaneers to a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QoRE2BJ via IFTTT

UK weather: power cuts, traffic chaos and cancelled flights due to heavy snow

Closed roads, multi-vehicle collisions and train interruptions reported as Met Office yellow and amber warnings remain in place Homes were left without power, roads were closed, cars stranded, and flights and train services cancelled on Saturday as heavy snow and freezing rain hit much of the UK. The National Grid said on Saturday night that power was cut to properties across the Midlands, south-west England and South Wales, including Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff, and that work was under way to get services restored. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ZUA7Ggx via IFTTT
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