The Voice Reveal

Tessa Wullaert’s double condemned the Lionesses to a 3-2 defeat. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/nG92EoW via IFTTT

Wyndham’s theatre, London At two hours with no interval, the actor-director’s production hurtles past at such speed that the depths of the play are too rarely realised Kenneth Branagh has confirmed his mercurial ability to inhabit Shakespeare’s flawed heroes over decades on stage and film. We have come to expect great things: energy, polish and accomplished verse diction. That is what we get here, in his production of what some believe to be the most tragic of Shakespearean downfalls. But although Branagh delivers his Lear with slick, almost playful efficiency, it is not his towering achievement. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/S02x9RW via IFTTT

Theatre Royal, Bath An excellent cast give the story of Ruth Snyder, a woman executed by electric chair in 1928 for killing her husband, a cleverly inventive, chillingly modern update Ruth Snyder’s crime was sensationalised in its day and well after it. An American who murdered her husband and paid with her life, her very public death in 1928 by electric chair has served as gruesome inspiration for, among others, Billy Wilder and Guns N’ Roses. Sophie Treadwell’s 1928 play infuses Snyder’s story with compassion and tragedy, without a hint of sentimentality. This stark, magnetic revival draws on the play’s expressionist roots yet also renders it chillingly modern in showing how female criminality is still often depicted. Immaculately directed by Richard Jones, it is spare yet shocking. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/evOZRWp via IFTTT

There are ways you can stay across the news without succumbing to secondary or vicarious trauma The ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza has once again brought to the forefront the grim realities of war and its impact on innocent civilians. As we’re flooded with images and stories of destruction, suffering, and loss, it’s natural to feel a deep sense of sadness, empathy, helplessness and, of course, anger and dismay at what we are witnessing. Many are finding it increasingly challenging to balance their desire to stay informed with the emotional toll this crisis can take. Unfortunately, this can lead to secondary trauma. Secondary trauma, also known as vicarious trauma, is a phenomenon where individuals experience symptoms of trauma as a result of witnessing or hearing about traumatic events happening to others, even if they aren’t directly involved. In the context of the Israel-Gaza crisis, secondary trauma can manifest as feelings of grief and extreme sadness, anxiety and depression...

Minerva theatre, Chichester Despite fine acting, Harry Davies’ political thriller about a contaminated water scandal fails to plumb the depths of its characters In two senses, this debut play by Harry Davies has a lot going on offstage. Previews were extended to allow the show, according to a theatre statement, “to reach its full potential”. And in writing about a public inquiry into a contaminated water scandal, Davies clearly alludes to the poisoned spa baths in Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, but also follows the Norwegian’s practice of crucial events having occurred before the action. The Inquiry, though, stretches the technique by starting after both the scandal and the public hearings are over. The play’s 100 minutes focus on the process of “Maxwellisation” that allows witnesses to challenge and redact criticisms before a report’s publication. Justice minister Arthur Gill (John Heffernan) hopes to steer inquiry chair Lady Justice Wingate (Deborah Findlay) away from conclusions...

There has been speculation in some quarters that after a harrowing year, the prime minister is planning a Halloween 2024 general election Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ZPymx5K via IFTTT

All Blacks captain feeling ‘so much hurt’ after Springboks win Siya Kolisi tells people of South Africa: ‘Thank you so much’ Sam Cane admitted that the heartbreak of his costly red card in his side’s one-point World Cup final defeat by South Africa was something “I’m going to have to live with for ever”. The New Zealand captain was sent off via the bunker review system for a high tackle on Jesse Kriel just before the half-hour mark of South Africa’s 12-11 victory. South Africa led 9-3 at the time and extended their lead to nine points but the 14-man All Blacks rallied after the break and scored the only try of the match through Beauden Barrett, but came up agonisingly short. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Xp6E7DK via IFTTT

Army reservist Robert Card, 40, was suspected in two shootings that also injured 13 in Lewiston on Wednesday night A suspect in the killing of 18 people and wounding of 13 in two mass shootings in Maine has been found dead, according to the Associated Press, after authorities issued arrest warrants for multiple counts of murder and launched a huge manhunt for him. Robert Card, who was wanted in connection with the shootings at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley in Lewiston, is believed to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a law enforcement official told the AP. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/9VkwPi3 via IFTTT

England’s only defeat in Rugby World Cup was the agonising 16-15 loss to South Africa in the semi-final. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/XUfe9Pb via IFTTT

Russia loses brigade’s worth of troops in push for Avdiivka, says Zelenskiy; heavy shelling hits Kherson; Macron condemns Orbán’s meeting with Putin See all our Ukraine war coverage The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, claimed that Russian forces had lost at least a brigade’s worth of troops attempting to advance on Ukraine’s eastern town of Avdiivka. Russia began a renewed push to encircle the embattled town in mid-October, trying to overwhelm Ukrainian positions with constant barrages of artillery and waves of troops and fighting vehicles, according to reports. Russian forces have heavily shelled the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson , injuring a number of people and damaging at least 10 buildings, a senior local official and emergency workers said . The European Council has outlined plans to seize the profits from frozen Russian assets and direct billions of euros to support Ukraine . In a set of formal public conclusions after the culmination of a...

Collins’s notes on his collaborator’s ‘weakest book’ and ‘astonishingly bad’ work were sold at auction in 1890 Charles Dickens may be lauded by many as the greatest Victorian novelist, but one close friend did not demur from fierce criticism after the writer’s death. Wilkie Collins, the author of The Woman in White, collaborated on drama and fiction with Dickens and the two enjoyed a long, close friendship until Dickens’s death in 1870. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/8vKUISm via IFTTT

Li served as China’s number two leader for ten years until he was replaced earlier this year China’s former premier, Li Keqiang , has died, according to state media. He was 68. Li had a sudden heart attack and died in Shanghai in the early hours on Friday morning, according to China’s Xinhua news agency. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/32zq7s4 via IFTTT

White House says Russia is executing soldiers who fail to follow orders; Moscow criticises Ukraine-backed peace talks in Malta See all our Ukraine war coverage Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ufNVh83 via IFTTT

Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukraine is preparing for renewed Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure ahead of winter; Russia claims to have conducted a simulated nuclear strike See all our Ukraine war coverage Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Ukraine is preparing for renewed Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure ahead of the second winter of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of the country – and that the country is ready to counterattack if targeted. “We are preparing for terrorist attacks on our energy infrastructure,” Zelenskiy said. “This year we will not only defend ourselves, but also respond.” Russia claims it has tested its ability to deliver a retaliatory nuclear strike in an exercise involving the launch of missiles by land, sea and air. News of the exercise was delivered on Russian state TV by the defence minister, Sergei Shoigu. The exercise followed Russia’s parliament completing the passing of a law that withdraws Moscow’s ratification of the global trea...

US president calls for end to attacks by West Bank settlers and accuses Hamas of hiding behind civilians in Gaza, but that Israel also must follow the ‘laws of war’ Israel and Hamas at war – live updates Joe Biden has called for an immediate end to Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, as Israel kept up its strikes on Gaza in preparation for a long promised ground invasion. Speaking at a joint press conference with the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the president said US support for Israel’s defence was ironclad, but criticised the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank by some Israelis. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/NZuRwUk via IFTTT

A police inquiry called the Seoul crush that killed 159 a ‘man-made disaster’, yet one year on, victims’ families have no official apology, no independent inquiry and no accountability Time stands still in Choi Min-seok’s room. The desk is strewn with photos and mementoes. Inside his wallet, his mother’s words beckoning him to stay safe and happy can be found. In a small pouch are his ashes, transformed into jade-coloured stones. At 19, he had dreams of becoming a nurse, once he had completed his compulsory military service. His medical school vest still hangs on the wall. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ZzeVdKp via IFTTT

Changing Faces writes to broadcasters ahead of Halloween for I Am Not Your Villain campaign A UK charity representing those with a disfigurement or visible difference has written to broadcasters including Netflix, Disney+ and the BBC asking that Halloween favourites such as A Nightmare on Elm Street run with warnings that the films contain negative stereotypes. Changing Faces has sent the letter as part of its I Am Not Your Villain campaign, which aims to eradicate the common trope of feared characters being portrayed as people with a scar, mark or condition that makes them look different. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/juL5l7d via IFTTT

Royal Opera House, London Sam Steiner’s play, set in a world of rationed speech, lends itself to movement, and the dancers here also retain the dialogue, fusing the forms with quiet grace A story in which a new “hush law” limits every person to 140 spoken words a day is a good idea for a dance adaptation: who would thrive in those circumstances except expert physical communicators? Although in Sam Steiner’s 2015 play Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (here renamed The Limit), nobody thrives under such draconian control. Certainly not the couple in this two-hander, played by Royal Ballet principals Alexander Campbell (whose idea this show was) and Francesca Hayward. Surprisingly, they don’t replace script with dance but act the whole play – remarkably well considering they’re not trained actors – and move at the same time. Hayward is the Royal’s most natural and luminous dance-actress, and her inner light turns out to be a transferable skill. She has clarity, and Campbell easy confide...

Watchdog’s report also has ‘serious concerns’ about conditions at Western Jet Foil and Kent Intake Unit Conditions at a processing centre for asylum seekers who arrive on the Kent coast in small boats have been called unacceptable in a report from a watchdog that monitors the centre. Representatives from the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) made a total of 85 visits in 2022 to three Home Office processing centres for small boat arrivals – Manston, Western Jet Foil and Kent Intake Unit – for its 2022 annual report into short-term holding facilities on the Kent coast. All three centres hit the headlines last year due to a variety of scandals and serious incidents. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/OfPYD0R via IFTTT

Communities secretary calls for safe return of Israeli hostages during Trafalgar Square event Israel-Hamas war: latest updates The communities secretary, Michael Gove, has told a rally in central London that the UK must stand with Israel in its fight against Hamas, as hundreds gathered to call for the safe return of hostages. The “solidarity rally” in Trafalgar Square on Sunday afternoon was organised by a number of groups, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Many in the crowd chanted “Bring them home” and held signs saying “Release the hostages” as they queued to get in. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/hU6mCoe via IFTTT

Extra £2,500 now available for low-carbon air source heat pumps to take installation cost below a gas boiler The government is increasing its air source heat pump grants for homeowners in England and Wales by 50% to £7,500 from Monday amid criticism about slow adoption of the low-carbon technology. The £2,500 in extra support – on top of £5,000 offered – aims to take the cost of installing an air source heat pump below that of the average gas boiler. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rQ5FKIb via IFTTT

No items are for sale and nothing is quite what it seems at Rachel Maclean’s ‘shop’ on Ayr high street With its grubby pastel paint and wonky signage, Rachel Maclean’s shopfront on Ayr high street at first appears like any other in a town centre that has seen better days. But look more closely through the window and you will notice that familiar promotional entreaties are backwards: don’t buy mi, don’t let me, nothing must go. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/kDUM8Wa via IFTTT

What if we explored the idea of boundaries in pursuit of the maker’s pure intention rather than a perceived enclosed life of rules and regulations? Will you join me on the adventure to ultimate freedom? from Christianity.com https://ift.tt/ueIF2oZ

The director screened the first 40-minute episode of his new TV show at SXSW Sydney, made from footage from his divisive 2008 film Australia. But is it any good? During Covid-19 lockdowns, when many of us were baking sourdough, crocheting beanies and reminiscing about old flames, the prolific Australian film-maker Baz Luhrmann was ruminating about his biggest critical flop. Labelled by naysayers as “ aggressively sentimental ”, “ cringe ” and “ overlong ”, Australia was a film the auteur had struggled to get over the line before its release in November 2008. As the deadline loomed, he’d been forced to capitulate to the top dogs at 20th Century Fox and give the 165-minute wartime epic a happier ending – one where Hugh Jackman’s ruggedly handsome Drover doesn’t die. Audiences at test screenings hadn’t appreciated Wolverine being killed off. (It’s unclear how they felt about Nicole Kidman’s immobile forehead, which also attracted unrelenting commentary.) Continue reading... from The ...

Six dead in Russian missile strike on Kharkiv postal distribution centre, says governor; Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds talks with Turkish counterpart ahead of peace summit next week See all our Ukraine war coverage At least six people have died in a Russian missile strike on a postal centre in Kharkiv region, the local governor has said . Fourteen more were injured , of which seven were “fighting for their lives”, said governor Oleh Synehubov. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shared a video on Saturday night showing what appeared to be a heavily damaged warehouse surrounded by rubble and a container with the logo of Ukrainian postal operator Nova Poshta. He said it was a civilian facility and urged Ukraine’s allies to unite in the “fight against terror”. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, talked to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on Saturday, Zelenskiy said, in a call in which the two leaders discussed Ukraine’s peace formula, food security, and the situation in th...

Great British Sewing Bee judge criticises government’s ‘shambolic’ attempt to get protective gear into hospitals when Covid hit The Scottish fashion designer Patrick Grant has said his father died “very unnecessarily” due to personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages during the Covid pandemic. Grant’s father, James, had been a manager of the Scottish pop rock band Marmalade as well as an accountant and rugby coach. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/NbhpYQH via IFTTT

Joe Biden asks for $106bn package of emergency aid to Israel and Ukraine; former abbot of Ukrainian Orthodox monastery charged with justifying Russian invasion See all our Ukraine war coverage The White House asked Congress on Friday to approve a $106bn (£87bn) package of emergency aid to Israel and Ukraine, as well as to the southern US border. The request includes $61.4bn for Ukraine, $44.4bn of which is to provide defence department equipment for the country. For Israel, the Biden administration is asking for $14.3bn. In addition, the package includes $9.15bn for the US state department to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. A United Nations commission of inquiry found additional evidence that Russian forces had committed “indiscriminate attacks” and war crimes in Ukraine, including rape and the deportation of children to Russia. The Security Service of Ukraine has sent an indictment to the court against the former abbot of the Ukrainian Orthodox mo...

The All Blacks booked an unprecedented fifth World Cup final appearance after crushing Argentina in a 44-6 success at the Stade de France on Friday. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/L81rtVB via IFTTT

Atilla Demirer swiped in to his Sydney building in July 2021. There are no records of him leaving again before his body was found four months later. Was this just another case of fatal loneliness? The inquest is held in courtroom four at Lidcombe coroner’s court , Sydney, in early August, in an echoey room so empty the coronial advocate assisting, Durand Welsh, asks if I am a family member. Welsh’s voice bounces around the courtroom, addressing the coroner and the four other people present as he outlines what authorities knew of Atilla Demirer, his life, and his death. It was very little. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0ajySA6 via IFTTT

The famous Austin festival picked the Harbour City for its first foray overseas, bringing an eclectic mix of AI, celebrities and cutting edge ideas Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast A simultaneously familiar and slightly terrifying robot dog wanders through the audience of a session at the Sydney edition of South by South West. On stage, the panellists opine about a future increasingly defined by artificial intelligence and automation. “It’s going to get much, much more significant,” says Ed Santow, the former human rights commissioner and current director of policy and governance at the UTS Human Technology Institute. “And for many people that will be a good thing, [but] for a lot of people it’ll be really, really hard.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/MPyvG3X via IFTTT

US-Russian journalist detained in Russia; Ukrainian parliament votes to ban Ukrainian Orthodox Church Ukraine’s parliament has voted overwhelmingly to advance legislation seen as effectively banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its ties to Moscow , despite the church’s insistence that it is fully independent and supportive of Ukraine’s fight against Russian invaders. A Russian-American journalist has been detained in Russia on charges of violating its foreign agents law, reportedly due to her coverage of Russia’s military mobilisation for its invasion of Ukraine . Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor with Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty’s (RFE-RL) Tatar-Bashkir service, was detained on Wednesday. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he wants to build a “forward-looking” relationship with Russia as he met with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, state media reported. The veteran envoy’s two-day visit is expected to lay the groundwork for a trip to the country by Russian President Vladimir ...

Aja Wilson named MVP after Aces hold off New York Liberty in four games. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/RQZqNOm via IFTTT

The former UFC champion had been accused of assaulting a woman in a toilet at an NBA Finals game. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/cpD3Qul via IFTTT

Putin calls delivery of ATACMS long-range missiles ‘another mistake’ by US; Russian foreign minister arrives in North Korea ahead of expected Putin trip See all our Ukraine war coverage Vladimir Putin called the US delivery of long-range tactical ballistic missiles to Kyiv “another mistake by the United States” in his first public comments since an unprecedented Ukrainian strike destroyed helicopters at two airfields in Russian-occupied territory this week. The Russian president also claimed that the delivery of the ATACMS missiles, which can strike targets more than 100 miles away and deliver salvoes with cluster munitions, would “simply prolong [Ukraine’s] agony.” Images of Hungary’s prime minister shaking hands with Putin were “very, very unpleasant” and defied logic given Budapest’s past history with Moscow, the Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, said . Viktor Orbán and Putin held talks in China on Tuesday , with the Hungarian prime minister telling the Russian president...

Hundreds reported dead in blast at Gaza City hospital; Biden’s trip to Jordan cancelled ahead of meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel See all our Israel-Hamas war coverage Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rjxpKZP via IFTTT

National Infrastructure Commission says public transport, home heating and water networks all in need of renewal The £30bn question: will Tories embrace NIC report or stick with rhetoric? The UK’s infrastructure needs a big cash injection, with public transport, home heating and water networks all in dire need of renewal, independent government advisers have said. The investments, of about £30bn a year from the taxpayer and £40bn to £50bn a year from the private sector, would result in savings to the average household of at least £1,000 a year, higher economic productivity, and a better quality of life in the future, the National Infrastructure Commission said. Substantial investment in public transport for England’s biggest cities must be accompanied by restrictions on car access to alleviate congestion. Hydrogen must not be used for home heating, despite government enthusiasm for the technology. Hydrogen should be exploited for use in heavy industry. People on lower incomes s...

Musician’s work spanned the mainstream and avant-garde, including in fusions with the world of rock Carla Bley, the American jazz composer-pianist celebrated for boldly avant-garde work as well as her uplifting and beautiful takes on the genre’s mainstream, has died aged 87. Her death was announced by longtime partner and musical collaborator Steve Swallow, who said the cause was complications from brain cancer. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/YXhu95b via IFTTT

Brexit trade deal gave UK and EU carmakers until 1 January 2024 to source batteries from within Europe or face 10% tariffs The UK car industry has said incoming tariffs between the UK and the EU could raise the price of imported electric cars by as much as £3,400 unless a solution is found by the end of the year. The Brexit trade deal between the UK and EU gave carmakers until 1 January 2024 to source batteries from within Europe or face 10% tariffs when exporting to each other. However, the supply of European-made batteries has failed to meet demand, meaning carmakers face the new tariffs from next year under these “rules of origin”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QHXuLdG via IFTTT

This is ‘the worst parliament in history’, according to the former chair of its standards committee. We examine some of the most high-profile cases Badly behaving MPs have made this “the worst parliament in history”, according to Chris Bryant, the former chair of the House of Commons standards committee. He put the number of MPs who have faced at least a one-day suspension since the 2019 general election at 24. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/iOkNav6 via IFTTT

Russia’s biggest offensive in months is failing, says Ukrainian commander; at least six people killed in Russian strikes See all our Ukraine war coverage A top Ukrainian commander has said Russia’s biggest offensive in months on the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka is failing , adding that Kyiv’s own attempts to advance in the south were proving “difficult”. Russia has continued to deploy new forces in an attempt to surround the city, according to Vitaliy Barabash, the head of its military administration. Both Moscow and Washington have described the surge in violence around Avdiivka as a new Russian offensive. At least six people have been killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the past 24 hours, local officials reported on Sunday. Two people were killed and three more injured in the Kherson area after more than 100 shells bombarded the region over the weekend, the local governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, wrote on social media, according to AP. The White House national security a...

Russian forces are attacking eastern city of Avdiivka with ‘everything they have’, says head of its military administration; Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanks troops for holding the line See all our Ukraine war coverage Fierce fighting in Avdiivka on the eastern frontline entered a fifth day as Russia continued to deploy new forces in an attempt to surround the city, according to Vitaliy Barabash, the head of its military administration. Shelling was so fierce that emergency crews were unable to recover the dead from wrecked buildings, Barabash said. Both Russia and the United States have described the upsurge in violence around Avdiivka as a new Russian offensive. “They are striking with everything they have. Bouts of shooting, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, mortars and a lot of aircraft,” Barabash told national television. He said 1,620 residents remained in Avdiivka, a town with a large coking plant and a pre-war population of 32,000. Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked troops in are...

Fury improved his professional record to 10-0 with a majority decision in scrappy cruiserweight clash. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/cNi246y via IFTTT

The world’s No 1 side have done virtually everything right but in this quarter-final’s intangible moments, New Zealand prevailed But if not now, when? Rivers of green trickle out of the stadium, back to the Paris RER and the metro, the night stiff and chilly, the air thick with questions that will never be answered. There is anger, but only a little, and there is sadness, but only a little. Rather, the overwhelming sensation in these earliest twitches of aftermath is a kind of bewilderment, the yawning void where a World Cup semi-final was supposed to be. As if it all feels too abrupt. As if somewhere, on some plane, a sacred pact has been reneged on. If not now, when? Perhaps this is the question that will consume Caelan Doris in his quieter moments, as he sees the high ball going up with 72 minutes on the clock, a catch he could make in his sleep that will now keep him awake. Perhaps this is the question that Johnny Sexton will ponder when he revisits the penalty kick that he pulle...

Russian authorities detain lawyers for Navalny; US says North Korea delivered 1,000 containers of military equipment to Russia See all our Ukraine war coverage Russia has detained three lawyers of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny and raided their homes , aides said, a step that comes amid increasing pressure on the Kremlin’s critics. The move was an attempt to “completely isolate Navalny,” his ally Ivan Zhdanov said on social media. The US has claimed that North Korea delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia for the war in Ukraine. The White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby said the US believed Kim was seeking sophisticated Russian weapon technologies in return for the munitions to boost North Korea’s nuclear programme. Fighting on the eastern frontline, in Avdiivka, entered a fourth day as Russia seeks to regain the initiative in its biggest offensive in months. Ukraine’s top military command said that i...

Henderson was jeered by some fans when replaced in the second half. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/rSaCeNP via IFTTT

Treason and grief in the town of Hroza after a deadly Russian missile attack; Kyiv makes remarkable progress in Black Sea See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Every week we wrap up the must-reads from our coverage of the war in Ukraine , from news and features to analysis, visual guides and opinion. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/EMT43D8 via IFTTT

Russia and Ukraine fighting fierce battles around eastern town of Avdiivka; Finland says ‘state actor’ may be behind damage to gas pipeline See all our Ukraine war coverage Russian and Ukrainian forces fought fierce battles around the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka after Moscow launched one of its biggest military offensives in months this week . President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces were holding their ground on the third day of battle, but municipal officials said the Russian attacks were relentless. Finland said it could not exclude the possibility that a “state actor” was behind damage to a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, amid what its national security intelligence service called “significantly deteriorated” relations with Russia. The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Thursday the US would support Finland and Estonia as they probed the damage to the Balticconnector pipeline and parallel Estlink telecommunications cable between the two count...

Scott McTominay’s opening goal was disallowed by VAR as Spain went on to win 2-0 in Seville from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/tu6rBfQ via IFTTT

The British Government had written to UK sports bodies encouraging them to mark events in Israel appropriately. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/o9Ngeia via IFTTT

Savoy theatre, London Lloyd brings hipster edginess, style and unpredictability to this revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical – though it’s more surface-level than penetrating closeup We have come to expect the unexpected from Jamie Lloyd . The director’s 2019 revival of Evita gave Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical a hipster-ish edginess, and it is the same for this production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1993 musical, to which he brings ferocious unpredictability. Based on Billy Wilder’s film about struggling screenwriter Joe Gillis and his relationship of convenience with faded Hollywood starlet Norma Desmond, it speaks to that original medium. A black and white film is being made on stage and projected on to a gigantic back-screen. Credits roll at the beginning and end. Cameras follow characters, capturing their faces in magnified proportions so it’s clear that all here are ever-ready for their closeups, not just Norma. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fQ3gOt...

Palestinian residents of the enclave says the intensity of the recent Israeli attacks is unlike anything they have experienced before in other wars See further coverage of Israel-Hamas war In previous encounters, says Nebal Farsakh, there would always be some time without airstrikes. “But now, there is not a single minute. That’s why the casualties keep going up and up,” says Farsakh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/6NhkLGE via IFTTT

Head of US foreign affairs committee says warning was given, but it is unclear ‘at what level’, supporting claims reported from Egyptian sources See all our Israel-Hamas war coverage The chairman of the powerful US House foreign affairs committee has said Israel received a warning from Egypt of potential violence three days before Hamas caught Israeli forces off-guard in a large-scale attack. “We know that Egypt has warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen,” Republican Michael McCaul told reporters on Wednesday, after a closed-door intelligence briefing for lawmakers on the crisis. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/PBeiyFO via IFTTT

Strike on school in Ukrainian town of Nikopol kills four; debris from drone downed over Belgorod kills two; Zelenskiy calls for winter munitions See all our Ukraine coverage Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/6KOWgvx via IFTTT

Meaningful debate over climate emergency lacking ahead of October vote amid fresh warnings of more extreme weather events In the lead up to New Zealand’s 2017 election, Jacinda Ardern , the then soon-to-be prime minister, called the climate emergency her generation’s “nuclear-free moment” – a reference to the bold stance the country took against nuclear power. Her comments signalled renewed urgency in shaping New Zealand’s response to combatting one of the globe’s greatest existential threats. But six years on, with the country’s general election just days away, the climate emergency has been sidelined against discussions of crime, “co-governance” and the cost of living. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/li4v69g via IFTTT

Test rugby’s top-ranked nation will bid to make history against New Zealand in Paris on Saturday evening. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/CPx3b4X via IFTTT

Play based on the beloved 1987 comedy will open at Birmingham Rep next year directed by Sean Foley It is one of British cinema’s most quotable comedies: a tale of destitute London actors “drifting into the arena of the unwell” who go on holiday by mistake to the Lake District. Now, the inebriated world of Withnail and I – complete with the notorious super-sized joint called the Camberwell carrot – is destined for the stage, adapted by the much-loved 1987 film’s writer-director, Bruce Robinson. The play will have its world premiere at the Birmingham Rep in May, directed by Sean Foley, who described Withnail and I as “part of the furniture of British comedy” and said “if it wasn’t so funny, it would be tragic”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ixGmZCe via IFTTT

This is more than just an utterly bizarre tale of 30 people being duped into giving up their lives to be on TV. It’s a thoughtful, considerate joy of a documentary That 2002 was 21 years ago is obviously wrong in all but the most factual terms. The endlessly stylish and compelling documentary The Greatest Show Never Made hurls us back to that impossibly distant time yesterday when reality TV was the newest, most exciting thing and a man posing as a TV producer (or was he?) was able to attract hundreds of would-be contestants to audition for the latest entrant to the field, which would require them to give up their lives for a year. The chosen few duly handed in their notices at work, broke their leases, informed family and friends they were leaving and set off – with the passports they had been told to bring – on their new adventure. The only problem was that the show (which would require them to try to make a million pounds together over the course of the year) didn’t exist outside...

I began to consider what “real intelligence” actually is —“real” meaning human in contrast to “artificial” — and decided on four significant characteristics of intelligence that make humans distinct from computers. from Christianity.com https://ift.tt/xFWI8DQ

‘We are focused on this question, there are consultations going on,’ says Jake Sullivan; Israel toll climbs by 200, according to public broadcaster; most recent Gaza toll stands at 900 Israel-Hamas at war: What we know on day five Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jHrsGlV via IFTTT

Findings shed light on European common frog’s sometimes deadly scramble for a mate When it comes to avoiding unwanted male attention, researchers have found some frogs take drastic action: they appear to feign death. Researchers say the findings shed new light on the European common frog, suggesting females do not simply put up with the male scramble for mates – a situation in which several males can end up clinging to a female, sometimes fatally. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/6IFx4rP via IFTTT

Gas pipeline and communications cable connecting Finland and Estonia deliberately damaged, says Helsinki; Russia defeated in bid to return to UN human rights council See all our Ukraine coverage Extensive damage to an undersea gas pipeline and communications cable connecting Finland and Estonia “could not have occurred by accident” and appears to be the result of a “deliberate … external act” , Finnish authorities said . Local media cited unnamed government sources as saying Russian sabotage was suspected, while regional security experts said a Russian survey vessel had recently been observed making repeated visits to the vicinity of the Balticconnector pipeline Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Volodymyr Zelenskiy had promised him that Ukraine would not attack Europe’s biggest nuclear plant as part of its counteroffensive against Russia . In an interview with the Guardian, the nuclear watchdog chief said he was most concerned about the Zapor...

Survey finds less than two-thirds say they enjoy PE in schools, down from 74% in 2016 Girls’ enjoyment of physical education in school has declined over the past six years, with a lack of confidence, concern about periods and anxiety about their appearance holding them back, according to research. Less than two-thirds of girls and young women (64%) who took part in a survey this year by the UK charity the Youth Sport Trust (YST), said they enjoyed PE, down from 74% when the poll began in 2016. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/hoWNIF0 via IFTTT

Independent report says shortage of staff and resources made effective security ‘very difficult’ HMP Wandsworth was facing 10 assaults on staff every week amid “inhumane” conditions in the year leading up to the alleged escape of a suspected terrorist, a damning report has uncovered. The prison’s independent monitoring board said the shortage of staff and resources made it “very difficult” to operate a “fully effective security regime” in the year to 1 June. The prison was not safe, with more than 10 assaults on staff every week. The number of available officers was rarely more than half while attacks on them increased by 25% to 1,048 in a year, the board said. Staff turnover was high and the experience of many staff limited. The management team had no input over selection and the process to remove unsuitable staff was long and complex. Prisoners had easy access to contraband, with the confiscation of 1,900 litres of illicitly brewed alcohol – about five litres every day – over th...

Innovative scanning techniques show painting of sculptures was potentially as intricate as their carving Though the Parthenon marbles were admired for centuries for their stark white brilliance, it has long been known that the sculptures were originally brightly painted, before millennia of weathering, cannon bombardment, rough handling and overenthusiastic cleaning scoured them clean. Evidence for the paintwork has been highly elusive, however, leading their former curator at the British Museum to confess that, after years of hunting in vain for traces of pigment, he had sometimes doubted they were painted at all. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rmvlyLA via IFTTT

Dorothy Hoffner passed away in senior community before Guinness Records could certify her as world’s oldest skydiver Dorothy Hoffner, a 104-year-old Chicago woman whose recent skydive could see her certified by Guinness World Records as the oldest person to ever jump from a plane, has died. Hoffner’s close friend, Joe Conant, said she was found dead Monday morning by staff at the Brookdale Lake View senior living community. Conant said Hoffner apparently died in her sleep on Sunday night. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/MHOCe6t via IFTTT

Comedian suggests at Boston’s Wang Theatre on Saturday that a re-envisioned Seinfeld finale may be in the works 25 years after series’ end Jerry Seinfeld has hinted that a Seinfeld reunion may be on the cards more than 25 years after the hit “show about nothing” aired its divisive finale. In response to a question from an audience member during his standup show at the Wang Theatre in Boston on Saturday, the comedian teased that a re-envisioned finale may be in the works. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1fym4wz via IFTTT

Horticultural teacher Travis Gienger brings gourd – dubbed Michael Jordan – across country for California contest A Minnesota horticultural teacher set a new world record for growing the heaviest pumpkin – a gargantuan jack-o’-lantern gourd weighing 2,749lb. Travis Gienger set the record at the 50th World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California. The plump pumpkin beat the previous record, set in 2021 by Stefano Cutrupi of Italy, by 47lb. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/YcmT6L7 via IFTTT

Pita Limjaroenrat says time is on the side of his youthful Move Forward party that took on the establishment and shook up Thailand’s ‘half-baked democracy’ Pita Limjaroenrat is playing the long game. “Our time will come”, he says confidently. Dressed in a crisp striped shirt, the 43-year-old Harvard graduate has a breezy, businesslike manner. It’s almost five months since his reformist party, Move Forward, defied expectations and came top in Thailand’s elections . It’s been quite the rollercoaster since: legal cases were filed against him and the party, he was blocked from taking office by rivals, and he is now suspended as an MP . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Yv6AufI via IFTTT

US army says congressional approval needed for funding to supply both Ukraine and Israel munitions; families bury those killed in Russian rocket attack on Groza The US army said Congress needed to approve additional funding quickly to ensure the Pentagon’s munitions production and acquisition plans can meet the needs of both Israel and Ukraine simultaneously . Army secretary Christine Wormuth made the comments as the US House of Representatives is effectively paralysed as Republicans work to select a new speaker. At the White House, John Kirby, spokesperson for the national security council, emphasised that the US government had existing funding to support Israel for the time being . “If we need – and it’s an ‘if’, but – if we need to go back to Capitol Hill for additional funding support for Israel, we will absolutely do that,” Kirby said. “We are a large enough, big enough, economically viable and vibrant enough country to be able to support both [Israel and Ukraine].” Ukrainian ...