The Voice Reveal

An Olympic year that also includes a European Championship, two cricket World Cups and a fight for heavyweight supremacy The 34th edition of Africa’s biggest sporting event was meant to be held in Ivory Coast between June and July 2023 but was moved after somebody realised it rains a lot in the country at that time of the year. So it takes place at the start of 2024 instead and for Mohamed Salah the target is redemption having been part of the Egypt team that suffered the pain of penalty shootout defeat to Senegal in the 2022 final . A host of other big names will also be at the tournament, including André Onana (Cameroon), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) and Victor Osimhen (Nigeria). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/NHAzhI1 via IFTTT

Australian Open champion powers Serbia to win over China Australia need to beat USA to have any chance of making quarters A “rusty” Novak Djokovic says his straight-sets thumping of China’s Zhang Zhizhen was as good as it gets for an opening match of the summer, and he expects to be even better by the time the Australian Open rolls around. Djokovic crushed Zhang 6-3, 6-2 in 72 minutes on Sunday night to give Serbia a 1-0 lead in their United Cup tie against China in Perth. World No 15 Qinwen Zheng levelled the tie at 1-1 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over world No 119 Olga Danilović in the women’s singles. Djokovic teamed with Danilović in the deciding mixed doubles, and they triumphed 6-4, 1-6, 10-6 (match tiebreak) to seal a 2-1 win just minutes before midnight. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/EekqZDj via IFTTT

Former US Open champion set to play in Auckland next week Naomi Osaka also returning to court at Brisbane International Emma Raducanu says she feels “reborn” as the former US Open champion prepares to return to action at next week’s Auckland Classic after ankle and wrist surgeries. The 21-year-old is now ranked 298th in the world, having missed much of last season after operations on both wrists and her left ankle. Raducanu has not played on the WTA Tour since April, when she lost to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/dvNrTKb via IFTTT

The 16-year-old has set the Alexandra Palace alight on debut and is the youngest player ever to reach the last eight after a stunning 4-1 win. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/6Txmk7e via IFTTT

Blues hold on for 3-2 win after home side score two late goals ‘We needed to win. It is always tough to play here’ Mauricio Pochettino stayed positive after Chelsea almost squandered a 3-0 lead over Luton during a pulsating encounter at Kenilworth Road. A stunning comeback was on the cards when Luton responded to a double from Cole Palmer and a fine effort from Noni Madueke with goals from Ross Barkley and Elijah Adebayo. However Chelsea, who remain 10th, managed to cling on and their young side ended a dismal year by halting a run of four consecutive away defeats. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/WBH5oJa via IFTTT

Wiseman, who has died at the age of 33, represented England and Great Britain’s deaf women’s teams Tributes have been paid to former Team GB footballer Gemma Wiseman after her death at the age of 33. Wiseman represented England and Great Britain’s deaf women’s teams and helped guide GB to third place at the 2016 World Deaf Football Championships. 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 counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/lU9mP8W via IFTTT

Indigenous women are merging the world’s oldest living cultures with hip-hop while wrestling with racism and social injustice When the Indigenous hip-hop artist Charmaine Jasmine Armstrong – also known as Dizzy Doolan – started spitting rhymes 22 years ago she was one of a handful of women in Australia’s rap scene. There was no one to teach her how to put songs together, promote herself, apply for grants or even upload music. In the early 2000s the Australian scene was dominated by white men – groups like the Hilltop Hoods. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ptkVHuX via IFTTT

Bristol 14-24 Exeter Iosefa-Scott, Feyi-Waboso and Townsend score tries for visitors Exeter moved top of the Premiership after beating West Country rivals Bristol 24-14 at Ashton Gate. The Chiefs outscored their hosts 4-2 on tries in front of a 24,200-strong crowd, claiming a bonus point through flanker Jacques Vermeulen’s late touchdown. It was nip and tuck for much of the game, yet Exeter kept their composure when it really mattered, and most notably when in sight of Bristol’s line. The prop Josh Iosefa-Scott, wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and scrum-half Stu Townsend also claimed tries for Exeter, while Henry Slade kicked two conversions. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/EnhKOV6 via IFTTT

There are worse problems to have than an overreliance on Bukayo Saka, but title hopefuls need to be able to mix things up W here’s the wanker with the drum , the West Ham supporters asked with 10 minutes left at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal 2-0 down – a question followed by huge cheers as the drum in the home end was bonged defiantly in response. Like Arsenal’s players, the drum guy never let up here, never tired, never let his levels drop. But like Arsenal’s players he also only really seemed to have one tune; a riff that everyone on the pitch, opponents included, has heard a little too much already over the past two seasons. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/PCw5p0q via IFTTT

Antonia Hay has had multiple surgeries following infection her father believes came from food stall in Buckinghamshire A 17-year-old student has been in intensive care for two weeks after she caught a strain of E coli. Antonia Hay, who has had to undergo multiple surgeries, is believed to have caught the bacterial infection from food at a Christmas market in November. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/i5YgX37 via IFTTT

‘Nowhere near the level we want,’ says captain after 4-2 loss Postecoglou unhappy with Brighton’s first penalty Son Heung-min described Tottenham’s 4-2 Premier League defeat at Brighton on Thursday night as a “big wake-up call” after a performance that was “nowhere near the level” required. Spurs lacked sharpness – a consequence, surely, of being stretched by injuries – and were ripped apart by a rampant Brighton who took a 4-0 lead, the outstanding João Pedro scoring two of them from the penalty spot. Son’s team rallied in the last 10 minutes, scoring twice, and they pushed hard during nine additional minutes when they almost scored a third, advertising the wildest of comebacks. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3SDFfw2 via IFTTT

Two-time All-Pro cornerback suspended for one game Alexander made coin toss call despite not being named a captain The Green Bay Packers suspended cornerback Jaire Alexander for one game on Wednesday for conduct detrimental to the team stemming from his coin-toss blunder last week that nearly cost the club a possession. Alexander will miss Green Bay’s game against the host Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3yATd0s via IFTTT

Fifa and its wholly owned subsidiary exempt from tax Players in Australia had to pay 32.5% of their match fees Fifa has been heavily criticised for negotiating an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year tax exemption for the 2023 Women’s World Cup when the players in Australia ended up paying 32.5% of their match fee income to the country’s tax office (ATO). Football’s world governing body is exempt from paying tax on any income in or from Australia from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2028 but, as the Guardian revealed last month , players from several countries were forced to pay almost a third of their match fee income to the ATO. This was in stark contrast to the co-hosts New Zealand, whose Inland Revenue Department exempted Fifa and the players from all taxes. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sZwbFNx via IFTTT

Court voted 4-3 last week that ex-president was ineligible to run for White House again under US constitution’s insurrection clause Colorado police are working with the FBI to investigate threats directed at justices of the state’s supreme court after its decision to remove Donald Trump from the presidential primary ballot. The court voted 4-3 last week that the former president was ineligible to run for the White House again, citing a rarely used clause in the US constitution and his role in the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bdJABT8 via IFTTT

Conservatives also reportedly planning to cut inheritance tax in three months’ time, as party struggles badly in polls The Conservatives could introduce a series of pre-election giveaways with measures to support first-time buyers and scrap inheritance tax, according to reports. With the Tories struggling badly in the polls and an election almost certain next year, the Times said the government is to promise to cut the upfront cost of a home for first-time buyers. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/D5G64Nh via IFTTT

The International Cricket Council doesn’t appear to mind personal beliefs, just not when they are applied too specifically and become political Really, the International Cricket Council could not have done Usman Khawaja more of a favour. Had Australia’s opener been allowed to take the field for the Perth Test wearing shoes with two blandly general phrases about human rights written in pen on the sidewall, a few photos would have been published and that would have been that. Instead, they banned the move, as well as his subsequent request to adorn his bat with the peace symbol of a dove holding an olive branch. Which has meant that the story has stayed in the news ever since among millions of views for Khawaja’s social media posts on the matter. His aim to publicly protest the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/T1AHIU5 via IFTTT

We’ll only get better at shooting you down, Zelenskiy warns Russian pilots; Adviivka facing ‘third wave’ of attacks See all our Russia-Ukraine coverage Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers has submitted to parliament a draft law lowering the age of those who can be mobilised for combat duty to 25 from 27 . Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine’s president, said a week ago that the military had proposed mobilising up to half a million more Ukrainians but it was a “highly sensitive” issue that the military and government would have to discuss. Russian troops have probably begun a third wave of attacks trying to take Avdiivka , Vitalii Barabash, head of the Avdiivka city military administration, has told Ukrainian TV. Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned Russian pilots that Ukraine’s air defence will “only get stronger” after Ukraine said it shot down five Russian jet fighters in the days before Christmas. “In just one evening yesterday, our warriors shot down almost 30 Shahed drones, a few missiles,

Craig Cash and other friends and collaborators look back at the phenomenal, but sadly all-too short, career of a woman who insisted comedy didn’t need jokes, only people With its handful of wonderful festive episodes, The Royle Family still means Christmas for many viewers. It is a fitting time of year, then, for Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy, an intelligent, joyful and sensitive celebration of its late creator and star, which serves as a reminder that she was responsible for much more than one of the finest British comedies of all time. Using a mix of Aherne’s own words, mostly taken from a frank interview with Michael Parkinson in the late 90s, and contributions from home town friends and collaborators such as Craig Cash, Steve Coogan and John Thomson, it tells the story of her brilliant and too brief life. According to her friends, Aherne was a lifelong television lover, never happier than when she was in her pyjamas watching the box. This documentary is heaven for television l

The festive special will have the whole family in tears. Plus: Ncuti Gatwa takes over the Tardis. Here’s what to watch on Christmas Day Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/MWckjbr via IFTTT

Some of the best images from the action. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/q3k9hyK via IFTTT

God chose Mary to care for and teach Jesus, the Savior of the World. Yes, her heart would break, as all mothers do, but she also knew the joy of being an instrumental part of God’s redemptive plan for all humanity. from Christianity.com https://ift.tt/nMdJCsw

Seventy die in attack on the Maghazi camp with warnings death toll is likely to rise Israel-Gaza war – live updates An Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in central Gaza has killed 70 people, Palestinian health officials have said as they warned the toll was likely to rise. The fatalities at the Maghazi camp, east of Deir al-Balah, include at least 12 women and seven children, according to early hospital figures issued late on Sunday night. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0NJyvkB via IFTTT

The audio issue persisted throughout the first four rounds of the main-event bout from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/dYV2Lnf via IFTTT

Outsider loses only two legs to World Matchplay champion Berry van Peer extends run of Ally Pally upsets Ricky Evans pulled off a stunning straight-sets upset to knock out World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall in round two of the world darts championship at Alexandra Palace. Evans, ranked 53rd in the PDC Order of Merit, lost just two legs in the final evening session match-up and will take on Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney in the last-32 after Christmas. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7HgYifj via IFTTT

‘An unbelievable game, the quality of both teams was superb’ Arsenal top of table at Christmas after 1-1 draw at Anfield Mikel Arteta attributed Arsenal’s place at the Premier League summit to increased courage, belief and maturity after they emerged from “one of the most intense games I’ve witnessed in 20 years” with a point at Liverpool. Arsenal will top the table at Christmas for the second year running having held Jürgen Klopp’s contenders to a deserved 1-1 draw at Anfield, where the Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas sustained a broken collarbone. Gabriel Magalhães headed the visitors into an early lead before Mohamed Salah equalised in stunning style. Trent Alexander‑Arnold could have put Liverpool top with a great chance late on but struck the bar. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5zqFpRd via IFTTT

Government intends to ratify 2003 Unesco convention and celebrate country’s cultural activities Traditions including pantomime, carol singing and steel pan drumming could be recognised in a register of cultural heritage in the UK. Under the proposals, festivals and celebrations including Hogmanay, Burns Night, Shrove Tuesday and the Welsh tradition of holding eisteddfodau, where all cultural activities including singing and spoken word are conducted in the Welsh language, could be understood as cultural heritage. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Ofv59U6 via IFTTT

Sebastien Lai hasn’t spoken to his father in three years, but says he supports the stance the veteran pro-democracy activist has taken Sebastien Lai is sitting in a downtown coffee shop, on a blustery day in Taipei. The 28-year-old was only recently married, but is spending much of his time flying around the world advocating for his father’s freedom. Days earlier, his father, Jimmy Lai, the prominent media mogul and democracy activist, went on trial in Hong Kong . Lai senior is accused of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the 2020 national security law, and conspiring to publish seditious material, under a colonial-era sedition law. He faces up to life in prison for the more serious charges. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/G98ZD6M via IFTTT

Readers disillusioned by dating apps tell us where it went wrong, and how their love lives have changed since going analogue Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email Since Tinder launched 11 years ago, countless intrepid users have found true romance, but many are choosing to swipe left on what feels like an increasingly onerous and unfulfilling crapshoot. There’s a simmering sense that the once novel, dopamine-charged journey of hope has become just another way for the internet to sap our energy, drain our wallets and make us feel terrible about ourselves. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/U78MKlJ via IFTTT

Whether it’s pillar-box trousers, a touch of tartan or a claret-coloured velvet jacket, red is the colour to cut a seasonal dash this year Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/gbhyS6r via IFTTT

A marine expert has said that locals should be careful around the seal and remember that he is a wild animal after footage of his antics went viral The rising fame and viral antics of a 600kg southern elephant seal known for venturing away from the coast and hauling himself about the streets of Tasmania’s southern beach suburbs, have left marine experts concerned for his welfare. Neil the seal has become a social media celebrity, with an Instagram account that documents his life accruing more than 45,000 followers since he was officially identified on a “haul out”, a period in which seals come to land to rest, in July 2022. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nHk1hV8 via IFTTT

Asta Jonasson alleges Fast and Furious actor assaulted her in 2010 in Atlanta hotel during Fast Five filming The actor Vin Diesel, of the Fast and Furious franchise, has been accused of sexual battery by a former assistant in a lawsuit filed on Thursday. The incident allegedly occurred during the filming of Fast Five in 2010, according to the lawsuit, which was first reported by Vanity Fair . Asta Jonasson said that the actor forced himself on her while she was working as his assistant. Hours after the alleged assault, she was fired, the lawsuit states. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/JCo3XkD via IFTTT

This larger-than-life festive special for the madcap comedy has many star cameos, but none are as great as The Crown actor’s. There’s a lovely poise and warmth to her scenes Despite its small-town Lancashire setting of hardscrabble pubs, lock-ups and secret wartime bunkers repurposed as marijuana farms, there has always been a touch of the surreal to Brassic . Over the course of five lairy seasons, the profane but sneakily profound comedy – centred on bipolar scallywag Vinnie ( Joe Gilgun ) and his found family of thrill-seekers and wheeler-dealers – has always been so much larger than life that it comes as no surprise that reality sometimes bursts at the seams. All the second-hand weed smoke probably helps. So when A Very Brassic Christmas – the show’s first ever festive special – opens with a robed Joseph and heavily pregnant Mary seeking refuge for the night, the New Testament vibes are not all that discomfiting. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ywpfe0d via

French president says he is ‘great admirer’ of Depardieu and that actor ‘makes France proud’ French President Emmanuel Macron has said film icon Gérard Depardieu, accused of rape, has become the target of a “manhunt”, as the actor faces fresh scrutiny over sexist comments. “You will never see me participate in a manhunt,” Macron told the France 5 broadcaster when asked about possibly stripping the actor of a state award. “I hate that kind of thing,” he said, adding that “you don’t strip someone of a Legion of Honour based on a report”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Qnx09K6 via IFTTT

Option likely to be available from September 2025 in bid to increase life skills and boost inclusivity in schools After becoming the first deaf contestant on Love Island, the model Tasha Ghouri urged others to learn sign language, saying people often felt uncomfortable trying to talk to those who are deaf or hearing impaired “because they don’t know how to communicate”. For a generation of young people in England, that could be about to change, as the government today introduces the first ever GCSE in British Sign Language (BSL) in an attempt to boost inclusivity in schools and give would-be signers useful life skills. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/j7Dft2C via IFTTT

From a savoury Niçoise tart topped with olives and anchovies to tortillas with ‘a million’ possibilities, three Australian chefs share their favourite crowd-pleasing foods It’s entertaining season, but even the best and most prepared home cooks can be caught out if guests stay beyond their initial cup of tea or cocktail. This is no time to slow-cook a brisket or bring out the mortar and pestle for a from-scratch curry – but there are better options than dumping a bag of chips into a bowl. The brief is dishes that are tasty, quick and impressive – the holy trinity of cooking for guests, provided you are prepared. We talked to three Australian chefs about their go-to dishes for entertaining, and what they keep on hand in the freezer, fridge, and pantry to get the party started. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7bpM6wS via IFTTT

Playhouse, Sheffield Elvi Piper’s show for over-threes has knockabout silliness, vintage styling, cracker jokes and appealing songs ‘Welcome to the happiest place on earth, kid,” snarls Tiny Tim, the caretaker who doesn’t care. Clementine has arrived in a fabled town called Christmas but instead of candy cane lanes she finds crumbled gingerbread, a malfunctioning robot and a shortfall of snow and joy. It was once Christmas every day here but now it’s perennial January. Even the trees are blue. Thankfully, the newcomer is as zesty as she sounds. With a plan akin to the cheer-spreading finale of Elf , Clementine sets about generating enough festive spirit to restore the town’s glory. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/C1ATwbM via IFTTT

Dark eyes are more common in domesticated dogs, possibly because we consider this trait more friendly Human preferences for a friendly face may have steered the evolution of canine eye colour, researchers have suggested. Ever since canines were domesticated, some time between 15,000 and 50,000 years ago, humans have selected – whether consciously or not – particular traits in their dogs. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/mBCcd0Q via IFTTT

State’s highest court declares former president ineligible for White House under the US constitution’s insurrection clause The Colorado supreme court on Tuesday declared Donald Trump ineligible for the White House under the US constitution’s insurrection clause and removed him from the state’s presidential primary ballot, setting up a likely showdown in the nation’s highest court to decide whether the front-runner for the GOP nomination can remain in the race. The decision from a court whose justices were all appointed by Democratic governors makes Trump the first presidential candidate in US history to be deemed ineligible for the White House under a rarely used provision that bars elected officials from holding office if they have engaged in “insurrection or rebellion”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/mgWkC6L via IFTTT

Strict new law contains so many hardline measures that the far-right Marine Le Pen has claimed it as an ‘ideological victory’ Emmanuel Macron’s ruling centrist party was divided and soul-searching on Wednesday after a strict new immigration law was approved by parliament but contained so many hardline measures that the far-right Marine Le Pen claimed it as an “ideological victory” for her own anti-immigration platform. The bill was originally intended to show that Macron could take tough measures on migration while keeping France open to foreign workers who could help the economy in sectors struggling to fill jobs. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/xPJLoIp via IFTTT

Riotous interviews! Political rage! Teabags bought in bulk! Alan Yentob delivers an absolute treat of a documentary about a once-in-a-generation talent Alan Yentob waits in reception at Doctor Who ’s new HQ, with a Dalek prop for company. “Look, there’s the greatest evil in the universe,” says Russell T Davies in welcome. “And a Dalek.” I suspect it isn’t the first time Davies has cracked this gag, but delivered with a hearty laugh and a bear hug, Yentob is powerless to resist. After all, as presenter and series editor, he gamely left it in the final cut. This joyous film profiles the once in a generation talent known as RTD. Well, I say once in a generation. A lovely sequence sees Davies reunite with his old Granada mucker Sally Wainwright , arguably his sole rival as Britain’s top television writer. As they ponder their parallel careers, I’m relieved there isn’t a gas explosion or similar tragedy. Contemporary British TV would have been ruined in one fell swoop. Imagine … Russel

The Welshman has had an often troubled relationship with the fans. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/Y7enzVA via IFTTT

Fearing a significant event, authorities had evacuated the nearly 4,000 inhabitants of the fishing town of Grindavik and closed the Blue Lagoon spa A volcano in southwest Iceland has erupted after weeks of intense earthquake activity, the country’s Meteorological Office said. Fearing a significant outbreak on the Reykjanes peninsula, authorities had evacuated the nearly 4,000 inhabitants of the fishing town of Grindavik and closed the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/4PIUs8k via IFTTT

British citizens who earn less than £38,700 face ‘immense uncertainty and heartbreaking choices’ Legal action planned over UK’s ‘cruel’ income threshold visa rules What do new UK visa rules mean for multinational families? Earlier this month, the home secretary, James Cleverly, announced new rules that would mean a British citizen who wants their non-UK partner to live with them in Britain will need to earn a salary of at least £38,700 for six months before applying. For many families and couples affected, the new rules have thrown their futures into uncertainty. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/XqEehHo via IFTTT

Opposition says it would fund more NHS overtime by ending non-dom tax status, as PM struggles to cut waiting lists Labour has proposed to “ramp up” weekend hospital appointments as it seeks to pile pressure on Rishi Sunak over lengthy NHS waiting lists heading into Christmas. Keir Starmer has called on the prime minister to fund more overtime for doctors and nurses to help clear the backlog of appointments, suggesting an end to the non-dom tax status, a policy proposed by Labour, as a way to fund it. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/J6DIeaK via IFTTT

More than 320 refugees have resettled since August 2022 under a pilot program that includes a year of community support Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter Join the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the community Sakineh and her family were granted residency in Australia six months ago. After fleeing the war in Afghanistan and seeking refuge in Iran, the widowed mother-of-two settled in Bendigo in Victoria’s north along with her teenage sons. It was a world away from the turmoil she’d come to know. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/tU4Abwr via IFTTT

Get into the festive season with a new look: add a touch of sparkle to your wardrobe, find a vintage show-stopping dress, or style up your favourite LBD… Here are our styling ideas for a stylish party season. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/JdiEbNm via IFTTT

This wonderful series documents the passion and idealism of the 70s music scene. It’s an immaculately soundtracked history lesson – and so much more besides After the tumult of the last few years, UK nightlife is in a perilous position, battered by rising costs for venues, a lack of staff, cash-strapped clubbers and changing habits ushered in by the pandemic. But if anything can get people in the mood to go out and dance again, it’s Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution. This three-part documentary, a co-production with PBS, is the sort of top-quality music doc the BBC just casually and quietly releases, as if it does this sort of thing all the time. But this one really is a feast. It’s a history lesson with an immaculate soundtrack and it is about so much more than disco. The first episode covers the boom in gay clubs in New York City during the early 1970s, and the arrival of a new sound, and wraps it all up in a thrilling social history. It begins not with sequins and glitter balls, b

Former champion Anderson beat 54-year-old Australian 3-0 Lee Evans set up match with favourite Luke Humphries Gary Anderson began his quest for a third World Championship title in style with a handsome victory over Simon Whitlock . The Scot, who won back-to-back crowns at Alexandra Palace in 2015 and 2016, has been looking back to his best this year after a lull and eased through to the third round with a 3-0 success over the Australian. He set the tone with a 180 with his opening throw of the match and won the first five legs to take command. Anderson, who averaged 98.29, saw it out in style, taking out 116 for the highest checkout of the match. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Vw0JDW5 via IFTTT

Defending champion fights back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 Simon Whitlock sets up Saturday clash with Gary Anderson Michael Smith got his title defence up and running at the PDC World Darts Championship – but he was pushed all the way by Kevin Doets as the tournament began at Alexandra Palace. Doets, the world No 66, had overcome Stowe Buntz 3-0 in Friday’s opening match and looked a dangerous opponent for Smith. The world No 1 began by breaking his opponent’s throw to take the first set 3-1 – but Doets hit back to level in the second. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/q3aHKWm via IFTTT

Like Covid, flu carries significant risk of ongoing disability and disease, researchers say People who have been hospitalised with flu are at an increased risk of longer-term health problems, similar to those with long Covid, data suggests. While the symptoms associated with such “long flu” appear to be more focused on the lungs than ongoing Covid symptoms, in both cases the risk of death and disability was greater in the months after infection than in the first 30 days. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3zFQoDk via IFTTT

‘I will now have the opportunity to finally shed this “Larry David” persona and become the person God intended me to be,’ star says After almost 25 years playing Larry David, Larry David has announced that his award-winning comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm is ending with the next season. The Seinfeld co-creator has played a curmudgeonly version of himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm since 2000, making it HBO’s longest-running comedy. Much like Seinfeld, the show draws on the humour in everyday life but the dialogue is mostly improvised around an outline written by David, who plays a semi-retired television writer. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/X1UGR9C via IFTTT

Mississippi judge also orders child to write a book report on Kobe Bryant after officers arrested him for urinating in a parking lot A 10-year-old Black child who urinated in a parking lot must serve three months’ probation and write a two-page book report on the late NBA star Kobe Bryant, a Mississippi judge has ordered. Tate county youth court judge Rusty Harlow handed down the sentence Tuesday after the child’s lawyer reached an agreement with a special prosecutor. The prosecution threatened to upgrade the charge of “child in need of supervision” to a more serious charge of disorderly conduct if the boy’s family took the case to trial, said Carlos Moore, the child’s attorney. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/d1TlKQ4 via IFTTT

Phoenix theatre, London This origin story has all the dark mystery of the Duffer Brothers’ Netflix series and delivers one coup de theatre after another It starts with those floating red letters and that electro-ethereal music. The intro creates the surreal effect of Netflix’s sci-fi juggernaut being brought to life as a stage-sized facsimile before our eyes. But the big surprise about this prequel to the TV series, about high-schoolers who tap into the dangerous world of the Upside Down, is that it is neither derivative nor an exercise in imitation. This is breathtaking theatre with its own arresting imagination. With an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, we are still in Hawkins, Indiana, where pets are mysteriously dying, but the year is 1959. Writer Trefry takes a flashback from the fourth season of the 1980s-set series and turns it into a typically complicated plot, although my 10-year-old companion (the guidance is for 12+) had no problem followi

Investigations suggest a large share of ‘used’ cooking oil being imported could be wrongly labelled as demand outpaces supply Tighter rules are needed to ensure that the imported “used” cooking oil that airlines hope will power cleaner flights is not in fact virgin palm oil, campaigners have warned. About 80% of waste oil is imported to create biofuels that are mostly still used in cars, vans and lorries despite growing demand from aviation . About 60% of those imports come from China. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vmJ8LY4 via IFTTT

Eight-part problem has been sent to secondary schools and now released more widely for anyone to solve GCHQ has released its annual Christmas puzzle aimed at secondary school children and curious adults ready to test their mathematical, code-breaking and analysis skills. Puzzlers have to first answer seven questions, each of which has a one-word answer that can follow “Christmas”, before taking letters from the seven answers and placing them into a grid to produce a seasonal message. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wLac2yZ via IFTTT

Sought-after Bora Bora limits visitor numbers to protect environment while rest of French Polynesia pushes for more tourists Bora Bora is close to paradise. The small island is part of French Polynesia and sits in the huge expanse of the south Pacific Ocean. Its central peak juts upwards from green hills and its turquoise lagoon is fringed by overwater bungalows. Beyond a shallow reef, water stretches in every direction. In recent decades, that splendour has posed a problem. As Bora Bora became one of the world’s most sought-after holiday destinations, the tourists who flocked to it in large cruise ships overwhelmed the island. It became so overrun that in 2019, Bora Bora promised to tackle the problem by capping cruise visitor numbers from 2022. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/iXTruxO via IFTTT

Republicans have failed to produce evidence showing president financially benefitted from family business dealings The House voted Wednesday to formally authorize the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, even as Republicans have failed to produce evidence showing that the president financially benefitted from his family’s business dealings. The House voted on partisan lines, 221-213 to launch the inquiry. The vote came hours after the president’s son, Hunter Biden, defied a subpoena to appear for a closed-door deposition with House members. Instead choosing to hold a press conference on Capitol Hill, Hunter Biden reiterated his willingness to testify publicly, an offer that House Republicans have rejected. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ZsCWkOI via IFTTT

Manchester United were knocked out of Europe after a 1-0 loss to the German champions at Old Trafford from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/j9XpEYM via IFTTT

Gaynor Lord was last seen on Friday afternoon after leaving work early in Norwich A missing woman whose possessions were found in a riverside park in Norfolk last Friday is most likely to have “entered the water”, police said. Gaynor Lord, a mother of three, was last seen in the afternoon as she left work early from Norwich city centre. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/G4htL3S via IFTTT

New push to attract visitors focuses on environment and culture, as experts call for better monitoring of sustainability pledges The resort lies on the fringes of one of the world’s largest barrier reefs. Powered by solar energy, in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, there are no air conditioners or pools. Most food is grown in its gardens or fished from the sea, and all the employees are hired from local villages. This is Nukubati on the north coast of Fiji’s Vanua Levu island and at the forefront of a growing movement to change Pacific tourism. “Our aim is really to improve our environment rather than extract from it,” says Nukubati’s director, Jenny Leewai Bourke. Nukubati is a member of Duavata, a collective of Fijian tourism businesses who say their industry should enhance the environment and cultural heritage. But the issue is complicated. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/TjZytmu via IFTTT

Researchers say ‘astounding’ inequalities are widest where risk can be cut with lifestyle changes The risk of dying from cancer in England “varies massively” depending on where a person lives, according to a study that experts say exposes “astounding” health inequalities. Researchers who analysed data spanning two decades found staggering geographical differences. In the poorest areas, the risk of dying from cancer was more than 70% higher than the wealthiest areas. The findings were published in the Lancet Oncology . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7gRy2ot via IFTTT

Suffolk constabulary said two men released, but ‘teenage female’ remains in custody Two men arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a newborn baby in Ipswich have been released on bail. A “teenage female” also arrested on suspicion of murder remains in custody for questioning, Suffolk constabulary said on Monday evening. Officers were called at about 12.35pm on Saturday to a property in Norwich Road, where the body of a newborn baby had been found outside. Paramedics also attended, but the baby was declared dead at the scene. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/h2Wnx3L via IFTTT

Evictions can be physically dangerous for all parties – but programs can help prevent them or assist evictees in finding other living spaces Early in 2022, Dr Yan Li, a Yale graduate with a biostatistics doctorate, found herself suffering from the effects of bipolar disorder and unable to pay the homeowner’s association fees for her San Diego apartment. Instead of being met with support and resources, Li was fatally shot by law enforcement officials while being evicted from her home. “It was an unnecessary escalation when conducting a very simple eviction notice, a simple procedure,” said Chenyang “Sunny” Rickard of the Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego. “This death, in our opinion, could have been avoided.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/otyj5q8 via IFTTT

Manager is obsessed with fighting on all fronts but this may be the moment to start prioritising competitions When the red fuel light on the dashboard starts flashing drivers know they are on borrowed time. It all depends on a car’s make and model but there will be 30, 40, possibly even 50 miles left in the tank. Eddie Howe’s problem is that, unlike a motorist, he cannot steer his increasingly drained squad towards the sanctuary of a nearby filling station. “We’re missing a big number of players,” says Newcastle’s manager. “You can keep going for a while, but the longer it lasts, the harder it gets. We don’t have options to change players.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/EKTD7Jr via IFTTT

ERG lawyers conclude plans will not forestall court challenges, echoing concerns of goverment’s own legal team Rishi Sunak has been dealt a fresh blow over his Rwanda legislation as a legal assessment for the Tory right has concluded that the prime minister’s plans are not fit for purpose. Bill Cash, who chairs the “star chamber” of lawyers for the European Research Group, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that “at present” the legislation is not “sufficiently watertight to meet the government’s policy objectives” such as circumventing individual legal challenges by people seeking to remain in the UK. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0GXV5wl via IFTTT

Drama also claims the prizes for best director, best screenwriter and best actress for Sandra Hüller An arthouse whodunit about sexual jealousy and simmering creative rivalry between two married writers was everyone’s envy at Saturday night’s European Film Awards (EFA) in Berlin, with Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall beating her competitors to take home four of the five major awards. Centred around a deadly fall from the top floor of a chalet in the French Alps, Triet’s drama scooped the European equivalent of the Oscars’ coveted prizes for best film, best director and best screenwriter, as well as a best actress award for the film’s lead, Sandra Hüller. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/NACirIK via IFTTT

Columbus beat LAFC 2-1 through Hernandez and Yeboah Crew win second MLS title in four years and third overall Columbus Crew 2-1 Los Angeles FC – as it happened Cucho Hernandez and Yaw Yeboah scored in the first half and the Columbus Crew held on to beat LAFC 2-1 on Saturday to win their third MLS Cup. The Crew added the title to their championships in 2008, when they beat the New York Red Bulls, and 2020, when they defeated the Seattle Sounders. Columbus lost to the Portland Timbers in the 2015 title game. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/K4Azrjf via IFTTT

US vetoes resolution despite pleas from secretary general and Arab allies, saying ceasefire ‘would only plant the seeds of the next war’ Israel-Gaza war latest updates The US has defied appeals from its Arab allies and the UN secretary general to back an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, telling the security council that to do so would merely plant the seeds of the next war. The US vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire late on Friday, despite a dramatic warning from António Guterres that civil order was breaking down and the risk of a mass exodus into Egypt growing, with as yet unclear consequences for the rest of the region. The vote in the 15-member council was 13-1 with the UK abstaining. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/n2aWVSY via IFTTT

The late actor’s beauty was used for a string of roles, including Love Story and Paper Moon, but he also displayed a rare comic prowess Ryan O’Neal, Hollywood actor and star of Love Story, dies aged 82 There were plenty of handsome leading men in the Hollywood of the early 70s: Warren Beatty, Robert Redford, Kurt Russell, Burt Reynolds … but none of them were as purely and fascinatingly pretty as Ryan O’Neal, none with that cherubic pertness, complicated with a kind of wounded vulnerability: a pout, a frown, a beguiling flash of femininity to go with the dreamboat male-lead looks, which went hand-in-hand also with something worldly and hard-edged. It is a great moment in 1973’s The Thief Who Came To Dinner when Ryan O’Neal’s jewel thief coolly inveigles himself into a fancy society soiree and Jacqueline Bisset is taken aback and perhaps even jealous of that brazen, faintly androgynous O’Neal beauty that almost matches her own. “You’re too pretty to be any good,” she says tauntingly.

With more transactions taking place digitally, cash transit companies warn of reduced services – which experts say risks isolating those who rely on notes and coins Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast Heather Lewis has an unusual budgeting method in the age of online banking, but it works for her. When the disability support pensioner gets paid, she heads to her local bank branch in Melbourne, withdraws the cash and places it into plastic pockets according to each bill or expense. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/f5bXPeO via IFTTT

Injury-hit Tottenham suffered a fourth defeat in five matches to lose further ground in the top-four race. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/lC9ojTn via IFTTT

Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal, Bath Isabelle Kettle’s new production of Britten’s chamber opera works well in the tiny Ustinov studio, blessed with a strong cast and many imaginative touches Isabelle Kettle’s new production of Britten’s 1954 chamber opera for Bath’s Ustinov Studio is properly haunting. Based on Henry James’s novella about orphaned children whose governess believes them to be prey to malign influences, it is a horror story which becomes a tragedy. The claustrophobia of the Ustinov’s tiny black box of a space is ideal for the work’s dark sense of enclosure, even if the grandeur of the Bly country house can only be suggested by the expanse of transparent backdrop as window. The many scheduled performances demand double-casting, but tonight’s cast of six could hardly be stronger, the key roles of Flora and Miles played by Maia Greaves and Oliver Michael, whose dramatic gifts and musical poise are simply astonishing. It is they who colour the attention-holding stage bus

Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy round out crop of candidates for fourth Republican debate – and once again Donald Trump is a no-show Full report: Four Republican presidential hopefuls to meet for fourth debate in Alabama DeSantis has some fresh debate practice. Last week, he participated in a heated televised debate with California Democratic governor and strategic rival Gavin Newsom. It aired on Fox News, and was moderated by no other than Sean Hannity. The hard-right contender for the Republican presidential nomination took the stage in Georgia on Thursday for a debate one eager website dubbed “The Vendetta in Alpharetta.” But the Florida governor’s opponent was not Donald Trump, the former president and clear primary frontrunner, or any other Republican contender. His opponent was Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California , who is not seeking his party’s nomination next year, given Joe Biden’s grip on the White House. Continue reading... from The Guardian ht

Problems such as back pain, incontinence and depression cause widespread suffering but are underrecognised, global review finds More than 40 million women a year experience lasting health issues after childbirth, a global review has found, prompting calls for greater recognition of common postnatal problems. The sweeping analysis of maternal health worldwide shows a very high burden of long-term conditions that last for months and even years after giving birth. One in three new mothers worldwide are affected. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/83aWTMK via IFTTT

Mia Mottley tells London audience that King Charles’s comments about slavery’s impact were welcome King Charles’s comment that the “time has come” to acknowledge the enduring impact of slavery has been welcomed by the prime minister of Barbados as she spoke in London about the need for reparations. Mia Mottley said Barbados was owed $4.9tn (£3.9tn) by slave-owning nations, noting that conversations over how this debt should be repaid would “be difficult and will take time”, she said on Wednesday evening. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/FS3BYZ2 via IFTTT

Netflix’s provocative drama, starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, plays on juicy tabloid fascination but there’s something missing Expensive and atmospheric as it looks, there’s a whiff of trash culture from the very first lines of the film May December , which inflamed the age-gap discourse since its Netflix release last weekend and has already garnered accolades for Riverdale’s Charles Melton as best supporting actor. Our first introduction to Gracie, the arch, lispy housewife played by Julianne Moore, is in her airy kitchen; anticipating the arrival of a famous actor, she off-handedly recalls her own meeting with Judge Judy. Off-handed is Gracie’s way – she’s prolific at the brag or barb wrapped in tissue paper. So, too, is the film, directed by Todd Haynes from a screenplay by Samy Burch, which summarily reveals its conceit through a series of overly deferential questions and strained niceties. Gracie’s husband Joe (Melton) is chiseled, smooth-faced and diffident, in not

Access to huge parks, restaurants and transport links plus a Ted Lasso-factor lead area to top Rightmove’s ‘happy at home’ index It is home to London’s largest royal park as well as big-hitting tourist attractions such as Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Palace, and has more recently become a place of pilgrimage for fans of the hit TV comedy Ted Lasso. Now, the borough of Richmond upon Thames in south-west London has been named “the happiest place to live” in Great Britain. It received the accolade from property website Rightmove, which runs a “happy at home” index – now in its 12th year – where it asks residents how they feel about their area based on 13 “happiness factors”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/8ZMdBuo via IFTTT

Rockstar Games finally gives players their first glimpse at Grand Theft Auto 6, set in a fictional version of Miami, after trailer leaked online Rockstar Games has released the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6, the next game in its generation-defining, open-world crime series, after it leaked early online. The previous GTA game, Grand Theft Auto V, has sold more than 190m copies since its release in 2013. Combined with its online iteration GTA Online, it is the single most profitable entertainment product of all time, having generated more than $7.7bn (£6.3bn) for publisher Take-Two. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/trQvum7 via IFTTT

Ramsdale lost his position as Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeper earlier this season following the arrival of David Raya on loan from Brentford. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/O6YXnke via IFTTT

Sarah Burton, Jonathan Anderson and Valentino Garavani among winners at one of industry’s biggest nights More than 3,000 guests including Hollywood stars Anne Hathaway and Gwyneth Paltrow turned out for the 2023 Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday to celebrate one of the biggest nights in fashion. While the event serves as the main fundraiser for the British Fashion Council, a non-profit that promotes the British fashion industry internationally, it is also a chance to celebrate the industrythat employs nearly 900,000 people and contributes more than £21bn to the UK economy. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/C2R9yfJ via IFTTT

Rwandan-Scottish actor was once homeless, but now finds himself taking the baton as the next Doctor in the BBC series Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa says he feels “ready but nervous” as he steps into his new role in the BBC sci-fi series. Having auditioned for the part in February 2022, Gatwa was unveiled to the world by showrunner Russell T Davies two months later. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/AQyofCz via IFTTT

Sian and Jeffrey Edwards regarded shell as ‘old friend’ after being told it had sat in courtyard for more than a century A couple who kept a live bomb as a garden ornament have said they were sorry that their “old friend” had been detonated by a disposal unit. The missile, which had been outside the home of Sian and Jeffrey Edwards, is thought to date back to the late 19th century. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1xeWang via IFTTT

Advent is a beautiful holiday that points us to the second advent of Christ, helps us to think about Christ year-round, strengthens our relationship with the Lord, helps us to understand the main focus of Christmas, and helps us know the true meaning of Advent. from Christianity.com https://ift.tt/60ZTvMc

Police say the explosion at Mindanao State University gymnasium in Marawi could be revenge by pro-Islamic State militants Three people were killed and nine wounded when an explosion ripped through a university gymnasium during Catholic mass in the southern Philippines. The authorities are investigating the blast at Mindanao State University in Marawi on Sunday, the regional police director, Brig Gen Allan Nobleza, told reporters. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/4hyUs7v via IFTTT

Goalkeeper Nick Pope dislocated his shoulder late in the game at St James’ Park. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/Wc1iKZ3 via IFTTT

Labour leader says former PM ‘set loose our natural entrepreneurialism’ in appeal to Tory voters to back him Keir Starmer has praised Margaret Thatcher for effecting “meaningful change” in Britain in an article directly appealing to Conservative voters to switch to Labour. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph , the Labour leader said Thatcher had “set loose our natural entrepreneurialism” during her time as prime minister. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/86XBsrF via IFTTT

The Lionesses fought back to win 3-2 against the Netherlands on a thrilling night at Wembley from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/Q8fzjE3 via IFTTT

England hit back from 2-0 down to beat the Netherlands 3-2 at Wembley from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/knB08KN via IFTTT

Curve theatre, Leicester Argentina’s Eva Perón is reimagined as a modern-day influencer in an incoherent production lacking context Before it became a hit musical in 1978 , Evita started out as a rock opera concept album – and those origins echo throughout director Nikolai Foster’s contemporary reimagining. The stage is lined with scaffolding and the lighting rigs are exposed in Michael Taylor’s stylish set, which recalls backstage at Glastonbury but also (in one of many confusing pivots) behind the scenes at the theatre. Lighting designer Joshie Harriette’s spotlights feature memorably throughout: they caress Evita, dazzle and delight in her, and sometimes even set like the sun. The production often looks beautiful, but it doesn’t make an awful lot of sense. Evita is arguably Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s most ambitious work and needs a robust context, not necessarily faithful to the original but still consistent and illuminating. Foster’s interpretation never settles and, unfo

Their bludgeoning music has influenced L7, the Chats and Amyl and the Sniffers. But their story is full of humanity – and they care more than they let on Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email Ross Knight – bass player, singer and mainstay of Australian punk heroes the Cosmic Psychos – tells a good yarn that deftly illustrates his group’s public image. The Psychos – who are celebrating 40 years since their humble beginnings in central Victoria, as a school band originally named Rancid Spam – were unlikely guests of honour at the Australian embassy in Berlin in 2013, commemorating 60 years of friendship between Australia and Germany. The band had driven all night from Utrecht in the Netherlands, arriving in Berlin about 3am. Of course they found a bar before rolling up to the embassy a few hours later, very much the worse for wear. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading... from