The Voice Reveal

Over past three decades. obesity rates increased fourfold among children and doubled among adults More than 1 billion people worldwide are now living with obesity, with rates among children increasing fourfold across a 32-year period, according to new research. Analysis of the weight and height measurements of over 220 million people from more than 190 countries shows how body mass index (BMI) changed across the world between 1990 and 2022. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/l9ORujd via IFTTT

Airport among targets in Port-au-Prince as Jimmy Chérizier, known as ‘Barbecue’, vows to capture top officials in PM’s absence Heavy gunfire paralyzed Haiti’s capital on Thursday as a powerful gang leader warned he would try to capture the country’s police chief and government ministers. The move came during the absence of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who is in Kenya trying to finalize details for the deployment of a foreign armed force to Haiti to help combat gangs. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QVFrfbD via IFTTT

The 82-year-old will stay in overnight and has already undergone tests but spokesperson says no immediate concerns identified The president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, has been taken to hospital after feeling unwell. The 82-year-old was taken for tests in Dublin on Thursday after being assessed by a doctor at his official residence in the capital, Áras an Uachtaráin. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Jo6h7UP via IFTTT

Mulroney, Progressive Conservative PM who served between 1984 and 1993, died peacefully surrounded by family, statement says The former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney has died at the age 84, his daughter has said in a social media post . “On behalf of my mother and our family, it is with great sadness we announce the passing of my father, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th prime minister. He died peacefully, surrounded by family,” Caroline Mulroney wrote late on Thursday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1fcOzev via IFTTT

What the channel has paid the likes of Lee Anderson, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Esther McVey and what it has got for its money GB News has paid more than £660,000 to Tory MPs since launch These are GB News’s highest-earning Conservative MPs – and some of their more memorable moments: Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/w2yNS8i via IFTTT

Researchers in Adelaide are at the forefront of finding new fungal pathogens, which are spreading more because of climate change and can be deadly without effective drugs The first tray of yellow-lidded specimen jars holds chunks of flesh – lung, perhaps, or muscle – some cerebrospinal fluid and another liquid, possibly from a brain abscess. The second holds a rainbow of colourful fungi, cultivated from those specimens. One growth is green and fluffy, like something you would find in a sharehouse fridge – penicillium, maybe. Another is a dark grey or brown, like animal fur. There are bright white fuzzballs and blackish blobs. One growth leaches red into the medium it sits in. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/IUYO7c9 via IFTTT

Abdul Fatawu’s stunning extra-time winner snatched victory for Leicester. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/rLksEJG via IFTTT

City hall engineer had put bag with sensitive data in overhead luggage rack on train at Gare du Nord A bag containing a computer and two USB memory sticks holding police security plans for the Paris Olympic Games has been stolen from a train at the capital’s Gare du Nord station. The bag belonged to an engineer from Paris city hall, the police said late on Tuesday, confirming a report by BFM television, adding that he had put the bag in the luggage compartment above his seat. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/p24qLZk via IFTTT

Harlequins star Smith has sat out all three of England’s games so far with a calf problem suffered on a pre-tournament training camp. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/TJnvuhB via IFTTT

Ex-London minister’s comments about areas with large Muslim populations – for which he apologised – described as ‘utter drivel’ Lee Anderson stands by attack on Sadiq Khan and launches fresh broadside Tory supporters lash out at ‘snake’ Sunak over Lee Anderson suspension The Conservatives have become embroiled in a second controversy over Islamophobia in quick succession after a former government minister claimed there were “no-go areas” in Birmingham and east London. Paul Scully, the MP for Sutton and Cheam in Surrey, made the remarks on Monday during a discussion about allegations of anti-Muslim sentiments within the party, after Lee Anderson was stripped of the Tory whip at the weekend for claiming that “Islamists” had “got control” of the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/KcalM7t via IFTTT

Manhattan district attorney prosecutors seek tailored order against ex-president to protect trial witnesses and juror identities Manhattan prosecutors on Monday asked the judge presiding in Donald Trump’s criminal case on charges of falsifying business records to impose a gag order on the former president, seeking to bar him from attacking potential witnesses and revealing juror identities. The request, submitted by prosecutors in the office of the Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, repeatedly referenced the gag order imposed in Trump’s federal criminal trial in Washington to ask for similar limitations on what he can publicly say about the case on charges of falsifying business records to manipulate the 2016 election. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Vt0nQcU via IFTTT

Unions and workers’ groups say return of fees, scrapped in 2017, will send wrong message to employers Unions and workers’ rights groups are urging the government to reconsider plans to reintroduce fees for employment tribunals amid fears it will encourage exploitation. A coalition of 48 organisations, including the TUC, Citizens Advice, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Fawcett Society and Maternity Action, said bringing back fees, which were ditched in 2017, meant “bad employers are being given the go-ahead to undercut good ones”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/knIErsp via IFTTT

The reigning Guinness Six Nations champions limited Wales to a penalty try after nilling Italy. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/kDq2xbo via IFTTT

Videos show action apparently aimed at Al-Shabab fans Saudi FA reported to have opened an investigation Cristiano Ronaldo faced a flurry of criticism after appearing to make an obscene gesture following the end of Al-Nassr’s 3-2 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday. The Portugal forward opened the scoring with a 21st-minute penalty but Al-Nassr needed a late goal from Talisca, who struck twice, to settle the game with four minutes left. After the final whistle, social media videos captured Ronaldo cupping his ear before repeatedly pumping his hand forward in front of his pelvic area. The action appeared to be directed at Al-Shabab supporters. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/R6Trh5e via IFTTT

Arsenal have scored 25 goals in their six Premier League fixtures in 2024, conceding just three in that run. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/nw3FRkH via IFTTT

Polls close at 7pm ET in South Carolina, where Donald Trump is expected to notch another primary victory despite Nikki Haley’s home-state advantage When to expect South Carolina results Key dates for the 2024 election Greeting from Nikki Haley’s primary night event in Charleston, which is being held in the chandelier ballroom of a luxury downtown hotel. Supporters have adopted Haley’s “happy warrior” mentality. Her team is still selling “barred permanently” shirts and “women for Haley” pins in the lobby – a sign of the steady stream of donations that is sustaining her longshot campaign. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/f6vFMd4 via IFTTT

Politicians from Conservative and Labour parties get close protection and chauffeur-driven vehicles Three female MPs have been given bodyguards and chauffeur-driven cars after concerns about their safety, it was reported. Representatives of the Conservative and Labour parties had their security upgraded after a risk assessment, according to the Sunday Times. The MPs, who have not been named, have been given close protection by private companies and chauffeur-driven vehicles. “Many MPs are petrified by the abuse they are facing,” a senior security source told the newspaper . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2YykAMw via IFTTT

Intuitive Machines CEO says Odysseus tipped over and ended up on its side as it landed on to south polar region Odysseus, the first US-built spacecraft to touchdown on the moon in more than half a century, is tipped over on its side, according to an update from Nasa and Intuitive Machines, the company that built and operated the lander. The robotic lander descended on to the south polar region of the moon on Thursday at 6.23pm ET. But several minutes passed before flight controllers were able to pick up a signal from the lander’s communication systems. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ZOIaJWi via IFTTT

Streamlining your personal care purchases is easier on your wallet and the planet. But in a fast-paced beauty trend cycle, it can also be a challenge Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email You only get one face, and understanding how to care for it properly is confusing with all the misinformation and overpromising. Every week there’s a new “holy grail” product or “hero ingredient” that you must have. Our daily routines are escalating from two steps to 14 – and we’re not necessarily looking or feeling any better for it. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a cabinet full of broken promises, and with the rise of online shopping, more people are buying products that don’t work for them, like incorrectly matched foundations and undesirable formulations that are being chucked. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/K2Hyxsg via IFTTT

Racial disparity in a child’s recovery from surgery was not linked to their health history or socioeconomic status, study found Black children in the UK are four times more likely to experience complications after appendicitis surgery than their white counterparts, a study has found. The study, funded by the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, looked at 2,799 children from 80 hospitals across the UK aged under 16 who had surgery for suspected appendicitis between November 2019 and January 2022. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/SVChlIF via IFTTT

US tech firm condemns streamer for seeking to overturn its App Store rules as EU judgment is expected Apple has condemned Spotify over the long-running competition complaint filed with the EU that could see the tech company face a huge fine if found guilty. After reports the bloc has concluded its investigation into the music streaming service’s claims of anti-competitive behaviour by Apple over its App Store rules, with the prospect of a €500m (£425m) fine, the iPhone manufacturer has accused Spotify of trying to get “limitless” access to its tools without paying. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7RWFncQ via IFTTT

This deeply moving documentary follows seven-year-old conjoined twins Marieme and Ndeye and their father, who has devoted his life to their care. It is a much-needed story of hope ‘My daughters are very different,” begins their dad, Ibrahima. “Marieme is very quiet, very reserved. Ndeye is very independent. She wants to be in charge of everything.” He smiles, watches his girls slurp ice-creams along the waterfront at Cardiff Bay, and crumbles the thin end of a cone to feed the pigeons while, around the back of their wheelchair, the girls’ hands meet – as they often do. “To have conjoined twins as a parent is to have something you didn’t expect,” says Ibrahima softly to camera. “I would not pretend that it is easy. It is not. But it’s a huge privilege. You feel lucky to witness this constant battle for life.” What a gentle and profoundly inclusive opening. Marieme and Ndeye were born conjoined in Dakar, Senegal, just over seven years ago. Inseparable Sisters, by film-maker Nick Hartle...

Games including the last two Champions League finals and multiple trips to Spanish opposition were highlighted in a UK Football Policing Unit survey. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/cPk1QtL via IFTTT

US woman, 42, and collaborator arrested after Franke’s malnourished son escaped from window looking for food Ruby Franke, a mother of six who gave online parenting advice via a popular YouTube channel, was sentenced to four prison terms of between one and 15 years each, on aggravated child abuse charges on Tuesday. Franke, 42, who had 2.3 million followers on her now-deleted 8 Passengers video channel, was arrested in the southern Utah city of Ivins last August after her malnourished 12-year-old son, with open wounds and bound with duct tape, climbed out of a window at the home of Jodi Hildebrandt, owner of a self-improvement counseling business, to ask for food and water from a neighbor. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ITiPfuG via IFTTT

Figures show speeds on many roads have dropped by 4mph, but critics say policy is ‘monumental’ waste of money Welsh ministers have claimed their controversial 20mph limit rollout has proved successful after figures suggested speeds on many roads had dropped by 4mph. However, opponents of the scheme say the modest reduction shows the policy has been a “monumental” waste of money and called for it to be scrapped. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/85pdzhc via IFTTT

Japan is the only country in the world that requires spouses to use the same name, but after decades of inaction, appetite for change is building For Akiko Saikawa, the administrative nightmare began soon after she married. The office worker from Tokyo had to go through dozens of procedures to change her name on her passport and other documents, as well updating her social media accounts. All because she had been required, by law, to change her surname as a married woman. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ng3xl9U via IFTTT

The Austrian watched from the stand as the Eagles drew 1-1 at Everton. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/UTvHrMZ via IFTTT

Washington supports appeal with draft resolution to UN security council calling for temporary ceasefire The US has proposed a UN security council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire and for Israel not to go ahead with a planned offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza. The draft text marks the first time the US has explicitly backed a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, though it adds that the temporary truce should be begun “as soon as practicable”, leaving some room for manoeuvre by the Israeli military. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/YrwAS9t via IFTTT

Lekima Waqavuki visits his family’s village to unwind from city life and this year wants to stop worrying and improve his health Read more from our 24 in 2024 series A series on the lives, hopes and fears of 24-year-olds around the world in a year of election uncertainty, conflict and climate change. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/9C0qv6r via IFTTT

Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old delivers strong display Threeunderthrufive puts himself in Grand National picture Harry Cobden excelled as Pic D’Orhy put in a faultless display of jumping to make every yard of the running in the Betfair Ascot Chase. Second to Shishkin in the Grade One feature 12 months ago, the Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old put Venetia Williams’ Gold Cup contender L’Homme Presse to the sword from a long way out. Cobden and his mount soon had the favourite out of his comfort zone with some slick jumping and very quickly had a five-length lead. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/WRnb04Y via IFTTT

Arsenal cruised to a comfortable 3-1 ­victory at the Emirates to reignite their title challenge. In a controlled performance in front of a record-breaking 60,160 crowd they put three first-half goals past a disappointing Manchester United. An own goal from Geyse gave the hosts an early lead before Cloé Lacasse and a Kim Little penalty sealed the points. Lucía García scored a late ­consolation goal for the visitors. With Manchester City’s narrow win over Chelsea the previous evening, the title race had been blown wide open. It was a result that gave Arsenal an opportunity to haul themselves right back into the conversation, one which they grabbed with both hands. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bBTzijo via IFTTT

Pochettino revealed it was not the first time music has been pivotal to his success as a manager. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/vu7j4M9 via IFTTT

The ex-president was ordered to pay $355m and banned from leading a business in New York. He’s on the worst kind of roll The week-that-was will likely weigh heavily on the 45th president for the months and years to come. On Friday, Arthur Engoron, a New York judge, found Donald Trump and his businesses liable for conspiracy and ordered them to pay $355m. On top of that, the court banned Trump and his two adult sons from serving at the helm of any New York company for three years, while imposing a $4m penalty on both of the boys. In a 92-page decision, Engoron also lacerated Trump’s pretensions of credibility. He repeatedly tagged Trump for his allergy to the truth. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/M2TWgtq via IFTTT

Ukraine troops reinforce Avdiivka as some defenders withdraw to better positions; lack of US aid already affecting battlefield, says Nato chief See all our Ukraine war coverage US congressional delaying of fresh military aid for Ukraine is already having an impact on the battlefield, Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has warned at a defence ministers’ meeting. Jens Stoltenberg said he still believed Congress would eventually approve the stalled $60bn (£50bn) package. Ukraine has said its economy should be rebuilt using frozen Russian assets after a report showed the cost of reconstruction increasing to almost $500bn . An estimated $300bn of Russian assets have been frozen since the war started. The EU, US and western allies are debating how they can be used to benefit Ukraine. Ukraine is conducting a manoeuvre in Avdiivka to withdraw troops in some areas to “more advantageous positions”, a military spokesman said. At the same time, Ukraine has brought in reinforceme...

The Dutchman won in Berlin last week. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/RzyQuLI via IFTTT

Alexander Smirnov falsely said executives linked to energy firm Burisma paid Joe and Hunter Biden $5m each in 2015 and 2016, prosecutors say An FBI informant has been charged with lying to his handler about ties between Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company. Alexander Smirnov falsely told FBI agents in June 2020 that executives associated with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid Hunter and Joe Biden $5m each in 2015 and 2016, prosecutors said on Thursday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/MiX1zRm via IFTTT

Theatre Royal Haymarket, London Aided by elaborate tech, multiple screens and an angelic wig, the Succession star gives a performance that is mischievous, swaggering and operatic Does Sarah Snook’s one-woman take on Oscar Wilde’s Faustian tale confirm the inexorable rise of celebrity-led theatre? It follows fast in the glittery footsteps of Andrew Scott’s one-man Vanya , and Eddie Izzard’s Great Expectations . Is this the West End’s direction of travel? Possibly. But if the result is this tinglingly virtuoso and startlingly dangerous then I welcome canonical solo vehicles with the mischievous, swaggering and operatic Snook at their helm. At first, it seems staged in the same vein as Vanya, reliant on Snook to create the effects. She grabs a paintbrush to play the earnest artist, Basil, who creates the portrait enabling Dorian Gray to stay fatally young, and then dons a pink smoking jacket for the devilish Sir Henry, whose invisible smoke-rings she draws with a twirling finger. Doria...

The Kansas City Police Department confirmed three people had been taken into custody. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/yTEXloq via IFTTT

Researchers writing in BMJ warn commercial bodies are using narratives to market flawed or ineffective tests The global drive to increase awareness of women’s health is being hijacked by major corporations promoting flawed or ineffective tests, treatments and technology, doctors and public health experts have warned. Boosting advocacy around female medical conditions is seen as crucial to reverse decades of sex inequalities in healthcare worldwide. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sv56FW4 via IFTTT

President grants deferral to about 6,000 Palestinians for next 18 months, citing worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza Joe Biden has signed an order shielding several thousand Palestinians in the United States who need protection from deportation for the next 18 months, the White House said on Wednesday, citing deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The move grants “deferred enforced departure” to an estimated 6,000 Palestinians, a Biden administration official said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0yfn3uo via IFTTT

Republican House intelligence chair, Mike Turner, says Biden officials should declassify information about threat, while House speaker Mike Johnson says there was no need for panic The head of the House intelligence committee, Mike Turner, has called for the Biden administration to declassify information on what he called a “serious national security threat”, which was later reported to involve Russian plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space. In his statement, Turner, an Ohio Republican, gave no details about the supposed security threat. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sBenUr3 via IFTTT

Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva were forced off in the 3-1 Champions League win over FC Copenhagen. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/PUMxVXG via IFTTT

An existing drug for the chronic disease could slow or stop its progression, researchers say Scientists have discovered a jab that could prevent rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a development experts say could offer hope to millions at risk of the disease. RA is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the body and triggers pain in the joints. About 18 million people globally are affected by the condition, which can lead to heart, lung or nervous system problems, according to the World Health Organization. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wiH1bfX via IFTTT

Family videos and self-shot footage provide an intimate, moving chronicle of the lives of former Chilean government minister Paulina Urrutia and her ex-journalist husband In the opening scene of Oscar-nominated Chilean director Maite Alberdi’s 90-minute documentary, Eternal Memory, we watch as a woman wakes up a sleeping man to begin a new day. She introduces herself to him – her name is Pauli. His name is Augusto. She is an actor and was a government minister, and they have been together for 20 years. They built the house they are living in together. He receives each piece of this news delightedly, as if a present is being slowly unwrapped for him. Pauli is Paulina Urrutia, former minister of the National Council of Culture and the Arts of Chile under post-Pinochet president Michelle Bachelet. Augusto is her husband, Augusto Góngora, part of the underground television news service Teleanàlisis, which chronicled abuses under the dictatorial regime. Augusto was diagnosed with Alzheime...

How long until there are openly gay Premier League players? The lifelong West Ham fan meets players and pundits to tackle the sport’s most embarrassing question Why are there still no openly gay footballers in the Premier League? Watching Rylan: Football, Homophobia and Me, the day when football finally becomes a space in which a gay player feels safe to say who they are looks closer than ever, yet still so far away. In an efficient and effective documentary that works calmly through one strong argument after another, the first bullseye is the act of presenting the programme itself: yes, Rylan Clark, once a camp novelty on The X Factor and now a gleaming, razor-styled host of chatty radio, trashy reality and This Morning, is a football fan. Why wouldn’t he be? “I come out of Stepney Green,” he says, surveying the pitch during a West Ham United match. “If you cut me open I bleed claret, with a bit of blue.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/FOCzm9u via IFTTT

Report by RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology finds H5N1 has killed three-quarters of great skua and 25% of northern gannets The UK has lost more than three-quarters of its great skuas on surveyed sites since bird flu struck, according to the first report quantifying the impact of H5N1 on seabird populations. The deaths have happened over two years, since the outbreak of H5N1 in 2021. The UK is internationally important for seabirds, home to most of the world’s 16,000 pairs of nesting great skuas. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/PSvYM8D via IFTTT

Reports of a fractured relationship with Joe Biden and collapse in public support are isolating Israeli PM Middle East crisis – live updates Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is deploying the successful rescue of two Israeli hostages to justify continued military pressure on Rafah, even as Israel has come under intense international pressure not to launch a ground offensive against the southern Gaza city. In the immediate aftermath of the rescue, which took place in the early hours of Monday, Netanyahu said it demonstrated the need for continuing pressure on Hamas in order to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/UgNJXb2 via IFTTT

The Kenyan won the London Marathon last year and beat compatriot and legendary runner Eliud Kipchoge’s world record later in 2023 at the Chicago Marathon from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/MRdNQa8 via IFTTT

16-year-old scores twice against struggling visitors Granada Atlético’s Álvaro Morata leaves pitch in tears with knee injury A double from Lamine Yamal salvaged a 3-3 draw for Barcelona at home to relegation-threatened Granada on Sunday in a rollercoaster La Liga match. Yamal, who does not turn 17 until July, put the hosts ahead after 14 minutes with a tap-in after João Cancelo’s cross found him at the far post. Granada equalised two minutes before half-time thanks to Ricard Sánchez’s powerful volley into the top corner and the visitors grabbed the lead in the 60th minute with an easy finish by Facundo Pellistri, the Uruguayan winger on loan from Manchester United. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/59rOmUN via IFTTT

The singer embodied the experimental German band’s adventurous spirit throughout his career Krautrock singer Damo Suzuki dies aged 74 The German band Can, whose former singer Damo Suzuki has died at the age of 74 , were innovators in many ways, but particularly because the group harboured two of the most original rock vocalists who ever lived. While their 1969 debut album, Monster Movie, featured the machine-gun poetic stylings of American expat Malcolm Mooney, it was Japanese free spirit Kenji “Damo” Suzuki, who appeared on three stunning studio albums between 1971 and 1973, who most completely embodied their adventurous ethos. A 1971 TV clip from the long-running German series Beat Club shows guitarist Michael Karoli, drummer Jaki Liebezeit, bassist Holger Czukay and keyboardist Irmin Schmidt – all in luminous psychedelic colour – methodically coalescing around the abstract groove of the song Paperhouse. After about a minute of jazzy extemporisation, the camera cuts suddenly to ...

World champion rogainers Geoff Lawford and Rod Gray have spent almost 50 years travelling the world facing sleep deprivation, wild animals and periodic fainting Midnight in the Czech Republic’s Ore Mountains. Australians Geoff Lawford and Rod Gray pause for food, a brief respite after a punishing 12 hours of racing through the forests. Another 12 hours of competition remain. They turn off their head torches to conserve their batteries. It was pitch black, Lawford recalls. “Although Rod was only two metres away, I couldn’t see him.” And then they hear it, the sound of a large animal running through the forest towards them. Competitors had been warned of possible encounters with wild boar or deer. Lawford senses the animal stop in front of him. Scrambling, he turns on his head torch to discover the maw of a “solid German shepherd cross” inches from his face. “Thankfully, the dog proved friendly,” says Lawford. “We had no idea who owned it, but it followed us for the next hour – through...

The midfielder on a ‘misunderstanding’ with Pep Guardiola and Gareth Southgate’s influence to stay in the Premier League “Ooofff,” Kalvin Phillips says, smiling as he usually does but feeling the question in his gut. Like a low blow. What was the toughest moment for him at Manchester City? “There’s a few …” Phillips wants to look forward. To his new challenge at West Ham where he is on loan for the remainder of the season. To Sunday’s derby against Arsenal at the London Stadium. To the European Championship with England in the summer. The 28-year-old knew that he had to get away from City in January because had he stayed and continued to warm the bench, he “definitely” would have relinquished his place in Gareth Southgate’s squad. He opens up on how the England manager influenced him to stay in the Premier League, leading him to shun Juventus for West Ham. More on that later. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ELA1yX7 via IFTTT

While Taylor’s second round began on shaky ground, he pulled it together by sinking two birdies on the back nine. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/2jhU7b6 via IFTTT

The US singer is playing some of the world’s largest stadiums and arenas – but it is likely her shows in Australia next week will draw her biggest crowds yet Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email When the Eras tour moved through 17 states in the US last year, Taylor Swift toppled attendance records almost everywhere she went. She played in enormous sporting stadiums and arenas to anywhere between about 50,000 to 70,000 people (her biggest show on the Eras tour so far was in Pittsburgh, with 73,117 people). But it’s likely that Swift is about to set a new personal record in Australia, where she will perform to her biggest audience ever. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, where she will be performing on 16, 17 and 18 February, is predicting 260,000 people over three nights – an average of 86,000 a night. 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 The Guardian https://ift.tt/vFg6...

Rock star said he wants ‘no association’ with artist after he claims a sample of a Black Sabbath song was used without permission Ozzy Osbourne has called out Kanye West for using a sample of his music without permission. In a post on X , Osbourne claims he denied a request for a portion of a 1983 live version of the Black Sabbath song War Pigs to be used on West’s new album but heard it was used anyway during a listening party this week. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/c3Lv2C6 via IFTTT

Southwark Playhouse, London This two-hander has a high concept and appealing performances but the script and songs lack emotional pull ‘Life’s not one of your paintings,” Ami rages at her artist boyfriend, Ben. “You can’t just rip it up and start again.” But what if Ben was in an accident, had amnesia and happened to meet Ami afresh, not remembering their faltering relationship at all? That might provide a new start for both – even if Ami is racked with guilt over not revealing their shared past. Timothy Knapman and Stuart Matthew Price’s two-hander has a Hollywood-style high concept but their musical romcom is strangely reluctant to run with the premise and quickly becomes overly earnest. Knapman’s book has a good sense of the everyday ebb and flow of relationships yet could use sharper repartee. The occasional goofy humour is seldom matched by his and Price’s lyrics, which drift too often towards the commonplace. Price’s score – well played by musical director Ben McQuigg’s trio (g...

Zelenskiy replaces Zaluzhnyi as military commander in chief; US Senate makes tentative forward step on Ukraine aid See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Volodymyr Zelenskiy has fired Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi – thanking him for his service but outlining the need for “renewal” in the armed forces . Zaluzhnyi’s dismissal has been a much-discussed topic in Ukraine and internationally for more than a week, after it emerged the president had asked him to resign . Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi is to replace Zaluzhnyi , moving up from commander of land forces. Syrskyi led the successful defence of Kyiv early in the war, and was credited with planning and executing a successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region later in 2022. The US Senate on Thursday advanced a wartime aid package for Ukraine and Israel , reviving an effort that had stalled amid Republican opposition to a more comprehensive bill they demanded and later abandoned. A day after blockin...

Other failures listed in damning official report include blaming children for ‘making poor choices’ Metropolitan police officers tried to put off children from making complaints about alleged sexual abuse and privately blamed young people for crimes suffered, a damning official report has revealed. Most investigations into child exploitation were rated as inadequate by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). Of the 244 cases it examined, 43 were graded as good, more than half (121) as inadequate and 80 as needing improvement. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/x8IQijt via IFTTT

Projections on local television channels slow coming in compared to previous elections as some early urban results show surprise lead for Imran Khan’s party Pakistan’s vote count following a national election has been hit by unusual delays, leading the country’s election panel to issue a late-night warning to polling officers, 10 hours after polls closed, to release results immediately. An “internet issue” was the reason behind the delay, said Zafar Iqbal, special secretary at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), after he announced the first official results for a constituency, more than 10 hours after the polling process ended on Thursday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nUAjYLM via IFTTT

Russian president sits down with Trump-supporting rightwing commentator who frequently criticizes US support for Ukraine Tucker Carlson and Vladimir Putin were in the spotlight on Thursday night, as the divisive, Trump-supporting rightwing commentator interviewed the reclusive Russian autocrat. The interview, filmed in Moscow, was Putin’s first with a western media outlet since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/GFeB43d via IFTTT

The American saved Sam Bell’s spot-kick as Forest won the shoot-out 5-3 after the tie had ended 1-1 from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/YoOPKwp via IFTTT

Sunday’s 4-2 loss at home to Wolves was their 10th in the league this season. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/HRgGTI7 via IFTTT

Former Fox host was spotted in the Russian capital, where he says he was to interview Putin about Ukraine war for X/Twitter show Far-right pundit and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson confirmed on Tuesday he was in Moscow to interview Vladimir Putin, and said he will air his conversation with Russia’s president to counter what he described as pro-Ukraine “fawning pep sessions” by western media covering the war. Speculation had been growing for days that Carlson, who was dumped by Fox last year for “ getting too big for his boots ”, had traveled to the Russian capital to meet Putin, whose reasons for invading Ukraine he says have a right to be heard by the American public. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/68ImKAj via IFTTT

The actor, who was fired from the Star Wars show after ‘abhorrent’ social media posts, is filing a lawsuit funded by the X owner Gina Carano is suing Disney and Lucasfilm over her firing from the TV show The Mandalorian, with help from Elon Musk. The MMA fighter turned actor, who played Cara Dune in the Star Wars series, was accused of “denigrating people based on their cultural & religious identities” on social media in posts that were called “abhorrent and unacceptable”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wmG40Ay via IFTTT

Watch live as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell holds a press conference ahead of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas . from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/rx7wfUC via IFTTT

The Senate will vote on the bill after months of discussing aid to allies and changes to border policy – here’s what to know Senate negotiators presented their long-awaited national security bill on Sunday, after months of talks over funding for US allies abroad and changes to border policy. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill on Wednesday, but it remains highly unclear whether the legislation can pass either chamber of Congress. Members of both parties have already voiced criticism of the bill, and the House speaker, Republican Mike Johnson of Louisiana, has declared the proposal to be “dead on arrival” in the lower chamber. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ls1NYud via IFTTT

Zelenskiy considering replacement of several senior leaders; Russia says 28 dead in shelling on Ukrainian city under occupation Russia said 28 people, including one child, have died in Saturday’s shelling of a bakery in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk, which is under Russian occupation . A further 10 people were rescued from under the rubble by emergency services, according to officials. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was considering replacing several senior officials – and not just in the military. It comes amid speculation that the president is about to dismiss the commander of Ukraine’s military, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. “It is a question of the people who are to lead Ukraine,” Zelenskiy told Italian TV when asked about Zaluzhnyi. “A reset is necessary, I am talking about a replacement of a number of state leaders”, he said. His comments came after Zelensky made a trip to Ukrainian troops on the south-eastern frontline to hand out medals. Zelensky used the...

Ireland host Italy in round two of the tournament. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/xUkYHCK via IFTTT

The Madrid Trilogy closed with a twist in the final scene. Three derbies in three weeks on three different stages and in three competitions left Real lifting the Super Cup, Atlético prevailing in the Copa del Rey, and Real’s superiority reasserted in the league, the empire seemingly back in power. But then in the 93rd minute, Marcos Llorente, the son, grandson, nephew and great-nephew of men who made history in white, headed in the goal that gave their great rivals a dramatic late equaliser, raising his arms to the sky as he ran to the corner, striped shirts chasing after him. Episodes I and II had required extra time to find a winner; Episode III had none and so it had been a battle but no one was beaten. The first two instalments had brought 14 goals, wild epic nights, 120 minutes of drama and tension, ending 4-2 and 5-3; the last of them had just two. And if the draw was enough to see Carlo Ancelotti’s side go two points clear at the top of the table, 10 ahead of Atlético, it was t...

El Fabiolo, State Man, Fact to File and Ballyburn win for trainer Mullins: ‘It’s extraordinary, we know that’ Willie Mullins was playing a dif ­ ferent game to his fellow trainers over the two days of the Dublin racing festival at the weekend – a game of Monopoly, in fact, as he added four more Grade One victories on Sunday to complete a clean sweep of the eight top-level events at the meeting. It was, even by Mullins’s ­standards, a remarkable two days and while there were some upsets among his winners on the first afternoon there was more of an air of ­inevitability about proceedings on day two as El Fabiolo (4-11), in the Dublin Chase, and State Man (2-5), in the Irish Champion Hurdle, completed the rout. The combined price of ­Mullins’s four-timer was just 8-1 and only that big because Fact To File, at 6-4, turned over his stable com­panion, Gaelic Warrior, in what ended up as a Mullins match-race for the Grade One Ladbrokes Novice Chase. Continue reading... from ...

Briton enjoys unanimous points decision win in Las Vegas Buatsi seals 116-110, 117-109, 117-109 points victory Britain’s Conor Benn dug deep for a hard-fought but unanimous points decision win against the previously unbeaten Peter Dobson in their welterweight bout in Las Vegas on Saturday. Benn, who is still banned from fighting in his home country, was on top early on but was stymied by Dobson in the later stages of their fight. But each judge scored the fight for Benn, who extended his unbeaten record to 23-0. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vxaAIdz via IFTTT

Title holders Ireland host Italy in round two after opening their Six Nations defence with an impressive win over France. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/Lk2JVPX via IFTTT

Louis Theroux exec produces this look at the disturbing tale of a white female academic’s sexual abuse of a non-verbal Black man – and uses it to lay bare society’s prejudices Sexual consent is critical, but can be tricky. Even when there are no differentials in power, when both parties are sober, willing, unaffected by gender roles, racial biases or societal pressures, there is always potential for human error and misinterpretation. This is especially problematic when getting explicit consent isn’t just about pleasing your partner, but also about protecting yourself. This documentary makes it all too clear that is particularly the case when it comes to the dynamics of Black men and white women where, historically, Black men and boys have been viewed as more sexually voracious and predatory. In the deeply disturbing case of Derrick Johnson and Anna Stubblefield, we see the shocking way a non-verbal, disabled Black man’s sexual abuse by his white carer could be contorted into an innoce...

As a professional footballer I see the climate crisis killing my sport and believe we have a duty to act accordingly When I play football I feel free from the worries of day-to-day life. But as a young person living in a climate and environmental crisis, these worries have become increasingly hard to ignore. This has been made even harder by the fact that the climate crisis is killing my sport, and one of the companies most responsible is plastering its name all over football in England to distract from what it is doing. As a professional footballer, I’ve had the privilege of representing my country, New Zealand, 15 times. From being a champion of Italy with Juventus to playing most recently for Hearts in the Scottish Women’s Premier League, I have been lucky enough to experience football in a variety of settings. The goal was always to use football as a means to experience the world, but it turns out the world I’ve been experiencing isn’t what I thought it would be. Continue readin...

On a meet-and-greet with fans in Bavaria, the England captain talks about life with Bayern Munich and whether he has a chance of ever winning the Ballon d’Or Harry Kane fixes you with the eyes of an overwhelmed compatriot alighting on a familiar face in a strange land. The smile, the clasping handshake and the immediate talk of cricket, England in India, suggest mutual reassurance, a sense we’re all on safer ground now. It’s Sunday morning in Kirchweidach, a village of 2,000 deep in rural Bavaria, just by the Austrian border. It’s a stunning, sunny day in a village as typically Bavarian as you can imagine, all lush meadows, crisp with frost and pretty houses with BMWs and views of imposing snow-clad Alpine peaks in the distance. It’s not Walthamstow. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/hWdqDVU via IFTTT