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Showing posts from February, 2025

Everton boss David Moyes admits Wolves were the better team during stalemate

Jack Harrison gave the visitors the lead in the first half before Marshall Munetsi opened his account for Wolves seven minutes later. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/fhK2PqT via IFTTT

The Trump-Zelenskyy slugfest was shocking. What does Ukraine do now? | Rajan Menon

For the Ukrainian leader, there’s no coming back from the debacle. His country’s best hope now lies with Europe No matter their position on the Russia-Ukraine war, people who view the televised encounter between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office will likely be shocked. It didn’t morph into a full-on screaming match, but it came close. The meeting might have gone sideways anyway, but JD Vance ’s presence ensured that it became ugly – and quickly. The vice-president spoke over Zelenskyy, accused him of ingratitude for the assistance provided by the United States (“Have you ever said thank you?”) and of disrespecting Trump , his host, and, for good measure, scolded him for litigating his country’s case in public. That raised the temperature – a lot. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/v9AGDrN via IFTTT

Ukraine war briefing: Trump panders to Russia by shutting Kyiv out of Nato, says Kaja Kallas

EU foreign secretary says US wouldn’t have sat down with Bin Laden to ask what he wanted after 9/11; strikes on Kharkiv energy targets. What we know on day 1,101 Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign minister, has accused Donald Trump of falling for a Russian narrative by closing the door on Nato membership for Ukraine. “Why are we in Nato? It is because we are afraid of Russia. And the only thing that really works – the only security guarantee that works – is Nato’s umbrella,” she said. Trump said last week of the war that Ukraine potentially joining Nato was “probably the reason the whole thing started”. In an interview published on Thursday by Agence France-Presse, Kallas said: “These accusations are totally untrue. That is the Russian narrative that we should not buy.” Kallas – a former prime minister of Estonia, which borders Russia – said Nato countries had never attacked Russia which instead was “afraid of democracy”. Interviewed in Washington, the EU high representative for foreign a...

Mexico releases 29 high-level organized crime operatives into US custody

Prisoners, including Rafael Caro Quintero, extradited as Mexico faces pressure to show it’s tackling fentanyl trafficking Don’t let a billionaire’s algorithm control what you read. Download our free app to get trusted reporting Mexico has extradited 29 high-level organised crime operatives to the US, as it faces intense pressure from the Trump administration to show that it is tackling fentanyl trafficking. Among the prisoners sent to the US was Rafael Caro Quintero, the drug lord who was convicted of the murder of an undercover US Drug Enforcement Administration agent in 1985. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fBKpMHv via IFTTT

Cops confront keffiyehs in New York at pro-Palestinian Barnard College protest

Dozens of protesters gathered to demand the reinstatement of two students expelled for disrupting a class on Israel Don’t let a billionaire’s algorithm control what you read. Download our free app to get trusted reporting . Several dozen anti-war student protesters gathered outside Columbia University and Barnard College in New York on Thursday to protest against the expulsion of two students who interrupted a class on Israel last month. Wearing keffiyehs in solidarity with Palestinians, students chanted a series of anti-war slogans amid a heavy New York police department (NYPD) presence outside the sister schools, where only students and faculty with ID cards are allowed in. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/kQw6uol via IFTTT

US national security director condemns UK request for Apple data ‘backdoor’

Tulsi Gabbard said request was ‘clear and egregious violation of Americans’ privacy and civil liberties’ The new US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, weighed in on the encryption feud between Apple and the UK on Wednesday. In a letter to British lawmakers on Wednesday, she wrote that the UK government’s order for Apple to create a “backdoor” to iCloud users’ accounts is a “clear and egregious violation of Americans’ privacy and civil liberties”. “Any information sharing between a government – any government – and private companies must be done in a manner that respects and protects the U.S. law and the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens,” Gabbard wrote. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Hx4sTSF via IFTTT

Middle powers such as Australia relied on the rules-based order, but that’s in doubt. Here’s what we must do | John Blaxland

US globalism is in retreat and Australia’s fear of abandonment is more acute than in ages Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The iconoclastic news whirlwind around Donald Trump points to a new US approach on the international stage: globalism and free trade are out. Spheres of influence are back in vogue. It’s not isolationism, it’s transactional mercantilism. But with Australia heavily invested in its US relationship we need to calmly undertake a net assessment: to weigh up what’s at stake while looking to engage with our region more fully. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rxwiKvp via IFTTT

Ofcom calls on tech firms to step up action against ‘revenge porn’

Watchdog recommends use of ‘hash-matching’ to allow images to be identified at scale wherever they are shared Tech platforms should combat the rapid rise in explicit deepfakes and “revenge porn” by using a database of images to protect women and girls online, according to new guidance being drawn up by the UK communications watchdog. The move is part of a raft of measures proposed by Ofcom to tackle online misogyny, harassment and the sharing of intimate images without the subject’s consent – often referred to as “revenge porn”. Women are five times more likely to be victims of intimate image abuse. Nearly 70% of boys aged 11-14 have been exposed to online content that promotes misogyny and other harmful views. Almost a quarter of teenage girls (23%) regularly see content that objectifies or demeans women. Online domestic abuse is under-reported – half of survivors (49%) told no one about it. Nearly three-quarters of respondents in a survey (73%) had experienced online threats a...

Police to get new powers to find stolen phones in England and Wales

Warrant will not be required where tracker shows an item is present, as part of raft of measures in crime and policing bill Police will be able to search properties without a warrant for stolen phones or other electronically geotagged items under the government’s crime and policing bill. The measure is among dozens in the bill, which will be put before parliament on Tuesday and would mostly apply to England and Wales. It has a particular focus on lower-level offences such as theft and wider antisocial behaviour. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ezbcWgO via IFTTT

Trump administration briefing: Zelenskyy rejects US minerals demand; bomb threat sent to anti-Trump conference

From a fight over a $500bn minerals deal to Trump ‘surrendering to the Russians’ – here are the key US politics stories from Sunday at a glance As Ukraine prepared to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he would be willing to step down if it meant peace or membership of Nato, something the US and some other Nato member states oppose. Zelenskyy insisted he wanted good, “friendly” relations with America – a “strategic partner” – and shrugged off Trump’s bruising description of him as a “dictator” for not holding elections during wartime. But he also said that he would not sign a $500bn minerals deal proposed by the US. He said the figure was far higher than the US’s actual military contribution of $100bn. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1NgVby6 via IFTTT

‘We have nothing now’: Myanmar’s exiled media face existential crisis after Trump severs aid

Organisations that take extreme risks to document atrocities, corruption and war crimes fear for their future after USAid cuts Each month Su Myat secretly crosses the border from Thailand into Myanmar to report on her conflict-ridden homeland, covering military airstrikes and illegal scam compounds that have become a haven for organised, transnational crime . The editor of the online news outlet ThanLwinKhet News, Su is part of a community of exiled journalists from Myanmar whose organisations are facing an existential crisis due to US president Donald Trump’s decision to freeze foreign aid . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QKtLJP4 via IFTTT

European football: Moise Kean in hospital for head trauma after collapse

Fiorentina striker suffered blow to head on pitch Napoli’s loss at Como lets Atalanta back into title race The former Everton striker Moise Kean was taken to hospital after appearing to pass out following an earlier blow to his head during Fiorentina’s defeat by Hellas Verona on Sunday. The Italy international had been involved in an accidental collision with Pawel Dawidowicz and Diego Coppola midway through the second half, taking a knee in the face which left him with a cut above his eye. Although Kean returned to the pitch after treatment with his head bandaged, the 24-year-old soon fell, initially appearing unresponsive, before being taken off on a stretcher in the 67th minute. Fiorentina later confirmed Kean had suffered a head trauma and was in hospital for tests. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/J4R9eDj via IFTTT

Matt Sherratt hails his Wales players’ ‘emotion and ambition’ despite defeat

Interim coach proud even though Ireland win 27-18 ‘Big moment’ when Ellis Mee ‘try’ ruled out by TMO The new interim Wales coach, Matt Sherratt, paid tribute to his players’ “emotion and ambition” after a heartening display in the 27-18 defeat by Ireland at the Principality Stadium. The 47-year-old Englishman, Cardiff’s full-time head coach, was appointed only last week and said he was pleased with the way his players had transferred his ideas on to the pitch. Wales led 18-10 in the second half before a Jamie Osborne try and three Sam Prendergast penalties for Ireland settled the contest. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3V0runw via IFTTT

Police shut parts of M4 motorway near Bristol after human remains discovered

Drivers had told Avon and Somerset officers that there was something on the road between junctions 20 and 21 Police have discovered human remains on a motorway carriageway near Bristol and have shut parts of two motorways in both directions. A number of drivers called the police and reported seeing something on the road between junctions 20 and 21 of the M4 at 6.40pm on Saturday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/TyLdflb via IFTTT

Collectors Item can prove value bet for punters in gruelling Eider Chase | Talking Horses

Newcastle race may well demand as much staying power from its winner as the Grand National in April At four miles, one furlong and 55 yards, the Eider Chase at Newcastle is barely a furlong shorter than the Grand National and with the ground soft in places and some rain in the forecast, it may well demand as much staying power from its winner as the Aintree showpiece in April. As a result, it will require a slight leap of faith for punters to back either O’Connell or Collectors Item, the early favourites after a full field of 18 was declared on Thursday, as both will be racing beyond three and a half miles for the first time. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sZY8rGU via IFTTT

Stormzy denies he ‘compromised beliefs’ with McDonald’s partnership

Rapper is a vocal supporter of Palestine but has received criticism over restaurant’s links to Israeli military Stormzy has denied that he “compromised beliefs for commercial gain”, after his advertising partnership with McDonald’s was criticised over the company’s ties to Israel. In a new campaign, the rapper appears in filmed adverts and on billboards promoting the “Stormzy meal” featuring a selection of his favourite menu items. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wrTEG9N via IFTTT

Trump administration restores legal aid for unaccompanied immigrant children

A stop-work order had been issued to government-funded attorneys to cease counsel for about 26,000 minors The Trump administration has rescinded its decision to cut off legal aid for unaccompanied immigrant children, just three days after it ordered government-funded attorneys across the country to immediately stop their work. The Acacia Center for Justice and the Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) confirmed that the stop-work order affecting non-profits that provide legal counsel for about 26,000 unaccompanied minors had been lifted. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QNbifqM via IFTTT

Doctors in London cure blindness in children with rare condition

Four children can now see shapes, find toys, recognise their parents’ faces and some can read and write Doctors in London have become the first in the world to cure blindness in children born with a rare genetic condition using a pioneering gene therapy. The children had leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a severe form of retinal dystrophy that causes vision loss due to a defect in the AIPL1 gene. Those affected are legally certified as blind from birth. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nZT0z4D via IFTTT

First new pharaoh’s tomb to be found in over a century discovered in Egypt

The tomb of Thutmose II is the first pharaoh’s tomb to be discovered since Tutankhamun in 1922 It was when British archeologist Dr Piers Litherland saw that the ceiling of the burial chamber was painted blue with yellow stars that he realised he had just discovered the first tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh to be found in more than a century. Litherland had been exploring the Valley of the Kings in Egypt for more than a decade when he discovered a staircase which led to the tomb, now known to have belonged to Thutmose II, who reigned from 1493 to 1479BC. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5Oqm1S7 via IFTTT

Trump receives widespread backlash to social post calling himself ‘king’

US president made comparison after administration rescinded New York City’s congestion pricing plan Donald Trump is receiving widespread backlash after he likened himself to a “king” on social media following his administration’s decision to rescind New York City’s congestion pricing program. On Wednesday, following a letter issued by his transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, to the New York governor, Kathy Hochul, that ended the transportation department’s agreement with New York over a new congestion pricing program for Manhattan, Trump wrote on Truth Social: Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/oTKMYLB via IFTTT

BBC asked to remove Gaza documentary over narrator’s father’s ties to Hamas

Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone’s 13-year-old narrator, Abdullah, has been revealed to be the son of Ayman Alyazouri, a deputy agriculture minister in the Hamas-run government The BBC has been asked to remove a documentary about children living in Gaza from BBC iPlayer after it emerged the film’s 13-year-old narrator is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, a deputy agriculture minister in the territory’s Hamas-run government. The corporation said that it had discovered the family connections of the film’s English-speaking narrator, a child called Abdullah, after the documentary was aired on BBC Two on Monday evening . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/oNiGmYJ via IFTTT

Hamlet review – RSC’s bold seaborne concept really pushes the boat out

Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon The court of Elsinore becomes a ship of state – or a ship of fools – in Rupert Goold’s production Thematic merchandise is common at Shakespeare productions: Veronese pizzas before Romeo and Juliet, meat pies at Titus Andronicus. The new RSC Hamlet, unusually, has a tie-in cruise. The programme advertises a collaboration between the theatre company and Cunard: seven days on the Queen Mary 2 “putting the power of Shakespeare to sea”. Which is the course on which director Rupert Goold sets the court of Elsinore. His version takes place entirely on a sort of Royal Yacht Scandinavia during what seems to be a honeymoon cruise for Claudius and Gertrude. A ship of state, this is also, metaphorically, a ship of fools. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/XuV1taU via IFTTT

I returned to hospitality work as a middle-aged woman – here’s what it taught me | Beth Knights

Sometimes the work drives me to despair, but more often than not it’s a humbling experience. At one with my chore, I am at peace Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast There’s a regular customer opposite me screeching at anyone who’ll listen – and even those who won’t. The frequency of her voice is piercing my brain. I am managing a queue of patrons: taking orders, making cocktails, trying to stay sane. I am trapped here for another four hours. Welcome to the world of bar work. Just shy of turning 50, I recently returned to the hospitality grind after a breezy 30-year “sabbatical”. My freelance writing work is temperamental, and while I live the work-from-home dream, tapping at a laptop from my lounge can also be lonely. Even as a misanthrope, I need contact with my fellow species. Due to crippling social anxiety, I prefer having a role to play at any social function. I’m great at small talk when also pouring a drink. Standing idly with a drink and talking? ...

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy rejects ‘quick win’ ceasefire sought by US

‘We will not sign just anything in order to be applauded,’ Ukrainian president insists; European leaders pressed on sending troops to enforce peace. What we know on day 1,091 The US is trying to “please” Vladimir Putin as it aims for a “quick win” by rushing towards a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview broadcast on Monday. “The US is now saying things that are very favourable to Putin … because they want to please him. They want to meet quickly and have a quick win. But what they want – just a ceasefire – is not a win ,” said Ukraine’s president, according to a translation provided by broadcaster ARD. “We [Ukraine] will not sign just anything in order to be applauded … the fate of our state for generations to come [is at stake].” Zelenskyy warned that Europe was in a weak position if it could not rely on US security assistance. While “readiness has increased” in recent years, “in terms of troop strength, the number of combat troops, the...

Support for ESG proposals at record low driven by US investors, report shows

Report highlights ‘worrying retreat’ in support for shareholder resolutions on environmental and social risks Support for shareholder proposals aimed at tackling environmental and social risks hit a record low last year, figures show, amid a “worrying retreat” by investors, particularly in the US. A report compiled by the responsible investment campaign group ShareAction found that, out of 279 environmental, social and governance (ESG) shareholder resolutions put forward at annual general meetings last year in the UK, Europe and the US, only four – or 1.4% – secured majority support. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/yQTtive via IFTTT

Starmer ready to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine if peace deal reached

It is understood to be the first time the PM has been explicit about sending British peacekeepers to Ukraine Keir Starmer has said he is prepared to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine if there is a deal to end the war with Russia, acknowledging it could put troops “in harm’s way” if Vladimir Putin launches another attack. It is understood to be the first time the prime minister has explicitly stated he is considering deploying British peacekeepers to Ukraine. The comments came just before emergency talks with European leaders in Paris on Monday. The leaders will aim to devise a strategy in response to Donald Trump’s push for a deal with the Russian president and to fears the US will reduce its defence commitments in Europe. Starmer said the crisis was a “once in a generation moment” and an “existential” question for Europe. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said the UK was “ready to play a leading role” in Ukraine’s defence and security, including the commitment of ...

Muhsin Hendricks, world’s ‘first openly gay imam’, shot dead in South Africa

Police say motive for killing of Hendricks, who ran a mosque for LGBTQ+ Muslims near Cape Town, is unknown Muhsin Hendricks, considered the world’s “first openly gay imam ”, has been shot dead near the southern city of Gqeberha, South African police have said. The imam, who ran a mosque intended as a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims, was in a car with another person on Saturday when a vehicle stopped in front of them and blocked their exit, police said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/UpZnfOJ via IFTTT

JD Vance’s Munich speech laid bare the collapse of the transatlantic alliance

The US vice-president was hypocritical and insensitive, but bracingly clear in his resetting of relationships • Europe live – latest updates Since 1963, the Munich Security Conference has seen many consequential speeches, notably Vladimir Putin announcing in 2007 that Russia would never accept a subordinate role in the new world order. But Friday’s speech by JD Vance , the US vice-president, has the potential to be the most consequential – the moment the world order against which Putin railed fell apart. Sometimes, even in this digital age, speeches can act as clarifiers. Yes, the 22 minutes were full of laughable hypocrisy, distorted portraits of European democracy and insensitivity to Europe’s trauma with fascism, but for what it said about the chasm in values between most in Europe and the Trump administration, it was hard to overlook. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/txZELv4 via IFTTT

What is the big idea? Levy’s second-class Tottenham Women mired in mediocrity | Jonathan Liew

Ambition for the women’s team – like the men’s – seems based on hanging in there until the big money starts rolling in A couple of years ago it was reported that Daniel Levy, the man in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, was lobbying to abolish promotion and relegation to and from the Women’s Super League. Levy’s vision was of a steady-state league, with no mobility and therefore no real jeopardy, where the same teams competed for the same stuff every season. How we laughed. As it turned out, he needn’t have gone to the trouble. It pretty much ended up happening anyway. For Tottenham at least, a season that began replete with possibility has buffed down to a blunt point. Marooned in mid-table, eliminated from both cup competitions, safe from relegation and well out of the Champions League race, their last nine games – starting with the north London derby at the Emirates on Sunday – are essentially pure content, dead rubbers, puff football. Will they put in a strong run of results and finis...

Britain’s Anna Morris wins European track cycling gold in world record time

Individual pursuit champion sets mark twice in one day Morris is first woman to claim title in new 4km format Britain’s Anna Morris won gold in the individual pursuit at the European track championships in Belgium after breaking the world record twice in one day. The Welsh cyclist set a new world’s best of 4min 28.306sec in the qualifiers and bettered that in the final in Heusden-Zolder as she beat Italy’s Vittoria Guazzini in 4:25.874. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/y7SjgWM via IFTTT

Woman who accused Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of rape drops case

Combs is in a Brooklyn jail and still faces dozens of other civil lawsuits, while this was the first to mention Carter An anonymous woman who accused Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her in 2000 when she was 13 dismissed her civil lawsuit on Friday against the hip-hop moguls. A filing in federal court in Manhattan said the plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, voluntarily dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning she cannot bring it again. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jgPGN0Q via IFTTT

Southport killer’s sentence will not be referred to court of appeal

Attorney general declines to refer Axel Rudakubana’s 52-year minimum sentence to unduly lenient sentence scheme The sentence of the Southport killer will not be referred to the court of appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, the attorney general has said. Axel Rudakubana, 18, was handed a 52-year minimum sentence for murdering three girls at a dance class, the second-longest sentence imposed by the courts in English history, but the Southport MP Patrick Hurley previously asked the attorney general to review the sentence as “unduly lenient”, saying it is “not severe enough”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/lI6nRCL via IFTTT

Trump and Vance are courting Europe’s far right to spread their political gospel

US vice-president’s speech and meeting with Germany’s AfD chief signal administration’s wider plans for continent The Trump administration is making a big bet on Europe’s hard right. Speaking at a conference of Europe’s leaders in Munich on Friday, the US vice-president JD Vance stunned the room by delivering what amounted to a campaign speech against Germany’s sitting government just one week before an election in which the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim AfD is set to take second place. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/IkfQ8cF via IFTTT

The opera singer with one of the rarest voices in the world: ‘Being on stage is not easy’

Samuel Mariño was bullied at school for his voice. But now the male soprano is storming the classical world – one sequin at a time One of the rarest voices in the world of opera is now in Australia and its owner, Venezuelan-born Samuel Mariño, is set to charm audiences with his crystal pure natural soprano – and his four suitcases of frothy tulle, slinky sequins and towering heels. As a male soprano, aka a sopranist, Mariño does not sing falsetto, a technique employed by countertenors to sing the roles originally written for castrati in the baroque and classical repertoire. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/DmPsVf4 via IFTTT

Can AI teach us anything about our subconscious? I offered up my dreams to find out | Tara Kenny

AI chatbots have a tendency to exaggerate, but their verbose nature feels well-suited to the highly associative task of dream analysis Some say that talking about your dreams is boring , but personally I think otherworldly nocturnal escapades provide far richer fodder for small talk than the footy season or this unseasonal weather. Sadly, not everyone agrees. That’s why, when I hear about an AI dream interpretation app, I’m seduced by the potential for a captive, preternaturally intelligent assistant to help me decipher the more baffling corners of my psyche. AI chatbots such as ChatGPT have a well-known tendency to riff and exaggerate with alarming confidence, but their verbose nature feels well-suited to the free form and highly associative task of dream analysis. Admittedly, trading little understood fragments of our slumbering minds to a tech startup in return for spiritual guidance sounds like the foreboding premise of a terrifying sci-fi horror movie. But the app’s fine print ...

Ukraine war briefing: Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, say European ministers

If we can’t join Nato we must build our own, says Zelenskyy; Russian trial begins over explosion that crippled Kerch bridge. What we know on day 1,086 Nothing about ending Russia’s war against Ukraine should be decided without the Ukrainians , European ministers said on Wednesday. “Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations,” a joint statement of seven countries and the European Commission said. John Healey, the British defence secretary, told Sky News: “It’s the Ukrainians that are doing the fighting. It’s for them to decide when to start talking and on what terms.” As ministers from France, Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain and the European Commission met with Ukraine’s foreign minister in Paris on Wednesday, the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, said a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was unrealistic and the US did not see Nato membership for Kyiv as part of a solution to the war. Hegseth’s comments were followed by a call between Donald Trump and Vladimir P...

Grenade thrown into Grenoble bar injures 12, say French authorities

Prosecutors say two people in a critical condition after blast, which they do not believe is terror-related Twelve people were wounded when a grenade was thrown into a bar in the city of Grenoble in south-eastern France, officials said on Wednesday. A person entered the bar and threw a grenade without speaking before fleeing, said prosecutor Francois Touret-de-Courcy. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/KT1Y8ON via IFTTT

26.2 to Life: Inside the San Quentin Prison Marathon review – the inmates who find redemption in running

This deeply moving film follows the maximum-security detainees training to run a marathon. It’s a troubling portrait of masculinity, but one which offers hope Christine Yoo’s intelligent, compassionate and deeply moving film, 26.2 to Life: Inside the San Quentin Prison Marathon, follows some of the inmates of the California maximum-security facility. The men, most of whom are serving life sentences, are preparing to run 100-odd laps of the heavily guarded prison yard, along a barely marked track, weaving in and out of prisoners who do not know or care to stay out of their way. All of them are subject at any time to a minor or major lockdown that will interrupt or even cancel the race for which they have trained all year. They can wear non-prison-issue clothes to run in, but their shoes are the property of the state and have to be booked in and out by each man at every session. The 1000 Mile Club, as the runners are known, are trained by a group of volunteers led by Franklin Ruona, an...

Anselm Kiefer: Early Works review – his Nazi salute dominates a show haunted by horrors

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford From shocking images of him Sieg Heil-ing to a woodland watercolour haunted by the atrocities of war, the German artist confronts his homeland’s fascist past – and it’s never felt so relevant When he was 24, Anselm Kiefer found his father’s old Wehrmacht uniform in the attic. This hidden, shameful family history was almost lost to time, almost forgotten, but Kiefer couldn’t let that happen. So he put on the overcoat and “Sieg Heil”-ed all across Europe, taking pictures along the way. This early art project in the late-1960s was the German artist attempting to embody and confront the past. A picture of him doing the banned salute – forbidden in Germany under the long process of denazification – is at the heart of this show of his early works. He stands, arm raised, against a barbed-wire fence in shimmering, solarised black and white. It’s a ghostly and quiet photo, but amazingly powerful in its simplicity. That overcoat became a historical burden for Kiefer to...

Middle East crisis live: Trump says Gaza ceasefire should be cancelled if hostage release delayed

US president said it was ultimately up to Israel but he warned that ‘all hell is going to break out’ if the remaining hostages aren’t released on Saturday Hamas said on Monday that the next Gaza hostage-prisoner exchange may still take place as scheduled under the truce deal with Israel, after the group’s armed wing had announced an indefinite postponement, according to Agence France-Presse. The Palestinian militant group said that “Hamas has intentionally made this announcement five days before the scheduled prisoner handover, allowing mediators ample time to pressure the (Israeli) occupation towards fulfilling its obligations.” Donald Trump said his plan to “take over Gaza” would not include a right of return for the more than 2 million Palestinians that he has said have “no alternative” but to leave because of the destruction left by Israel’s military campaign. Trump continued to endorse a plan for the Palestinians to be resettled in Egypt and Jordan, a plan that both countries...

Donald Trump has declared war on international justice. Australia must speak up | Geoffrey Robertson

The ICC sanction is designed to intimidate and stop it from working against war criminals, Geoffrey Robertson writes Donald Trump has declared war on international justice by the dictatorial device of an executive order. He has sanctioned the international criminal court . This empowers him to seize any funds belonging to the court or its judges or employees and to ban them from entering the US. He issued a similar sanction, during his previous presidency, but it was overturned by Joe Biden before court challenges to it could be heard. This time it will prevent ICC leaders from entering New York to report to the UN and will end cooperation to provide evidence to ICC prosecutors for action against Russian commanders. The greatest beneficiary of Trump’s sanction will be Vladimir Putin. Australia is one of the 125 state members of the ICC but, inexplicably, it has not yet spoken out against Trump’s puerile initiative. Seventy-nine state members immediately did so, with allies including...

Yrjö Kukkapuro, renowned Finnish chair designer, dies aged 91

‘Almost every Finn has sat on a chair he designed,’ his studio says, with his postmodern creations gracing galleries around the world Yrjö Kukkapuro, a renowned Finnish designer whose postmodern style of chairs graced waiting rooms, offices and living rooms across Finland as well as collections in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, has died aged 91. Kukkapuro died on Saturday at his home outside Helsinki, his daughter, Isa Kukkapuro-Enbom, confirmed in an email on Sunday, as well as in a statement from Studio Kukkapuro, where she is the curator. The cause of death was not disclosed. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/h3VNE1A via IFTTT

Freed Israeli hostage did not know of wife and daughters’ deaths, British family confirms

An Israeli soldier broke the news to Eli Sharabi on Saturday, after almost 500 days in captivity The freed Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi did not know his wife and two teenage daughters were killed in the 7 October attack until after his release, his British family have confirmed. An Israeli soldier broke the news about what had happened to his wife, Lianne, who grew up near Bristol, and their two British-Israeli children Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, after Sharabi and two other hostages were released by Hamas in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/uPAgbUZ via IFTTT

Sewer fatberg of ‘grease and rags’ forces Bryan Adams to postpone Perth concert

Singer was due to perform Sunday night but authorities worried large blockage could cause sewage to back up in venue toilets Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast An enormous fatberg in central Perth has forced a Bryan Adams concert to be postponed after authorities raised concerns that sewage may back up at the venue’s toilets. Adams was due to perform at the Western Australian capital’s RAC Arena on Sunday night, but the city’s water corporation said a “large blockage of fat, grease and rags” was causing wastewater overflows at nearby properties, prompting authorities to intervene. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vPLIXsz via IFTTT

Chisora swats aside Wallin for victory by unanimous decision in home swansong

Fight billed as 41-year-old’s last on British soil Chisora recovered from badly cut eye to win Derek Chisora overcame a badly cut eye to deliver a gusty unanimous points win over Otto Wallin in Manchester in what was billed as his final fight on British soil. If this showdown at the Co-op Live Arena really was his home swansong, it was a fitting send-off. Chisora started on the front foot and maintained his momentum despite picking up a deep cut above his right eye in the fifth round, as well as one below, which poured with blood, before going on to twice put Wallin on the canvas. Despite not being able to find a knockout blow, Chisora was handed a unanimous decision, which could now set him up for a shot at the IBF heavyweight title against either the champion Daniel Dubois or Joseph Parker, who will meet on 22 February. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bldErux via IFTTT

Gatland has sympathy for nation’s frustration as sorry Wales slump again

Coach ‘understands frustration’ after 14th loss in row Gatland says Wales ‘shot ourselves in the foot’ Warren Gatland said he “understands people’s frustration” after his Wales team slumped to a 14th consecutive defeat and a worst‑ever world ranking of 12th, one place below Georgia, losing 22-15 to Italy in Rome . Speaking to the Welsh language broadcaster S4C, Gatland empathised with his team’s supporters. “I can understand people’s frustration and we are frustrated and disappointed as well because we created opportunities but we have made mistakes and the penalty count was disappointing,” he said. “As a coaching team and players they are not hard fixes but we need to make sure we focus in those key moments.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/uyBEkU1 via IFTTT

Calvin Klein’s first female creative director finds succour in a fictional New York

Veronica Leoni’s first collection mixed hat-tips to the CK archive with the Italian’s own ‘dreams of America’ Calvin Klein’s first female creative director, Veronica Leoni, presented her debut collection on Friday, watched on by Kate Moss – the brand’s most famous face during the 1990s, when its billboard ads ruled the zeitgeist – Calvin Klein himself, 82, and Christy Turlington. The brand had a lot riding on Friday’s show, its first catwalk presentation for six and a half years, and the highlight of a New York fashion week schedule that has been light on big names as American fashion struggles to compete with European brands owned by the French conglomerates LVMH and Kering. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rRwPXsV via IFTTT

Ukraine war briefing: Putin admits situation ‘very difficult’ in Kursk as Kyiv forces mount new offensive

Moscow shows ‘indifference’ to civilian humanitarian corridor offer, says Zelenskyy; France delivers Mirage jets. What we know on day 1,080 Russia said it was battling a new Ukrainian offensive in Kursk , as Kyiv offered a humanitarian corridor for civilians in the Russian region it has invaded and partly occupied, and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, admitted the situation there was “very difficult” as he met with regional governors. The Russian defence ministry said Ukraine deployed two mechanised battalions, tanks and armoured vehicles about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border to the south-east of the Ukrainian-controlled town of Sudzha. There was no comment on the fresh offensive from officials in Kyiv, and Russian statements on the extent of any fighting could not be verified. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Thursday praised his troops for the Kursk offensive and issued several army units with state honours . “The occupier can and should be beaten on its...

Call to make tech firms report data centre energy use as AI booms

Experts say mandatory reporting on energy and water use is needed to avoid irreparable damage to environment Tech companies should be required by law to report the energy and water consumption for their data centres, as the boom in AI risks causing irreparable damage to the environment, experts have said. AI is growing at a rate unparalleled by other energy systems, bringing heightened environmental risk, a report by the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) said. Expand mandatory environmental reporting. Provide information on environmental impacts of AI systems. Set environmental sustainability requirements for data centres. And reconsider data collection, transmission, storage and management practices. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/borlG6i via IFTTT

Defector who exposed Assad’s brutality calls for Syria sanctions to be lifted

The former military officer, previously known only as ‘Caesar’, smuggled evidence of thousands of deaths out of the country A former Assad regime military officer who defected with a trove of evidence exposing the torture and killing of thousands has called on the US to repeal a raft of sanctions imposed on Syria, in an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday. The military officer, known only by the codename “Caesar” until now, also revealed his identity as Farid Nada al-Madhan, the head of the judicial department for the military police in Damascus. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jnkOT49 via IFTTT

Google scraps diversity hiring goals and cites Trump’s DEI orders

Firm rolls back plan to hire more from underrepresented groups and said it was reviewing some of its DEI initiatives Alphabet’s Google is scrapping its goal to hire more employees from historically underrepresented groups and is reviewing some of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. With this, Google joins a slew of US businesses , particularly in Silicon Valley, that have been scaling back their diversity initiatives, years after pushing for more inclusive policies after protests against the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans in 2020. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/BOQbYcr via IFTTT

Elektra review – Brie Larson makes a fearless West End debut in punk tragedy

Duke of York’s theatre, London The Captain Marvel star is a magnetic frontwoman in Daniel Fish’s radical rewiring of the ancient play ‘There’s nothing more dangerous to a warrior than emotion,” Jude Law’s Kree commander tells Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel in the film that secured her Hollywood breakthrough. Anger, he says, “only serves the enemy”. Larson’s ancient-but-modern avenger Elektra, not an intergalactic warrior but a punk rock rebel, is nothing if not angry over the murder of her father, Agamemnon, at the hands of her mother, Clytemnestra. Emotion burns off her but serves her vengeance well enough. She looks androgynous and off-kilter with a buzz cut and a Bikini Kill T-shirt. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/IuDgRUn via IFTTT

The Aga Khan, philanthropist and spiritual leader, dies aged 88

Considered a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad, the Aga Khan spent billions on homes, hospitals and schools in developing countries The Aga Khan, who became the spiritual leader of the world’s millions of Ismaili Muslims at the age of 20 as a Harvard undergraduate, and who poured a material empire built on billions of dollars in tithes into building homes, hospitals and schools in developing countries, has died. He was 88. His Aga Khan Foundation and the Ismaili religious community announced on their websites that His Highness Prince Karim al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, died on Tuesday in Portugal surrounded by his family. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/IbzK2Oo via IFTTT

BMJ study calls for maximisation of women’s potential in healthcare

Female health leaders are good for wellbeing, research finds - but while women make up 70% of workforce, they hold only 25% of leadership roles Female health leaders are good for a nation’s wellbeing, wealth, innovation and ethics, but remain an underused resource, particularly in low and middle income countries, a global review of evidence shows. There should be more and sustained investment to maximise women’s potential and reap the benefits of their contribution, the study published in the journal BMJ Global Health concluded. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Kh6AXxb via IFTTT

A manatee: Imagine eating lettuce under water | Helen Sullivan

Manatees don’t have incisors or canines, only ‘cheek teeth’. No hair, only whiskers. Algae growing on their backs. Everything is gentle A manatee looks like every animal I have ever tried to make with play-dough: roll a big piece into a sausage, flatten a bit on either side with your forefingers and a bit at the end with your thumb. Hey presto. A manatee also happens to be the grey of all play-dough colours mixed together. Imagine eating lettuce underwater: the crunch, the squelch. Reading about manatees, I finally give in and look up what the word “prehensile” actually means, as in a giraffe’s prehensile tongue, a monkey’s prehensile tail, a manatee’s prehensile lips. What could these things have in common, you wonder, for 25 years. Then it is time to find out. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Ay98B1f via IFTTT

NHS England urged to publish full mental health report on Nottingham triple killer

Summary of care received by Valdo Calocane will be made public, but complete version to be kept confidential NHS England (NHSE) has been urged to reconsider its decision to refuse to publish a report into the care received by Nottingham triple killer Valdo Calocane, despite the wishes of the victims’ families. A summary of the independent mental health homicide report is due to be made public later this week, but the full version will be kept confidential due to “data protection legislation relating to patient information”, with only Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to be granted access. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/I3nHWMj via IFTTT

Grammys 2025: the winners, the losers, the performances – live

This year’s ceremony, with nominations led by Beyoncé, will be a celebration of music and tribute to those affected by LA wildfires Grammy awards 2025: list of winners Also a banner year of country-pop crossovers, continuing on the red carpet (no Beyoncé yet!) This video of returning host Trevor Noah getting ready for the night is less interesting for his preparation and more for the slight seating chart reveals … Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/j3wNxGg via IFTTT

From ‘couple goals’ to ‘beige flags’, here’s why you shouldn’t take relationship advice from TikTok | Lisa Portolan

People increasingly see relationships as stories in which they must be the protagonist – and TikTok provides the perfect digital stage TikTok isn’t just for viral dances and questionable cooking hacks; it’s now the go-to guru for your love life. With over a billion monthly users and a For You Page (#FYP) brimming with relationship trends, it’s where people turn to for advice on everything from their sexuality to launching a relationship like it is a PR campaign. Welcome to the digital age, where TikTok doubles as Cupid … and sometimes, Dr Phil. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ZU2CPf1 via IFTTT

Evan Ferguson set for West Ham; Crystal Palace to loan Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell

Ireland striker to be reunited with Graham Potter Brighton see bids for Sunderland’s Watson rebuffed West Ham have agreed to sign Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton until the end of the season. The striker is set to undergo a medical before moving to the London Stadium for a reunion with Graham Potter, who gave the 20-year-old his professional debut. Ferguson played for Potter at Brighton and will provide a boost to the new West Ham manager’s attacking options, while also having the opportunity to play regularly. West Ham have been in the market for a new forward after losing Michail Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug to injury. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zbd74pA via IFTTT

Heather Knight set to consider future as England captain after Ashes thrashing

Skipper says poor results have taken their toll in Australia England coach Jon Lewis: ‘I haven’t finished the job’ Heather Knight says she will need to make “an emotional decision” about her future as captain in the next few weeks after England suffered a 16-0 Ashes whitewash – the worst result of her nine-year tenure. The England and Wales Cricket Board have already confirmed they will be conducting a post-series review, that is certain to involve a discussion with Knight about her role as Australia completed their series domination with victory by an innings and 122 runs in the day-night Test. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/WAe6f7c via IFTTT

Spurs close on Danso while Dortmund eye loan for Chelsea’s Chukwuemeka

Lens defender Danso was reportedly wanted by Wolves Midfielder Chukwuemeka is out of Maresca’s plans Tottenham are set to win the race to sign Lens centre-back Kevin Danso. The 26-year-old has attracted plenty of interest in the January transfer window and was reportedly close to joining Wolves. However, with defender Radu Dragusin the latest Tottenham player to suffer an injury, it is understood the north London club have moved quickly to recruit Danso in a deal set to be worth €25m (£20.9m). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/lR0fVWr via IFTTT
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