Mubeen Blogs

This adaptation of Mo Hayder’s novel is absolutely out there. Conspiracy! Murder! Camp comedy! It’s like two shows smashed together – and the bizarre results are addictive Well. What is it that I have just watched? It’s not rare that I ask myself this question. It’s rare that it’s not rhetorical and even rarer that I ask it, desperately casting about for answers, after watching all six episodes of a series, with mounting incredulity yet growing addiction to the wildness proliferating on my screen. The multiple convolutions of the plot keep coming right until the last minute, yet they promise to be resolved – and they deliver. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/r3nJvIc

Ukraine and allies seek to draw countries such as Brazil and India off the fence and back Kyiv’s proposals for ‘just and durable peace’ Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, is expected to attend a meeting in Saudi Arabia this weekend at which Ukraine and its allies will try to persuade countries from the global south to back Kyiv’s proposals for ending the war. According to officials involved in planning for the meeting, it is primarily aimed at drawing neutral countries such as Brazil and India off the fence in their approach to the Russian invasion. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/neSqvzs

Shopping for the best denim can be an ordeal because every brand and style fits differently. But the reward for all that time in the change room is a pair that won’t need replacing Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email The promise of denim can be its biggest drawback. In our mind’s eye the right jeans could make us girl-next-door hot like Jennifer Aniston, a Tina Turner-esque rock star, a waif-like model-off-duty, or simply as happy (read effortless) as Jane Birkin when the late actor wore them to Cannes Film Festival in 2021. But in many instances, when you try to match your dream jeans to reality, you end up trying pair after pair, suffering through bunching fabric and pulling in the wrong places before you find a pair that fits like Tina’s do – if you find them at all. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/GEaU8Ry

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Overlapping concepts of LTNs and ‘modal filtering’ – a staple of postwar planning – creates challenge in how to categorise schemes While the concept of the low-traffic neighbourhood, or LTN, first entered the UK political mainstream during the Covid pandemic, the basic concept – filtering streets for different types of traffic – is older. Much, much older, in fact. Some ancient Roman cities, including Pompeii, used stone posts set in the road to stop carriages reaching the central plaza, while allowing unimpeded access for pedestrians and less cumbersome forms of transport. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/eINrPLU

Visit to Aberdeenshire intended as chance for PM to criticise opposition with reports he could announce 100 new drilling licences Rishi Sunak is to make a visit to north-east Scotland focused on North Sea energy that is intended to draw a dividing line between the government and Labour’s plan to ban new oil and gas projects. While No 10 said in advance only that the prime minister would use the trip to Aberdeenshire to commit to policies connected to energy security and net zero, he is expected to announce funding for a planned carbon capture scheme in the region. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ptskGOM

Nick Timothy chosen as Tory candidate in West Suffolk constituency set to be vacated by former health secretary A man seen as one of the key architects of Theresa May’s disastrous 2017 election campaign has been selected by the Conservative party to fight Matt Hancock’s seat at the next general election. Nick Timothy abruptly resigned from his post as May’s chief of staff when MPs put pressure on her to get rid of him, shortly after the party lost its majority in the 2017 vote and had to turn to the DUP to form a government. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7UfvxcR

Ukrainian president makes veiled reference to this week’s attacks in nightly video address Three drones have been shot down over Moscow, Russia’s defence ministry said, as Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that the war was coming to Russia. The attacks, which Ukraine did not directly acknowledge in keeping with its security policy, reflected a pattern of more frequent and deeper cross-border strikes Kyiv has launched since starting a counteroffensive against Russian forces in June. The most dramatic strike was in May on the Kremlin itself . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3aEHNmG

At least seven injured after violence between Fatah and Islamists in Ain al-Hilweh camp At least six people have been killed after fighting broke out in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp near the southern port city of Sidon, Palestinian officials said on Sunday. UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, put the death toll at six, and Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said two children were among seven people wounded at the Ain al-Hilweh camp. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rSTDnsj

England’s success or failure on day five at the Oval serves as a referendum on the wider story of the Ashes summer There was once a dream that was Bazball. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish. And one way or another, it was always coming down to this. By the time play was abandoned in the afternoon mulch, with Australia on 135-0 in their fourth‑innings chase, the sense of creeping jeopardy could hardly have been greater. Roll on Monday, final staging point in this five‑Test ride. One day left to save the English Ashes summer; and to save a few other things too. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/h1NUjd3

Sharks have preyed on humans – and vice versa – for millennia. Can we rebalance our relationship with the last of the great living predators before it’s too late? The most haunting of our imagined monsters remain hidden as they stalk us, striking when we least suspect it, while we are relaxing, or at play. The now-extinct megalodon roams the ocean unseen and unseeable, except in our imaginations. And it often surfaces in our consciousness when we are at rest or play by the seaside. The reason that the great shark holds such a chilling grip on us must be sought in the very long history of the interaction of sharks with people. Is there anything more spine-chilling than the thought of being eaten alive? There is a contentious theory that our species went through an aquatic phase during its evolution, according to which the long periods our ancestors spent in the sea foraging for marine life account for our hairlessness, our thick layer of subcutaneous fat, and our abilities to swim and

Faye Carruthers is joined by Sophie Downey , Moyo Abiona and Tim Stillman to discuss the latest matches On today’s pod: the highly anticipated showdown between France and Brazil certainly lived up to the hype, with a late Wendie Renard header kickstarting the tournament for Les Bleues. That result means Group F is wide open after Jamaica beat Panama 1-0, thanks to a 56th minute goal from Allyson Swaby. The Reggae Girlz’ first Women’s World Cup win means that a draw against Brazil in their final group game will send them through. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/c2aTWf8

While much has changed since New Zealand won the Women’s Asian Cup in 1975, their triumph remains largely unrecognised Isobel Kennedy can still remember arriving home in Auckland, New Zealand in 1975. She and her teammates had just won the first Women’s Asian Cup, and they were on top of the world. Back home, they remained anonymous. Some family and friends welcomed them in their return from the tournament in Hong Kong, but there were no reporters, no cameras, no jubilant fans. There was no indication anyone was aware that New Zealand had won the first four international matches they ever played, to prevail as the inaugural women’s champions of a new continental competition. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zniC3uP

Lyon forward not fit for crucial Group A game with Philippines Hege Riise brushes off speculation over rift with Hansen Ada Hegerberg will not play in Norway’s must-win Women’s World Cup Group A game against the Philippines after failing to recover from a groin injury in time, her coach, Hege Riise, said on Saturday. The striker withdrew with a groin injury before kick-off in Norway’s goalless draw with Switzerland , which followed a shock 1-0 defeat to New Zealand in the tournament opener. “She is not ready for this game, it came too early after her injury,” Riise said. “She is preparing for the next game. The medical team has worked to see if it would be possible [for her to play]. It became clear that it is not. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/tskFZxq

37-year-old will end career after the fifth Ashes Test ‘Tomorrow or Monday will be my last game of cricket’ England’s Stuart Broad has announced his retirement from professional cricket. The 37-year-old will end his career after this summer’s Ashes series. Broad has taken 602 wickets in 167 Tests, making him the second most successful paceman in Test history behind teammate James Anderson. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/LXhQ0rI

20-year-old agrees five-year deal with United Fee believed to be £64m plus £8m in add-ons Manchester United have agreed an initial £64m deal with Atalanta for Rasmus Højlund, with the club going against its previous stance that it would pay no more than £60m for the forward. The total price with add-ons will be £72m and the Denmark international will sign a contract for five years with the option of a further year. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sbk4t9y

Secluded Baduy Dalam shuns money, technology and formal education and now wants to protect the morals of its younger generation from the web Four hours’ drive from the hustle and bustle of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, lies the secluded community of Baduy Dalam, where the trapping of modern life are shunned. The Baduy Dalam people reject money, technology and formal education, and limits tourists – banning any visitors from documenting their life. Now the tribe wants to go one step further, by cutting off the internet. Officials in Indonesia are considering a request from the group for an internet blackout, after they cited concerns over negative impacts on tribe members. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/IdS0Xog

High-profile minister’s resignation prompts questions about toll of working in parliament and how to talk about mental health struggles It was an abrupt end to the political career of a rising star: Kiri Allan – New Zealand’s justice minister and tipped by many to one day lead the country – first quit as a minister then said she would not seek re-election, after she was charged with careless driving following a car crash and amid weeks of news reports about her mental health. Her sudden departure has prompted questions in New Zealand about the toll of working at parliament on politicians’ wellbeing. It also provoked fraught and uncertain debate about how to discuss the mental health struggles of public figures – particularly those of a senior cabinet minister, three months before a national election. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ydhD1jT

Aircraft is believed to have been involved in exercises between Australian and US military Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast A military helicopter has reportedly crashed into the ocean off Hamilton Island. It is believed the aircraft may have been involved in exercises between the Australian and US military when it crashed at about 11pm with four people on board. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/yPuwXxO

European space agency brought down defunct Aeolus weather monitoring craft in unprecedented manoeuvre A British-built weather monitoring spacecraft has been deliberately guided into the Atlantic Ocean, the first time a defunct satellite has been manoeuvred to perform an assisted crash on Earth. Aeolus, a satellite that has provided data to weather centres across Europe since 2018, was successfully helped to its final resting place by mission controllers at the European Space Agency (Esa). Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/oVOFHmz

Olha Kharlan gets ‘unique exception’ in Olympic qualifying procedures after she refused to shake Russian opponent’s hand The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued a special invitation to a Ukrainian fencer to take part in the Paris Olympics next year, after she was disqualified from a tournament for refusing to shake hands with her defeated Russian opponent. The IOC president, Thomas Bach, a former Olympic champion fencer himself, wrote in person to Olha Kharlan to make a “unique exception” to Olympic qualifying procedures, in an unusually emotional letter. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/TEQSZ7C

Moscow also accuses Kyiv of terror attack in southern Russia after shooting down missile Russian forces have struck the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro while Moscow accused Kyiv of firing two missiles at southern Russia. The Russian defence ministry said it shot down a Ukrainian missile in the city of Taganrog, about 40 km (about 24 miles) east of the border with Ukraine, and local officials reported 20 people were injured, identifying the centre as an art museum. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bj0CnE2

She read James Joyce. She wrote about predatory men. She questioned pay disparity. Jessica Chastain narrates an all-female documentary about Monroe’s overlooked intellect From the much-imitated Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend routine and the white dress billowing over a subway grate, to entertaining the US troops in Korea and JFK’s Happy Birthday, there are few people who could claim to be unaware of Marilyn Monroe’s legacy. But Reframed: Marilyn Monroe suggests that, actually, you might not know cinema’s greatest icon quite as well as you think. If you look closer, examine all the details and hold them up to a different light, these fragments might just tell another story. That’s the premise of this thoughtful and analytical four-part documentary, which first appeared in the US last year, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Monroe’s death at 36. It puts forward alternative versions and interpretations of what we think we know about her life and career. Was she the blond bombs

This series about a philandering electrical store owner is set in the 90s, and is full of lines that channel the Dinnerladies creator’s material. It’s a pale, if decent enough, imitation The Power of Parker is a new comedy drama, set over a few days in 1990, about the implosion of businessman Martin Parker’s carefully built, nicely managed and altogether very pleasant life. He (played by Conleth Hill) is a respected member of the community who runs his late father’s successful electrical superstore. He has been married to Diane (Rosie Cavaliero) for 25 years, has a son and a daughter who are no trouble and they all live in a large, immaculate new-build with a pillared porch in a nayce part of town. The only downside – apart from his decidedly un nayce father-in-law Dougie (George Costigan on fine, if unhygienic, form) – is that the business was more successful when his father was running it and Martin is in hock to local villains, the Slater brothers, for an amount that keeps getti

A new push for the counteroffensive; business brisk at surrogacy clinics in Ukraine See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Every week we wrap up the must-reads from our coverage of the war in Ukraine , from news and features to analysis, visual guides and opinion. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ASyrVGE

Two decades after cheating on him, Carrie Bradshaw has reconnected with her dashingly handsome ex. But will And Just Like That fans be pleased to see him again? This article contains spoilers. Do not read on unless you have watched season two, episode seven of And Just Like That. Of all Carrie Bradshaw’s great loves in HBO’s Sex and the City, Aidan Shaw was a fan favourite. Played with masculine rusticity by John Corbett, his sturdy furniture and sturdier forearms charmed viewers – and Carrie – into thinking he might even oust Mr Big from his lascivious limo. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/k8dyV3x

Spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre says no possibility of Joe Biden pardoning son, who pleaded not guilty to tax charges Wednesday Joe Biden will not pardon his son Hunter on tax- and gun-related charges, the White House said on Thursday. At a briefing, the press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, was asked: “From a presidential perspective, is there any possibility that the president would end up pardoning his son?” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vG4u0y9

Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/BgbZCn6

Two sisters and a son set off for remote area in Colorado last summer, seeking to escape civilization, women’s stepsister says A Colorado family whose partially mummified remains were discovered at a remote campsite were trying to live off the grid and escape civilization, family said. Authorities have identified the bodies as those of sisters Christine Vance, 41, and Rebecca Vance, 42, as well as Rebecca’s 14-year-old son. The remains were recovered in and around a tent near a campsite in the Gunnison National Forest about 9 miles (14.5km) from Ohio City, Colorado, Michael Barnes, the Gunnison county coroner, said Tuesday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/x6rXOYK

Quiet decision ends dispute within Biden administration over ICC cooperation after Pentagon had been accused of obstruction The Biden administration has said it has begun sharing evidence with the international criminal court (ICC) in The Hague on war crimes committed in Ukraine. The announcement ends a months-long dispute within the administration over the issue, in which the national security council (NSC) and the state department backed cooperation with the ICC, with the Pentagon resisting on the grounds it would imply endorsement of an international court that could one day seek to prosecute US soldiers. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/hrj1SmW

State officials, vets and volunteers endured an emotionally draining day to rescue the beached pod to no avail Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast It wasn’t easy for the two officers grasping pink ribbons to wade between the 1,000kg pilot whales and the dozens of volunteers. Their job was to identify the distressed animals in the pod, those who rolled instead of bobbing ready to swim. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/68SOtDy

Can the Earth be saved? Can there be peace between Skrulls and humans? It doesn’t matter – not even a super showdown can save such a limp series This is a recap of Secret Invasion on Disney+. Do not read ahead unless you have seen episodes one to six … We picked up in the aftermath of Priscilla (Charlyane Woodard) and G’iah’s (Emilia Clarke) bloodbath. As Scilla inspected dead bodies, her phone rang and it was Fury (Samuel L Jackson). Presumably sensing that he was heading to Russia to meet his death, he wanted to call his (estranged?) wife one last time – the old romantic – still sweet on his wife despite the fact she revealed that their entire marriage had been an undercover Skrull op. The next we saw of him, he was rolling an empty car at the gates of New Skrullos and killing a couple of goons. Fury by name, ice-cold killer by nature. Roll weird AI credits. The DNA contained in the Harvest that we saw on the computer monitor were: Ghost, Captain America, Corvus Glaive, Thanos,

Nearly 20 years on from conviction for rape, 57-year-old says he will go travelling – to ‘anywhere that’s not the UK’ It was a moment for which he had waited nearly 20 years, but when Andrew Malkinson’s exoneration finally came on Wednesday his first thought was a very prosaic one: at last he could go on holiday. “The judge said: ‘You can walk away a free man,’ and that’s when I started shaking,” he said in an interview with the Guardian after a hearing that overturned his conviction for the rape of a woman in Greater Manchester in 2003. “My eyes welled up but I wasn’t ready to start crying. One of the first things I thought was: this means I can go away on holiday.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/UHc7yZK

Touching a tortoise’s shell is like touching someone’s hand through glass or putting your fingertip on a static electricity ball It is important to remember that the tortoise does not live inside a shell, it is a shell: tortoises walk like they do because the sockets of their hip and shoulder bones are inside their shells, right at the top. They move like we would if we were cars with arms and legs: slowly, and not like cars at all. Their shells are part of them in another way, too: they have nerve endings, which is why tortoises enjoy being cleaned with toothbrushes or showers: Helen Sullivan is a Guardian journalist. Her first book, a memoir called Freak of Nature, will be published in 2024 Have an animal, insect or other subject you feel is worthy of appearing in this very serious column? Email helen.sullivan@theguardian.com Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Cs7MiRm

BB-12 had made a habit of crossing highways to visit the wealthy beach enclave, but last Thursday he was struck on the 101 A young black bear that was recently spotted strolling on Malibu beaches died after he was hit by a car on the freeway, the US National Park Service (NPS) announced . The bear, known as BB-12, had successfully crossed southern California highways five times before he was fatally struck on the 101 freeway on 20 July. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/J8S5pP3

Five years on, mystery still surrounds the way Gaia Pope died. This devastating three-part documentary finds extraordinary footage related to the case Mostly blond, all beautiful, the family of Gaia Pope look like a host of broken angels. It has been five years since their 19-year-old daughter/sister/cousin’s body was found huddled in undergrowth on a Dorset clifftop two miles from home after 11 days missing – and the grief and anger still pours out of them. The cause of death was determined by the coroner to be hypothermia. The three-part documentary Gaia: A Death on Dancing Ledge (the name refers to the clifftop where she was found) takes a broader, deeper, and perhaps more humane and meaningful view than a coroner’s job allows. It unpacks all that might have led to that lonely death so close to home. The documentary opens with Kim, Gaia’s mother, first contacting the police, followed by more calls asking for further help, reminding them that Gaia had epilepsy but no medication wi

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This hilarious, inventive sitcom about a Black film-maker struggling to make it feels totally new. No wonder it’s full of cameos from comedy legends Television can have a tendency towards being formulaic, and in some respects, that is part of its appeal. You sit down on a Sunday night to a big BBC period drama and know, roughly, the notes that it is going to hit. But occasionally a show like Dreaming Whilst Black comes along and quietly rips up the formula, finding a new path that feels fresh, exciting and very much its own. The series, co-created by and starring Adjani Salmon , emerges from the foundations of first a web series and then a Bafta-winning pilot. Salmon is Kwabena, an aspiring film-maker from a Jamaican family who is working in recruitment while dreaming of one day making it as a writer and director. Over six episodes, he navigates his way through various opportunities, funding schemes and mentoring programmes, while also trying to earn a living and pay rent. Continue

From a Tesla range misspelling ‘sexy’ to naming his own child after an airplane, branding just might not be his strong suit On Sunday, in a series of posts that surely won’t be called tweets for much longer, Elon Musk reasoned that his company’s new logo, a badly rendered letter X, embodies “the imperfections in us all that make us unique”. What does he mean by that? He, of course, has no idea. This is a man with a terrible, terrible history for naming things. At Tesla, Musk would insist on a model lineup that spelled out the word “sexy”, even after there was no chance of Ford relinquishing their copyright on the Model E (so he ended up with Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y). At SpaceX, an uninventive moniker in itself, he named his rockets like an improv audience member shouting out random words to inspire a comedy scene: Grasshopper! Merlin! Starship! Musk’s failure of a tunneling concern, the Boring Company, shows he also flair for lame puns that don’t quite land. Continue rea

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PM vows to avoid ‘concreting over the countryside’ as Michael Gove prepares to set out housing initiative Inner-city areas will be the focus of new housebuilding projects, Rishi Sunak has announced, in a move designed to signal sympathy with those struggling to get on the property ladder but avoid a backlash from Tory MPs. The prime minister promised not to “concrete over the countryside”, before a speech by the housing secretary, Michael Gove, who will set out changes on Monday to help homeowners extend their properties and streamline the planning process. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/y2QchEC

The 18th arrondissement so beloved of tourists has been transformed by indie record labels and musicians Quentin Lepoutre takes a seat outside at seafood brasserie La Mascotte. As the moustachioed producer, otherwise known as Myd, looks up, he notices he isn’t dining alone. On his right is triple-platinum selling French singer-songwriter Renaud – and on his left is Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of electronic music duo Daft Punk , eating oysters. “On this terrace there are maybe four tables, and there were three generations of musicians,” Myd laughs. “Classic 18th life.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/u8sxQmw

(Warner) Dua Lipa and Charli XCX bring high camp to this Mark Ronson-produced movie mixtape that climaxes with the sugary filth of Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s Barbie World Pop’s perpetual Peter Pan Mark Ronson has assembled this glitzy doll’s house of pop royalty to soundtrack this summer’s biggest movie blockbuster, co-writing five tracks himself and producing a handful more. Viewed simply as an ensemble mixtape, it shines like a kaleidoscope in 20 shades of coral. But the accompanying film feels as though it’s straining to live its truth as a fully fledged musical, and as a result a few of the soundtrack’s starry contributors – Sam Smith, Tame Impala, Haim – can’t seem to decide whether they’re serving the gods of pop or narrative. Still, Ronson touches glory with the 11 o’clock number I’m Just Ken , launching Ryan Gosling’s pitch-corrected himbo into full masculine meltdown. For all the Midas touch he exhibits on Dua Lipa’s Dance the Night , Ronson the songwriter lacks a requisi

He may not capture the imagination of spectators but the new Open champion deserved his first win for six years Brian Harman is the champion golfer of the year. But who exactly is pleased for him? Certainly not the soaked crowd at Royal Liverpool on Sunday, who booed Harman on the first tee and didn’t give the American his dues until his even wetter walk down the 18th fairway. Probably not the American television broadcasters, NBC, who set up a “Waggle Counter” to poke fun at the number of Harman’s practice swings, of which there were often a dozen or more. A sort of unofficial shot clock – a device more familiar in the NBA at the free-throw line – goading Harman to be quicker, more exciting and dynamic before an ad break. But no, the 36-year-old took his time, as is his right, and continued to stripe it down the middle. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nL6VFPS

The rush into AI has given the flagging technology industry a share price lift, but some investors still remain cautious US tech companies started the year in the doldrums , beset by a cost overhang from excessively zealous pandemic hiring sprees and fears about the impact of rising interest rates. Things were looking grim – then along came artificial intelligence (AI). Tech stocks and the blue-chip S&P 500 index have since been buoyed by breakthroughs in generative AI – led by the ChatGPT chatbot – and the promise of a new era of growth for the sector. The S&P 500 is up 18.6% so far in 2023 while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite is up 35.7%. Six months is a long time in a fast-moving industry. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3ZjrnxF

Despite his chemistry with Alison, Paul Callaghan was reluctant to turn their friendship into something more – but a winter morning commute changed his mind. I am a love tragic. Have been since I was a teenager, when I would fall in love with any female that came close to talking to me at high school. The problem was no one was that interested in me. It wasn’t sex that I was after. I just wanted someone to like me. But on the morning of the 24 December 1986, my life changed forever. I had no idea it was coming. I went to work looking forward to the highlight of the year, the Christmas Eve party. It began before lunch and transitioned to a bar at the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney. It was early afternoon and spirits were high. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zefLMT1

The artist NeSpoon creates lace-patterned murals on the side of buildings across Italy, France, Spain and beyond, inspired by local traditions. ‘Lace patterns can be found everywhere around us – in the calyxes of flowers, in the skeletons of sea creatures, in snowflakes,’ she says. As a child, in the 1980s, NeSpoon lived in West Berlin when the wall was still standing, and its graffiti was one of the inspirations for her to start painting walls herself. Each design is unique, inspired by the people she meets and the tales she hears. ‘Wherever I am, I meet and interview members of the local lace guild, and scour museums and historical sources for inspiration,’ she says. ‘I often ask people who live nearby if they have any lace at home. I always find something interesting.’ Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/xwzesNa

Fossil fuel-producing members dispute goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030 The G20 bloc of wealthy economies meeting in India failed to reach a consensus on phasing down fossil fuels on Saturday after objections by some producer nations. Scientists and campaigners are exasperated by international bodies’ foot-dragging on action to curb global heating even as extreme weather across the northern hemisphere underlined the climate crisis facing the world. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/xcyE6AK

In his fifth World Cup as national team chef, Vini Capovilla needs lots of tricks up his sleeve to nourish a Matildas side hungry for success Being the national team chef at a World Cup is about much more than food. Brazilian Vini Capovilla, head chef for the Matildas, leads a team that prepares multiple meals a day for 50-plus players, coaches and staff. In his fifth World Cup for an Australian national team (Capovilla has cooked for both the Socceroos and the Matildas since 2014), the culinary guru says he brings a holistic perspective to the role. “When I joined, I thought it was all about performance, the maximum nutrition to accomplish performance,” says Capovilla. “After a few competitions, I learned that there’s much more to the role. Of course nutrition is key, but the wellbeing of players (and) the wellness that a meal can bring, is key.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/DFiXOsg

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzy Wrack , Ceylon Andi Hickman , Claire Rafferty , and Jeff Kassouf to discuss England and USA’s opening games of the Women’s World Cup Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts , Soundcloud , Audioboom , Mixcloud , Acast and Stitcher , and join the conversation on Facebook , Twitter and email . On the podcast today: England open their account with a cagey win over World Cup novices Haiti , thanks to a retaken penalty from Georgia Stanway. The panel discusses what England can learn from this opening game and what changes to the line-up they would make going forward. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QXY791n

American recovers from poor start to maintain five-shot lead Spaniard races up leaderboard with 63 but McIlroy well back Jon rampaged. It looked as if this could be Jason’s day. By the end of it, Brian Harman stood firm and proud atop the Open Championship leaderboard. The hunter from Georgia, not content with slaying Royal Liverpool Golf Club, wants to take out some of the biggest names in this sport. With the Hoylake venue rendered defenceless by weather conditions, star attractions arrived to swing at the surprise leader. Harman, after a brief wobble, regained his composure. The Open is his to lose, from a position of five shots clear. At the final hole of round three, he offered momentary hope to others by sitting wide of the green in three. Harman duly chipped and putted for a par five. Rounds of 67, 65 and 69 equal 12 under par. He is yet to miss a putt from inside 10ft. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/rd9LNEb

Should you avoid fish on a Monday? Do the staff keep the service charge? And are places with long menus always terrible? Chefs and restaurateurs separate fact from fiction The customer is always right TRUE Fred Sirieix , former restaurant general manager turned reality TV star and author of Wine Uncorked , insists that this goes without saying: “ Of course the customer is always right!” he says, adding a dismissive “Pffft” by way of Gallic emphasis. “Customers pay for all our livelihoods, so restaurants should bend over backwards to give them what they want … or at least give the impression that they’re doing so.” After all, the aim is to make them feel so welcome that they come back: “You know you’ve done your job well when a guest books a return visit as they’re heading out of the door.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5B0R2Zc

Russia and Ukraine issue tit-for-tat warnings after Moscow pulls out of Black Sea grain deal; the sole remaining resident of one Ukrainian village who curses Putin every morning Every week we wrap up the must-reads from our coverage of the war in Ukraine , from news and features to analysis, visual guides and opinion. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/guvzn6b

Growing interest in native fungi as enthusiasts across New Zealand hunt for the unusual specimens, from gilled oyster mushrooms to fleshy ‘brains’ Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email One day the forest floor may be filled with leaf litter, soft decomposing logs and tiny tree saplings – the next, the logs flush with gilled oyster mushrooms, rivers of brightly coloured waxgills run along the ground, or puffballs – white orbs, as big as footballs, that suddenly appear in the undergrowth. Such is the curious world of New Zealand’s fungi, which like the nation’s flora and fauna, have evolved in isolation into more than 20,000 unusual and endemic species. Most fungi are too small to be visible, and of those that you can see, most aren’t mushrooms – they’re lichen, moulds, mildews, rusts and smuts. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/O47LCTJ

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Consultants say they are taking action because below-inflation pay rises are damaging retention Outside Manchester Royal Infirmary, dozens of consultants had joined the picket line, taking part in a 96-hour strike organised after the health secretary refused an improvement on the 6% pay rise offered to NHS staff. Dr Indy Kapila, an intensive care consultant at Manchester University NHS foundation trust and chair of the BMA regional consultant committee, said strike action was necessary due to the wage stagnation consultants have faced over the past decade and the “suboptimal” pay awards the government has offered since. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/M8AOPl1

Moscow criticised as concern grows about impact of climbing agricultural commodity prices on poorer countries Wheat prices have been climbing on global markets, just days after Russia pulled out of an agreement that guaranteed safe passage for ships carrying cereals through the Black Sea, reigniting fears of the impact on poorer, grain-importing countries, as well as on western nations dealing with stubbornly high inflation. Russia has carried out heavy air strikes on Ukraine’s grain stores , as well as port infrastructure in the coastal city of Odesa after the Kremlin’s decision to terminate the UN-brokered Black Sea grain initiative between Russia and Ukraine. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/b3e1zkP

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Port bears brunt of missile and drone onslaught, with grain and oil terminal, market and storage said to have been hit Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updates Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa has endured a second “hellish night” of attacks, with loud explosions audible throughout the city in the early hours of Wednesday and at least one missile landing within the city limits, as Russia targeted grain facilities and port infrastructure. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 63 missiles and drones at various targets across the country, of which 37 had been shot down, suggesting that more of Russia’s missiles got through air defences than has been the case in recent weeks. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/doKmY01

We found out about Gravik’s grand plan, watched Olivia Colman’s character shoot someone – and yet something was missing. This show desperately needs a thrilling finale This article contains spoilers for Secret Invasion on Disney+. Do not read unless you have seen episodes one to five … Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zWXSf9r

Former Ukip leader says he has a copy of a Coutts committee report showing decision was not based on his finances Nigel Farage has claimed to have obtained documents showing a prestigious private bank closed his account because his views “do not align with our values”, rather than due to not meeting a financial threshold . The former leader of the UK Independence party said he got hold of a report from Coutts’s reputational risk committee used to justify the closure via a subject access request. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/8a4lOxk

Florida governor and presidential hopeful tells CNN he hopes his rival is not charged after Trump says he is target of DoJ inquiry Ron DeSantis said charges against Donald Trump over his election subversion, culminating in the deadly January 6 attack on Congress, would not be good for the country. “I hope he doesn’t get charged,” the Florida governor told CNN in a much-trailed interview on Tuesday. “I don’t think it’ll be good for the country.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/auXSG4d

BBC investigation uncovers claims of intimidation, bullying and racist slurs in some outlets McDonald’s has apologised after more than 100 current and recent UK restaurant staff alleged sexual harassment was rife at some outlets and said they regularly faced mistreatment. The publication of a BBC investigation on Tuesday caused a storm in Westminster. The chair of the business and trade committee, Darren Jones, said the claims were “some of the most appalling” he had heard, while a spokesperson for the prime minister said the allegations were “deeply concerning”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/g3FJLim

Nevada police say warrant was executed in Henderson, Nevada, 26 years after rapper was fatally shot in 1996 aged 25 Authorities in Nevada confirmed on Tuesday that they served a search warrant this week in connection with the long-unsolved killing of the rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur was fatally shot in September 1996 in a drive-by shooting one block from the Las Vegas Strip. He was 25. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sGIzoD1

Celac president declares first summit of its kind in eight years a success despite late wrangling EU leaders have failed to persuade all of their Latin America and Caribbean counterparts to strongly condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, despite watering down a joint statement closing a two-day summit in Brussels. Ralph Gonsalves, the president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), brushed off a row after Nicaragua failed to agree to the sole paragraph on the war in the final 41-paragraph communique. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1yAEpDO

Current Labour leader and former Labour PM find validation in onstage love-in How things change. You wouldn’t have caught Ed Miliband or Jeremy Corbyn having a love-in with Tony Blair at his thinktank’s annual Future of Britain conference. Then again, I doubt they would have got an invite. It would have been a bit like chucking a slab of kryptonite into the mix. No one would have got out alive. Keir Starmer is a different breed of Labour leader. A man with an eye on the Downing Street prize. A pragmatist who will do whatever it takes to win an election. Someone who will happily pivot from being a paid up member of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet to dumping his former boss like a stone. Who recognises politics is a grubby game – one where allegiances can be short-lived – and all that matters is winning. There’s nothing to be gained by being on the right side of the argument if you’re left twiddling your thumbs on the opposition benches. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/

This grand, wise nature epic reveals the fiery terror of prehistoric global warming – plus how Packham has evolved so much that the BBC need no longer rely on Attenborough No natural history programme can, or should, be made these days without the climate crisis as a looming subtext at the very least. Chris Packham’s confidently grand new series Earth, a guide to “five pivotal moments” in the planet’s history, might look like an exception, since its first episode is set 252 million years ago. But unfathomably distant as that is, it is painfully relevant because of what happened at the close of the Permian period: Earth grew warmer, ending life as it existed then. A volcanic eruption, a thousand times greater than any ever seen by humans, covered one percent of Earth’s only land mass, Pangea, with liquid fire and released four million cubic metres of lava, greenhouse gas and ash. Mass extinction followed: Packham, squatting nimbly by a cliff face, demonstrates it by hammering a lump o

The new set may resemble something from the Flintstones cartoon, but Rajan clearly takes this quiz gig seriously. If only he looked more comfortable in the chair It felt fitting that one of the colleges competing in the first episode of series 53 of University Challenge was Cambridge’s Trinity. Most long-running shows – Match of the Day, Woman’s Hour, Newsnight – have had multiple presenters but Amol Rajan, taking over as poser, completes a trinity spanning 61 years of University Challenge, following Bamber Gascoigne and Jeremy Paxman, who retired in May. Having reached newspaper editorships and the Today studios at precocious ages, Rajan is used to being celebrated for his youth but, of the hosting trio, he has only the second shortest age gap to undergraduates. He has four years on Paxman at his debut in 1994 but Gascoigne, remarkably, was 27 when he began the franchise in 1962. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fq9b8PH

Letter from cross-party MPs and campaigners says slow progress on legislation is a ‘moral failing’ Senior Conservative MPs have accused the government of a “moral failing” for delaying the long-promised ban on conversion practices that they say damage the lives of LGBT+ people. In a letter to Rishi Sunak, a cross-party group of politicians and campaigners criticised the slow progress in bringing forward new legislation since the pledge was made five years ago. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/K1PAFBQ

Education secretary makes largely symbolic speech about something that will probably never happen You’d have thought ministers would have wanted to celebrate the UK signing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. After all, it’s been a while since there’s been any good news and the country could do with some cheering up. All we get to hear is how Rishi Sunak isn’t meeting any of his five priorities. Surely he must be getting a bit fed up with a life of continuous failure. I mean, how often does the government get to boast about agreeing a deal that could boost GDP by as much as 0.08%? Just an accounting error away from actually costing the UK 0.08%. Imagine the excitement of joining a trading group on the other side of the world and paying for the privilege! That’s the kind of Brexit bonus we can all get behind. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/heRCXyk

Wimbledon champion has talent and trickery to join the elite but must maintain the winning mentality she has finally found There are few better places to catch a glimpse of the next tennis champions than at the Wimbledon qualifying tournament on the grounds of Roehampton’s Bank of England Sports Centre, where many begin to plot their way into the top levels of the sport. Last year, that was particularly true. A recognisable face among the crowd there was a Czech player by the name Marketa Vondrousova, but she was not in competition. After undergoing a second wrist surgery nearly two months earlier, Vondrousova was in the midst of a six-month layoff. She made her trip from the Czech Republic as a tourist while supporting her best friend and doubles partner, Miriam Kolodziejova, with her wedding imminent. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/g0lXGKD

Henry Searle was cheered all the way to victory in boys’ singles final by a 50-strong group of Midlanders in matching T-shirts A secret weapon is handy for a crunch Wimbledon match, and for the young British tennis star Henry Searle it came in the form of a joyously rowdy group of Midlanders, who lived every shot with the 17-year-old and cheered him all the way to victory in the boys’ singles final. The 50-strong “Henry Searle Barmy Army”, decked out in matching T-shirts that they got a courier to deliver to the pub they were sitting in the night before Sunday’s final, cheered every point, rose to their feet at every winner and generally behaved like this was the top game of the day, not the small matter of the men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Qw0YWpS

Spaniard defeats Novak Djokovic in almost five hours World No 1 told himself to raise his level after losing first set A beaming Carlos Alcaraz described Wimbledon as a “dream come true” after he beat Novak Djokovic in a gripping five-set final on Sunday. The 20-year-old Spaniard, who became the third-youngest man to win the title after Boris Becker and Björn Borg, said he never expected to win the title so soon in his career Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/QtJ9EqP

Latest sign that aggressive cost-cutting measures since Musk acquired Twitter are not enough to get cash flow positive Twitter’s cash flow remains negative because of a nearly 50% drop in advertising revenue and a heavy debt load, Elon Musk said on Saturday, falling short of his expectation in March that Twitter could reach cash flow positive by June. “Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else,” Musk said in a tweet replying to suggestions on recapitalization. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/GXscfYM

England midfielder on regaining her self-belief, learning at Barcelona and why she still feels like ‘just a girl from Rochdale’ Ask quietly who in the England squad is irreplaceable and the likely answer you will get is Keira Walsh. Sarina Wiegman’s defensive midfielder is the increasingly not-so-secret jewel in England’s crown. It was Walsh’s pass that elicited more oohs and aahs than Ella Toone’s sumptuous finish to open the scoring in the final of the Euros against Germany last year and Walsh’s £400,000 move to Barcelona from Manchester City broke the world record for a transfer fee. Since that move Walsh has won a treble – La Liga, the Supercopa and the Champions League – and lifted the first women’s Finalissima trophy with England. Yet four years ago she almost walked away from football, the heavy toll of the criticism she faced during the 2019 World Cup almost too much to take. Walsh had looked out of sorts in France, like the youngest of rabbits, frozen in the road, caugh

Wardrobe essentials for your summer break – and don’t forget your passport Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/yg9E725

Police say alleged offences include breach of the peace after 200 people march to plant and four climb on roof Five people have been arrested after environmental activists staged a day of resistance at the Ineos oil refinery near Falkirk. Four people climbed on to the roof of the Ineos gas power station at Grangemouth and held up a banner on Saturday afternoon. Earlier, about 200 people marched to the fence of the Ineos plant, which powers the oil refinery, from a climate camp approximately a mile away. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/JSHV3GX

Somerset (145) beat Essex (131) by 14 runs Matt Henry takes four wickets as Essex’s chase falters They have waited. Oh my, they have waited. They have suffered. Oh my, they have suffered, tears and sweat so often combining to form a losing gloop. 18 years; a trio of semi-final defeats; a quartet of agonising stumbles at the final hurdle; all now forgotten, after Tom Kohler-Cadmore clung on to dismiss Daniel Sams and give Matt Henry a fourth wicket. The maroon corner of Edgbaston roared, Lewis Gregory danced deliriously, and Somerset were champions. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Qba1tyd

When she spied a stunning stranger at a dance performance, it was love at first sight for Roslyn Orlando . Years later, that woman would reappear – and upend her life In 2018 I attended a dance performance called Sinkhole in Melbourne. In the gallery where the performance took place, there were benches along two opposite walls. I took a seat. Shortly after, the most beautiful woman I had ever seen walked into the room wearing a white shirt, red pants and brown leather sandals. The whole room seemed to stiffen, and something warm and painful happened in my heart. She sat across from me, engaged in conversation with her friend. I tried very hard not to continue staring at her throughout the performance; I don’t think she looked at me once. Lacking the nerve to approach her to say hello, I left shortly after the performance finished. Two years later, I was in a period of my life that can only be described – in retrospect – as chaos. I was working long hours in a stressful yet fulfilling

Champion on ‘crazy’ victory after her grass-court struggles Ons Jabeur reflects on pain of going ‘back to square one’ Marketa Vondrousova says she started Wimbledon this year thinking it would be the most impossible grand slam tournament to win. She has instead left it with her first major title after closing off a brilliant fortnight with victory. On Saturday, Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur, the sixth seed, 6-4, 6-4 to win her first grand slam title at Wimbledon. The Czech, ranked world No 42, is the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon in the Open era. She missed the tournament last year after wrist surgery that required a six- month layoff. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0mfvWle

With less gifted players around him, Inter’s defence-shy superstar could struggle with the physicality of MLS Inter Miami are now the fifth most-followed American sports franchise on Instagram, their numbers leaping from 900,000 to almost nine million. They are having to expand their stadium and tickets for their remaining home games this season are going for $350. All this for a team that went into the weekend bottom of the Eastern Conference. Lionel Messi has already had an enormous impact on his new club. As the MLS commissioner, Don Garber, said, Messi’s move to the United States is a “massive financial opportunity”. It’s easy to be seduced by this. It’s easy to be relieved that the greatest player of his generation will not be among those trading their integrity for a sackload of Saudi cash (although given Messi is an ambassador for Visit Saudi, that ship has perhaps already sailed). It’s easy to regard Messi as some sort of missionary, a modern-day Pelé, delivering football to

Five girls allegedly sexually exploited by Miah brothers – aged 37, 46 and 47 – between 1996 and 2010 Three brothers have gone on trial accused of grooming and sexually exploiting underage girls in Barrow-in-Furness. The Miah brothers – Joman, 37; Amran, 47; and Alman, 46 – are originally from Beeston in Leeds, where Joman and Amran are also accused of indecently assaulting two girls from the age of six and seven. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/1XaPCO5

Kyiv criticised for lack of gratefulness at Nato summit; foreign volunteers describe fighting Russian mercenaries Every week we wrap up the must-reads from our coverage of the war in Ukraine , from news and features to analysis, visual guides and opinion. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/WRM89aU

Streamer’s meme-magnet horror has spawned a Spanish edition and while it loses out from a lack of Sandra Bullock, it gains a nifty, nasty twist With the overwhelming majority of Netflix films now being tossed into the ether without even the faintest of fanfare, it’s hard to remember just what a stir the streamer’s slick survival horror Bird Box caused back in December 2018 . It was the platform’s first genuine blockbuster, racking up record views (it remains the fourth most watched film ever on Netflix) and becoming a shock pop culture phenomenon spawning countless memes and the dreaded, deranged Bird Box Challenge. Yet as loud as the chatter might have been at the time, it went quiet just as fast, talks of a sequel fading as star Sandra Bullock soon spoke of temporary retirement. A barely visible cultural imprint and a disinterested leading lady be damned with the streamer hoping that almost five years later, enough people are able to remember a universe that most critics were happy

The hiring of former PM and Treasury chief was to lend credibility to broader Beijing brand, intelligence watchdog told David Cameron’s appointment as vice chair of the £1bn China-UK investment fund and Sir Danny Alexander’s appointment as vice president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank were in part engineered by the Chinese state, parliament’s intelligence and security committee (ISC) found. Their appointment was to lend credibility to Chinese investment as well as the broader Chinese brand, according to confidential evidence given to the intelligence watchdog. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/TuArknY

Fears over food price rises if Moscow fails to meet deadline for Black Sea export agreement Russia is stonewalling in talks about the renewal of a deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea, the UK envoy to the UN has warned. Barbara Woodward accused Moscow of “cynical brinkmanship” that makes it increasingly unlikely that the deal will be renewed before Tuesday’s deadline. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3BUzc9G

Healthcare workers demonstrate outside hospitals in England, launching longest strike of its kind in NHS history ‘They threw us to the wolves during the pandemic with inadequate PPE, and now they’re leaving us out to dry during the cost of living crisis,” said Dr Robert Laurenson, a trainee GP and co-chair of the British Medical Association junior doctors’ committee. Laurenson was one of many doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers demonstrating outside St Thomas’ hospital in London on Thursday morning. It was the first of five days of industrial action by junior doctors in England, the longest strike of its kind in NHS history. Those on the picket line spoke of their disappointment with the government, as they went on strike for better pay, improved working conditions and adequate resources. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5KPnhJS

Gravik unleashes his devastating Groot-like powers – and Fury’s whole world is revealed to be a sham This article contains spoilers for Secret Invasion on Disney+ . Do not read ahead unless you have seen episodes one to four … Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Tdu3KlQ

For decades, the woman pulled from the Nation River in 1975 was a mystery – but thanks to investigative genetic genealogy, she and the suspect were finally identified For nearly five decades, little was known about the woman whose body was pulled from the Nation River, 90 miles west of Montreal, on 3 May 1975. She was white, with shoulder-length brown hair recently dyed strawberry blond and well-manicured nails. But she had no identification nor any clear identifying features. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/p6aY2wA

‘Daring’ frock is sportswear brand’s latest tennis look to cause furore and controversy Whether you think it’s “perfection” in a frock or more like a lampshade crossed with a doily, one thing about the Nike dress at Wimbledon is undeniable: it’s everywhere. The Court 1 quarter-final between the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and American Madison Keys on Wednesday featured both players sporting the same Nike dress – which combines a racerback top with a double layer, perforated skirt. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/KbFMcNi

A collection of art, featuring pieces by Picasso, Lichtenstein and Cézanne, has been kept secret for years but for select members of the public, the door is slowly being opened It was Fleet Week in New York City, and something unusual was taking place on Billionaires’ Row. At 9 West 57th Street, an elegant black sloping skyscraper towering over the Plaza hotel and the half-dozen sailors congregated outside, 20 people were ushered into a small, glass-fronted gallery on the ground floor. A ferocious crimson Basquiat greeted them, along with a monochrome Kline and a serene Henry Moore – works collected by the building’s late owner, the real estate mogul Sheldon Solow. The exhibition’s curator, Joseph Henry, silenced the excitable group. “You are the absolute first members of the public to come on a public tour,” he said, standing beneath an Alexander Calder mobile. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/U8I4mXK

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Ukraine looks likely to be offered closer integration rather than clear pre-conditions as war with Russia continues Nato members are not expected to set clear pre-conditions for Ukraine’s eventual membership to the military alliance in the face of caution from the US and Germany while the war with Russia continues. Ukraine wants clarity on when and how it can join the alliance after the war with Russia ends, believing that western military protection is the only way it can remain unthreatened by its neighbour. However, it looks instead likely to be offered closer integration with Nato and a stronger political declaration in favour of its membership in principle. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/i02lbYC

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed to set aside his veto following last-ditch talks on the eve of the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania Sweden is to be allowed to join Nato after Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, agreed to set aside his veto and recommend to his parliament that Sweden’s application go ahead. The Monday night breakthrough came in last-ditch talks on the eve of the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania . It ended nearly a year of brinkmanship by Turkey, which has insisted it will not accede to Sweden’s application to join Nato unless Stockholm did more to clamp down on exiled Kurdish activists. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/tGhJ3T0

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Captain was pacing dressing room during Headingley finale ‘We can be better,’ insists Stokes with hosts 2-1 down in Ashes Across the four days of the third Ashes Test, Ben Stokes endured physical pain and crippling pressure without taking a backwards step, but the stress of watching his side’s torturous run chase proved too much even for him. England eventually beat Australia by three wickets to keep the series alive, though their captain entirely missed seeing Chris Woakes score the winning runs while he engaged in furious stress-marching around the dressing room. “I’m not going to lie, I was a bit nervous at the end,” Stokes said. “I walked about two kilometres around the Headingley dressing room in the last half-hour. I didn’t actually watch the last 20 runs being scored. It’s completely different when you can’t do anything, you can’t influence the game any more, and you’re left watching and hoping things are going to go your way.” Continue reading... from The Guardian http

Top seed saves two match points in 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-3 win ‘I needed that win to believe in myself on this surface’ Iga Swiatek faced down a trial of physical and mental strength on Sunday night to reach her first Wimbledon quarter-final and answer some of the questions about whether she is ready to compete for the title in SW19. Holding off two match points to win in three sets over three hours, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-3, Swiatek had to wrestle not only with her own game, as she continues to adapt to playing on grass, but also an opponent in Belinda Bencic who is comfortable on the surface, has a mean backhand, and rose to the occasion on Centre Court. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5aDS9A7

Italian wins 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-2 against world No 54 Victory marked by conflicts with umpire Marijana Veljovic Around Wimbledon this past week, an unfamiliar site among the traditional strawberries and cream: giant carrots. Five of them. These are the “Carota Boys” , a troupe of travelling Italian fans in carrot costumes supporting the world No 8, Jannik Sinner. (Additional context: he once nibbled on a carrot at a change of ends, instead of the more traditional banana.) That the wiry 21-year-old, who hails from a small town on the Italy‑Austria border, has such dedicated fans makes sense. Sinner has wowed crowds with his almost supernatural all-surface sliding, manic court coverage and blockbuster matches – in particular against his Next Gen rival, Carlos Alcaraz, at both Wimbledon and the US Open last year. I’d argue he’s played the best point of the year so far . Mostly Sinner is a low-key figure calm on the court, who lets his tennis do the talking, although earlier in the to

Captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis calls squad ‘one big family’ England beat Spain 1-0 in Saturday’s final to repeat 1984 triumph The England Under-21s captain, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, has declared “it was our time” after the Young Lions’ European Championship success. Lee Carsley’s side lifted the trophy for the first time in 39 years in Georgia with victory over Spain in Saturday’s final and the Manchester City defender Harwood-Bellis hailed the squad’s collective effort. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/qJOYIFU

Sprinter records time of 10.03sec despite abysmal weather Hughes: ‘I am soaked, these conditions are the worst-ever’ The wind hurtled sideways. Thunder and lightning roared through the evening sky. Even in the back rows of this compact stadium, the biblical deluge did its utmost to drown everything in sight. And yet in the midst of this monsoon, Zharnel Hughes’s potency would simply not be washed away. One month after capturing the British record in New York , the 27-year-old powered to victory in the men’s 100m at the UK Athletics Championships. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/FLgiqSy

Observer investigation shows drug company money flows through the NHS, raising questions about conflict of interest When the NHS celebrated its 75th anniversary last week, it prompted a fresh debate about a healthcare system on the brink of collapse. Prof Philip Banfield, the chair of the council of the British Medical Association, warned the union’s annual meeting in Liverpool that every indicator in the NHS was “flashing red”. A chief executive at an acute NHS trust said they felt the health service was “ locked in a death spiral ”, with trusts struggling with staff and inadequate resources in the face of mounting pressure. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/JwWGacI

This week in artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence is either going to save humanity or finish it off, depending on who you speak to. Either way, every week there are new developments and breakthroughs. Here are some of the AI stories that have emerged in recent days. • The consumer champion Martin Lewis has urged the government to take action against AI-powered generative deepfakes after he found that scammers were using an artificially generated version of him to defraud consumers. Lewis posted a fake video on Thursday of him apparently backing an Elon Musk project, and warned that without action against similar videos lives would be ruined. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/gy6xGVl

This thriller follows four uproariously funny teenage girls on a banter-packed jaunt to Rotterdam. A drug gang chases them, a serial killer is on the loose and it all gets enjoyably terrifying Then You Run appears to be a frenetic hybrid of Luther and The Hangover, with an added sprinkle of Scandi-noir bleakness – and four teenage girls as the lead characters. It follows four friends’ misadventures (and then some) on what was supposed to be a brief holiday in Rotterdam, and the violent, unholy mess that emerges. This eight-parter is an enjoyably chaotic thriller that looks the business, and doesn’t take its foot off the pedal for a second. It begins in 2005, and, for the opening scene of each episode, it plays out like a particularly bleak mid-00s offshoot of The Killing. The deaths we witness are the work of a serial killer called The Traveller, who murders quite an astonishing amount of people, mostly in the middle of the night, in all manner of chilling scenarios: in snowbound tra