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Showing posts from April, 2026

EU foreign ministers reject proposal to suspend association agreement with Israel

A part suspension was tabled by Ireland, Spain and Slovenia but did not receive enough backing from other member states The EU remains split on imposing sanctions on Israel, despite some member states criticising the country over the plight of Gaza and violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, said proposals for a part suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement remained on the table but required states to shift their positions to come into force. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bl3SIRh

Singer D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old girl found in car

Musician has been charged after the dismembered and decomposing body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in abandoned Tesla The singer D4vd has been charged with the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez , the teenage girl whose dismembered and decomposed body was found in the artist’s apparently abandoned Tesla in September. The Los Angeles county district attorney’s office said the 21-year-old, whose legal name is David Burke, was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Rivas Hernandez, who was reported missing by her family in 2024, when she was 13. Authorities say she was 14 when she died. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/aH9hWY3

Republican senator criticizes Trump’s ‘holy war’ with Pope Leo

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, a long supporter of Trump, says president’s feud with the pope is a ‘distraction’ A Republican lawmaker has condemned what he refers to as Donald Trump’s “holy war” against Pope Leo XIV. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, a long supporter of Trump and the ultraconservative Maga movement, condemned the president’s attacks on the pope during a Fox News interview on Saturday . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/KTEgyPZ

Arteta’s desire for complete control may derail Arsenal’s wobbling title drive | Jonathan Wilson

Now Guardiola has granted his players freedom to improvise, it’s the Gunners’ manager who is the stickler for blueprint over instinct At half-time in the Carabao Cup final , Arsenal’s hopes of a quadruple remained strong. They were unbeaten in 14, 11 of them won. They were drawing 0-0 against Manchester City and it wasn’t unreasonable to think that if the second half carried on as the first half had, they would eventually find a winner – quite possibly from a corner. They had drawn a Championship side in the sixth round of the FA Cup and a Portuguese side in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They held a nine-point lead in the Premier League. This was shaping up to be the greatest season in Arsenal’s history. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/hZfc3yB

Rachel Reeves to raise windfall tax on low-carbon electricity generators

Chancellor aims to curb rising household bills as she consults on reforms to weaken link between gas and electricity prices Rachel Reeves is poised to raise the government’s windfall tax on low-carbon electricity generators to help limit UK household energy bills, the Guardian understands. The chancellor is ready to hike the levy introduced in 2022 to target the excess profits made by the owners of older renewable energy and nuclear plants as electricity market prices soared after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/7gIZmiU

‘I’ve got no plans to move’: Cole Palmer on being happy at Chelsea and his World Cup ambitions

The Blues’ star talks candidly about treatment-room frustrations, transfer talk and how he’s learned to love living down south There are two sides to Cole Palmer. There is the shy character who can fool you into thinking he has nothing much to say for himself. On the other hand there’s the artist with the ball at his feet. The player with the “Ice Cold” celebration copied by kids in playgrounds everywhere. The improviser who makes the price of a ticket worthwhile. “I know what you’re saying,” Palmer replies as, on a sunny afternoon at Chelsea’s training ground, we talk about the contrast between his shy conversational style and his ability to make an impact on people when he steps on the pitch. “I don’t really say too much in general but when I’m on a pitch I try to. I feel like it’s two different personalities. Off the pitch it’s quiet. I find it hard to speak to new people. But when I’m on the pitch I feel it just comes freely.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift....

Newly unsealed records reveal Amazon’s price-fixing tactics, California attorney general claims

Exclusive: A trove of previously redacted documents was filed as part of the tech giant’s anti-trust battle with the state of California. Amazon denies it engages in price-fixing Hundreds of previously redacted records reveal how Amazon has pressured independent sellers using its platform into raising their prices on the sites of competitors like Walmart and Target, so that Amazon can appear to have lower prices, California authorities allege. The global conglomerate became concerned even if a competitor was selling an item for as little as a penny less, according to one segment of the newly unredacted evidence. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/nvtJe4g

Suspect accused of planting pipe bombs on eve of January 6 faces new charges

Brian Cole Jr, accused of planting the devices near the RNC and DNC buildings in DC, faces two more felony counts The individual accused of placing pipe bombs near the headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic national committees on the night before the January 6 Capitol attack is now facing two more felony counts, as detailed in a newly released indictment on Wednesday. Brian Cole Jr, 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia , had previously been arrested in December and charged with transporting and positioning two improvised explosive devices outside the DNC and RNC buildings. The updated indictment introduces charges of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and carrying out an act of terrorism while armed. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/v4AoajJ

Florida surgeon indicted after removing liver instead of spleen

Grand jury brings manslaughter charge over fatal 2024 operation as patient dies on table A surgeon in Florida has been indicted for manslaughter after he wrongly removed a patient’s liver instead of his spleen during an August 2024 procedure. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, was indicted by a grand jury in Tallahassee on Monday after prosecutors said he botched the surgery of 70-year-old William Bryan, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/SW1gJ6I

Brazil’s former spy chief who fled country arrested by ICE agents in US

Alexandre Ramagem fled country after he was sentenced to 16 years for his role in plotting military coup in Brazil When Brazil ’s former president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for an attempted coup, six other members of his cabinet were also found guilty and all began serving their sentences – except for one. Days before the verdict, Alexandre Ramagem, Bolsonaro’s former spy chief, fled by car to Guyana and boarded a flight to the United States, where he has remained ever since. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Snsl2F3

‘Sunderland made us suffer’: De Zerbi desperate to boost Spurs’ confidence

1-0 defeat at Sunderland leaves Tottenham in bottom three ‘Win a game, everything will be different,’ De Zerbi says Roberto De Zerbi diagnosed a lack of confidence as the root cause of Tottenham’s ills after his first match as manager ended in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland . The result leaves Spurs in the relegation zone, two points adrift of 17th with six games remaining. “We didn’t deserve to lose,” said De Zerbi after a match decided by Nordi Mukiele’s deflected second-half winner. “We played a good game, but maybe not good enough to win. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/i2anQkj

Richard Tice’s firm alleged to have broken law by failing to pay tax

Report says company did not pay tens of thousands in tax on dividends given to Reform UK deputy leader and trust Richard Tice’s company has been accused of breaking the law by allegedly failing to pay tens of thousands of pounds in tax on dividends that were paid to him and his offshore trust. Reform UK’s multimillionaire deputy leader is alleged to have received at least £91,000 in excess payments as a result, the Sunday Times reported . Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates – whose analysis was cited by the newspaper – said that further analysis suggested that the total in tax that should have been paid by Tice’s company was about £120,000. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/73ywYCK

Real talk: Chelsea punished Enzo Fernández for exposing project’s fatal flaw | Jonathan Wilson

Manchester City can brush off Rodri’s comments but Chelsea’s existential angst helps explain suspension of midfielder Enzo Fernández and Rodri would quite like to move to Madrid; many people would. They both said as much in the international break, those special parts of the season when players join up with their national teams and give interviews while apparently unaware that media are global these days: a whisper on Luzo TV can soon become a hurricane in London. But Rodri will line up for Manchester City at Chelsea on Sunday, while Fernández will not, suspended by the club for “crossing a line”. It’s worth, perhaps, looking at exactly what was said. Fernández expressed disappointment at Enzo Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day. “It … hurt a lot,” he told Luzo, “because we had a lot of identity, he gave us order, but it’s the way that football is, sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. But we always had a clear identity when it came to training, playing and obviously his depar...

European football: Bayern break Bundesliga goals record and close on title

Goretzka hits leaders’ 102nd goal in 5-0 win at St Pauli Ferran Torres double helps Barcelona beat Espanyol 4-1 Bayern Munich crushed hosts St. Pauli 5-0 in the Bundesliga to set an all-time season scoring record while also extending their lead at the top to 12 points with five games left to play. The Bavarians, who host Real Madrid next week in their Champions League quarter-final second leg after their 2-1 win in Spain, are within touching distance of the league title on 76 points, with second-placed Borussia Dortmund stuck on 64 after their 1-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/K425jRJ

Man arrested after four die trying to cross Channel in small boat

Two men and two women were swept away by currents while attempting to board dinghy off French coast A man has been arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four people died in a small boat Channel crossing on Thursday. The man, described by prosecutors as a 27-year-old Sudanese national, was arrested by National Crime Agency investigators on Friday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/cj8qDtM

Traffic stop leads California law enforcement to two homicide victims

Authorities arrest driver and passenger of car after finding large amounts blood and unresponsive man in rear seat Northern California law enforcement officals pulled over the driver of a Chevrolet Suburban on Easter Sunday morning for a suspected registration violation, and came upon a grisly scene that ultimately led them to two homicide victims. The California highway patrol said in a statement that two people, the person driving the vehicle and a passenger, had been arrested in connection with the killings. The passenger attempted to flee when officers stopped the SUV in Clearlake, about 100 miles north-east of San Francisco, but was quickly detained, according to CHP. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/BUbw4sx

I've tested nearly every Sonos product – here's the good and bad about its portable speakers

They’re pricier than the competition, but have key features: the music doesn’t skitter when you step out of Bluetooth range and they can handle water and dust How do Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 compare against hearing aids? I put them to the test Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things Over the past eight years, I’ve reviewed dozens of portable speakers from every top brand. And I can confidently say that Sonos makes three of the best portable speakers of them all. There’s Sonos Play, the brand’s newest portable and the Goldilocks of its lineup in size, sound and features. The Roam 2, a Toblerone-shaped speaker that’s small enough to go anywhere . And the Move 2, a powerhouse that doesn’t sacrifice bass performance. The little one: Sonos Roam 2 Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/NvSEAzg

Cream sherry: a forgotten taste that’s worth rediscovering

The image of cream sherry is that of your gran’s favourite tipple, a drink from a bygone era. Is it time for a makeover? By the time I knew her, my granny was in her whisky and water era, but my dad clearly remembers a bottle of Harveys Bristol Cream in the drinks cupboard, ready to pour for friends after church in the 1970s . This is the enduring image of cream sherry, one that it has struggled to shake off. While other sherries – bone-dry fino and manzanilla (made by ageing palomino grapes under a yeast layer called flor ), oxidative amontillado or oloroso, and sweet, single varietals such as pedro ximénez (PX) – have acquired new cachet among younger drinkers, not least because they’re relatively affordable, cream is the emblematic Little English tipple of a bygone time. Britain was sherry’s biggest export market for several centuries – the word is said to hark back to importers’ inability to pronounce the J in Jerez, where this large, colourful family of fortified wines originat...

Where to start with: Muriel Spark

From an extraordinary debut inspired by a real-life breakdown to a creepy masterpiece, here’s a guide to the Scottish novelist’s works Next week marks 20 years since the death of the Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist Muriel Spark. She was best known for her 22 novels – uncanny, astute and witty – beginning with her 1957 debut The Comforters. Here, James Bailey, the author of a new biography, Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark, guides us through her oeuvre. *** Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fEeSPb7

Unai Emery warns Aston Villa to respect Bologna before Europa League battle

Italian side defeated Roma in Europa League last 16 Emery has won competition four times as a manager Unai Emery has warned his Aston Villa side to respect Bologna, and the Europa League itself, if they are to continue their progress in the competition with victory over their Italian opponents. Describing the Serie A side as “a winner team”, Emery said Villa could not be considered favourites for this quarter-final as he sought to ensure his players’ heads are in the game following the extended international break that means Villa haven’t played a competitive match since 22 March. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sYlK7Rn

The US stepped back from the precipice in Iran. But what happens next? | Rajan Menon

The chasm between the two sides remains vast. A mega-deal remains the only path to averting a return to full-scale war Donald Trump styles himself as a peerless tough guy who never backs down. But he doesn’t always make good on his threats. Consider his demand that Denmark hand over Greenland, or his threats to hike tariffs on trade partners. He has even found ways to extend his deadlines for Tehran to reopen the strait of Hormuz, claiming, without evidence, that Iran was “ begging ” for a deal. On Monday, Trump outdid himself. He gave Tehran until Tuesday at 8pm ET to reopen the strait – or “a whole civilization will die tonight”. The president’s public threat to commit genocide sent shockwaves through the United States. Some Democratic leaders concluded that “Trump has lost his mind”. More than 70 Democratic members of Congress called for his removal from office. Some politicians and media personalities sympathetic to Maga did the same or roundly rebuked him. Some commentators r...

Democrats outraged at Trump’s Iran post: ‘A threat to commit a war crime’

President threatens in Truth Social post to annihilate Iran if government ignores deadline to reopen strait of Hormuz US politics live – latest updates Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Donald Trump on Tuesday morning threatened to completely annihilate the entirety of Iranian civilization should their government ignore his 8pm ET deadline to reopen the strait of Hormuz. The president’s own words, posted publicly and tied to a specific deadline and set of demands, provide unusually direct evidence of intent to violate international law, and were being met with shock and dismay by Democrats. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0uS51FW

‘Use that fuel’: Mikel Arteta and David Raya urge Arsenal to feed off cup losses

Team will not panic in wake of City and Southampton defeats Raya set to return in goal for Tuesday’s first leg at Sporting Mikel Arteta has insisted that Arsenal will not panic after losing successive games for the first time this season but admitted that they must rediscover their identity to get their campaign back on track. The Premier League leaders face Sporting in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon on Tuesday after seeing their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple crumble with defeats by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and the Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup . Bukayo Saka and Jurriën Timber have been ruled out as they continue to struggle with injuries, although there was better news for Arteta with Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard all expected to feature against the Portuguese champions. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/JAh7aIs

Cars make way for bikes as Sydney commuters saddle up to circumvent ‘crazy’ fuel costs

The shock of the oil crisis is playing out on Australian streets, where bike shop sales are up and cycle lanes are busier Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Before the 1970s global oil crisis, city planners in Copenhagen were considering removing bike lanes. Bicycles were considered outdated now car was king, and just 10% of locals were cycling regularly. But as economic shock waves reverberated around the world, Denmark, which almost entirely relied on imported oil, took a dramatic U-turn, with citizens staging mass protests in the middle of highways demanding better cycling infrastructure. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/yPZLcop

Leeds fans will take over London for FA Cup semi-final, Daniel Farke promises

Club in FA Cup last four after shootout win at West Ham ‘I feel humble. You can see how much it means to them’ Daniel Farke promised that Leeds fans will take over London after their side secured an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea thanks to a breathless win against West Ham on penalties . Leeds appeared to be cruising to an easy victory at the London ­Stadium, only for West Ham to force extra time by fighting back from 2-0 down with stoppage-time goals from Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/FGaVDwH

Brighton stun Arsenal in Women’s FA Cup shock; Liverpool also through to last four

Brighton two wins away from first major trophy Liverpool edge out Charlton in extra time Arsenal made a surprise exit at the quarter-final stage of the Women’s FA Cup for the second successive season as Brighton stunned the record 14-time cup winners at Borehamwood. Liverpool managed to avoid it becoming a day of shocks as they struck late in extra time to eventually find a way past a stubborn Charlton Athletic side, but they was no such joy for Arsenal, who paid the price for a performance that was well below their best. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/tEjf9N5

Arteta’s ChatGPT Guardiola-ism is down but history beckons for Gunners

The quadruple dream may be dead but Arsenal are now just four games from achieving an unprecedented nonruple And then there were two. As the clock ticked down at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday night even the stray yellow balloons on the pitch had begun to take on a weirdly mocking quality. The balloons were almost too much, like metaphors-for-hire in an arthouse film, popping up in shot every time Arsenal tried to transform another spell of mechanical pressure into creative, incisive football. Your dreams? Your dreams are just air inside a polymer shell. Your dreams are a squeaky veneer. Even when you try to take agency over your dreams, or at least stamp on them before a set piece, they will scoot away and bobble about annoyingly near the corner flag. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/D4HCI9U

I accidentally emailed a stranger 10 years ago. He has been invited to family celebrations ever since | Emma Wilkins

The delight of ‘meeting’ a person from a different country and time zone is one of the wonders of the internet. Perhaps one day we will host a party in his honour One of the many people my husband’s clan and I invite to family celebrations isn’t related to us by blood or marriage. He isn’t dating one of us, he hasn’t met any of us, and none of us – were he to attend – would know his face. But from time to time he gets an invite to a birthday of someone he has never met and is asked to bring a plate. He has never come, but he always responds with excitement and warmth. He’s not technically “one of us”, but he shares a surname with some of us and over years earned himself the ultimate sign of group acceptance: a nickname. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/IeOh3JN

Hospital visit fuels speculation about Samuel Alito’s future on supreme court

Veteran justice, 76, was treated for dehydration in March; a retirement would give Trump new chance to shape court US supreme court justice Samuel Alito was reportedly taken to a hospital after becoming sick at a Federalist Society dinner in Philadelphia in March, further fueling speculation that Donald Trump could have more chances to shape the land’s highest court through new appointments. A CNN report said Alito was checked by medical staff and given fluids due to dehydration. He later returned to his home in Virginia that same night with his security detail. In the weeks since, Alito has resumed his duties, including participating in oral arguments. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0jB6DzJ

‘Luckily, I wasn’t decapitated’: 17 comedians’ stories from 40 years of Melbourne international comedy festival

Wil Anderson, Lano and Woodley, Aaron Chen, Urzila Carlson and more share memories from 40 years at MICF, including fires, camels and weddings First MICF: 1988 Lano and Woodley in Space is on 4-5 April and 11 April Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Ebyg4ls

Children as young as 12 buying and selling knives and weapons via the internet

Government must ‘come down very hard’ on online trade in knives and weapons, says policing and crime minister Sarah Jones Children are setting up online businesses selling knives in the same way they trade clothes, the policing and crime minister has said. Sarah Jones heard how children as young as 12 were buying and selling the weapons on the internet and social media, at the opening of the new National Knife Crime Centre in Bloomsbury, central London, on Thursday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/mWpXC9b

Turning a new leaf: these Victorian-inspired 'flirtation cards' are flipping the script on dating apps

Unlucky in love? Maybe ditch the apps. This new twist on Victorian-era ‘flirtation cards’ could spark your next meet-cute How do romance novelists celebrate love? Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things Tired of swiping , singles are attending flirting parties and even dating-oriented run clubs in hopes of meeting their future partner in real life. But even those lack the romanticism of a true meet-cute. The Brooklyn-based stationery brand No Particular Order is offering a more serendipitous option: its new acquaintance cards that encourage more spontaneous connections. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fvTK8YB