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MPs, you told us clearly that end-of-life care in the UK is broken. So now we need you to fix it | Jane Turner
Watch 29m ago

MPs, you told us clearly that end-of-life care in the UK is broken. So now we need you to fix it | Jane Turner

During the assisted dying debate, most politicians agreed on one thing – palliative care reform is urgent. Patients and those of us who care for them are waitingJane Turner is chief nurse at the palliative support charity Sue RyderThe UK government is discussing the country’s biggest challenges at the Labour party conference. But amid the speeches, announcements and headlines, it should not forget one of the clearest messages to emerge from parliament just two weeks ago – our palliative care system is not working for far too many people.Throughout the assisted dying debate, MPs who disagreed deeply on the core issue, often agreed on one thing – our palliative care system urgently needs fixing. Some spoke from personal experience where they had seen relatives forced to wait hours in pain, or those who had to go to hospital instead of staying in their own homes because the right support wasn’t available.Jane Turner is chief nurse at the palliative support charity Sue Ryder Continue reading...

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Should you lock into a fixed-rate savings account paying 5.25%?
Watch 29m ago

Should you lock into a fixed-rate savings account paying 5.25%?

Savers face a dilemma: lock down the deals now or wait, with offers tipped to ‘get even better’Returns on the top fixed-rate savings accounts are at their highest level in years and still climbing, with some now paying up to 5.25%.It leaves those with money to put away facing a choice: lock into some of the best interest rates on offer in several years or hold your nerve in the hope they get even better? Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Rice ‘polenta’ with sausage sauce and rice with pork, lemon and saffron: Pasta Grannies’ Sardinian rice recipes
Context 29m ago

Rice ‘polenta’ with sausage sauce and rice with pork, lemon and saffron: Pasta Grannies’ Sardinian rice recipes

Spoons at the ready for 83-year-old Maria’s rustic risotto with pork and saffron, and Rita’s polenta-style rice with a punchy sauceIf I were to say “Italian rice”, you might well think “risotto” and “the Po Valley”. However, these two recipes come from Sardinia, mainly because I wanted to share a few easy, not-laden-with-rules Italian rice dishes. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
‘The same struggles as 100 years ago’: exhibition highlights lives of Sami people in Sweden
Good news 1h ago

‘The same struggles as 100 years ago’: exhibition highlights lives of Sami people in Sweden

Show at Kin Museum in Kiruna marks handover of long-awaited report on abuses committed by the state against the Indigenous peopleFrom a detailed multi-perspectival drawing of reindeer to written accounts of belief systems and childbirth, Johan Turi’s work offers unparalleled insight into his life as a Sami person living in northern Sweden at the start of the 20th century.In the face of racist discrimination, land disputes and the spectre of encroaching industry, Turi wanted his 1910 book Muitalus sámiid birra (An Account of the Sami) to set the record straight about the lives of Europe’s only recognised Indigenous people. Continue reading...

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Ed Miliband to acknowledge Labour’s former stance on Palestine fell short
Watch 1h ago

Ed Miliband to acknowledge Labour’s former stance on Palestine fell short

Foreign secretary will tell party’s conference ‘we are not here to accept the status quo but to change it’Ed Miliband will tell campaigners and party members who raised the plight of Palestinians they were right that Labour’s approach had not been enough, saying he was heeding the calls of millions of people by imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements.The foreign secretary will tell the Labour party conference that the government will take more explicitly progressive foreign policy positions under Andy Burnham, and that the UK will be a leader among like-minded countries in a new age of diplomacy. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
France’s far-right National Rally surges in Senate elections
Good news 4h ago

France’s far-right National Rally surges in Senate elections

Marine Le Pen hails ‘historic victory’ as her party and allies win enough seats to form caucus just months ahead of presidential pollFrance’s far-right National Rally (RN) party and its allies have secured a record 14 seats in the rightwing-dominated Senate in elections, effectively quadrupling its number in the 348-seat chamber just months before a presidential poll.RN presidential candidate Marine Le Pen called the results an “historic victory” after they were announced on Sunday. “The results ‌have exceeded our expectations,” she said. Continue reading...

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Beau Lamarre-Condon told friend if he killed anyone he’d dump belongings in bin and take bodies to bushland, court hears
Courts & convictions 4h ago

Beau Lamarre-Condon told friend if he killed anyone he’d dump belongings in bin and take bodies to bushland, court hears

Former police officer has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in early 2024 – nine months after discussion with friend Georgia CookFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastA Sydney police officer told a friend he would hide the bodies of anyone he killed in bushland and put their belongings in a dumpster, months before allegedly murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, a court has heard.Beau Lamarre-Condon, 31, has been accused of fatally shooting the couple with a police service weapon in Baird’s Paddington home on 19 February 2024. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Trump asked Xi Jinping if China would like to buy US weapons, American ambassador says
Watch 5h ago

Trump asked Xi Jinping if China would like to buy US weapons, American ambassador says

David Perdue’s remarks come after a Taiwanese minister spoke of the ‘severe’ military threat posed by Beijing to the self-ruled islandDonald Trump offered to sell weapons to China while hosting its leader, Xi Jinping, last week, the US ambassador to China said on Sunday.David Perdue told Fox News on Sunday: “President Trump continues to say, hey, we sell arms to other people around the world. He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some at one point.” Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Protesters disperse after blocking route for loyalist march in Portadown
Courts & convictions 5h ago

Protesters disperse after blocking route for loyalist march in Portadown

Talks expected on Monday after Sinn Féin leaders join those on streets opposing decision to allow Orange Order parade for first time since 1998Hundreds of protesters spent the day blocking the route of a hugely contentious parade in Northern Ireland after a court gave late-night clearance for the Orange Order to march on a historically significant road for the first time in nearly 30 years.The loyalist Drumcree parade along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown was given the go-ahead by the Parades Commission for the first time since 1998, a decision denounced by Sinn Féin as “madness”. Continue reading...

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NFL roundup: Ravens grab last-gasp win over Cowboys in Rio; Commanders stun Seahawks
Good news 5h ago

NFL roundup: Ravens grab last-gasp win over Cowboys in Rio; Commanders stun Seahawks

Cincinnati’s unbeaten start ends in PittsburghDrake Maye’s turnover woes continue for PatsLamar Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers and alertly called a timeout with one second left, setting up Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal to cap a stunning seven-second drive that gave the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) victory over the Dallas Cowboys (1-2) in Brazil. The Ravens and Cowboys put on a entertaining show in front of a crowd of 72,792 during the NFL’s third game in Brazil and first in the city of Rio de Janeiro. For a moment, it looked as though it would be the Cowboys who would win the game in regulation. Continue reading...

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Phillies scrape into MLB playoffs after week of ‘living hell in slow motion’
Assault & sexual violence 5h ago

Phillies scrape into MLB playoffs after week of ‘living hell in slow motion’

Phillies were at risk of blowing comfortable wildcard leadVictory over Rays deprives Diamondbacks of comebackBryce Harper and Edmundo Sosa homered, and Zack Wheeler delivered like a Game 7 ace to bring the Philadelphia Phillies back from the brink of collapse and send them into the playoffs. Their 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday clinched the final National League wildcard berth.The Phillies could have clinched a playoff berth as early as Wednesday before they lost four straight games and nearly coughed up their wildcard lead to Arizona. But the Phillies win on Sunday, meant they snatched the final wildcard place in the National League. Continue reading...

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Republican senator criticizes White House for taxpayer-funded Trump ads
Good news 6h ago

Republican senator criticizes White House for taxpayer-funded Trump ads

John Kennedy pushes back against such spending as pro-Trump ‘public service announcements’ air before midtermsAs the White House expands a taxpayer-funded advertising campaign to promote Donald Trump’s political agenda before the November midterm elections, US senator John Kennedy told CBS News on Sunday “there ought to be a rule” against such spending – before tacitly admitting such spending is “probably” illegal.Kennedy, the US president’s fellow Republican, was asked by Margaret Brennan, the CBS Face the Nation host, about the White House spending to air multiple ads featuring Trump – including one that was produced for his 2024 election campaign. Continue reading...

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Mighty Sparrow, the Trinidad and Tobago singer known as the ‘calypso king of the world’, dies aged 91
Watch 6h ago

Mighty Sparrow, the Trinidad and Tobago singer known as the ‘calypso king of the world’, dies aged 91

Slinger Francisco, who performed as the Mighty Sparrow, died on Sunday surrounded by family in New YorkSlinger Francisco, known on stage as the Mighty Sparrow and dubbed the “calypso king of the world”, has died aged 91.Francisco, who got his breakthrough in calypso music with his 1956 hit song Jean and Dinah, died peacefully surrounded by his family in New York on Sunday, his family said in a statement. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Failure to protect free speech could cost Labour votes at next election, says Liberty
Context 6h ago

Failure to protect free speech could cost Labour votes at next election, says Liberty

Polling for rights group shows issue is concern for voters and many feel recent policies have had negative effect Free speech will be a big concern for voters at the next general election, with the government’s current approach on the issue perceived by many to be bad for Britain, polling suggests.Three in five people said a political party’s position on free speech would affect how they voted at a general election. The human rights organisation Liberty, which commissioned the polling from More in Common, claimed the results showed that Labour’s failure to protect free speech could cost it votes. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Hurricane Nolo still threatens Hawaii as Mexico's Baja braces for major Hurricane Polo
Urgent 7h ago

Hurricane Nolo still threatens Hawaii as Mexico's Baja braces for major Hurricane Polo

Hurricane Nolo is moving away from Hawaiian islands but threat of heavy rain, flash floods and strong winds persistsHurricane Nolo was moving away from the Hawaiian islands on Sunday, but the threat of heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds persisted in areas of the island chain still recovering from previous storms.Nolo was about 365 miles (585km) south-south-west of Honolulu and moving away from the Big Island at about 12mph (19kph). But the Hawaii county civil defense agency said a high wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the island through Sunday evening as Nolo’s maximum sustained winds rose to 115mph (165kph). Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Snedeker says Trump ‘gets all the credit’ after US complete huge Presidents Cup comeback
Watch 7h ago

Snedeker says Trump ‘gets all the credit’ after US complete huge Presidents Cup comeback

Americans dominate final day singles contestsUS president gives speech before final dayThe United States made a stunning rally to capture an 11th consecutive Presidents Cup title on Sunday, completing a 17-13 victory over the Internationals with Donald Trump in attendance.Jacob Bridgeman secured the clinching point at Medinah by sinking a four-foot par putt at the 18th hole to defeat Australian Min Woo Lee 1-up. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Dog dies trying to protect northern California couple from bear attack
Urgent 7h ago

Dog dies trying to protect northern California couple from bear attack

Couple was seriously injured after attack on 19 September and are mourning the death of their French bulldog A bear attack last weekend has left a California couple seriously injured and mourning the death of their French bulldog, who tried to protect them from the animal.In the early hours of 19 September, Jeff Wilson, who lives in rural northern California, let his dog Cassie go outside, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Continue reading...

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Nations League: Greece stun Klopp’s Germany, Netherlands sink Serbia but Gakpo hurt
Good news 7h ago

Nations League: Greece stun Klopp’s Germany, Netherlands sink Serbia but Gakpo hurt

Jürgen Klopp ‘unbothered’ despite 1-0 home defeatGakpo goes off in 2-1 win, Portugal edge past NorwayGreece stunned Germany 1-0 in Augsburg to go top of their Nations League group and spoil Jürgen Klopp’s debut in the home dugout.Dimitrios Kourbelis scored the only goal in the 74th minute, earning Greece their first-ever victory in 11 matches against Germany. Ivan Jovanovic’s side now lead ⁠Group A2 with six points ⁠from two matches; Klopp’s side are third with one point from two games after a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands on Thursday. Continue reading...

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Late-night drive and a 999 call: farmer’s chance encounter that led to terrorism arrests at RAF base
Urgent 8h ago

Late-night drive and a 999 call: farmer’s chance encounter that led to terrorism arrests at RAF base

Local people say members of WhatsApp group noticed suspicious activity around vans in Whelford overnightIn the early hours of Sunday morning, a resident of the village of Whelford was driving home from a party when she saw three white vans parked on a country road. She was immediately suspicious, she said, and all the more so when she spotted a “large group of hooded and balaclavaed” men. She called 999 and police arrived on the scene 15 minutes later.The resident, who asked not to be named but reportedly is a local farmer, told the Press Association: “It would appear that by doing so I just derailed whatever they [the men] were planning. A plucky amateur shouldn’t be spotting an unusual bit of activity at 1am when the airbase is on high alert. I think it’s absolutely astonishing.” Continue reading...

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Nor’easter storm batters US east coast with heavy winds and power outages
Murder & domestic violence 8h ago

Nor’easter storm batters US east coast with heavy winds and power outages

At least one person killed and about 110,500 households still without power from North Carolina to New EnglandA strong, deadly storm known as a nor’easter battered the US’s east coast over the weekend, bringing power outages, flooding, damaging winds and hazardous ocean conditions.Trees and power lines were knocked down across the region, at least one person was killed and hundreds of thousands were left without electricity. Continue reading...

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Blanche defends Trump’s White House media ban: ‘It is a privilege, not a right’
Context 8h ago

Blanche defends Trump’s White House media ban: ‘It is a privilege, not a right’

US attorney general argues that president was ‘sick and tired’ of inaccurate reporting by CNN, MS Now and PoliticoDonald Trump’s attorney general Todd Blanche argued on Sunday that the administration was permitted to ban three news outlets from the White House because “it is a privilege and not a right to be there”.Appearing on the ABC News program This Week during the second week of the White House’s dispute over press credentialing and access, Blanche also said that the administration took the decision to ban CNN, MS Now and Politico beginning on 19 September because the president was “sick and tired” of what he considered to be those media outlets’ inaccurate reporting. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
McTominay’s role a poser for Pocognoli as Scotland offer positives in Slovenia
Urgent 8h ago

McTominay’s role a poser for Pocognoli as Scotland offer positives in Slovenia

New coach still learning about his squad as they prepare to face Switzerland with the Napoli midfielder expected to return in NovemberAn elongated international window does not prevent Sébastien Pocognoli from glancing towards the next one. Scott McTominay’s absence from Scotland’s opening set of Nations League games is understandable as the Napoli midfielder recovers from a heart procedure.The scoreless draw in Slovenia on Saturday raised the question of where McTominay will fit in when he returns. “He can play in many positions,” Pocognoli said. “He is a top player so he can read the game. We will see.” Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Republic of Ireland put controversy aside to earn impressive win over Israel
Urgent 8h ago

Republic of Ireland put controversy aside to earn impressive win over Israel

Football and politics are inseparable in the modern world, no matter how many people wish they were not. But whether the beautiful game can ease the ills of our age is another matter. After a week in which the issue of Irish support for the people of Gaza had turned this fixture into a battle of conscience, the outcome of this underwhelming match ultimately felt inconsequential.In the end the result was indeed a walkover, just not because of a boycott. On Saturday night the question had been whether Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side would take to the field in Hungary at all. If they did, would their heads be in the game? It turned out that a week of internal angst had been enough to produce collective resolve among the Irish squad, or at least those selected to play. Strong and assertive from the off, their forwards each scored in the first half to settle the contest, with plenty of symbolic action to assure those back home of their feelings. Continue reading...

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Denmark dominate Wales in Nations League to leave Bellamy ‘really hurting’
Urgent 8h ago

Denmark dominate Wales in Nations League to leave Bellamy ‘really hurting’

Wales wilted in Copenhagen as a 2-0 defeat to Denmark left them bottom of their Nations League group with no points or goals from their first two games.After a first half in which Wales were very much second-best and fortunate to reach the break level, Denmark’s domination was rewarded by a Ben Davies own goal and a Gustav Isaksen strike in the second period. Continue reading...

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USA’s McNulty transcends chaos of Montreal road race to claim ‘miracle’ world title
Good news 9h ago

USA’s McNulty transcends chaos of Montreal road race to claim ‘miracle’ world title

Arizona rider first US champion since Lance ArmstrongPre-race favourite Evenpoel fails to add second goldBrandon McNulty, a UAE Emirates teammate of Tadej Pogacar, succeeded the Slovene as world champion with an unexpected solo win in the men’s UCI road race in Montreal.In the biggest triumph of his career, the 28-year-old American took his country’s first win in the UCI’s blue riband event since Lance Armstrong’s lone victory in Oslo in 1993. Continue reading...

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Liberty win Game 1 to put top-seeded Lynx on brink of WNBA playoff exit
Urgent 9h ago

Liberty win Game 1 to put top-seeded Lynx on brink of WNBA playoff exit

Breanna Stewart scored 34 points with 12 reboundsLynx face must-win Game 2 in New York on TuesdayBreanna Stewart produced yet another clutch performance in the WNBA playoffs with 34 points and 12 rebounds for the New York Liberty in a 91-75 victory over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx to open their best-of-three first-round series on Sunday.Stewart, the two-time league MVP, added six assists, two steals and two blocks. She shot 11 for 18 from the floor with her friend and former college teammate Napheesa Collier, the 2024 WNBA defensive player of the year, guarding her most of the afternoon. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Chelsea turn up heat on Arsenal as Alyssa Thompson strike settles WSL derby
Context 9h ago

Chelsea turn up heat on Arsenal as Alyssa Thompson strike settles WSL derby

Arsenal’s title chances were dealt a significant blow after a narrow defeat at the hands of Chelsea. Alyssa Thompson’s first-half finish was the difference on a competitive afternoon at Stamford Bridge but one that ultimately left Renée Slegers with more questions than answers about how to save their season.“Worried? No,” Slegers said. “Confidence is something that fluctuates. They know who they are and they know what they can bring. What’s important is that there’s always phases in the season and there’s different things you need to work on or focus on. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Shannon felt a ‘sense of doom’ as she sought justice for sexual assault. A new NSW program hopes to alleviate that
Courts & convictions 9h ago

Shannon felt a ‘sense of doom’ as she sought justice for sexual assault. A new NSW program hopes to alleviate that

Exclusive: Dedicated service to support sexual assault victim-survivors as they navigate legal system to open in NSWFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt took Shannon Stokes two years and 11 days to successfully prosecute her former boyfriend for sexual assault and domestic violence offences. The lengthy trial left her feeling as though “there wasn’t going to be an end in sight”.Prosecutors secured convictions on nine of the 11 charges, and he was later sentenced to five years in prison. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
NFL today: How to watch Rams v Broncos, TV channels & live stream
Context 9h ago

NFL today: How to watch Rams v Broncos, TV channels & live stream

How will the Rams and Broncos fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream optionsThe Rams may have just needed a change in continent.The preseason Super Bowl favorites briefly surrendered that status after going to Australia in Week 1 and falling flat against their NFC West rivals, the 49ers. Playing in Melbourne, the Rams lost the time of possession battle 36 minutes to 24, gained fewer than 300 yards of offense, and lost a 27-7 decision. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
USC suspend Stephens for ‘disgusting’ late hit that sent Oregon QB Dante Moore to hospital
Good news 10h ago

USC suspend Stephens for ‘disgusting’ late hit that sent Oregon QB Dante Moore to hospital

Senior diagnosed with concussion after incidentUSC describe linebacker’s play as ‘unacceptable’The USC Trojans have suspended their linebacker ⁠Desman Stephens II after what was described as a “disgusting play” that left Oregon quarterback Dante Moore in hospital.Moore was carted off the field after a late hit by Stephens in the first half of Oregon’s 41-27 win over USC on Saturday. During the play, Moore took off on a scramble. As he attempted to slide, he was hit in the head by Stephens, who was called for targeting and disqualified ‌from the game. Moore was taken to hospital, and was later diagnosed with a concussion. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Coke Plus is the fibermaxxing soda that Americans haven’t caught on to yet
Urgent 10h ago

Coke Plus is the fibermaxxing soda that Americans haven’t caught on to yet

On a recent trip to Japan, I found a fiber-forward soda that tastes like Diet Coke and keeps things movingSign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better thingsOn my recent vacation to Japan, I learned they are light-years ahead of the US in many ways – from their high-tech toilets and efficient bullet trains to … diet sodas.Amidst the chilled bottles of Coke Zero and Sugar-Free Pepsi stocked in the fridge of practically every 7-Eleven was another mysterious beverage in a bright white can – Coke Plus, which my friend heard about from the internet’s goldmine of travel videos. Continue reading...

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Serbia’s populist president Aleksandar Vučić resigns to run for prime minister
Good news 10h ago

Serbia’s populist president Aleksandar Vučić resigns to run for prime minister

Vučić not allowed to seek third presidential term and election will test his grip on rule after widespread protestsSerbia’s populist president, Aleksandar Vučić, has resigned to pursue an attempt to become prime minister in an early parliamentary election that will test his firm rule in the Balkan country after nearly two years of protests.Vučić’s second presidential term would otherwise end in May next year. He is banned by the constitution from seeking a third term and said he was resigning to lead his rightwing Serbian Progressive party (SNS) in the 25 October ballot. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Andy Burnham to fight next election with plan for NHS-style care service
Good news 11h ago

Andy Burnham to fight next election with plan for NHS-style care service

PM says he is willing to expend political capital to bring in universal service for England funded by ‘everybody’Analysis: can Labour hang on to Burnham bounce?Andy Burnham will fight the next election with a pledge to finally fix the broken social care system, acknowledging he is willing to expend political capital by asking taxpayers to cover the cost.As Labour’s party conference began in Liverpool, he pledged to “rip the plaster off” to radically transform care, setting out a vision for a universal service that would be free at the point of use for everyone in England. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Republican says Trump’s support of Ken Paxton in Texas primary was ‘colossal mistake’
Watch 11h ago

Republican says Trump’s support of Ken Paxton in Texas primary was ‘colossal mistake’

Thom Tillis says Trump’s decision to back Paxton over John Cornyn has put the Senate seat at risk for RepublicansUS senator Thom Tillis on Sunday criticized Donald Trump, his fellow Republican, for the president’s support of Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Senate Republican primary.“He made a colossal mistake,” Tillis, a frequent Trump critic from North Carolina, said during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union in reference to the president’s support of Paxton who defeated Cornyn in the May primary. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Thomas Tuchel resists ‘madness’ of calls to rest England players despite longer window
Good news 11h ago

Thomas Tuchel resists ‘madness’ of calls to rest England players despite longer window

I don’t take calls from Premier League managers, he saysEngland play Czechia in Prague on TuesdayThomas Tuchel says it would be “madness” to allow his England players or the clubs to pick and choose their matches during the elongated Nations League window as he promised to go full throttle for victory against Czechia in Prague on Tuesday.The manager did accept that Declan Rice needed to rest and could not be part of the squad in light of the Arsenal midfielder’s heavy workload across a number of seasons and well-documented fitness issues. Rice was at Wembley on Saturday to watch England lose 3-2 against Spain in their opening Nations League game. Continue reading...

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The pain of letting go of a loved one’s belongings | Letters
Good news 12h ago

The pain of letting go of a loved one’s belongings | Letters

Readers respond to Polly Hudson’s article about disposing of her late mother’s possessionsReading Polly Hudson’s account of clearing her mother’s house (My mum has died – and every decision I make about her belongings feels wrong, 20 September) made me think about my experience of doing the same. I sort of enjoyed the task, viewing it as the last thing that I could do for my mother, and seeing myself as a curator in reverse.I was determined to recycle as much as possible, feeding the good things through to charity shops and going back later to see what had and hadn’t sold. When one charity shop in the Welsh border town where my mother lived didn’t want her manual typewriter, on the grounds that nobody would have use for it, I took it to a charity shop in London, which snapped it up and put it in the window. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
UK politics live: Pat McFadden tells Labour activists they should not defend benefits system ‘status quo’ because it ‘writes off’ claimants
Good news 12h ago

UK politics live: Pat McFadden tells Labour activists they should not defend benefits system ‘status quo’ because it ‘writes off’ claimants

Work and pensions secretary says the current system is flawed because it consigns too many people to a life on benefits when they would be better off working‘I can deliver’: Burnham pledges radical change on eve of Labour conferenceKuenssberg puts it to Burnham that, according to the Health Foundation, a system offering adult social care free at the point of delivery (like healthcare delivered by the NHS) would cost £18bn.Burnham says the cost is “not that high” (ie, not as high as £18bn).Not that high.But can I directly deal with this issue of the costs?Louise Casey is still doing an official review for us, so I will set out the vision, if you like, on Tuesday [in his speech to the conference].Louise will then help us with the how. How do we make this happen? When can we make it happen? Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
UN ambassador Waltz says Iran was not negotiating ‘in good faith’ to end war
Urgent 13h ago

UN ambassador Waltz says Iran was not negotiating ‘in good faith’ to end war

Waltz says Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to end war because they ‘were asking for everything up front’The Trump administration’s ambassador to the United Nations said the US rejected Iran’s proposal to end the ongoing war there because Iranian negotiators “were asking for everything up front”.Echoing comments by Donald Trump on Saturday, the president’s UN ambassador Mike Waltz told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that Iran had asked for relief “from billions and billions of sanctions that are going into place” as part of an economic blockade on Iran. The blockade is aimed at putting pressure on Iran to stop its attacks ‌on vessels in the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Does GLP-1 use result in significant hair loss?
Courts & convictions 13h ago

Does GLP-1 use result in significant hair loss?

Experts share what you need to know about GLP-1-related hair loss as the side-effect gets more attention from researchers About 20 million people across the US, UK, and EU are taking GLP-1 receptor agonists like tirzepatide and semaglutide (Ozempic or Mounjaro are common brands) for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. As their use has surged, we’re learning more about their side-effects. One that’s been getting a lot of attention from researchers lately: hair loss.In one survey of people who take these medications, 20% of respondents experienced hair shedding, although the lack of high-quality data from a randomized, controlled trial to assess this side-effect makes it difficult to know exactly how common it is. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Liverpool sink Everton and end derby drought after Olsson and Kapocs strike
Good news 14h ago

Liverpool sink Everton and end derby drought after Olsson and Kapocs strike

At last, their wait is over. Liverpool’s players could gather in front of the Kop for a celebratory team photograph after the final whistle and rejoice in a new feeling, after beating Everton at Anfield in a Women’s Super League fixture for the first time and finally ending their long run of derby pain.After six wins from six visits to Anfield for Everton in the WSL era and even quips from their former manager Brian Sørensen in previous campaigns about making Anfield their “training pitch” during their persistent run of victories in this showpiece fixture, Beata Olsson’s early header and Cornelia Kapocs’s late finish were enough to give them a deserved 2-0 victory. Continue reading...

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Pope Leo urges healing of ‘deep wounds’ before meeting child sexual abuse survivors in France
Watch 14h ago

Pope Leo urges healing of ‘deep wounds’ before meeting child sexual abuse survivors in France

Pontiff also uses visit to Catholic shrine at Lourdes to criticise assisted dying as ‘false compassion’The pope has called on the Catholic church to heal “deep wounds” and “painful errors”, before a meeting survivors of child sexual abuse as he continues his four-day visit to France.Addressing a crowd in a large field near the Catholic shrine of Lourdes on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV called on the church to reckon with its past, without directly referencing sexual abuse scandals in France that affected at least 330,000 children over seven decades. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
With turbulence all around, Armani plays it safe and easy in Milan
Urgent 14h ago

With turbulence all around, Armani plays it safe and easy in Milan

The late designer’s niece echoes his sense of relaxation, as the house seeks to prove itself to potential buyersA year after the death of Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion house he founded in 1975 is facing increasing uncertainty about its future ownership.In his will, Armani, who ruled over the business for 50 years, instructed his heirs to sell an initial 15% stake of the company within 18 months of his death. If a private sale does not materialise, an IPO is mandated to take place. Now there are reports the group is readying itself for formal talks with the French conglomerate LVMH, the beauty giant L’Oréal and the eyewear group EssilorLuxottica – three of Armani’s preferred acquirers – over the possible sale of a minority stake. Continue reading...

The GuardianRead source
Swiss voters reject stricter neutrality rules that would have curbed Nato cooperation
Context 14h ago

Swiss voters reject stricter neutrality rules that would have curbed Nato cooperation

70% vote against tightening centuries-old neutrality, which far right said was being eroded by sanctions against RussiaSwiss voters have decisively rejected a proposal for a strict definition of neutrality that would have required Switzerland to curb cooperation with Nato and abandon sanctions against Russia.All cantons and about 70% of voters rejected the proposal for a strictly defined version of neutrality to be ⁠written into the Swiss constitution, final results from the Federal Statistical Office showed. The motion had been promoted by the far-right Swiss People’s party (SVP). Continue reading...

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Tony Pulis says he and Stoke were ‘cheated’ in 2011 FA Cup final after Manchester City verdict
Good news 14h ago

Tony Pulis says he and Stoke were ‘cheated’ in 2011 FA Cup final after Manchester City verdict

Manchester City won match 1-0 after goal by Yaya TouréClub deny wrongdoing and say ‘process is ongoing’Tony Pulis has said his Stoke City team were “cheated” out of the 2011 FA Cup after Manchester City were found guilty on virtually all counts of breaching Premier League financial rules.Pulis’s Stoke lost the 2011 Cup final 1-0 after Yaya Touré’s goal. Yet following Friday’s news that City are guilty on all but one of the more than 100 charges laid by the Premier League in February 2023, Pulis feels serious discontent. City are expected to appeal and they deny any wrongdoing. Continue reading...

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One Nation boss called David Farley an ‘asshole’ in lead-up to Farrer byelection, text messages reveal
Good news 14h ago

One Nation boss called David Farley an ‘asshole’ in lead-up to Farrer byelection, text messages reveal

Exclusive: Documents seen by Guardian Australia show that Kelvin Morton has also clashed with party HQ staff and Brisbane volunteersListen to episode 3 of The Populist podcastFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation’s general manager, Kelvin Morton – brought in by the party to improve its vetting processes – referred to David Farley as an “asshole” just days before Farley’s historic Farrer byelection win for the party in May.In a series of text messages seen by Guardian Australia, Morton responds to a news article published in the Sydney Morning Herald about infighting among senior party figures over Farley’s previously undeclared support for the Labor party.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...

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When a celebrity dies, it can feel like losing a loved one. Why do we get so invested in parasocial relationships? | Bianca Denny
Urgent 14h ago

When a celebrity dies, it can feel like losing a loved one. Why do we get so invested in parasocial relationships? | Bianca Denny

These one-sided connections with famous people are a normal part of modern life. But sometimes they can lead to emotional distressThe modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their work“It came as such a shock. I just can’t believe he’s gone.”Psychologists are accustomed to seeing bereaved individuals. But working with Jodie* presented a unique challenge – she’d never met the person she was grieving. Jodie was reeling after the recent death of a well known singer. Despite not knowing the singer personally, Jodie’s grief and loss seemed as palpable as other patients speaking about the deaths of family members or loved ones. Jodie reported that weeks after the singer’s death, she was struggling to attend work and was sleeping poorly, describing herself as consumed with thoughts of the singer. Continue reading...

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The kindness of strangers: Two helicopter pilots flew down low to wave to my three-year-old son – he was beside himself with joy
Urgent 14h ago

The kindness of strangers: Two helicopter pilots flew down low to wave to my three-year-old son – he was beside himself with joy

My son adores helicopters, so we waved as hard as possible as it flew past. Then it suddenly looped and came back aroundRead more in the kindness of strangers seriesMy sister lives in Ukraine; I live in Australia. We had gone five long years without seeing each other when we finally reunited during a trip to Los Angeles. One day we took my three-year-old son to the beach and spent the afternoon catching up.We had a lot of conversations about people and kindness that day. I told her how I had noticed a softer side to men since having a son. As a woman, you’re often wary of construction workers, for example – what might they say to me when I walk past? But now when I pass a building site with my son, the workers often let him play with their radio, or beep a tractor to make him laugh. It was very heartwarming and gave me a whole new perspective on the other sex. Continue reading...

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RBA expected to hike cash rate to 4.6%, its highest level since 2011
Watch 14h ago

RBA expected to hike cash rate to 4.6%, its highest level since 2011

Outcome of meetings of Reserve Bank on Monday and Tuesday will affect Australian mortgage rates, household budgets and house pricesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s key interest rate is expected to hit its highest level since 2011, drag down house prices and add more than $100 to typical monthly mortgage repayments.The Reserve Bank board is poised to hike the cash rate from 4.35% to 4.6% on Tuesday, which would be the fourth increase in 2026 and push typical home loan interest rates to 6.5%. Continue reading...

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Lime bike profits double as rider numbers surge in England
Good news 15h ago

Lime bike profits double as rider numbers surge in England

US-owned firm says average monthly users at UK arm surged to nearly 700,000 with sales up by a thirdLove them or hate them, Lime ebikes are an increasingly common sight on England’s roads with new figures showing annual profits more than doubling thanks to a surge in riders.Lime’s average number of monthly users jumped 31% to approaching 700,000 as it added more than 4,500 ebikes and scooters to its fleet, taking the total to almost 38,000, the company’s UK arm, Lime Technologies, said in accounts filed at Companies House. Continue reading...

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Three in four UK GPs ‘too busy to talk to their patients in depth’
Good news 15h ago

Three in four UK GPs ‘too busy to talk to their patients in depth’

Family doctors’ professional body finds the majority have no time to discuss preventative measures A friendly chat with your GP about your life, health and happiness was once a key part of the UK’s family doctor service.But most GPs no longer have time to have pastoral conversations, because they are too busy dealing with the country’s rising tide of illness, research reveals. Continue reading...

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Datacenter developers accused of skirting key US pollution rules
Urgent 15h ago

Datacenter developers accused of skirting key US pollution rules

Firms manipulating process to avoid emission controls and scrutiny of their projects, environmental groups warnDatacenter developers are manipulating the EPA’s air pollution permitting process to avoid emission controls and scrutiny of their projects, environmental advocates allege.Companies need federal permits to emit a range of pollutants. In their permit applications, some in big tech are avoiding “major” reviews by dividing their emissions sources into separate, multiple “minor” sources that require less regulatory oversight, the advocates say. Continue reading...

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Two giant pandas arrive in Atlanta from China after Xi-Trump summit
Good news 16h ago

Two giant pandas arrive in Atlanta from China after Xi-Trump summit

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang to live at Atlanta zoo in Georgia as part of loan deal between Chinese and US governmentsTwo giant pandas from China arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday morning as part of an agreement between the Chinese and American governments.While in Washington DC for a three-day summit with Donald Trump, Chinese president Xi Jinping announced that the pandas would arrive in Atlanta in the coming days. The loan of the pandas to the Atlanta zoo was one of the few concrete outcomes to come out of Xi’s state visit with the US president, which saw expressions of goodwill between the leaders, but no fixes to any of the longstanding differences between the two countries. Continue reading...

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‘I wanted to help another family’: four surrogates on how they feel about the surrogacy discourse
Good news 16h ago

‘I wanted to help another family’: four surrogates on how they feel about the surrogacy discourse

The Guardian spoke with surrogates across the US about what they think of the controversy surrounding the practiceSurrogacy has been thrust into the national spotlight in recent weeks, with both the announcement of Lena Dunham using a surrogate to start a family and the ongoing legal battle surrounding McKenna West, a gestational surrogate who fled to Texas to avoid having an abortion that was requested by the child’s biological parents.With a renewed public interest on commercial, or compensated, surrogacy, the Guardian spoke with surrogates across the US who shared their experiences and how they feel about surrogacy being part of a global, public conversation. Continue reading...

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Bad language: profane Trump brings presidential swearing out into open
Watch 17h ago

Bad language: profane Trump brings presidential swearing out into open

President has let rip with swearwords in recent months, redefining norms about acceptable language in public officeWith a lifetime of political memories stretching back to John F Kennedy’s assassination and the Black civil rights struggles of the 1960s, Cheryl Johnson had one complaint above all else about today’s politicians: the swearing.“All this cursing in politics, we never heard that before,” said Johnson, a retired social worker living in the Pittsburgh area. “Words are very powerful, and the past 45 presidents of this country, have not used such vile language. Continue reading...

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Only 3% of US sickle cell patients receive red blood cell exchange for disease, researchers find
Watch 17h ago

Only 3% of US sickle cell patients receive red blood cell exchange for disease, researchers find

Various factors block sufferers of disease from receiving treatment that is effective and has widespread availabilitySickle cell patients are missing out on an effective treatment despite widespread US hospital access to the technology, new research has found.That treatment is called a red blood cell exchange, a procedure that discards a patient’s damaged red blood cells while simultaneously mixing the patient’s remaining plasma, platelets and white blood cells with red blood cells from a donor before returning them to the body. Continue reading...

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How to make cornbread – recipe | Felicity Cloake's masterclass
Context 17h ago

How to make cornbread – recipe | Felicity Cloake's masterclass

While it’s ideal for mopping up chilli and soup, this Southern US staple can be made substantial enough for a main meal with a few simple additionsLike banana bread, a rather less ancient North American creation, cornbread isn’t a loaf in the conventional sense. Though it’s perfect for soaking up chilli, brothy bean soups and the like, it’s actually substantial enough to be the main event, rather than something you might reach for to mop the plate after it. (It’s also gluten-free, should that be a consideration.)Prep 10 minSoak 2 hr Cook 25 min Serves 6 Continue reading...

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Houses can be built on floodplains despite failing safety test, says high court
Courts & convictions 18h ago

Houses can be built on floodplains despite failing safety test, says high court

Decision to allow development of 190 new homes in north Somerset sparks campaign for change in the lawHouses can be built on floodplains even if they fail a crucial safety test, according to a high court judgment that will be of “immense interest” to developers across England and Wales.The ruling clears the way for a highly controversial development of 190 new homes on north Somerset’s floodplains, despite the site being in “flood zone 3a”, the highest level of flood risk before land is considered a functional floodplain. Continue reading...

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The ‘elixir of long life’: how the elusive Chartreuse quietly became the trendiest drink around
Context 18h ago

The ‘elixir of long life’: how the elusive Chartreuse quietly became the trendiest drink around

With its garish ‘grellow’ colour, mythological origins, secret recipe and limited supplies, the herbal liqueur made by French monks is now the coolest thing to order at the bar It’s just after 9pm in drizzly Belleville, Paris. Too late for cocktails, too early for bedtime, but up the steep hill that straddles the 19th and 20th arrondissements, digestif hour is in sight.In the past few years, more and more Parisians have been reaching for a glass of Chartreuse, an intensely green/yellow herbal liqueur with a folkloric backstory involving Carthusian monks, cholera and a recipe of omertà-like secrecy. Continue reading...

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Does avoiding misery make you happy?
Good news 18h ago

Does avoiding misery make you happy?

It might seem like self-preservation, but the results aren’t necessarily what you’d expectIn Dr Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham, the relentlessly upbeat Sam-I-Am spends the entire book badgering a grouchy, nameless narrator into tasting the eponymous dish. He cycles through one inventive but futile pitch after another – in a house, with a mouse, in a box, with a fox, on a train, in the rain – until the narrator, caving just to get some peace, tastes the dish and discovers he loves it. When my son was growing up, “Green Eggs and Ham” was my shorthand for telling him he was avoiding something he’d love if he only tried it.Of course, not every experience we fear or dread turns out to be a delicious surprise. Misery is an inescapable part of the human condition. We can’t avoid it, yet people try their hardest anyway. We cling to hope even when a situation is hopeless. We push painful thoughts out of mind rather than confront them. We struggle to control things that cannot be changed. And we go to sometimes self-destructive lengths to protect our pride from even the tiniest pinprick. These strategies may sometimes spare us pain in the moment. But while they are intended to promote (or at least preserve) our happiness, over time they have the perverse result of making us much more miserable. Continue reading...

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I spent a full hour watching Trump TV. It’s a digital pathway to hell | Dave Schilling
Watch 18h ago

I spent a full hour watching Trump TV. It’s a digital pathway to hell | Dave Schilling

The streaming channel was full of the president’s vanity and myopia. It was also deeply, deeply dullAre you currently at an airport? Strapped to a hospital bed, with various tubes protruding from your body? Maybe you’re on a treadmill or visiting an elder care facility? Chained to a radiator in the basement from the Saw movies?If you said yes to any of these questions, you might be watching cable news while reading this column. Or maybe you’re one of the hundreds of people currently watching Donald Trump’s answer to cable news, Trump TV – a YouTube streaming channel that airs nothing but White House-sanctioned content 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Dave Schilling is a Los Angeles-based writer and humorist Continue reading...

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Democracy blindsides Silicon Valley’s power players looking to transform the world with AI
Context 18h ago

Democracy blindsides Silicon Valley’s power players looking to transform the world with AI

‘The push against datacenters speaks to the frustration of people who don’t feel they are making the choices in their lives’The Stanford ethicist Rob Reich was once invited to a dinner organized by a Silicon Valley mogul to discuss what a state designed to maximize science and tech powered by commercial models might look like. The gathered technologists were drawn to the idea of building a small nation-state dedicated to the endeavor, Reich recalls in “System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot it”.When Reich asked whether this state would be a democracy, he got a cool no. “Democracy is too slow, and it holds science back,” he was told. “To optimize for science, we need a beneficent technocrat in charge.” Continue reading...

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‘Rip the plaster off’: Andy Burnham sets out vision for universal free social care
Good news 19h ago

‘Rip the plaster off’: Andy Burnham sets out vision for universal free social care

PM says he will put proposals for NHS-style service funded by everybody into Labour’s next general election manifestoAndy Burnham has said that he is going to “rip the plaster off” to fix the broken social care system, as he set out a vision for a universal service that would be free at the point of use for everybody in England.The prime minister said the new NHS-style social care service would be funded by “everybody” but did not give further details of how his radical long-term plan would be paid for. Continue reading...

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Trump allies could use midterms ‘counting window’ to disrupt results, experts warn
Urgent 19h ago

Trump allies could use midterms ‘counting window’ to disrupt results, experts warn

Fears grow that loyalists in key states could use critical period when votes are counted to amplify false claimsElection experts have warned Donald Trump’s administration could use the crucial hours and days after November’s midterm elections to disrupt the results after struggling to enforce a crackdown on voting.With less than six weeks remaining until polls close, and control of US Congress in the balance, the post-election “counting window” is seen as as a particularly vulnerable moment by former US federal government officials. Continue reading...

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Bill Gates says unchecked AI could ‘cause a billion deaths’ in call for regulation
Urgent 20h ago

Bill Gates says unchecked AI could ‘cause a billion deaths’ in call for regulation

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist speaks with NBC’s Kristen Welker in interview airing on SundayBill Gates has called on the US’s federal legislators and law enforcers to regulate the development of artificial intelligence (AI), saying in an interview airing on Sunday that the technology left unchecked could cause “a billion deaths” and “no one thinks self-regulation is enough”.“You need law enforcement and the politicians to get into the discussion about what safeguards and monitoring look like,” the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist said to Kristen Welker, the NBC Meet the Press host. “And that has to be a required thing.” Continue reading...

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In playful moments, the USMNT’s new youth movement is already paying off
Urgent 20h ago

In playful moments, the USMNT’s new youth movement is already paying off

After a crushing World Cup exit, 11 debutants and two teenage scorers are giving the program renewed verveSubscribe to our free newsletter for US soccer fansFollow Guardian Soccer on Instagram and TikTokThe fans who witnessed the United States’ 4-1 thrashing of Peru in Orlando on Saturday did not have to wait long to get their flashbulb moment. It came just four minutes into the match, only moments after 19-year-old Orlando City attacker Justin Ellis headed home the US opener.Ellis, making his first appearance for the US, sprinted toward the near corner to celebrate, then turned and faced the US supporters in the north end of Inter.co Stadium – a supporters’ section nicknamed “the wall”. Quickly, he was joined by Villarreal defender Alex Freeman, himself an Orlando City product. For a moment, the two former teammates posed arm in arm, gazing up at the home crowd. Then they embraced, laughed, and attempted to run back to the center circle. Gio Reyna, who’d assisted on the goal, shoved him back toward the fans. Continue reading...

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‘It’s problematic’: concern as weight-loss jab maker sponsors Vogue World event
Good news 20h ago

‘It’s problematic’: concern as weight-loss jab maker sponsors Vogue World event

Critics say partnership between Mounjaro maker Eli Lilly and fashion giant suggests thinness is an aspirationThe fifth iteration of Vogue World, overseen by Anna Wintour, took place in Milan on Tuesday night. Gigi Hadid and Jennifer Lopez provided theatrics on the catwalk, but it was one of the event’s backers that caused the biggest stir.Eli Lilly, an American pharmaceutical company that manufactures a wide range of medicines, including weight-loss jabs Mounjaro and the Foundayo pill, was listed in the event credits as one of its “fashion adjacent” sponsors. Continue reading...

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Camo’s back: noughties pop’s military style is on the march again
Context 21h ago

Camo’s back: noughties pop’s military style is on the march again

A look evoking memories of All Saints and Destiny’s Child has fashion editors, Brad Pitt and the high street all blending inDiscussing their style while in All Saints, Nicole and Natalie Appleton said earlier this year that some things don’t change: “Army trousers and combat trousers will always be a staple with us.”If, for a long time after All Saints’ noughties heyday, the sisters would have known this look was not the height of fashion, things have changed in 2026. Judging by those attending shows at London fashion week this month, camo is very much back. Continue reading...

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Gateshead’s fruitless trip south offers hint of Manchester City’s doomsday future
Context 22h ago

Gateshead’s fruitless trip south offers hint of Manchester City’s doomsday future

His team bottom of the National League, Lee Cattermole’s ‘bomb squad’ approach could well end with him departingAmong many doomsday scenarios facing Manchester City is plunging down the football pyramid. Would that be so bad? Instead of yawning at the prospect of yet another meeting with Real Madrid or repeated Avanti train-hampered journeys to Wembley, how about the exoticism of away travel to Wealdstone? In the National League, City’s ownership may wish to know, there are no formal financial fair play or strict salary cap regulations.Wrexham, Notts County and Chesterfield have taken advantage of such lax constraints to regenerate. For City fans, Ruislip’s buzzy high street, full of nail bars, estate agents and a couple of homely pubs, would represent a welcome world away from Milan’s Via Monte Napoleone, as would the suburbia of Grosvenor Vale, Wealdstone’s home in the middle of a housing estate, which may jog memories of late-90s visits to Macclesfield and Lincoln. Simpler, happier times, perhaps. Continue reading...

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Trump rejects Iran’s seven-day peace deal to reopen strait of Hormuz
Context 23h ago

Trump rejects Iran’s seven-day peace deal to reopen strait of Hormuz

US president is said to expect renewed strikes after the midtermsDonald Trump has said he has rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the strait of Hormuz within a week and resume nuclear talks in return for the lifting of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.“They made a proposal but I reject it,” the US president told reporters at the White House. Continue reading...

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‘Mum, where did my Robux go?’ The Roblox scam targeting children
Watch 23h ago

‘Mum, where did my Robux go?’ The Roblox scam targeting children

Criminals are trying to glean login details to harvest players’ in-game currency and personal dataYour 10-year-old son has started playing Roblox, when he realises all of his in-game currency, Robux, is gone.When you try to find out what happened, he says he was recently promised extra Robux if he followed a link on YouTube. When he signed on at the site link, he was taken to the Roblox site as usual but there was no sign of the extra currency. Continue reading...

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Eviction of 87-year-old puts Spain’s deepening housing crisis in the spotlight
Urgent 1d ago

Eviction of 87-year-old puts Spain’s deepening housing crisis in the spotlight

Images of Maricarmen Abascal being forcibly removed from her home sparked protests and a reckoning over the country’s soaring real estate marketImages of an octogenarian being evicted from the home she had lived in for seven decades on a stretcher, flanked by protesters and police officers, have sparked indignation across Spain.At the weekend, days after the first protests began, Madrid’s central Sol plaza was still full of anger at the treatment of Maricarmen Abascal. Tens of thousands of people marched through Spain’s capital on Saturday, rattling keys as they called for measures to curb rising housing costs and make evictions more difficult. Some brought tents and sleeping bags, announcing plans to set up a protest camp. Come Sunday, many were still there: their demand, a nationwide reckoning over access to housing. Continue reading...

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OpenAI halts training of latest models as reports mount of AI agents going rogue
Good news 1d ago

OpenAI halts training of latest models as reports mount of AI agents going rogue

Decision follows disclosures that OpenAI agents searching government websites had acted in unexpected waysOpenAI said it has paused training of its latest artificial intelligence models as reports of AI agents going rogue mount.The decision to halt development came just hours after the company disclosed Friday that it was reviewing several incidents from the summer in which OpenAI agents searching federal government websites acted in unexpected ways beyond what was asked of them while gathering and distributing information. Continue reading...

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Justin Verlander leaves field in tears with daughter after final start of 21-year career
Urgent 1d ago

Justin Verlander leaves field in tears with daughter after final start of 21-year career

Daughter Genevieve surprises 43-year-old on moundThree-time Cy Young winner ends 21-season careerVerlander finishes with 3,560 career strikeoutsJustin Verlander got an unexpected hook in his major league finale when his seven-year-old daughter came to the mound with Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch as he appeared in the final game of his long career.After the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Brandon Lowe hit a foul popup starting the sixth inning, Hinch walked from the dugout toward the plate and pointed toward the seats of Detroit’s Comerica Park. Genevieve Verlander, wearing a Tigers jersey with her dad’s name and number, sprinted to the mound and hugged her father, who reached down to embrace her and started shaking and sobbing. Continue reading...

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Australian backlash to datacentres is faux import from US, officials say: ‘We are not the United States’
Good news 1d ago

Australian backlash to datacentres is faux import from US, officials say: ‘We are not the United States’

Pro-datacentre officials argue scale of Australia’s buildout is smaller, more regulated and less damaging than in USAustralian politicians and business leaders are arguing that their populace’s growing resentment of AI datacentres is an inauthentic import from the United States.Like the US, Australia is seeing community resentment grow in response to a surge in the construction of massive AI datacentres. However, pro-datacentre officials and executives argue the scale of Australia’s buildout is smaller, more regulated and therefore less damaging than that in the US. They say the burgeoning negative reaction is being tainted and inflamed by a heated US debate that has arrived down under via social media feeds. Continue reading...

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‘Charming and disarming’ … how Meta’s technology-packed Muse harnesses the power of cuteness
Context 2d ago

‘Charming and disarming’ … how Meta’s technology-packed Muse harnesses the power of cuteness

The tech giant has launched a cute ‘little guy’ that can answer emails, book travel or do your weekly food shopAfter the recent backlash against Meta’s so-called “pervert” smart glasses, this week Mark Zuckerberg launched a much cuter alternative: the Muse “charm” device.With a screen that shows a cutesy little avatar, it has drawn comparisons with Tamagotchis. “We’ve packed a lot of technology into this little guy,” the Meta founder told the San Francisco audience. Continue reading...

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Dolce & Gabbana mixes it up as pressure mounts for turnaround
Context 2d ago

Dolce & Gabbana mixes it up as pressure mounts for turnaround

With Jennifer Lopez providing some star power, the Italian house’s Milan show came at a crucial time for the brandEarlier this week Jennifer Lopez walked down the Vogue World catwalk in Milan wearing a black beaded A-line bustier dress from Dolce & Gabbana. On Saturday, she sat in the front row at the Italian house’s womenswear show in a three-piece velvet suit from the same brand, her look topped off with a baker-boy cap.The reminder of Dolce & Gabbana’s inimitable celebrity connection is no coincidence. In a turbulent luxury market, the brand has found itself trying to navigate a nearly £400m debt pile. Continue reading...

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Andy Burnham announces new homes scheme for first-time buyers
Good news 2d ago

Andy Burnham announces new homes scheme for first-time buyers

Exclusive: Policy initiative for England will help more young people on to property ladder, prime minister tells GuardianA new help-to-buy scheme aimed at giving first-time buyers who cannot rely on the “bank of mum and dad” is to be introduced in a big policy announcement by Andy Burnham.The programme, called “Your first home”, is intended to help buyers in England who have a regular income but have been unable to save for a large deposit or don’t have financial support from their family. Continue reading...

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Ranulph Fiennes’ stepson appeals for funds to ‘locate and safeguard’ the explorer
Good news 2d ago

Ranulph Fiennes’ stepson appeals for funds to ‘locate and safeguard’ the explorer

Alexander Millington-Cotes is concerned for welfare of the 82-year-old, who hasn’t been seen in public for two yearsThe stepson of Sir Ranulph Fiennes has launched a crowdfunder to pay for “specialist legal advice” in an attempt to locate the explorer, who hasn’t been seen in public for more than two years.Alexander Millington-Cotes, 31, has set a target of £55,000 for the fundraiser, to enable him to instruct lawyers to “locate and safeguard” Fiennes. Continue reading...

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US strikes on Ecuadorian fishing boats raise humanitarian concerns but Trump admin not wavering
Good news 2d ago

US strikes on Ecuadorian fishing boats raise humanitarian concerns but Trump admin not wavering

Attorney says fishers ‘losing their livelihoods’, but Marco Rubio maintains US still willing to ‘blow up ships if need be’While the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, was being decorated in Quito by Ecuador’s president for “helping to promote peace in the region”, 10 Ecuadorian fishers whose boat had been blown up by US forces were adrift in the eastern Pacific.On 8 September, a day before Rubio arrived, a US patrol vessel intercepted the fishing boat Don Rufo in international waters near Ecuador. Continue reading...

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Pennsylvania measles outbreak spreads, with 55 new cases reported since Wednesday
Urgent 2d ago

Pennsylvania measles outbreak spreads, with 55 new cases reported since Wednesday

Less than 1% of infected have been vaccinated, with 173 people hospitalized and four deaths so farThe Pennsylvania department of health (DoH) announced on Friday that 55 new measles cases had been reported in the state since Wednesday, with officials continuing efforts to contain an outbreak of the disease that has spread across dozens of counties.In a news release, the DoH said that 890 measles cases had been confirmed across 39 counties in the state so far for the year. The outbreak had resulted in 173 hospitalizations in the state and four measles-associated deaths, the statement added. Continue reading...

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Kamala Harris is belatedly courting progressives. Is it too little, too late? | Arwa Mahdawi
Courts & convictions 2d ago

Kamala Harris is belatedly courting progressives. Is it too little, too late? | Arwa Mahdawi

As she mulls another presidential run, the former VP is building bridges with progressive and Arab American leadersDoes Donald Trump secretly want Republicans to get annihilated in the midterms? Because he’s certainly acting that way. He continues to brush off concerns about the cost of living, saying last week that high gas prices are a very “inexpensive price to pay” for the war on Iran.And, of course, the president seems to have no plans to end that disastrous war, apart from making vague threats about blowing the entire country up. Trust me, he keeps saying, everything will get better after the midterms. But by the looks of his dismal polling numbers, not many people are swallowing his empty promises anymore.Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

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Gen X is drinking more as younger Americans cut back on alcohol, study finds
Context 2d ago

Gen X is drinking more as younger Americans cut back on alcohol, study finds

While younger generations are drinking less, adults aged 50 to 64 are drinking more, causing a shift reshaping the US bar sceneAlcohol consumption has decreased across the United States in recent years, particularly among adults under age 40, but there is one older demographic in which more people are drinking than before the Covid-19 pandemic – and more are doing so heavily, according to a new study.For the first time since before the pandemic, the percentage of US adults who drink any alcohol decreased between 2022 and 2024, according to the report in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. People from 50 to 64, which roughly corresponds with gen X, were the only age group in which drinking continued to increase. Continue reading...

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UN adds 61 firms to settlements blacklist over alleged human rights violations against Palestinians
Watch 2d ago

UN adds 61 firms to settlements blacklist over alleged human rights violations against Palestinians

Israel ‘categorically rejects’ publication and says businesses on database have committed no wrongdoingThe UN human rights office has added 61 more companies to a blacklist of firms that it says are involved in violating Palestinian human rights through business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.The vast majority of the total 214 companies, which are based in 11 countries, are Israeli. Five of the 158 companies listed last year were removed in the latest update. Continue reading...

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Oxford lets OpenAI train its AI models on Bodleian Library
Watch 2d ago

Oxford lets OpenAI train its AI models on Bodleian Library

University staff voice concerns over reputational risk of partnering with company behind ChatGPTThe University of Oxford has allowed the company behind ChatGPT to train its AI models on historical texts from its Bodleian Library, as tech companies scour academic institutions for fresh data.The Bodleian material digitised by OpenAI has been used to “populate the OpenAI training set”, according to internal documents. Continue reading...

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‘It’s just getting worse’: anger in Maine over Trump’s trade war with close neighbor Canada
Urgent 2d ago

‘It’s just getting worse’: anger in Maine over Trump’s trade war with close neighbor Canada

President’s tariffs have hurt fishers, loggers and others in a state with deep bonds to Canada – will voters show their displeasure in the midterms?It was an ideal summer to cut trees.The weather in Maine’s Penobscot county – one of the most heavily forested counties in a state dense with trees – was warm and dry. Yet even as the county’s wood had grown to an ideal size to harvest, the machines Molly London typically uses sat idle. Continue reading...

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We followed five people in Gaza from dawn to dusk – this is what the headlines don’t tell us
Urgent 2d ago

We followed five people in Gaza from dawn to dusk – this is what the headlines don’t tell us

Behind the stories of bombings and mass deaths, the everyday challenges facing Palestinians living under siege portray a quieter tragedy we rarely hear What does it take to make a morning cup of tea in Gaza?For Alaa Hessi, in her final month of pregnancy, this small ritual begins with a calculation of gas rations. Her family gets a ration of 6kg of gas every three months – enough to heat a pot for 18 precious minutes a day. That’s needed for cooking – so for tea, a fire must be built instead. Continue reading...

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Broken promises, confiscated land: the hyperscale AI datacentre being built in a tiny Indian village
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Broken promises, confiscated land: the hyperscale AI datacentre being built in a tiny Indian village

Locals say Google’s $15bn project in Andhra Pradesh has resulted in smallholdings being taken back off them by the governmentWhen the government officials arrived in Tarluvada last year, they came with abundant promises.Google, one of the world’s richest and most powerful tech companies, would soon be bringing a “golden opportunity” to this tiny village in south India: a $15bn AI datacentre. Continue reading...

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Severely disabled young people should get fast-track access to benefits, Milburn says
Good news 2d ago

Severely disabled young people should get fast-track access to benefits, Milburn says

Alan Milburn said 16- to 24-year-olds with most complex needs should not have to keep proving they cannot workYoung people whose complex disabilities mean they have little prospect of getting a paid job should get fast-track access to disability benefits, an official review of youth employment will say.The review, by the former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn, will say 16- to 24-year-olds with the most severe lifelong needs should be guaranteed swift and unconditional benefit support rather than having to prove they cannot work. Continue reading...

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Lula bans fixed-odds sports betting a week before Brazilian elections
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Lula bans fixed-odds sports betting a week before Brazilian elections

President’s ‘hard, drastic and necessary measure’, likely to attract widespread public support, polls suggestThe Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has signed an order banning fixed-odds sports betting just over a week before the first round of the presidential election, in a move he said was designed to tackle the pervasive problem of families falling into debt.The decision ends the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of betting. Continue reading...

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In his final UN speech, Macron may have given other leaders a valuable parting gift: the guts to stand up to Trump | Steve Bloomfield
Urgent 2d ago

In his final UN speech, Macron may have given other leaders a valuable parting gift: the guts to stand up to Trump | Steve Bloomfield

The French president’s resolve seems to have rubbed off on the leaders of other ‘middle powers’On the first day of the United Nations general assembly this week, two world leaders outlined competing visions for the future. Donald Trump’s speech was disturbingly similar to those he’s given before: a litany of false boasts and odd tangents, peppered with grim military threats against a variety of nation states. Discussing his seven-month war with Iran, he mused over whether to “annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly”.In Trump’s eyes, the world is there to be ruled – and ruled only by the US, whose economy is “the envy of the world” and military is “the most powerful on Earth”.Steve Bloomfield is the former international editor of the Observer Continue reading...

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Drones could speed up getting defibrillators to people having cardiac arrests, study suggests
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Drones could speed up getting defibrillators to people having cardiac arrests, study suggests

New research suggests the technology could be used to increase out-of-hospital access to life-saving devicesDrones could help cut the time it takes to get a defibrillator to people experiencing cardiac arrests when not in hospital, researchers have suggested.In the UK alone, there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests a year where emergency medical services attempt to resuscitate the individual, according to the British Heart Foundation. However, fewer than one in 10 people survive such an event, and some who do are left with neurological problems. Continue reading...

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Vast Casino Secrets leak exposes inner workings of offshore gambling firms
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Vast Casino Secrets leak exposes inner workings of offshore gambling firms

Files could have seismic consequences for online casinos, including those accused of illegally targeting consumersThe secrets of thousands of online casinos have been laid bare in a vast leak of data that could have seismic consequences for offshore gambling firms, including some accused of illegally targeting consumers around the world.The Casino Secrets leak reveals tens of thousands of previously confidential files stored by the gambling regulator on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Continue reading...

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Tech Now
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Tech Now

Ammie Sekhon explores tech used to identify and remove counterfeit products online.

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Michigan CEO loses job after posting AI-made image of her family in ‘Lake America’ sweaters
Urgent 2d ago

Michigan CEO loses job after posting AI-made image of her family in ‘Lake America’ sweaters

Jane Smith reportedly used ChatGPT to edit photo to show name Trump ordered US agencies to use for Lake Ontario amid trade war with CanadaThe CEO of a Michigan credit union is no longer employed there, according to the organization, after she posted on social media what appeared to be an AI-generated image of her and her family wearing sweaters emblazoned with the Donald Trump-associated words “Lake America”.In the statement recently announcing that Jane Smith would no longer be its CEO, Family First Credit Union also apologized “for the concern, disappointment and pain this situation has caused”. Continue reading...

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Burnham pledges extra £210m towards regenerating boarded-up high streets
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Burnham pledges extra £210m towards regenerating boarded-up high streets

Funds to help local people turn empty shops, pubs and clubs into community hubs, shared workspaces and cafesThe UK government has pledged £210m to regenerate high streets by taking boarded-up shops, pubs and clubs and turning them into shared workspaces, cafes and community hubs.Andy Burnham said the funds would “help put power back into the hands of locals who know their area best” as part of his effort to “restore pride and bring hope back”. Continue reading...

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‘It’s luxury that wants to be seen’: aristocrats and eccentrics inspire Demna’s vision for Gucci in Milan
Context 3d ago

‘It’s luxury that wants to be seen’: aristocrats and eccentrics inspire Demna’s vision for Gucci in Milan

Collection by the designer, brought in to return the ailing fashion house to profit, is on the moneyHe’s the mononymic designer who has been charged with rescuing Gucci from plummeting sales. So where better for Demna to stage his third catwalk show than at the forefront of commerce – a purpose-built Gucci shop.During Milan fashion week on Friday, the designer transformed a convention centre into a sprawling retail space that mirrored the design for the brand’s new boutiques. Continue reading...

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The Guardian view on Trump and Xi: a show of friendship, but no real attempt to address the tensions | Editorial
Urgent 3d ago

The Guardian view on Trump and Xi: a show of friendship, but no real attempt to address the tensions | Editorial

The Chinese leader’s visit to Washington appears to have done nothing to shift the stalemate in bilateral relations Within days, two high-profile Chinese visitors will arrive in the US – envoys of friendship, as Xi Jinping described them when he met Donald Trump at the White House this week. The giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, will be hosted at Atlanta zoo. Beijing dispatched the first panda pair to the US in 1972 following President Richard Nixon’s landmark visit to China. It uses the animals to indicate satisfaction or displeasure with other nations. But it also charges heftily for their lease: reportedly, around $1m a year per pair. Americans’ views of China have warmed from a pandemic nadir, but are unlikely to be shifted much by two animals, however charming. These days they are more of a token gesture than a striking symbol.It is telling that the announcement was one of the main takeaways of Mr Xi’s visit to Washington. Expectations were low after May’s stalemate summit in Beijing, but this meeting still struggled to meet them. The US president gave Mr Xi a lavish welcome – unusually, travelling to meet the “strong, vibrant and fit” Chinese leader off the plane. He insisted that they had “never gotten along better”. Continue reading...

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White House television pool resumes after banned news outlets regain access
Courts & convictions 3d ago

White House television pool resumes after banned news outlets regain access

Trump’s media ban resulted in an effective TV blackout of coverage of the president during the UN general assemblyThe primary White House television pool has resumed filming administration events after a court ruling temporarily overturned a Trump administration ban on CNN a day earlier.In an unprecedented move, the pool – which also includes NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox News – ceased recording and transmitting White House footage on Monday, in solidarity with CNN, MS Now and Politico, which had been banned by Trump from the building over what he said was “their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS.” Continue reading...

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Pope Leo warns of AI threat to humanity at start of three-day France visit
Urgent 3d ago

Pope Leo warns of AI threat to humanity at start of three-day France visit

Pontiff says artificial intelligence must remain at service of people in first official papal visit to country in 18 yearsPope Leo has warned against losing humanity in a “paradise of machines” as he addressed global concerns over the dangers of artificial intelligence at the start of a three-day visit to France.“If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines invading and conditioning our daily lives, there is an urgent need for people to be educated in ethical discernment, capable of seeing what is morally right,” he said in a speech at the Élysée. Continue reading...

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OpenAI hack on Australian government reveals anxiety at heart of global artificial intelligence dilemma
Urgent 3d ago

OpenAI hack on Australian government reveals anxiety at heart of global artificial intelligence dilemma

As the UN warns traditional safeguards are ‘unravelling’, Donald Trump says he will encourage, not restrain, the AI raceWhen the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, sat down for an interview in the heart of Silicon Valley at the weekend he had known for two days that his was the first government known to have been attacked by a rogue AI agent.He didn’t reveal the attack then, but he sounded a warning about the march of AI: “the risk is that AI develops in a way in which humans are no longer in control of what AI is producing.” Continue reading...

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It’s going to take more than an email to a public inbox to protect Australians from potential AI doom | Tom McIlroy
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It’s going to take more than an email to a public inbox to protect Australians from potential AI doom | Tom McIlroy

OpenAI’s hack of Medicare suggests safeguarding civilisation is the task facing leaders in this extraordinary new eraGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than 130 world leaders descended on the United Nations headquarters in New York this week, joining the pageantry and speechmaking of the annual general assembly.Many of the visiting presidents and prime ministers delivered their set-piece addresses to a sparsely populated hall, but contributions from two unlikely visitors in the nearby security council chamber stood out. Continue reading...

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Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve review – brilliant aerial combat game fulfils the Top Gun fantasy
Urgent 3d ago

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve review – brilliant aerial combat game fulfils the Top Gun fantasy

PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC (version played); Bandai NamcoThe game generates blood-pumping moments as you twist, turn and weave through the skies, while your locked-on missiles speed away to obliterate an enemy planeThe core appeal of any Ace Combat game lies in the moment when the beautiful clouds part, the sunlight glints off your perfectly rendered state-of-the-art fighter jet, and guitar-shredding music kicks into overdrive as your locked-on missiles speed away to obliterate an enemy plane. All of that is 100% present in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. What’s new is the way it delivers its unexpectedly compelling story.Set in the Earth-like alternative world of Strangereal, where every country is absolutely obsessed with fighter planes and giant superweapons, Ace Combat drafts you into the role of a fake ace pilot called the Wings of Theve – a propaganda invention to raise the morale of a besieged nation, similar to real-life rumours about Ukraine’s Ghosts of Kyiv. You rapidly find yourself becoming an actual legendary pilot, soaring through the skies with your buddies and raining hell upon your oppressors as everybody cheers on the radio. Speaking of ghosts, you have one in your ear – your predecessor, whom nobody else can hear, a gravelly voice waxing lyrical about flying, war and whatever else is on his mind as you flit about. Continue reading...

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Pakistan locks down Islamabad as Imran Khan’s party vows to march on capital
Fraud & corruption 3d ago

Pakistan locks down Islamabad as Imran Khan’s party vows to march on capital

Tens of thousands of police deployed and roads barricaded as PTI party demands release of jailed former PMLeaders from Imran Khan’s party have vowed to go ahead with a nationwide demonstration in Pakistan to demand the former prime minister’s release, even as the government deployed tens of thousands of police to Islamabad, barricaded highways and issued arrest warrants to try to stop the march.The state has taken extreme measures to prevent Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party from proceeding with the march. It was announced after mounting concerns of the treatment of Khan, who has been in jail since 2023 on corruption charges. Continue reading...

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What are the Lib Dems for? They must champion localism to stay relevant in an age of single-issue politics | Simon Jenkins
Urgent 3d ago

What are the Lib Dems for? They must champion localism to stay relevant in an age of single-issue politics | Simon Jenkins

Ed Davey’s party are the obvious candidates to push for the deeper local democracy the public is crying out forSeptember is the cruellest month for political commentators because it is when something has to be said about the Liberal Democrats. They are a play without a plot, a chorus line of seemingly endless “don’t knows”. Their leader, Ed Davey, recently warned that “we’re in the fight of our lives” to defend the values of liberty and equality. Really? How can this be when Davey is becoming about as relevant as Count Binface?The Lib Dems’ central predicament has remained unchanged for a century, ever since the decline of David Lloyd George and the rise of the Labour party. There is simply no space in Britain for a centrist party when so little divides the big parties and they broadly stick to the prevailing ecomomic orthodoxy.Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

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Pomp over progress in Xi’s US summit with Trump is a win for China
Good news 3d ago

Pomp over progress in Xi’s US summit with Trump is a win for China

While US president hailed visit as ‘great’, almost nothing of substance was achieved on resolving thorny issuesKey takeaways from the Trump-Xi summit in WashingtonIf the Beijing meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in May was the “stalemate summit”, the second round of talks between the presidents of the US and China this week seemed to give up entirely on the idea of breakthroughs.Instead, it was described as a celebration of “diplotainment” rather than diplomacy, where pomp prevailed over progress and where one of the main outcomes was the news that two giant pandas would soon be sent from China to Atlanta zoo. Continue reading...

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It’s not hypothetical: the dangers of AI are already here | Granate Kim and Mohamed Hussein
Urgent 3d ago

It’s not hypothetical: the dangers of AI are already here | Granate Kim and Mohamed Hussein

Israel and the US have used AI to kill in Gaza and Iran, while law enforcement uses it in surveillance and arrests. The future is hereIn recent weeks, concerns about AI have forged unlikely alliances in the tech and policy worlds. Tech moguls such as Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Demis Hassabis joined Dario Amodei, Satya Nadella and Bill Gates in sounding the alarm about the dangers of AI and called for a slowdown of the technology’s development despite years of racing for dominance. The senator Bernie Sanders teamed up with Steve Bannon to urge Congress to regulate AI, which has become one of the very few issues to unite Americans across the political spectrum.The latest moves were sparked in part by the AI researcher Jacob Coxon’s warnings on Twitter/X that AI companies are “gambling with our lives” and believe that the technology “could kill us all by the end of the decade”. Continue reading...

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Revealed: the undisclosed safety data emerging as weedkiller maker faces Parkinson’s lawsuits in US
Good news 3d ago

Revealed: the undisclosed safety data emerging as weedkiller maker faces Parkinson’s lawsuits in US

Syngenta denies keeping relevant data from the EPA as paraquat stays in the US market despite global bansSweden started ringing the alarm bell more than 20 years ago, calling for a ban on the weedkilling chemical paraquat in 2004. One by one, dozens of other countries did the same as evidence of paraquat risks to human health mounted. Even the Chinese government, which owns the longtime paraquat maker Syngenta, halted domestic use of the pesticide a decade ago after conducting its own studies on paraquat safety and finding troubling results.In the US, two states – Vermont and California – have recently also banned paraquat, citing risks that include an association between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease shown in years of scientific research. And California regulators announced in August that paraquat makers voluntarily agreed to stop selling the chemical after the state identified health concerns in connection with its use in new research. Several federal lawmakers have pushed for a nationwide ban. Continue reading...

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The comedians turning AI anxiety into punchlines: ‘It’s so good, it’ll completely alter our grasp on reality’
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The comedians turning AI anxiety into punchlines: ‘It’s so good, it’ll completely alter our grasp on reality’

Across videos, standup and cartoons, humorists are skewering big tech’s attempt to make AI ubiquitous and inevitable“Best case scenario, we never have to do any admin again,” says an AI CEO. “Worst case, we all die.”A young man struggles to the top of a beautiful mountain, words echoing in his ears: “AI will most likely lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime, there will be great companies created.” At the top of the mountain, he triumphantly holds up a sign: “Build a datacenter here.” Continue reading...

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Playing video games with my 22-year-old son has brought me to tears | Dominik Diamond
Urgent 3d ago

Playing video games with my 22-year-old son has brought me to tears | Dominik Diamond

I’ve been holed up in an flat, affectionately dubbed the ‘brotel’, with my son for weeks – and we’ve revisited the first game we ever played togetherI have spent the last three weeks living with my 22-year-old son in a two-bedroom flat he has dubbed the ”brotel”. We cook curries and watch Lanterns. We barbecue meat and analyse Tarantino movies. We get pizza and we play video games. Boy, do we play video games!The first game I ever played in co-op with him was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in 2009, when he was five. He wasn’t the most accomplished sidekick, not so great at placing a mobile gun turret while under fire from what seems like a bazillion enemy soldiers, but we had a laugh. It started the video game bond between us before his sister introduced him to Banjo-Kazooie and Rayman, and he stopped being a preschool warmonger. Probably for the best. So how would it be tackling the same game nearly two decades later? Continue reading...

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‘Your body fights to stay cool’: workers toil in record heat as federal rule frozen
Urgent 3d ago

‘Your body fights to stay cool’: workers toil in record heat as federal rule frozen

Trump officials and Republicans are rolling back protections against heat-related illnesses and deathsWhen it’s 90F on a hot summer day, Esther Minton wears a long-sleeved shirt to work.“Working outside, you don’t have cover. There’s nowhere for you to really go if you’re on a roof or if you’re on the side of a building,” said Minton, a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 28 in New York City. “Having the sun beaming on your skin all day long, you’ll never make it through, so what you wear makes a difference.” Continue reading...

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Trump picked a fight with the media... and lost | Politics Weekly America
Context 3d ago

Trump picked a fight with the media... and lost | Politics Weekly America

The US press corps stood up to Donald Trump this week after he banned three organisations he doesn’t like from the White House. But when it came to the leader of one of the US’s oldest adversaries – China – well, Trump literally rolled out a very long red carpet. Jonathan Freedland speaks to the Guardian’s Shrai Popat about why Trump seems weaker these days, but why it could be dangerous to underestimate him Continue reading...

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Israel and the US have battered the international legal order. The impunity must stop | Varsha Gandikota
Courts & convictions 3d ago

Israel and the US have battered the international legal order. The impunity must stop | Varsha Gandikota

A group of nations will gather on Friday to address the crisis. The only response to unilateral bullying is collective actionThe international legal order is in shambles. But from the ruins of impunity and lawbreaking, a group of nations is working to enforce accountability.On Monday, the UN general assembly’s high-level meetings opened to news that Washington had drawn up sanctions against the international criminal court, targeting its bank accounts, software, insurers and staff. Continue reading...

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From bling and birds to ‘really fancy armour’ – the best dressed characters of the Bayeux tapestry
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From bling and birds to ‘really fancy armour’ – the best dressed characters of the Bayeux tapestry

Medieval experts talk us through the fashion of the near-1,000-year-old embroidered work, and what it says about the people wearing itDon’t get Fashion Statement delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereBlood, booze, arrows and boats; these are what you might typically imagine when you think of the Bayeux tapestry, which has become one of the hottest historical tickets since it went on display at the British Museum in London this month. But what about the hair?“The Anglo-Saxons all have these little moustaches, which are brilliant. And then the Normans have these funny haircuts with the back of their heads shaved,” says Prof Laura Cleaver, an expert in medieval manuscripts at the Institute of English Studies. Continue reading...

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Berlin’s new political star is offering something all of Europe needs – hope and housing | Fatma Aydemir
Urgent 3d ago

Berlin’s new political star is offering something all of Europe needs – hope and housing | Fatma Aydemir

Elif Eralp wants lower rents and more public housing. It’s not rocket science but mainstream parties still don’t get why they are failingHope is a fragile thing. You can only hold on to it as long as you find reasons to believe tomorrow can be better. A woman, for instance, who has the resources and opportunity to rent her own flat will be more likely to leave her abusive husband and recover. A pupil who has their own room and desk to do their homework might find more meaning in thriving at school. And an elderly person who can afford to live in a neighbourhood where they feel safe and connected is less likely to become isolated and depressed.It’s not by chance that the examples above all revolve around the same topic. Affordable housing is possibly the most personal and most urgent social issue of our time. In Berlin, a city where 85% of residents live in rented accommodation, rents have risen by almost 70% in the past 10 years. And that is despite a rent control law that has been in effect since 2015. How? Loopholes and illegal practices have allowed property owners to continue putting pressure on the housing market. The social anxiety caused by this crisis, far from affecting just low-earners and single-parent households, affects vast parts of the middle class, too.Fatma Aydemir is a Berlin-based author, novelist, playwright and a Guardian Europe columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

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At Trump meeting, Xi Jinping lays out terms to avoid US-China military conflict
Watch 3d ago

At Trump meeting, Xi Jinping lays out terms to avoid US-China military conflict

Chinese president’s proposals for lessening tensions come amid period of intense competition between the two countries over AI and tradeXi Jinping has called for extensive cooperation with Washington to avoid the “Thucydides trap” that could put the US and China on a military collision course amid rising tensions over artificial intelligence, trade and Taiwan.At the start of his summit meeting with Donald Trump in the White House, the Chinese president laid out terms for a mutual understanding that he said could steer the two competing superpowers away from future military conflict and on to a road of mutual gain. Continue reading...

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I was arrested protesting Netanyahu’s New York visit. Here’s why we took a stand | Darializa Avila Chevalier
Courts & convictions 3d ago

I was arrested protesting Netanyahu’s New York visit. Here’s why we took a stand | Darializa Avila Chevalier

I refuse to play host to a man who has overseen the slaughter or injury of more than 64,000 children in Gaza with American taxpayer dollars. I refuse to be complicit in genocideBenjamin Netanyahu belongs at The Hague; not in the streets of New York City, and certainly not before the United Nations general assembly. The international criminal court has a warrant out for his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The UN’s own commission of inquiry has found that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and named Netanyahu as its chief architect.As the Democratic nominee for New York’s 13th congressional district, I refuse to allow a war criminal to roam the streets of our city unchallenged. I refuse to play host to a man who has overseen the slaughter or injury of more than 64,000 children in Gaza with American taxpayer dollars. I refuse to be complicit in genocide.Darializa Avila Chevalier is the Democratic nominee for New York’s 13th congressional district Continue reading...

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Trump swoons over strongman soulmate Xi – are you feeling jealous, Vladimir?
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Trump swoons over strongman soulmate Xi – are you feeling jealous, Vladimir?

Deference was deafening as US president rolled out red carpet for world’s biggest jailer of journalists – perhaps he was seeking tipsOne is an authoritarian who represses the media and has a strong allergy to democratic elections. The other is head of the Chinese Communist party.Donald Trump welcomed the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to the White House on Thursday, setting the stage for a scene quite unlike anything the august old building has seen over more than two centuries. Continue reading...

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Launch of UK’s ‘largest AI supercomputer’ delayed by power supply problems
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Launch of UK’s ‘largest AI supercomputer’ delayed by power supply problems

Datacentre hailed by government was supposed to start operating next year but may be held back into mid-2030sA huge datacentre project hailed by the UK government will miss its launch date next year and could be delayed into the mid-2030s.The site in Loughton, Essex, was described as the country’s largest AI supercomputer when it was announced in 2025, but power supply problems mean it now faces a lengthy wait before coming online. Continue reading...

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Bob Mackie obituary
Context 4d ago

Bob Mackie obituary

American fashion designer and costumier who clothed glamorous showbiz celebrities, especially CherMost costume designers are novelists, supplying character, back stories, social placement and history, done in cloth. Bob Mackie was also a genius cartoonist, assembling details into an image, memorable on sight, that could hold anything from a small 1960s television screen to a concert arena.Mackie, who has died aged 87, was master of the showbiz sartorial aesthetic that evolved on stage and in films to entertain in itself as well as project performers. Continue reading...

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US mortgage rates top 7% for first time in 20 months
Watch 4d ago

US mortgage rates top 7% for first time in 20 months

Increase comes after Fed decision to raise interest rates, as Americans struggle with high prices and stagnant wagesUS mortgage rates surpassed 7% for the first time since January 2025, according to federal lender Freddie Mac, aggravating a housing market that has endured years of high interest rates and low supply.The increase comes after the US Federal Reserve hiked interest rates, which directly affect mortgage rates, for the first time since 2023, citing high inflation. Continue reading...

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Londoners get £3bn a year subsidy because structure of council tax biased against north, says thinktank – UK politics live
Courts & convictions 4d ago

Londoners get £3bn a year subsidy because structure of council tax biased against north, says thinktank – UK politics live

Resolution Foundation says households outside London are paying hundreds of pounds a year more in council tax than they would be under a fair systemTim Shipman has written about what will be coming up at the Labour conference next week in his cover story for the Spectator. He says:Labour special advisers summoned last week to the pillared state room on the first floor of No. 10 to hear the plan for conference from Burnham’s political secretary, Hayden Munro, left in no doubt that the PM wants to be a transformational figure. The conference ‘narrative’ these advisers were urged to push includes the telling line: ‘This Labour government will bring forward the biggest change to Britain in 40 years, with a new political and economic model.’ On the specifics, Burnham will pledge: ‘We will make the choices that are needed to end rough sleeping, solve the social care crisis and get more young people into work.’Burnham will pledge to run a ‘cost-of-living government’ with further ‘immediate action’ to ‘provide the breathing space people need’, as well as outline plans to devolve power ‘out of Whitehall’, ‘reindustrialise Britain’ and take back public control of ‘the essentials in life – such as energy, water and housing’ to ‘make them affordable again’.Ultimately, the election choice is Burnham’s. ‘If you knew what Keir’s aides thought, you knew what he would do,’ says a ministerial aide. ‘But Andy has political opinions of his own.’ Burnham may go for it. But those closest to him doubt it. ‘He likes risk, but he has stuff he wants to get done,’ says one close confidant. While outsiders think his ambitions require an election, Burnham thinks he can transform Britain without one. ‘Andy really cares about the devolution stuff,’ the ministerial aide observes. ‘Most of Westminster roll their eyes but he thinks that will change the country. He thinks doing that will make him a great prime minister.’And those who think none of that will deal with Britain’s economic problems seize on another clue. A Labour adviser concludes: ‘Ultimately I think Burnham and his team will do what they often do with difficult decisions, and not make one.’What I imagine is that some schools will offer some of these subjects where their local labour market demands, and this is where our mayors and our local leaders are really helping to shape that in their area.So I wouldn’t expect a school to offer all of these, as they don’t offer all GCSEs at the moment. They will specialise in particular areas.If you’re trying to do engineering or construction, for example, you know that involves a lot of problem solving, a lot of maths, a lot of thinking, as well as the hands-on skills that’s required.So it’s not dumbing down, it’s the opposite of that, actually, because this is about raising the standards and the rigour and regulating these qualifications. Continue reading...

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TikTok drops appeal against £12.7m fine for not keeping under-13s off platform
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TikTok drops appeal against £12.7m fine for not keeping under-13s off platform

UK watchdog fined video app in 2023 for failing to enforce minimum age limit and remove underage usersTikTok will pay a £12.7m fine to the UK’s data watchdog after dropping an appeal against a ruling that it did not do enough to keep children below the age of 13 off the platform.The video app was punished by the Information Commissioner’s Office in 2023 for inadequate checks of who was using the platform, and failing to remove underage users. Continue reading...

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EU says Trump’s plan to ban US diesel exports would ‘negatively impact both sides’
Urgent 4d ago

EU says Trump’s plan to ban US diesel exports would ‘negatively impact both sides’

US president’s suggested 90-day export ban before midterm elections could bring even higher fuel prices across EuropeThe EU has warned Donald Trump against plans to ban US diesel exports to the global market, saying the move would negatively affect Europe and the US.The European Commission has reacted with “concern” to reports this week that the US president could prevent diesel from reaching the global market. Continue reading...

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‘Going places with panache’: Max Mara channels audacious women for Milan show
Urgent 4d ago

‘Going places with panache’: Max Mara channels audacious women for Milan show

Chore jackets and loose-fit trousers nod to ‘nonconformist glamour’ of Amelia Earhart and other pioneersThe Max Mara catwalk at Milan fashion week had well-cut coats, sturdy block-heeled boots, crisp white shirts and capacious suede handbags. What it quite deliberately did not have was shock value. “I hope everyone watching this show can recognise something of themselves in what they see,” said Ian Griffiths, the British designer who has been at this Italian house since 1987. “I think that’s really important. Without being critical of other brands or designers, so much of fashion alienates people and makes them feel that they aren’t good enough or thin enough or young enough to wear what’s being represented.”Trousers were pleated and roomy, skirts long enough to be elegant but not long enough to trip you up. In shades of sand and chalk, grey and black, every piece was designed to work with everything else, and to blend into an existing wardrobe. The styling gestures – a popped collar here, a knotted belt there – stopped short of gimmick. The models could have walked off the runway and on to the Milan street – which, Griffiths said backstage, was the point. “The catwalk show is only the prelude to what to me is the real presentation, which is when I see women walking down the street in my clothes.” Continue reading...

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JoAnn Fabrics fans seek to stitch void left by private equity with crafts co-op
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JoAnn Fabrics fans seek to stitch void left by private equity with crafts co-op

US crafters are looking to build a communal network to replace the company after it was bankrupted by private equity investors in 2025To its dedicated fans, JoAnn Fabrics wasn’t just a fabric store. It was a vital hub for small businesses – wedding dress makers, upholsters, milliners and rug repairers. It taught generations to make, fix and craft. A visit sparked new ideas in a way that shopping online just can’t replicate.Since it became one of hundreds of US companies bankrupted by private equity investors in 2025, it has been sorely missed. Continue reading...

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Amid soaring living costs, America’s biggest convenience-store chains quietly overcharge consumers
Context 4d ago

Amid soaring living costs, America’s biggest convenience-store chains quietly overcharge consumers

Guardian investigation: 7-Eleven and Circle K stores often fail to honor advertised prices – charging more at pump and register for gas, snacks, and other itemsMarco Cruz pulled off a four-lane road into the parking lot of a Circle K convenience store in McAllen, Texas, 12 miles north of the US-Mexico border. It was 1.20am on a mild November night in 2025, and Cruz was looking for a bedtime snack after a day of visiting family and friends. He grabbed a pack of beef and jalapeño cheese sticks from the shelf, where they were priced at $3.99. At the counter, though, they rang up at $4.19.Cruz asked the cashier to charge him the lower shelf price. The employee refused, he said, and threatened to call the police when Cruz grew more insistent. “All I’m asking you is honor the price,” Cruz told the attendant before leaving the store and, later, filing a complaint with the Texas attorney general. Continue reading...

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Backlash as Indian oil heir made professor of sustainability by Newcastle University
Urgent 4d ago

Backlash as Indian oil heir made professor of sustainability by Newcastle University

Role for Anant Ambani, son of India’s richest person, who also runs a controversial mega-zoo, met with incredulityNewcastle University is facing a backlash from conservationists over the appointment of the heir to an Indian oil and gas fortune who runs a controversial mega-zoo as a professor of sustainability.The university announced that Anant Ambani had been given a professorship of practice for “his work in conservation, biodiversity protection, animal welfare and environmental stewardship” and “significant contributions to advancing a more sustainable future”. Continue reading...

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In its push to subordinate women, the American right is embracing raunch
Good news 4d ago

In its push to subordinate women, the American right is embracing raunch

Conservatives long promoted a politics of sexual prohibition. Now such morals have been shed in favor of male dominationUnder Kash Patel, the FBI will now hire you even if you have a history of hiring prostitutes, or of having sex with animals. The rightwing Maha influencer Alex Clark had a guest on to her talk show to discuss the idea that wives should provide sex for their husbands on demand. A new ad for a sports gambling website is being hailed as a victory for the political right, because it features a nude Sydney Sweeney clutching footballs to her breasts. The Tate brothers, who encourage their male followers to pursue compulsive sexual conquest and who have been accused of sex trafficking and violence in the operation of their online cam porn business, have reportedly been friendly with members of Trump’s circle. A dizzying array of elites on both sides of the aisle – conservatives very much included – seem to have been socializing with a pedophile financier, and were so unfazed by his constant coterie of underaged girl companions that one begins to wonder whether they were habituated to such scenes. A prominent conservative writer, best known for her opposition to gender transition care for children, has announced a new book claiming to tackle the problem of young women who are supposedly unwilling to have enough sex. And the women of the president’s members club, Mar-A-Lago, are so well known for their dramatic facelifts, and their lips so stuffed with filler that they cannot quite close their mouths, that their faces are now a shorthand in the world of plastic surgery.Raunch, vulgarity, a boorish entitlement to women’s sexual service, and the aesthetics – and, indeed, the business – of pornography are being embraced by the right.Moira Donegan is a Guardian US columnist Continue reading...

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Nick Clegg plays down fears ‘godlike’ AI could exterminate humanity
Good news 4d ago

Nick Clegg plays down fears ‘godlike’ AI could exterminate humanity

Former deputy PM now involved in tech industry says many within sector are ‘winding themselves up into a lather’Nick Clegg has dismissed fears over AI’s “godlike power to exterminate humanity”, calling it a sign that tech bosses are “breathing their own fumes”.The former UK deputy prime minister said that tech bosses should focus on addressing known specific threats such as cybersecurity and bioweapons rather than the “slightly hand-wavy view that this technology is unavoidably going to develop some godlike power which is going to turn on us and exterminate humanity”. Continue reading...

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Meet the real-life Pokémon professors, the unsung heroes of competitive monster-battling
Good news 4d ago

Meet the real-life Pokémon professors, the unsung heroes of competitive monster-battling

They offer advice, referee card games and manage players’ tantrums – we caught up with some of the volunteer profs who keep the competitive game going at this year’s world championshipsProfessors may be the most revered characters in the fictional world of Pokémon (apart from perhaps the Gym Leaders). In Pokémon Red and Blue, Professor Oak greets the player in a pixelated lab coat, and later provides trainers with their first battle partner; since then, each successive generation of games has introduced another professor to aid and guide trainers through their journeys. If you’ve ever played a Pokémon game, they are often the first people that you meet, apart from your in-game mom.But you may not know that there are also real-world Pokémon professors – volunteers who help organise the game’s competitive communities around the world. Instead of lab coats, they can be seen at events wearing red Pikachu-mascot shirts labelled “staff”, paired with black trousers and shoes. Continue reading...

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Alarm bells sound in Brussels as EU sales of Chinese hybrid cars rocket
Good news 4d ago

Alarm bells sound in Brussels as EU sales of Chinese hybrid cars rocket

Explosive growth in imported vehicles omitted from EV tariffs fuels concern for future of European carmakersEU imports three times more from China than bloc exports thereSales of Chinese hybrid cars have rocketed in the EU in the past four and a half years, data shows, underlining growing concerns in Brussels over the future of the European car industry.In 2022, just 659 Chinese-made fully hybrid cars (vehicles in which the petrol or diesel engine charge the motor and battery) were sold in the EU. However, after Brussels imposed anti-subsidy tariffs on fully electric cars from China in 2024, sales of hybrids have shot up to 160,662 in the first seven months of this year. Continue reading...

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Labour’s last chance? The people shaping Andy Burnham’s grand plans for Britain
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Labour’s last chance? The people shaping Andy Burnham’s grand plans for Britain

The new prime minister has declared he wants to end 40 years of neoliberalism. But is he really prepared to be that radical?In May 2025, when Keir Starmer was still prime minister, Labour politicians, campaigners and journalists gathered at the Ministry of Sound in London to watch a series of panel talks and presentations illuminated by the lucid glow of club lights. The day-long event was organised by a campaign group called Compass, and the subjects included child poverty, the Murdoch-owned media and the rise of the radical right.“We felt as though the Labour government was failing, and needed to be pulled into the 21st century,” Neal Lawson, the founder of Compass, told me. The Starmer government’s support for the Conservatives’ two-child benefit cap, its equivocating stance on Gaza and its emulation of far-right rhetoric – crystallised in a speech on immigration, during which the prime minister suggested Britain risked becoming an “island of strangers” – were causing Labour supporters to rapidly desert their party. “The Starmer project was so obviously intellectually bankrupt. He was personally so disinterested in ideas and big thinking that I thought, this is never going to fly,” Lawson said. Continue reading...

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Save the Children officially warned by regulator over staff put at risk in Yemen
Urgent 4d ago

Save the Children officially warned by regulator over staff put at risk in Yemen

Warning from Charity Commission for England and Wales concludes two-year investigation after death of Hisham al-Hakimi in October 2023The international aid charity Save the Children has been issued with an official regulatory warning over management failures and misconduct that put staff at its Yemen office at serious risk.The warning concluded a two-year investigation by the Charity Commission for England and Wales into the running of the office after the death of its safety and security director, Hisham Al-Hakimi, in October 2023 after he was detained by the Yemeni authorities. Continue reading...

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McDonald’s to take on KFC and rivals as Gen Z flock to fried chicken
Good news 5d ago

McDonald’s to take on KFC and rivals as Gen Z flock to fried chicken

Fast food giant aiming to increase share of global chicken market as rising cost of beef hits profitsMcDonald’s is betting on fried chicken as health concerns and the rising price of beef shift dining habits.The company said that it aimed to take an extra 1.5 percentage point-share of the global chicken market by 2030, with an aim to increase its share of drinks by the same proportion. McDonald’s said the growth in chicken, a lower-priced protein, would not come at the expense of beef burger sales, saying it aimed maintain its “leadership position in beef”. Continue reading...

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Italian pop legend takes the lead in Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Fendi collection
Context 5d ago

Italian pop legend takes the lead in Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Fendi collection

Milan show full of diaphanous dresses and visible bras celebrates ‘incredible feminist’ of the 1970s, Raffaella CarràMaria Grazia Chiuri has been having more fun with clothes since she decamped from Paris back to her native Rome to work at Fendi. “I have less of a uniform these days. I think it is because being back here makes me feel young again. I’m not sure my daughter appreciates [this attitude]! But I don’t care,” she said at a preview before her Milan fashion week show.Not that Chiuri doesn’t approach her work as a designer seriously. She described her second ready-to-wear season at Fendi not as a show, or a collection, but as “the second part of the project I am working on for them”. Continue reading...

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Janet Davies obituary
Urgent 5d ago

Janet Davies obituary

My sister, Janet Davies, who has died aged 89, dedicated most of her adult life to international development, ecumenical partnership and social justice.From 1968 to 1986 she worked for Christian Aid in Merseyside and the north-west, and later became regional organiser. Based in Liverpool, and supported by Edward Patey, then dean of the city, Janet used her formidable communicating, networking and nurturing skills to forge grassroots alliances across denominations to deliver and celebrate the practical demonstration of ecumenism that was Christian Aid Week. Continue reading...

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Something in your eye? Here’s how to get it out – without making it worse
Urgent 5d ago

Something in your eye? Here’s how to get it out – without making it worse

It’s natural to want to soothe eye irritation, but mishandling could lead to more problems, experts warn. We asked them for advice on how to deal with it properlyIt may feel like a gritty, annoying sensation, or a sharp pain. Either way, you may have the same problem: something is stuck in your eye and needs to come out.Addressing the situation incorrectly can lead to bigger issues such as infection, scarring, an ulcer or corneal scratches, which are abrasions on the clear covering of your eye. Ignoring the dilemma can lead to similar consequences. Continue reading...

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Why fans are digging their claws into Wolverine over its patronising gameplay
Good news 5d ago

Why fans are digging their claws into Wolverine over its patronising gameplay

From highlighted ledges to characters telling you what to do, blockbuster games are increasingly taking the challenge out of playing – and players are pushing back• Don’t get Pushing Buttons delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereMarvel’s Wolverine, the latest action game from Sony’s stable of expensive blockbuster-factory studios, has had an unfortunate launch. Reviews were decent, if not stellar, but a series of viral video clips from reviewers and streamers have made it the scapegoat for a patronising flavour of game design that gamers have hated for decades. This clip, from Skill Up’s review, shows the player entering a beautiful wintry landscape before being overwhelmed by visual cues telling them what they’re supposed to be doing there. Sonar pulses point you in the direction of objectives. Targets – which, it bears emphasising, are shaped like targets – get an extra reflective visual effect so you know you’re supposed to pay attention to them. A trail shows you not just where to go, but where the level’s sole hidden collectible is.It is hand-holding to the point of parody. Indeed, it reminded me of the sniggersome Mario in Unreal Engine satirical videos that makes the social media rounds every few months (“A mushroom? I should take a look at this”). Skill Up’s clip has been followed by hundreds of others, gleefully ripping into Wolverine with ironic savagery. In one much-copied clip, a streamer simply lays down his controller during a motorbike chase sequence and watches as Wolverine speeds on regardless, bouncing off the scenery as the game plays itself. Continue reading...

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Stung by Trump, machinists union campaigns for affordability in midterms
Watch 5d ago

Stung by Trump, machinists union campaigns for affordability in midterms

One of the largest labor unions in the US targets eight battleground states in ‘workers v billionaires’ campaignThe International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), one of the largest labor unions in the US, has launched a “workers v billionaires” political campaign tour targeting members in eight battleground states and encouraging them to support pro-worker candidates in the midterms.IAM has nearly 700,000 active and retired members in North America, covering workers at corporations that include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, United Airlines and Harley-Davidson. The union is targeting members and voters in Maine, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Illinois. Continue reading...

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Sri Lanka Easter bombings: 15 sentenced to hundreds of years in prison each over deadly terror attacks
Courts & convictions 5d ago

Sri Lanka Easter bombings: 15 sentenced to hundreds of years in prison each over deadly terror attacks

Islamic State-inspired bombings of churches and hotels in 2019 was one of the country’s worst ever attacksA court in Sri Lanka has convicted 15 men on terrorist charges for their involvement in the deadly 2019 Easter bombings and sentenced them each to at least 220 years in prison.The terror attacks, which targeted luxury hotels and churches as they held Easter services, left 267 people dead and wounded almost 600. The bombings, which were inspired by Islamic State (IS), were among the deadliest terror attacks in Sri Lanka’s history and sent shockwaves through the country. Continue reading...

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Six-year-old breaks women's world Rubik's Cube record – video
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Six-year-old breaks women's world Rubik's Cube record – video

Six-year-old Lian Yunzhi broke the women’s 3x3 average world record twice at two World Cube Association-certified competitions in Wuhan and Guangzhou, according to state broadcaster CCTV on Monday. She posted averages of 4.52 and 4.27 seconds, after solving the Rubik’s Cube five times. She is the first female speedcuber to average less than 4.5 seconds. Continue reading...

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Tech Life
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Tech Life

China is competing with the United States and other nations to develop AI.

BBC NewsRead source
Reform UK-led council ends support for Show Racism the Red Card
Context 6d ago

Reform UK-led council ends support for Show Racism the Red Card

Charity’s head coach ‘shocked’ after Sunderland council leader says it will not support ‘politically charged’ groupsAnti-racism education in some schools will be scrapped after a city council now led by Reform UK ended its 30-year support for the charity Show Racism the Red Card.Announcing the decision last week, the Reform leader of Sunderland city council, Christopher Eynon, said it would no longer support “politically charged organisations with an agenda”. Continue reading...

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Why you should quit and not look back: ‘Saying yes to everything is saying no to what matters’
Context 6d ago

Why you should quit and not look back: ‘Saying yes to everything is saying no to what matters’

In her new book, The Case for Quitting: The Surprising Benefits of Opting Out, Lindsay Crouse discusses the costs and traps of never giving up – and how she set herself freeLindsay Crouse used to define herself as not a quitter.She went to Harvard University, where she learned to become even more high-achieving and ambitious, then landed an assistant job at the New York Times and worked her way up to become an opinion writer and producer. On the weekends, Crouse ran marathons and did endurance sports, clocking new personal bests throughout her thirties. Continue reading...

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‘What we have is unique’: the Indian craftsmanship behind global luxury fashion
Context 6d ago

‘What we have is unique’: the Indian craftsmanship behind global luxury fashion

Generations of artisans from Mumbai to Lucknow have shaped the world’s most coveted designs. Plus, the gen Z memes giving classic Bollywood a new lifeThe zardozi embroidery on a Dior dress, the T-strap leather sandals at a Prada show, the mirror-work technique used on a Fendi bag – for decades, the skill of Indian artisans has been an invisible force behind some of the world’s most coveted fashion.Now, that work is beginning to claim its own place in the spotlight, and the Mumbai-based textile and embroidery atelier Chanakya International is at the forefront. Continue reading...

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Paramount settles lawsuits with 12 US states, clearing way for Warner merger
Urgent 7d ago

Paramount settles lawsuits with 12 US states, clearing way for Warner merger

States including California and New York sued over concerns of ‘extinguishing competition’ with $81bn mergerParamount has reached a settlement with California and several other states that sued over a proposed $81bn merger with Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), the California attorney general announced Monday, clearing the way to consolidate some of Hollywood’s most recognizable TV networks and studios under one owner.Though the merger was approved by the justice department in June, a coalition of 12 states, led by California, had sued over concerns that combining two of the five last legacy studios in Hollywood would “extinguish competition” and lead to fewer movies in theaters and on streaming platforms. Continue reading...

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Get tested and talk to your partner: how to have safer sex after age 50
Good news 7d ago

Get tested and talk to your partner: how to have safer sex after age 50

At 51, I want many more years of a healthy, happy sex life. So I decided to compile my own guideWhen I got divorced after 28 years of monogamy, I was excited to be having sex again, but had concerns. I was 48, and the last time I’d been single was in the 90s; terrified of pregnancy and hyperconscious of HIV/Aids, I hadn’t considered condomless intercourse an option back then.Now, at 51, I’ve been wondering how important barrier protection is for me. Though I haven’t hit menopause, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that “by 45 getting pregnant naturally is unlikely”, and HIV/Aids prevention and treatment have improved significantly in the last three decades. Continue reading...

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Pakistan jails sisters of Imran Khan before protest seeking his release
Courts & convictions 7d ago

Pakistan jails sisters of Imran Khan before protest seeking his release

Police crack down on family and political supporters of former PM who say authorities are ‘slowly killing’ him in prisonThree sisters of Pakistan’s incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan have been arrested amid a heavy-handed government crackdown on plans for a nationwide protest to demand Khan’s release.The lawyer for the three sisters, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, said on Monday that they had all been detained and jailed for 30 days under a warrant that accused them of being a threat to public order. Continue reading...

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Starbucks baristas reel from surges in health insurance costs: ‘I’m considering a second job’
Good news 7d ago

Starbucks baristas reel from surges in health insurance costs: ‘I’m considering a second job’

Several workers say they’re opting to go without health coverage due to premium costs soaring this yearStarbucks workers say their health insurance premiums have soared this year, in some cases more than doubling, according to a recent survey conducted by Starbucks Workers United.The survey of more than 130 Starbucks workers in both unionized and non-unionized stores, shared exclusively with the Guardian, found baristas are experiencing significant hikes in costs for their health insurance coverage starting 1 October. Continue reading...

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Google fined more than €400m by Irish regulator over its use of location data
Urgent 7d ago

Google fined more than €400m by Irish regulator over its use of location data

Watchdog says users may have been unaware their information was used to target adverts or infer their interestsGoogle has been fined more than €400m (£345m) over the way it processed users’ location data, following claims that the tech giant had manipulated users into agreeing to be constantly tracked on their mobile phones.The fine, imposed by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), comes after complaints from multiple European consumer organisations that Google was following every step users took. Continue reading...

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Pixel 11 Pro XL: Google’s big-screen superphone with top-class camera
Watch 7d ago

Pixel 11 Pro XL: Google’s big-screen superphone with top-class camera

Fantastic display and two-day battery life plus everything that’s great about Google’s more pocketable Pixel ProsGoogle’s latest super-sized Pixel takes everything that’s great about the relatively pocket-friendly 11 Pro and adds a huge, high-quality screen and a big battery.That makes the Pixel 11 Pro XL one of the largest smartphones available in Europe and the US, competing directly with Samsung’s giant Galaxy S26 Ultra and Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max, with an equally sizeable £1,279 (€1,399/$1,299/A$2,099) price tag – £80 (€100/$100/A$100) more than last year with less memory because of the cost of RAMageddon. Continue reading...

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‘I suck at breaks’: a day in the life of an aerial cellist
Watch 8d ago

‘I suck at breaks’: a day in the life of an aerial cellist

Cellista, an aerialist who regularly performs upside down with her cello, shares what her life looks like training for the stageMastering the cello is hard enough, but Cellista also regularly performs upside down. She’s based in Las Vegas, but the aerialist spoke to us while traveling in Germany, and told us about what her life looks like training and writing for the stage. Continue reading...

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‘Do you have to be dead?’: US coalminers plead for benefits as black-lung disease cases surge
Watch 8d ago

‘Do you have to be dead?’: US coalminers plead for benefits as black-lung disease cases surge

Trump says he digs coal – but pneumoconiosis cases are at a 50-year high, and sick miners are mired in benefit delaysFor 38 years, Josh Armes worked as a coal miner in West Virginia and Virginia.After retirement, Armes, 74, of Grundy, Virginia, was diagnosed with black lung disease, medically known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), caused by breathing in coal dust over long periods, which irreversibly damages the lungs. Continue reading...

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China bogeyman looms large over American firms’ AI doomsday scenario
Urgent 9d ago

China bogeyman looms large over American firms’ AI doomsday scenario

Silicon Valley China hawks, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei among them, fear the country surpassing US’s AI lead as much as superintelligence destroying humanityWhy China is pushing back on US warnings over rapid AI developmentWhen reporters asked Donald Trump this week if he supported calls to slow down the development of artificial intelligence out of growing fears for cybersecurity, public safety and the fate of humanity, he said no. His argument: China.“We’re leading China in AI,” Trump said. “We’re the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly, I want to ⁠keep it that way, because whoever wins AI, wins.” Continue reading...

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Tech Now
Watch 9d ago

Tech Now

Adrienne Murray follows NASA scientists in Iceland researching a rare total solar eclipse.

BBC NewsRead source
Why Europe has been absent from the great AI safety debate
Context 9d ago

Why Europe has been absent from the great AI safety debate

Though Europe has measures that address how consumers might encounter AI, technology will impact them if the worst scenarios bearEurope’s dilemma over AI was rendered in stark terms this week. The head of the continent’s central bank, Christine Lagarde, said Europeans have two options: shun the technology and lose out on growth; or embrace it and become dependent on tools developed by the US and China.The great debate over AI safety that has erupted in recent days threatens to make the choice moot. If the worst scenarios come to bear – and experts have differing views on this – then the technology will impact the continent regardless. Continue reading...

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Burnham urged by opposition parties to follow Macron and act with more urgency on Russian threat – as it happened
Watch 10d ago

Burnham urged by opposition parties to follow Macron and act with more urgency on Russian threat – as it happened

French president Emmanuel Macron earlier said he put measures in place to protect the country’s critical infrastructureMicheál Martin, the taoiseach (Irish PM), thanked Andy Burnham for his stance on Israel as the two men met at No 10 North today.Support for the Palestinian cause is particularly strong in Ireland because of its historical experience of colonialism, and, in a reference to the sanctions on West Bank settlements imposed by Burnham’s government, Martin said:I think for the United Kingdom under your leadership to take the stance that it’s taken, I think, is important for … standing up for humanitarian values and justice and fulfilling the rights of all in the Middle East to security, to peace and to some decent future for their children and generations to come.Formed in 1999, the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) sees more than 300 children aged 11 to 18 democratically elected by their peers to represent young people in their area, who then debate and campaign on a variety of issues.Once a year, they hold a debate in the House of Commons chamber. Continue reading...

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‘A critical moment’: concern UK is not up to speed in acting on AI risks
Urgent 10d ago

‘A critical moment’: concern UK is not up to speed in acting on AI risks

Andy Burnham’s focus on immediate domestic problems leads some to fear issue has dropped off government’s radar Towards the end of Keir Starmer’s time in office, his senior ministers, alarmed by the latest developments in artificial intelligence, began drawing up plans for a new AI safety law.They ordered a review of existing legislation to see what powers they already had, according to those briefed on the plans, and were exploring whether they could force the world’s most advanced technology companies to submit their products for safety testing before launching them. Continue reading...

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‘I pay a lot more for fewer and fewer items’: five US shoppers on their food budgets
Urgent 10d ago

‘I pay a lot more for fewer and fewer items’: five US shoppers on their food budgets

Guardian readers share how much they spend on food and the changes they’ve had to made in response to rising pricesWhile campaigning for re-election in 2024, Donald Trump stood in front of a table full of groceries – bags of flour, cartons of eggs, cooking oil – and told voters he would bring down the price of groceries “starting on day one” of his second term in the White House.Over two years later, US consumers have yet to enjoy lower prices. In fact, due to supply chain issues, jostling over tariffs, wars in Ukraine and Iran, severe cuts in Snap (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, and the climate crisis, more than half of Americans say they’re struggling to afford groceries. Continue reading...

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Big AI is trying to own the pathway to work. Universities shouldn’t play along | Ella Hafermalz
Good news 11d ago

Big AI is trying to own the pathway to work. Universities shouldn’t play along | Ella Hafermalz

Universities need to protect their position in education so that students have an independent pathway to employmentAI companies like OpenAI are insinuating themselves into the pathway from education to work. Soon they may claim it entirely, a disastrous result for students.We know that students are using AI at school and at university. In conversations with those I teach, I’m struck by the trust many place in it. They turn to ChatGPT and similar tools for personal problems as well as study help. Some even doubt their abilities without AI.Ella Hafermalz is an associate professor of work and technology at the Kin Center for Digital Innovation at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Continue reading...

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Are you cleaning your cat litter box correctly?
Context 12d ago

Are you cleaning your cat litter box correctly?

How often should you clean your cat’s litter box? Plus three other tips for peak cat cleanlinessThroughout history, people have revered cats. Ancient Egyptians worshipped feline deities. In Norse mythology, the Viking goddess Freya rode around in a sled pulled by two cats. And my father regularly takes his cat on walks around town in a little bubble backpack so she can see the sights.As anyone who has lived with a cat knows, we serve them and not the other way around. This includes the messy and malodorous task of tending their litter box. Continue reading...

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‘If you’re building Frankenstein, stop’: JD Vance dismisses calls for AI regulation
Urgent 12d ago

‘If you’re building Frankenstein, stop’: JD Vance dismisses calls for AI regulation

US vice-president’s comments come as former Anthropic researcher revisits recent claim AI could destroy humanityThe US vice-president has dismissed calls for global regulation of AI safety risks, telling companies creating the most advanced models: “If you’re building Frankenstein, stop.”In remarks addressed towards Dario Amodei, the co-founder of Anthropic who has called on Washington DC to coordinate control of AI systems, including with China, JD Vance said: “If you’re gonna create Frankenstein, don’t come to the government and say we need regulation.” Continue reading...

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Tech Life
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Tech Life

What should children learn in a world transformed by artificial intelligence?

BBC NewsRead source
Go with the flow: do you need to filter US tap water?
Context 13d ago

Go with the flow: do you need to filter US tap water?

Experts share best practices for considering water filters – whether you’re drinking municipally treated water or relying on a wellAmericans have a lot of questions about their drinking water. How is it treated? What’s in it? Most importantly, is it safe?“I’ve even been out to eat where people overhear me talking about my work and come over to ask me a question about their tap water,” said Kimberly Parker, an environmental engineer who studies chemical contaminants in drinking water at Washington University in St Louis. Continue reading...

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‘In this new car, I feel patronised’: which driver assistance systems actually improve safety?
Watch 13d ago

‘In this new car, I feel patronised’: which driver assistance systems actually improve safety?

Modern cars are fitted with features like autonomous emergency braking and fatigue monitoring. But do they support motorists or drive them to distraction?This new car I’m test-driving boasts all the latest bells and whistles – or, rather, beeps and bings. Peer sideways for too long checking traffic and the car emits an irritating sound. Should I take a hand off the wheel to scratch an ear, I’m admonished with a strident beep.When the car determines it’s too near a white line, it tugs the wheel against my hands and brakes as a car slows ahead. Its haptic “buttons” feel like fingers pressing back – as if an invisible presence has its hands and feet on the controls: a ghost in the machine I’m inside. Continue reading...

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‘I created my mom and talk to her’: AI ghosts and deathslop are changing the way we mourn
Urgent 13d ago

‘I created my mom and talk to her’: AI ghosts and deathslop are changing the way we mourn

The rise of AI-generated tributes and bots for ‘talking’ to the dead has experts concerned more people will grieve in isolationTributes rolled in after the death of Dolly Parton last month. Jack White performed Jolene at a London gig. Kesha sang Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You), a single her mother wrote for the country music titan. Even Pitbull stopped his Madison Square Garden show to memorialize Parton and all the other “powerful women” in the crowd. But one of the strangest – and most viral – eulogies did not come from a celebrity. It did not even come from a person.Run Jolene, at just under five minutes, is an earworm of a country song, containing all the cliches of the genre: twangy singer, banjo licks, corny lyrics. Those lyrics concern Jolene, the fictional romantic rival made infamous by Parton. “Somebody better warn Jolene / Dolly’s coming through those gates,” the voice croons. “Run Jolene / Girl you better move your feet.” Continue reading...

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The best iPhones: which Apple smartphone is right for you, according to our expert
Urgent 13d ago

The best iPhones: which Apple smartphone is right for you, according to our expert

Looking for a new iPhone or a good deal on a refurbished one? Samuel Gibbs has tested and rated Apple’s smartphones, including the best for camera quality and battery life• How to make your smartphone last longerThe best iPhone may be the one you already own. There’s generally no need to buy a fresh phone just because new models have been released, as hardware updates are broadly iterative, adding small bits to an already accomplished package. But if you do want a replacement handset, whether new or refurbished, here are the best devices of the current crop of Apple smartphones.Many other smartphones are available besides the iPhone, but if you’re an Apple user and don’t fancy switching to Android, there are still a few choices to make. Whether your priority is the longest battery life, the best camera, the biggest screen or simply the optimal balance of features and price, there’s more to choose from in the Apple ecosystem than you may expect. Continue reading...

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Burning Man at 40: the once anarchic desert festival faces a midlife crisis
Urgent 13d ago

Burning Man at 40: the once anarchic desert festival faces a midlife crisis

The subversive bacchanal for San Francisco’s eccentric underground is ageing out amid an influx of the super-richBurning Man, the infamous arts festival in the Nevada desert, turned 40 this year, and it’s showing some distinct signs of middle age.It’s not just the tech billionaires who show up to party, the chartered flights straight to the desert or the HBO documentary about behind-the-scenes power struggles. The tens of thousands of people who assemble each year to create a tent city in the wilderness appear to be growing older, and it doesn’t seem that they’re being replaced by as many younger “burners”, as festival participants are called. Continue reading...

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‘It’s about controlling your entire body’: how to start doing handstands
Context 14d ago

‘It’s about controlling your entire body’: how to start doing handstands

Handstands display a mastery of one’s physical form that I have never quite felt – and they look cool. Experts share their advice for building up strength and practicingMy aspirations in life are modest: I want to write, spend time with my loved ones, and someday find a lipstick that flatters my skintone. But perhaps my greatest ambition is this: I want to be able to do a handstand.Why? It turns the world upside down. It seems fun. It displays a mastery of one’s physical form that I have never quite felt. And it looks cool! Maybe it has to do with that one time in third grade when all my friends could do a handstand and I couldn’t, but that’s for me and my therapist to sort out later. Continue reading...

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‘We’re not going to back down’: tiny Dorset B&B stands up to Airbnb’s legal bid to ‘monopolise’ letters ‘bnb’
Good news 14d ago

‘We’re not going to back down’: tiny Dorset B&B stands up to Airbnb’s legal bid to ‘monopolise’ letters ‘bnb’

Three little letters - bnb-side’s name is a play on the local b-side arts festival, but Silicon Valley colossus sees threat to global brandIn one corner is bnb-side, a six-room bed and breakfast on the Isle of Portland – a tiny wedge of limestone tied by a narrow ribbon of shingle to the Dorset coast – that was created to help secure the future of the rock’s much-loved arts festival, b-side.On the other is Airbnb, the San Francisco-based booking colossus. The battle between them is over the three little letters they share. Continue reading...

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Lenore review – incel’s obsession with online influencer turns into anatomy of dislocated digital-age mindset
Urgent 14d ago

Lenore review – incel’s obsession with online influencer turns into anatomy of dislocated digital-age mindset

Digital-age Australian psychodrama tracks the shut-in mania of dangerously disaffected male fan, but doesn’t get inside his mindIf the parasocial phenomenon is a kind of hell, then Max Wren, protagonist of this Australian digital-age psychodrama, resides in the ninth circle. Self-barricading in a basement room surrounded by screens, working on a documentary about the object of his disaffection (an enigmatic influencer called Lenore), this obsessive shut-in makes Eminem’s Stan look like the Dalai Lama. Touching on subjects including the attention economy, the male gaze, and incel isolation and misogyny, director David Ward feels both Max and Lenore’s pain. But his ungainly debut film doesn’t fully transcend its stage origins to capture the splintered headspace of the terminally online.Like films about fictional pop stars that feature unconvincing music, it doesn’t help that the quickfire résumé of Lenore’s career only half-conveys her magnetism. A one-time beauty influencer called Veronica Brand, she later graduates to more extreme performance art-type stunts, such as livestreaming her miscarriage; a move that, spliced without her knowledge into a children’s TV broadcast, forced her into hiding. But this performative vulnerability, including hints of her abusive dad, apparently won her legions of OnlyFans-style acolytes. Not just Max, but also his colleague Sam (Sam Macdonald), a brash interloper outraged to find he was nothing special to Lenore and who turns up at Max’s door offering exclusive footage of her. Continue reading...

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Democracy v the machine: the birth of the digital age and the warnings that were ignored – podcast
Urgent 14d ago

Democracy v the machine: the birth of the digital age and the warnings that were ignored – podcast

Many hoped that the march of technology would usher in an egalitarian utopia – but some foresaw the threat it would pose to liberal society. Why did nobody listen?By Jill Lepore. Read by Laurel LefkowRead the text version hereSupport the Guardian today: theguardian.com/longreadpodAdapted from The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill Lepore, published by Allen Lane on 25 August. To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com Continue reading...

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Not glamorous, but common: how to manage dandruff at home and when to get help
Good news 15d ago

Not glamorous, but common: how to manage dandruff at home and when to get help

Experts don’t know exactly what causes dandruff, but if you’re seeing light flakes on your scalp, over-the-counter products can help You spy a scatter of white flakes on your collar. Or you’ve got an itch that won’t quit, no matter how much you wash your hair. Dandruff isn’t glamorous, but it’s common: about half the world’s population has it.An itchy, flaking scalp is rarely dangerous, but it can be annoying. Here’s what you need to know about what might be causing your flakes, what you can do about it, and when it’s time to get help. Continue reading...

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Tech Now
Courts & convictions 16d ago

Tech Now

Shiona McCallum meets mums and hospital staff trialling a new assisted birth innovation.

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Tech Life
Watch 19d ago

Tech Life

Scammers demand money from Instagram users over fake copyright claims.

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Biopsies, aerial drills and a personal pizza: a day in the life of a shark scientist
Watch 22d ago

Biopsies, aerial drills and a personal pizza: a day in the life of a shark scientist

Jasmin Graham, a shark scientist and science communicator, also makes time in her day to practice her hobbies and play music bingo with friends“Sharks are not monsters, they just need better PR,” writes Jasmin Graham. And she should know: Graham is a shark scientist and science communicator.Here’s what a day in Graham’s life in Sarasota, Florida looks like. Continue reading...

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Tech Now
Watch 23d ago

Tech Now

Laura Cress has the highlights from Gamescom, the biggest gaming convention in the world.

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Tech Life
Watch 26d ago

Tech Life

AI can only communicate in languages that it's been trained on.

BBC NewsRead source
So you have diarrhea. Here’s what to do and when to seek care
Watch 29d ago

So you have diarrhea. Here’s what to do and when to seek care

The discussion about diarrhea has increased lately, especially with the rise of cyclosporiasis. Although unpleasant, it is manageable and can be treated at homeIn the US, people are discussing diarrhea more than usual. As of late August, more than 17,000 people across the US have had cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection often traced to contaminated produce. But tens of millions of diarrhea cases occur in the US every year, caused by lots of other factors.Some causes, such as cyclospora infection, benefit from antibiotic treatment. But most episodes of diarrhea go away by themselves and don’t require treatment apart from staying hydrated, says Benjamin Levy, a gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago. Continue reading...

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CEOs earn 614 times more than workers at US’s 100 lowest-paying corporations
Context 32d ago

CEOs earn 614 times more than workers at US’s 100 lowest-paying corporations

Analysis by Institute for Policy Studies found that between 2019 and 2025, CEO compensation increased 41.4%The average CEO of the US’s 100 largest, lowest-paying corporations earned 614 times more than their average worker last year, according to an analysis by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS).IPS’s latest executive excess report analyzed compensation at the 100 S&P 500 corporations with the lowest median worker pay. Between 2019 and 2025, CEO compensation increased 41.4%, unadjusted for inflation, twice as much as the median worker pay increased at these firms during the same period, at 20.7%. Continue reading...

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‘When I make a sale, I’ll sing a high note’: a day in the life of an opera singing car salesman
Good news 36d ago

‘When I make a sale, I’ll sing a high note’: a day in the life of an opera singing car salesman

Andrew Hiers is trying to start his own opera company. Until then, he’s serenading the parking lotAndrew Hiers, 38, is an opera singer – a bass-baritone – and a car salesman in Cocoa, Florida. You might think these professions have nothing to do with each other, but his librettos about cars or to customers have gone viral – all part of a larger plan to bring opera to the local community.What time did you wake up? Continue reading...

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I was abused as a child – and thought I had healed. Then I began drinking in lockdown
Good news 41d ago

I was abused as a child – and thought I had healed. Then I began drinking in lockdown

Decades after being sexually abused, the author and doctor Frank Spinelli believed he had moved on emotionally. But alcohol destroyed his sense of security. He describes how he confronted his shameNot so long ago, Frank Spinelli seemed to have sorted out his life. He was happily married, working as a doctor and had a sideline writing medical thrillers. He thought he had dealt with the sexual abuse he had suffered as a child – not only had he helped bring the man who groomed and abused him to justice, but also he had written a memoir about it. “I felt that I had closure,” he says. “I had the good fortune of working with some amazing therapists and I believed I had done the work and moved past it and I was a healed person.”Little did he know that his recovery was fragile. The Covid pandemic took away his routine and structure: “All the external pillars that were tightly holding me together – the engagements at the office, the work trips.” Two years earlier, he and his husband had moved from Manhattan to a leafy suburb, from where he is speaking to me over a video call today. He was dealing with uncertainty and felt isolated. “We know one thing about shame: shame breeds in isolation.” Continue reading...

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Gen Z and millennials have it far worse than my generation. Here's why | Opinion
Context 45d ago

Gen Z and millennials have it far worse than my generation. Here's why | Opinion

'I know my age group has called the young lazy, entitled snowflakes,' says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, who has been writing for the Guardian for nearly 50 years. 'But I know whose side I’m on and it’s not my own generation’s.'Polly believes that the social contract between younger and older generations has been broken, with gen Z and millennials set to be worse off than their parents in the face of soaring unemployment, stagnating wages and ballooning house prices. New research carried out for the BBC suggests that people in their 20s are facing a worse start to adulthood than any other generation in almost half a century, with more than 40% of 25-year-olds now living with their parents.Watch to find out why Polly thinks her generation owes the younger ones an apology - and how they can right these wrongs Continue reading...

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‘We made over $1,000’: drag queen Brini Maxwell
Watch 50d ago

‘We made over $1,000’: drag queen Brini Maxwell

Ben Sander’s talents – interior design, crafting and being a TV personality – come together in his 60s housewife drag characterBen Sander is an interior designer, crafter and television personality. All of those talents come together in his drag character, 60s housewife Brini Maxwell. Maxwell hosts a regular craft night at New York City’s Club Cumming.What time did you wake up, and do you have a morning routine? Continue reading...

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‘It’s rare to hear: I’m black and middle class’ – Symeon Brown on black Britain’s enduring ‘taboo’
Context 50d ago

‘It’s rare to hear: I’m black and middle class’ – Symeon Brown on black Britain’s enduring ‘taboo’

Black people are more prominent than ever in the UK’s politics and culture. But are they overwhelmingly from the middle class, as Brown argues in his new book? And if so, why isn’t anyone talking about it?Symeon Brown and David Lammy went to the same primary school in Tottenham, north London. One went on to a selective secondary school, and became the second black person to hold one of Britain’s great offices of state. The other became a journalist who would go on to survey the country’s black professional class more thoroughly than anyone ever had – and who remembers being told by Lammy that he could “never become prime minister, because you sound like where you come from”.It was 2010, and Brown, interested in politics, was interning for the then Labour backbencher. “And he was right, certainly at the time,” Brown says now. Continue reading...

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Britain is paying the price for failing to invest in its young people | Richard Partington
Urgent 50d ago

Britain is paying the price for failing to invest in its young people | Richard Partington

Alan Milburn has outlined a generation cut adrift by austerity. We must grasp the nettle and rebuild a preventive stateMost people think Britain is not working as it should. For young people, the situation is at its most acute: only one in four believe that everyone in society has a fair crack. Most think the game is rigged.It is clear why the generation who grew up during the post-2008 crash austerity years and in the shadow of the Covid pandemic are downbeat: the level of public service provision their parents enjoyed is gone, living costs are rising, the AI revolution is changing everything, and the planet is on fire. Continue reading...

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The laces are a lie. These covert hands-free shoes fool everyone
Good news 52d ago

The laces are a lie. These covert hands-free shoes fool everyone

I discovered Kiziks hands-free shoes out of necessity, but now I never want to stoop over to tie my shoes againThese sneakers saved my feet from blisters on vacation – and looked cute with every outfitSign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better thingsSix months ago, my back did something deeply unpleasant that made it very difficult to bend over, kneel down or honestly do anything. It slipped a disk. I wrote about some of the back-saving gadgets that helped me get through recovery, from lap desks to trekking poles, but one has stayed with me even after healing: the Kizik Lima 2 slip-on shoes. Their hands-free design was a godsend during my recovery, but you don’t have to be in agony to appreciate a pair.While I have always been concerned more with comfort than style when it comes to shoes, I draw the line at some of the typical hands-free options. The Kiziks don’t look like the slippers my grandad wore around the house, nor like the hideous Croc clogs favored by hospital staff (it’s funny how you notice a person’s shoes when you are lying face down as they inject painful things into your spine). Kiziks look just like normal shoes. With its mesh knit upper and low profile, you could easily confuse the Lima 2 for Allbirds’ trendy Tree Runners. Continue reading...

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‘A rug helps anchor all the pieces’: how to start decorating your home
Good news 56d ago

‘A rug helps anchor all the pieces’: how to start decorating your home

Designers share tips on creating a space you love, from mixing eras and colors to not getting in your headHome is where you sleep. It’s also where you eat, work, cry, laugh, socialize and celebrate. It is a spatial extension of the self – which can make home decorating daunting to some.“People get in their heads about decorating their space,” says Drew Michael Scott, interior designer and founder of the lifestyle and decor brand Lone Fox. It can be hard to know where to start, what you can afford or accomplish, or if you’re getting it wrong. Continue reading...

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I tried the new Anydeli plastic-free containers: ‘The perfect food storage finally exists’
Context 83d ago

I tried the new Anydeli plastic-free containers: ‘The perfect food storage finally exists’

These food storage containers with clever, reheat-friendly vented lids are ‘endlessly versatile, lightweight and durable’. After selling out for months after launch in April, they are now back in stock‘Cheese paper’ will double the life of your cheddar. We lab-tested nine storage solutionsSign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better thingsYou know those round deli containers people love to keep after getting takeout pho? Recently, I’ve been using some new food storage containers in the same shape that stack the same convenient way. But that’s where the similarities end.The Anydeli plastic-free silicone containers were just released by Anyday, the maker of my favorite glass food storage system. (I raved about those previously.) After testing a set at home for a few weeks, I have no notes. Well, I have notes, but they’re all very positive, because the containers are endlessly versatile, lightweight and durable enough to send in my kids’ lunchboxes without worry. They’re also cute.The Anyday glass food containers transformed how I store leftoversThe best plastic-free food storage containers: Anydeli Silicone Mixed Set of 3The best plastic-free food storage full set: Anydeli Silicone Mixed Set of 6 Continue reading...

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How to start volunteering: ‘There are roles to fit all interests and skill sets’
Context 84d ago

How to start volunteering: ‘There are roles to fit all interests and skill sets’

Common misconceptions are that you don’t have the right skills, or you need to make a huge time commitmentMany people want to do good in the world. They want to connect and give back to their communities. But volunteering, much like Sunday meal prep or morning meditations, often ends up at the bottom of the to-do list – a nice idea we’ll get to when we have more time.“For many people, volunteering is something they feel positively about, but don’t always prioritize or think they have time for,” says Matt Bertram, vice-president of volunteer services for the American Red Cross.How to start meditatingHow to start weightliftingHow to start budgetingHow to start running Continue reading...

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Improved performance, freedom of movement and less pain: how to start a mobility practice
Urgent 98d ago

Improved performance, freedom of movement and less pain: how to start a mobility practice

Mobility can’t be tracked on a leaderboard, but it can help you feel better and make daily tasks easierFitness is often measured through numbers: how much weight a person can lift, or how fast or far they can run. But one important metric is harder to quantify: mobility.Mobility gets overlooked, because the relevant exercises do not “have the instant visual appeal of traditional workouts”, says Tyler McDonald, certified personal trainer and senior brand manager for the National Academy of Sports Medicine.How to start meditatingHow to start weightliftingHow to start budgetingHow to start running90/90 hip switches: Sit on the floor with the front leg bent at a 90-degree angle (thigh out in front of you and calf perpendicular to you) and the back leg bent at a 90-degree angle (thigh out to the side, calf roughly parallel to you). Slowly rotate your knees to the opposite side without lifting your feet off the floor. “This is fantastic for opening tight hips,” McDonald says.Cat-cow stretch. With your hands and knees on the ground, arch your back towards the ceiling, dropping your head between your arms. Then, slowly drop your back and raise your head and glutes towards the ceiling. This helps with spine mobility.World’s greatest stretch. Yes, this stretch has quite the name, but for good reason. Start in a plank. Bring the right leg forward into a low lunge position. Stretch the right arm overhead towards the ceiling, twisting the upper body. Then, bring the right hand behind the head and attempt to touch the ground with the right elbow. “It hits your hips, hamstrings and upper back all at once, making it incredibly efficient,” says McDonald. Continue reading...

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‘Overconsumption isolates us’: how to start shopping less
Context 111d ago

‘Overconsumption isolates us’: how to start shopping less

Spending can be exciting – but how do you function outside of it? Experts share their tips for paring down buyingFor years, I have been caught in a tiresome, expensive cycle: when I’m bored (or sad, or insecure) I scroll through my phone, looking for stuff to buy. In those moments, it feels like the right purchase will relieve me of ennui or unpleasantness. These shoes will make my life more glamorous! This face wash will make me feel forever beautiful!Sometimes this rush lasts up to two days after I receive my item. But the excitement fades – sometimes as soon as I click “confirm purchase” – and I inevitably think: “Why did I do that?” Continue reading...

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When her ‘soul cat’ died, she was bereft. Now she designs memorial jewelry to help others with pet loss
Good news 157d ago

When her ‘soul cat’ died, she was bereft. Now she designs memorial jewelry to help others with pet loss

A layoff and a leap of faith convinced Katie Teixeira she had what it takes to run her own businessIn 2010, Katie Teixeira adopted a kitten found all alone in an abandoned house. The kitten – so tiny she fit in the palm of Teixeira’s hand – needed to be bottle-fed every few hours. For weeks, Teixeira set her alarm for middle-of-the-night feedings and drove home on her lunch break to care for the kitten she named Milo. As the cat grew, so did the connection between them.“We just bonded,” Teixeira says. “Like mother and daughter.” Continue reading...

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‘I ain’t goin nowhere’: Gullah Geechee people fight off developers with a historic referendum
Good news 249d ago

‘I ain’t goin nowhere’: Gullah Geechee people fight off developers with a historic referendum

A citizen referendum, only the second of its kind in Georgia history, seeks to block a zoning amendmentIre Gene Grovner stood behind his house on a recent morning, between chicken pens on one side and rows of winter collard greens on the other, holding a knife and skinning a raccoon splayed across a wood post.“The meat is good roasted,” Grovner said. He pointed to the collards, a burst of green in the winter cold, and the chickens, with their eggs. “If you ain’t lazy, you can live good here,” he said, referring to Sapelo Island off the coast of southern Georgia. Continue reading...

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The best blenders in the US: five favorites for smoothies, soups and frozen drinks
Good news 417d ago

The best blenders in the US: five favorites for smoothies, soups and frozen drinks

A great blender is a kitchen workhouse – I tested nine including the Vitamix and Breville for budget, size, mulch factor and speedVitamix 5200 review: it’s a legend for a reasonIn the UK? Check out our top-rated blenders hereThere are few breakfasts that feel as healthy and refreshing as the ever-mutable smoothie. You can make them virtuous, with lots of greens and nut milk, or luscious, with full-fat dairy and cocoa powder – but in order to make a good one, you need a really good blender.And while smoothies are the classic use for a blender, these appliances can do so much more; a truly great blender is a kitchen workhorse that can make your morning smoothie, your afternoon dip, your evening soup and even a frozen drink if you’re feeling frisky.Best overall blender: Vitamix 5200$499.95 at VitamixBest budget blender: Breville Fresh & Furious$197 at AmazonBest personal blender: The Beast Mega 1200 Plus$219 at BeastBest blender for smoothies on the go:Nutribullet Pro 900$99.53 at AmazonBest blender for the plastic-averse:Oster Classic Series Heritage Blender with 6-Cup Glass Jar$89.99 at Amazon Continue reading...

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BBC News app
Context 516d ago

BBC News app

Top stories, breaking news, live reporting, and follow news topics that match your interests

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Financial bullying can ruin a marriage: first-person stories
Context 4428d ago

Financial bullying can ruin a marriage: first-person stories

When partners consider finances, when is it ‘my’ money, and when it is ‘our’ money? Guardian readers shared their experiences Private lives: ‘I want to end my marriage but I’m financially dependent’A survey of about 1,000 Americans found that one in 10 would describe their partner as a financial bully. Our readers, however, insist that that might be a label easily assigned to a partner who is simply being financially responsible.When we put out a call to out readers last week to see if any of them had similar experiences, we found that many of you wouldn’t define the actions described as financial bullying. Instead, quite a number of you insisted that keeping track of your partner’s expenses was simply budgeting and being financially responsible. Continue reading...

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