16 m. ago Leicester signal surrender against West Ham as miserable run under Ruud van Nistelrooy continues

West Ham 2-0 Leicester: Tomas Soucek was gifted a goal on his 30th birthday and Jannik Vestergaard scored an own goal

Politics

19 m. ago Women’s Super League to consider scrapping relegation in major revamp

Proposal for more teams in new-look top flight Championship set to be rebranded as WSL2The Women’s Super League is considering abolishing relegation as part of a radical proposal to grow the sport that will be discussed by the clubs at a meeting on Friday.The Guardian has learned that the 23 WSL and Championship clubs have been called to a strategy summit by the newly formed company that runs both competitions, Women’s Professional Leagues Ltd, who will ask them to explore a range of options to increase the profile, sustainability and profitability of women’s football. Continue reading...

Politics

20 m. ago Social Security Administration could lay off up to 50% of its workforce, source says – live

Social Security Administration expected to lay off at least 7,000 people, but a source tells Associated Press reduction could be as high as 50%As Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk work zealously to slash tens of billions in federal spending by axing thousands of jobs and gutting some government agencies, Musk faces mounting claims he has conflicts of interest and no oversight, legal and ethics experts say.Trump’s largest campaign donor and the world’s wealthiest man, Musk was tapped by the president to lead the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) in a radical and opaque cost-cutting drive that allows him to keep control of SpaceX, Tesla and other huge companies with billions of dollars in federal contracts.We expect that today’s meeting will be the first in a series of such expert consultations that will bring us closer to overcoming the disagreements that have arisen with the American side, strengthening confidence-building measures. Continue reading...

Events

22 m. ago The São Paulo connection: a Brazilian gang is spreading its cocaine business into Australia

The PCC – First Capital Command – formed in a Sāo Paulo prison but is now spreading its tentacles around the worldIn September 2020, the Australian Border Force intercepted 552kg of cocaine concealed in 2,000 boxes of frozen banana pulp that had arrived at the port of Sydney on a ship from Brazil.Two years later, a diver was found floating dead next to 52kg of cocaine near the port of Newcastle, in New South Wales, Australia. Police later discovered that he was a Brazilian national who had been attempting to retrieve drugs from a cargo ship’s hull. Continue reading...

Events

26 m. ago An uncertain future for agricultural students at Black colleges after Trump cuts: ‘a clear attack’

The 1890 National Scholars program gives full rides to HBCU students in fields like botany, forestry and food safetyDr Marcus Bernard was shocked to learn last week that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had suspended the 1890 National Scholars program that funds undergraduate students’ education in agriculture or related fields at about 20 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).Bernard is dean of the college of agriculture, health and natural resources at one of those institutions, Kentucky State University. At Kentucky State, close to 40 of the scholars have enrolled since the project’s inception in 1992. Nationwide, the program has supported more than 800 students, according to the USDA. Continue reading...

Politics

31 m. ago Soucek extends West Ham’s revival and Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester woe

It has been a midweek of Premier League certainties being secured at both top and bottom. Place Leicester in the certainty category. Defeat at West Ham extended Leicester’s doomed, zombified lurch towards relegation to 11 defeats in 12, 11 from 16 since Ruud van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper in November.If Cooper was the wrong man at the wrong club then so is the Dutchman. Perhaps no manager had a chance with the squad Leicester assembled to attempt survival. Graham Potter, previously linked with Leicester, has meanwhile restored order to West Ham. Jarrod Bowen made things happen for both first-half goals, involved in the move for the first from Tomas Soucek, the second an own goal from Jannik Vestergaard the Hammers captain’s zest had enforced. Continue reading...

Politics

31 m. ago Chris Eubank Jr doubles down on egg incident as war of words with Conor Benn continues

Tuesday’s press conference descended into brawl after Eubank Jr slapped Benn with an egg

Events

32 m. ago Brian Cox gives a mighty scowling performance as Bach in The Score at Theatre Royal Haymarket

The Succession star moulds Bach into a warmongering king, but this play has too much padding

Politics

32 m. ago Small Town, Big Story review – Christina Hendricks is terrifying in Chris O’Dowd’s wacky Irish comedy

Hendricks plays a Hollywood producer who returns to her home town to shoot a show in this whimsical comedy drama – and she is not someone you want to crossHow much you enjoy Small Town, Big Story will depend on how you feel first about whimsy and second about genre mashups. If your appetite for both is large, then Chris O’Dowd’s creation (he wrote and directed) has plenty to make you happy. If not, you might find the whole thing a little too underpowered to keep you going.Christina Hendricks, of Mad Men fame, plays hard-bitten TV producer Wendy Patterson. She is in charge of her first big Hollywood production and returns to her tiny home town of Drumbán in Northern Ireland (after 25 years in Los Angeles surrounded by fat-cat bosses and patronising colleagues) to shoot it there. This follows shenanigans by Drumbán’s more colourful and eccentric characters to keep the location scouts from choosing a more tax-advantageous site across the border; these shenanigans include a pig’s head o...

Events

33 m. ago Ruud van Nistelrooy's bubble has burst as West Ham prove why Leicester look doomed

WEST HAM 2-0 LEICESTER: Ruud van Nistelrooy looks out of ideas as his Leicester team slumped to an 11th defeat in a dozen Premier League games to remain five points from safety

Politics

40 m. ago Luke Littler left visibly agitated by Premier League darts walk

The Nuke didn't seem happy as mother appeared to be pushed as he took to the oche

Politics

43 m. ago Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce plans to play next season rather than retire

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce plans to play next season rather than retire

Politics

48 m. ago Trump administration quietly shutters online form for student debt repayment

Removal comes after court decision pausing Joe Biden’s Save program, leaving millions of Americans in the lurchDon’t let a billionaire’s algorithm control what you read. Download our free app to get trusted reporting.The Donald Trump administration has taken down the online application form for several popular student debt repayment plans, causing confusion among borrowers and likely creating complications for millions of Americans with outstanding loans.Those seeking payment plans are unable to access the applications for income-driven repayment plans (IDR), which cap what borrowers must pay each month at a percent of their earnings, as well as the online application to consolidate their loans on the US Department of Education website. Continue reading...

Politics

50 m. ago A poker champ claimed he was kidnapped in a massive extortion plot. The mystery has only deepened

Exclusive: George Janssen’s longtime friend told The Independent of the poker pro’s alleged kidnapping, “I don't know whether it was real or not.”

Events

56 m. ago Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death undetermined as family declines autopsy

Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor, 39, died this week after being found unresponsive at her apartmentMichelle Trachtenberg’s natural talent shone in everything from Harriet the Spy to BuffyThe cause of Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Michelle Trachtenberg’s death will remain undetermined as her family has reportedly declined an autopsy.According to Deadline, the actor’s family have chosen not to go forward with an autopsy because of religious reasons. As no foul play is suspected, the decision was not overruled by the medical examiner. Continue reading...

Events

69 m. ago Luke Littler beats Stephen Bunting after his mum involved in concerning crowd disturbance

Luke Littler was able to put aside some walk-on drama to beat Stephen Bunting in a battle of the two crowd favourites in the quarter-final of Night 4 of the Premier League in Exeter

Politics

72 m. ago Luke Littler fumes at Premier League Darts fan after blocking hug with his mum

Luke Littler appeared to take issue with a a member of the crowd in Exeter after he was shoved as he went to hug his mother on the way to the oche before he begun his Premier League match

Politics

77 m. ago Trump praises Starmer’s ‘hard’ lobbying as he again suggests UK will be exempt from US tariffs – live

Trump calls Starmer meeting ‘tremendously productive’ and says ‘we have a very good chance at arriving at a very good deal’Trump-Starmer visit: the key takeawaysEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, the European Commission has just confirmed. Jakub Krupa has more on his Europe live blog.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has confirmed that President Trump has the ability to veto the deal that the UK has negotiated transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Isands to Mauritius. Speaking on ITV’s Peston last night, Lammy said:If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal. Continue reading...

Politics

85 m. ago Conor Benn ‘deserved embarrassment’ of egg hit, says Chris Eubank Jr

‘If I had an opportunity to do it again then I would’Egg hit during Tuesday press conference sparked brawlChris Eubank Jr said Conor Benn “deserved the embarrassment” of being hit with an egg during Tuesday’s Manchester press conference after his two failed drug tests in 2022.The World Boxing Council stated a “highly elevated consumption of eggs” was behind Benn’s failed tests which led to his original fight against Eubank being cancelled at short notice – an offence the Essex fighter has since been cleared of. The rivals are now preparing to meet each other in a highly anticipated middleweight clash on 26 April and, during their on-stage face-off in Manchester this week, the IBO champion Eubank smuggled an egg inside his jacket and hit Benn on the side of the head with it, sparking a brawl. Continue reading...

Events

90 m. ago Finn Russell backed to handle Calcutta Cup flak as Scotland team

Glasgow star reestablishing himself for club and country

Politics