31 m. ago Trump says no Ukraine agreement after Putin talks as he advises Zelenskyy to ‘make a deal’ – live

US president tells Fox’s Sean Hannity meeting with Russian leader in Alaska was ‘10’ out of 10 and puts onus on Ukrainian presidentNo deal after brief Trump-Putin talks on Ukraine in AlaskaThe president has yet to deplane, but is currently greeting Alaska governor Muke Dunleavy and senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, all Republicans, aboard Air Force One, per the White House.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also says that for the expanded bilateral meeting and lunch, Trump, Rubio, and Witkoff will be joined by treasury secretary Scott Bessent, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Trump says ‘no deal until there’s a deal’ on Ukraine war after talks with Putin – live

Pair decline to take questions in short press conference as US president says ‘we didn’t get there but we have a good chance of getting there’No deal after brief Trump-Putin talks on Ukraine in AlaskaThe president has yet to deplane, but is currently greeting Alaska governor Muke Dunleavy and senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, all Republicans, aboard Air Force One, per the White House.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also says that for the expanded bilateral meeting and lunch, Trump, Rubio, and Witkoff will be joined by treasury secretary Scott Bessent, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Trump says Xi told him China will not invade Taiwan while he is in office

US president says Chinese counterpart told him ‘I am very patient and China is very patient’The US president, Donald Trump, has said that his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, told him China would not invade Taiwan while Trump is in office.Trump made the comments in an interview with Fox News on Friday, ahead of talks with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Tuvalu considers pulling out of Pacific leaders’ summit amid China

Exclusive: Prime minister Feletei Teo says Tuvalu may withdraw from crucial meeting after key countries such as Taiwan were barred from attendingTuvalu’s prime minister Feletei Teo said his country may pull out of the region’s top political meeting next month, after host nation Solomon Islands moved to block all external partners – including China, US and Taiwan – from attending.The Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting will be held in Honiara in September. On 7 August, Solomon Islands prime minister Jeremiah Manele told parliament that no dialogue partners would be invited to the annual gathering. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Trump says ‘no deal until there’s a deal’ on Ukraine after talks with Putin – live

Pair decline to take questions in short press conference as US president says ‘we didn’t get there but we have a good chance of getting there’Trump gives warm welcome to Putin in AlaskaThe president has yet to deplane, but is currently greeting Alaska governor Muke Dunleavy and senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, all Republicans, aboard Air Force One, per the White House.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also says that for the expanded bilateral meeting and lunch, Trump, Rubio, and Witkoff will be joined by treasury secretary Scott Bessent, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Fuzzy hats and a ban on swearing: the New Zealand town that bonds over curling

Scottish goldminers first brought the sport to Central Otago and the traditions live on as farmers sweep stones and catch up on the iceOn a July evening in Alexandra, a small town in New Zealand’s South Island, the temperature is a chilly 3C. While most of the town is in quiet darkness, at Ice Inline Molyneux Park, the lights are on and the banter is abundant. It’s a social curling night, and the shouts of “sweeeep!” can be heard from the car park. Players from teams with names such as the “Plonkers”, “Too Dam Cold” and “Doome and Broom” gather on the outdoor ice rink, sweeping furiously as 11kg curling stones move across the ice.L-R: A collection of enamel badges from curling competitions and tournaments. Curling stones ready to be put away after a Thursday night social curling game in Alexandra. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Rybakina happy to have controversial coach back as she beats Sabalenka

Former Wimbledon champion races to 6-1, 6-4 victoryShe defends previously banned coach Stefano VukovElena Rybakina has described herself as satisfied by the return of her coach Stefano Vukov as she produced an imperious performance at the Cincinnati Open, dismantling Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1 and defending champion, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, put together a performance of the highest quality on Friday afternoon as she served efficiently and completely overpowered one of the most destructive shotmakers in the world. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Trump and Putin hold pivotal summit on Ukraine war in Alaska – live updates

Leaders, joined by respective cabinet delegations, meet at US air base to negotiate ending war in UkraineTrump gives warm welcome to Putin in AlaskaThe president has yet to deplane, but is currently greeting Alaska governor Muke Dunleavy and senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, all Republicans, aboard Air Force One, per the White House.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also says that for the expanded bilateral meeting and lunch, Trump, Rubio, and Witkoff will be joined by treasury secretary Scott Bessent, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Washington DC and White House agree to scale back Trump ‘takeover’ of city police

US capital’s city law enforcement will remain under control of its chief, Pamela SmithWhite House officials and attorneys for Washington DC have agreed to scale back the Trump administration’s takeover of the city’s police department.Under an agreement announced early Friday evening, the US capital city’s metropolitan police department will remain under the control of its chief, Pamela Smith, instead of Terry Cole, the Drug and Enforcement Administration (DEA’s) top administrator, according to reports. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago Little Trouble Girls review – monstrous choirmaster spikes a sublime Catholic coming

Utterly absorbing Slovenian debut reinvents the cliched idea of a Catholic girl’s sexual awakening, and proves that no teacher can be as cruel as a music teacherThis elegant and mysterious debut from Slovenian director Urška Djukić, with its superb musical score and sound design, reinvents the cliched idea of a Catholic girl’s sexual awakening. It’s also proof, if proof were needed, that no teacher in the world can be as cruel and abusive as a music teacher. We have already seen JK Simmons’ terrifying jazz instructor in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash and Isabelle Huppert’s keyboard monster in Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher; now there is Slovenian actor and musician Saša Tabaković playing a demanding, yet insidious choirmaster in charge of a group of talented, vulnerable teenage girls. The film incidentally has a lesson for any teenage person watching: if a music teacher asks you to sit next to them on the piano stool with no one else in the room and murmurs “You can confide in me” y...

Events

5 h. ago New Spurs captain Cristian Romero is committed to club, insists Frank

Centre-back succeeds departed Son Heung-minFrank: ‘I see a player that will want to lead the team’Thomas Frank has insisted Cristian Romero is committed to Tottenham and has backed the defender to become an even better leader after being handed the captaincy.Romero, named captain after Son Heung-min’s departure for Los Angeles FC, has faced questions over his commitment to Spurs in recent seasons. The 27-year-old has been accused of caring more about playing for Argentina and was linked with a move to Atlético Madrid this summer but Frank is confident the centre-back’s long-term future lies in north London. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago New Orleans mayor indicted for corruption over alleged bodyguard romance

Grand jury charges LaToya Cantrell with using city property and resources for purported affairThe New Orleans mayor, LaToya Cantrell, was indicted by a federal grand jury Friday on corruption charges involving a purported romance with her former bodyguard.Cantrell, 53, thus became the first New Orleans mayor in the city’s 307-year history to be charged by the US government with crimes while still in office. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Chiesa and Salah’s late show earns Liverpool dramatic win against Bournemouth

The opening night of the new Premier League season contained tearful tributes, high drama, allegations of racist abuse and another reminder that, when it comes to indefatigable spirit and the will-to-win, Liverpool have few rivals.Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who reported being racially abused by a Liverpool fan during the first half at Anfield, appeared to have delivered a point for Andoni Iraoli’s side when hauling the visitors back from two goals down. An 88th minute volley from Liverpool substitute Federico Chiesa, however, plus a stoppage time strike from Mohamed Salah conjured a rescue act for Arne Slot’s champions. Salah was in tears after the final whistle as he stood in front of the Kop and absorbed a tribute to Diogo Jota. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago Dominant Hull KR see off Wigan to go six points clear at top of Super League

Wigan 6-10 Hull KRHadley try and three Martin goals enough for victoryHull KR underlined their position as Super League’s new dominant force with a statement victory at the home of the reigning champions and took a giant step towards completing the second leg of a historic treble.Having won the Challenge Cup ­earlier this summer, the Robins are now close to clinching a first ever League Leaders’ Shield after the kind of performance that confirms they are very much the team to beat on the road to the Grand Final at Old Trafford this October. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Sean Kingston sentenced to three and a half years over $1m wire fraud scheme

Beautiful Girls singer and his mother were convicted in March of accruing luxury items through falsified paymentsSean Kingston has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison by a Florida court for a $1m wire fraud scheme, according to NBC South Florida.The 35-year-old singer, born Kisean Anderson, was found guilty in a South Florida court in March alongside his mother, Janice Turner, for accruing about $1m worth of luxury items through falsified payments that never cleared. Turner was sentenced in July to five years in prison with three years of probation. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Meta faces backlash over AI policy that lets bots have ‘sensual’ conversations with children

US senator Josh Hawley opened investigation into the tech giant, which said it had removed the policy guidelinesA backlash is brewing against Meta over what it permits its AI chatbots to say.An internal Meta policy document, seen by Reuters, showed the social media giant’s guidelines for its chatbots allowed the AI to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual”, generate false medical information, and assist users in arguing that Black people are “dumber than white people”. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago Concessions review – moviegoer melancholy for Michael Madsen’s final film

Madsen cameos as a stuntman visiting a smalltown movie theatre on its last day before closing down in this amiable, bittersweet story for cinephilesThe late Michael Madsen makes his final, posthumous appearance as a boozy stuntman called Rex Fuel in this laidback ensemble film from feature first-timer Mas Bouzidi, a piece of moviegoing melancholy developed from the director’s short of the same title. Bouzidi gives us the time-honoured scenario of a smalltown movie theatre’s last day before closing down, resonantly named the Royal Alamo and showing for its last stand a couple of films on 35mm. The place has been stricken, of course, by the prevalence of digital streaming, although the wistful mood doesn’t seem too different from Bogdanovich’s The Last Picture Show from 1971, when Netflix wasn’t a problem.The Royal Alamo is now a bittersweet place of memories whose spirit is perhaps epitomised by the two guys listlessly working at the concessions stand, and bickering amusingly like Ke...

Culture

6 h. ago Trump and Putin begin pivotal summit on Ukraine war in Alaska – live updates

The leaders, joined by their respective cabinet delegations, are meeting at a US air base to negotiate ending the war in UkraineWhat’s at stake at the Trump-Putin Ukraine peace summit?The president has yet to deplane, but is currently greeting Alaska governor Muke Dunleavy and senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, all Republicans, aboard Air Force One, per the White House.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also says that for the expanded bilateral meeting and lunch, Trump, Rubio, and Witkoff will be joined by treasury secretary Scott Bessent, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Bayreuth's 2025 production of Wagner's 'Meistersinger' features a Technicolor look — and a twist

In Wagner's home theater in Bayreuth, Germany, a twist has been added to the classic opera “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.”

Politics

7 h. ago Trump and Putin shake hands in Alaska as summit begins – live updates

Putin and Trump land in Alaska to meet about ending war in Ukraine; US president says he wants to see a ceasefire and ‘won’t be happy if it’s not today’What’s at stake at the Trump-Putin Ukraine peace summit?The president has yet to deplane, but is currently greeting Alaska governor Muke Dunleavy and senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, all Republicans, aboard Air Force One, per the White House.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also says that for the expanded bilateral meeting and lunch, Trump, Rubio, and Witkoff will be joined by treasury secretary Scott Bessent, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Continue reading...

Politics