1 hour ago ‘The joy shot out of his voice’: Ray Davies, Graham Nash and others on Brian Wilson’s songwriting genius

With the innocence of a child and the vision of a god, his craft was astonishing. From Jessica Pratt to Jim James and Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil, top musicians explain why he was like no other‘He taught the world how to smile’: Brian Wilson bandmates pay tribute along with Bob Dylan, Elton John and moreTwelve of Brian Wilson’s greatest songsFor all the sophistication that everyone talks about, Brian never loses the thread of the song: the emotion. They have this childlike quality. These days we’d probably say he’s on the spectrum – there’s a sort of Asperger’s type innocence. He makes the lyrics and the melody speak. It’s so welcoming and without edge; it’s not part of a cynical adult world. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash Live Updates: 'Aircraft's full fuel tank, intense heat gave no chance to save lives', says Amit Shah

Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash Live Updates: 'Aircraft's full fuel tank, intense heat gave no chance to save lives', says Amit Shah  Times of India

Events

4 h. ago This Dunelm wall light doesn't need an electrician to install, and it's 20% off

'Looks lovely, good quality and easy to install. Would recommend.'

Politics

5 h. ago Poorest Brits to benefit most from Rachel Reeves's Spending Review

The poorest Brits will benefit most from Rachel Reeves’s public sector spending spree but tax rises look likely in the autumn, think tank the Resolution Foundation has said

Politics

6 h. ago Boden's new swimsuit looks just like Sophie's Mamma Mia movie one– and it's on sale

Boden's new 'bigger bust friendly' swimsuit is the perfect mix of summer style and clever built-in support

Politics

8 h. ago The Greater Manchester waterside walk named among best for families this summer

It has gorgeous views across the water and of surrounding moorland

Politics

8 h. ago Dunelm shoppers say 'luxury' floral bedding has 'amazing quality and is super soft'

The Arabella Blue Floral Luxury Velvet Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set is available in single, double, king-size and super king, and has been getting rave reviews

Politics

8 h. ago Zara shoppers love 'classy' £70 dress 'similar' to AllSaints version

Fashion fans praised the 'gorgeous' dress they recommended for holidays and special occasions

Economics

9 h. ago Trade unions alarmed at council plans to redeploy teachers in early years settings to meet ASN demand

Concerns have been voiced that the change could impact the quality of provision in nurseries.

Events

9 h. ago Coronation Steet star Jack P Shepherd pays tribute to 'gorgeous girl' as he declares love

The David Platt actor paid tribute to his 'gorgeous' fiancee Hanni Treweek as they celebrated a special occasion

Politics

10 h. ago Boden's 'absolutely gorgeous' maxi skirt with pockets reduced from £112 to £67

The colourful skirt comes in petite, regular and long and has concealed side pockets

Economics

10 h. ago Welcome to the 'National Health State': Half of all public spending will go on NHS by the end of the decade despite alarm at dire productivity... and bosses STILL want more

A respected think-tank has insisted the UK is turning into the 'National Health State' after another major funding boost.

Economics

11 h. ago The beautiful destination that's a cheap and sunny swap for Dubai

A gorgeous destination in Turkey has been described as an affordable swap for a holiday in Dubai.

Politics

11 h. ago Clean bill of health after unannounced spot check at Ayrshire care home

South Ayrshire Council-run Hillcrest Residential Unit Care Home Service, in the town’s McConnell Square, was graded ‘very good’ and ‘good’ across three quality indicators.

Society

12 h. ago Cal review – grieving Helen Mirren superb in compassionate Troubles romance

Mirren won best actress at Cannes in 1984 for her role as Marcella, who forms a relationship with John Lynch’s Cal – a man complicit in her husband’s murderPat O’Connor’s Northern Irish movie from 1984, adapted by author Bernard MacLaverty from his own novel, holds up very well for its rerelease; better in fact than most of the movies and TV drama made about and during the Troubles. It has an unhurried, thoughtful and very human quality; Helen Mirren won the best actress award at Cannes for her performance here and in fact it is very well acted across the board by a blue-chip cast.Mirren plays Marcella, a woman from a Catholic background, married across the sectarian divide to a reserve police officer murdered at his parents’ farmhouse by an IRA man who had bullied a bewildered local guy into being his getaway driver; this is Cal, played by the gauntly intense John Lynch. Cal lives with his widowed father; a gentle performance by Donal McCann, who was Gabriel Conroy in John Huston’s...

Events

14 h. ago Britain morphing into ‘National Health State’, says think tank

The NHS has received an extra £29 billion per year for day-to-day spending and more cash for capital investment.

Events

14 h. ago Boden's 'flattering for narrow shoulders' dress slashed by 40% to £67 in the sale

"Beautiful print and comfortable, flattering dress. I've had lots of compliments whenever I've worn this"

Economics

22 h. ago Ed Sheeran fears 'creepy' AI could turn out just like The Matrix and enslave us all

Ed Sheeran said he is really worried about AI and has warned that the quality of output from AI is not as good as real life because it will be devoid of emotion

Politics

22 h. ago Whether wistful or euphoric, Brian Wilson made pop’s most overwhelmingly beautiful music

He was the Beach Boys’ resident genius, seeping melancholy into even peppy teenybopper hits. Beyond all the myths about his life, that brilliance is still intoxicatingBrian Wilson, visionary creative spirit for the Beach Boys, dies aged 82Brian Wilson: a life in picturesIt’s fair to say that no one who bought the Beach Boys debut single in 1961 would have realised they were in the presence of genius. Surfin’ sounded exactly like what it was: one of dozens of cheap, hastily-recorded singles released on a tiny independent label to cash in on the burgeoning craze for surf music, albeit a regionally-successful example of type. You might easily have expected to never hear of the band who made it again.But the 19-year-old Brian Wilson was determined – he was the taskmaster that had relentlessly drilled his unwilling younger brothers Carl and Dennis into learning to harmonise – and a quick learner. The leap in quality between Surfin’ and its 1962 follow-up Surfin’ Safari was striking. The ...

Politics

23 h. ago Ohio chemical spill sparks mass evacuations and flight groundings

Authorities confirmed that a 5,000-gallon tank containing nitric acid leaked at the Austin Powder Red Diamond plant in McArthur, Vinton County.

Science