45 m. ago ‘Parasites should get more fame’: the nominees for world’s finest invertebrate – podcast

Invertebrates don’t get the attention lavished on cute pets or apex predators, but these unsung heroes are some of the most impressive and resilient creatures on the planet. So when the Guardian opened its poll to find the world’s finest invertebrate, readers got in touch in their droves. A dazzling array of nominations have flown in for insects, arachnids, snails, crustaceans, corals and many more obscure creatures. Patrick Barkham tells Madeleine Finlay why these tiny creatures deserve more recognition, and three readers, Sandy, Nina and Russell, make the case for their favouritesInvertebrate of the year 2025: vote for your favouriteSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...

Politics

1 hour ago Trump imposes tariffs on uninhabited Heard and McDonald Islands near Antarctica

Australian prime minister surprised after external territories – including tiny Norfolk Island and remote islands home to penguins – targeted by US presidentA group of barren, uninhabited volcanic islands near Antarctica, covered in glaciers and home to penguins, have been swept up in Donald Trump’s trade war, as the US president hit them with a 10% tariff on goods.Heard Island and McDonald Islands, which form an external territory of Australia, are among the remotest places on earth, accessible only via a two-week boat voyage from Perth on Australia’s west coast. They are completely uninhabited, with the last visit from people believed to be nearly 10 years ago. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Cyndi Lauper review – 80s pop eccentric hasn’t changed a bit

Rod Laver Arena, MelbourneHer farewell tour is a pockmarked history of her roots and wide-ranging influences, full of her trademark elan and vigourGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailFandom isn’t a good look on a critic; we’re supposed to be sober and impartial, analytical and measured. What to do, then, when called upon to review your favourite idol, the singer who first turned you on to the power of pop? Judicious rumination or tinny screams of delight? There’s room for both in this swan song from 80s pop eccentric Cyndi Lauper, as irrepressible here as when I saw her as a teenager, then touring her new album True Colours. She’s had an illustrious career, including a side gig composing musicals – Kinky Boots, and soon an adaptation of 80s workplace comedy Working Girl – but the bulk of her hits are drawn from her first two albums, including the astonishing debut She’s So Unusual. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – the song that gives this farewell tour its name – is also by far La...

Politics

3 h. ago Enzo Maresca responds to cancelling Chelsea day off after first team thrashed by under

Chelsea have a huge game against Tottenham coming up on Thursday but there has been some concern over three defeats in their last five league games - before the senior side lost 3-0 to the Under-21s

Politics

6 h. ago Eddie Howe hails Sandro Tonali’s ‘big moment’ in Newcastle’s win over Brentford

The 24-year-old Italy international brought an incident-packed encounter to a fitting conclusion with a 74th-minute piledriver to earn a precious win.

Events

7 h. ago Diogo Jota breaks down Everton’s blue wall as Liverpool move closer to title

The 246th Merseyside derby was as much of a cathartic release for Liverpool as another step closer to a 20th league title. Arne Slot’s side cleansed themselves of recent torment against Everton and two deflating cup defeats with a hard-fought but deserved victory courtesy of Diogo Jota’s fine individual goal. A maximum of 13 points is all that is required from the remaining eight games of the season to put the Premier League trophy on display at Anfield once again.There was a determination to seize control of the derby from the start by Liverpool and, unlike the previous two encounters at Goodison Park, a composure in possession that enabled them to do so. The painful Champions League exit and deserved Carabao Cup final defeat that preceded the international break, plus of course memories of their last run-in with Everton 49 days ago, may also have fuelled the hunger and intensity of a team closing in on the Premier League title. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Trump hits UK with 10% tariffs as he ignites global trade war

Britain gets off comparatively lightly but US president’s action could still cost billions in lost growthUS politics – latest updatesDonald Trump has hit the UK with tariffs of 10% on exports to the US as he ignited a global trade war that could wipe billions off economic growth.The US president accused other nations, including allies, of “looting, pillaging, raping and plundering” the US, as he announced tariffs on economic rivals including 20% on the EU and 34% on China as part of what he dubbed “liberation day”. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Judge dismisses gender bias suit by woman who lost bid to be top pastor of famed Black church

A federal judge has dismissed a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by a professor and minister who lost her bid to become the first woman serving as senior pastor of a prominent New York City congregation, the 217-year-old Abyssinian Baptist Church

Events

9 h. ago 'I love JK Rowling' stickers put after showing of gender critical film was cancelled at university were not transphobic 'dog whistle', tribunal told

Academics Deirdre O'Neill and Michael Wayne are suing the University and College Union (UCU) after its Edinburgh branch said their film Adult Human Female was an attack on transgender identity.

Culture

10 h. ago Influencer looks suitably ashamed as she's perp walked for 'having sex with her chihuahua'

Logan Guminski, 27, hung her head in shame as she was perp walked following her arrest for allegedly having sex with her Chihuahua.

Politics

10 h. ago Loose Women star announces 'new arrival' to her family with adorable photoshoot

One Loose Women star is glowing from within after sharing news that she has welcomed a new member to her family, much to the delight of the presenter's husband and daughters

Events

10 h. ago Kennedy remains quiet on 10,000 jobs lost at the nation's top health department

Health secretary Robert F

Society

11 h. ago Warning over disposable barbecues as UK temperatures set to soar to 22C

People are urged not to use disposable barbecues and to act responsibly to prevent the risk of wildfires

Events

12 h. ago Mum 'mauled by pack of 24 starving dogs' died after attack 'drained her of blood'

Jessica Hoff is facing charges after her vulnerable mum, LaVonne Hoff, 76, was found dead in her Colorado home in February when she was left alone with multiple dog on the loose

Events

12 h. ago Investigation launched after racist message ‘blasted out’ at asylum centre

Offensive broadside was reportedly heard over portable radios at Manston processing siteAn investigation has been launched after a racist message was reportedly “blasted out” on portable radios used by Home Office contractors at an asylum processing centre.The deeply offensive broadside, saying “fuck off you [N-word]s, go back to where you came from”, was reportedly heard at the Manston processing site for small boat arrivals in Kent. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago ‘Loser’: Musk endures wave of gloating on X after liberal judge wins Wisconsin race

Democrats seize on result as a referendum on Musk and an emphatic repudiation of Trump’s richest supporter and allyDemocrats were tasting unfamiliar triumphalism on Wednesday after the election for a vacant Wisconsin supreme court seat turned into an emphatic repudiation of Elon Musk, Donald Trump’s richest supporter and key ally.Musk endured a wave of gloating on X, his own the social media platform, after Brad Schimel, a Trump-endorsed judge that he spent $25m supporting lost by 10 percentage points to Susan Crawford, whose victory sustained a four-three liberal majority on the court. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago The best padel tennis clubs in London, from Stratford to Battersea

A new wave of padel clubs are promising everything from dog-friendly social nights to Soho House vibes. Katie Strick picks the hottest spots in town

Politics

13 h. ago Teens accused of starting massive South Carolina wildfire by tossing their cigarette butts along a hiking trail

The Table Rock fire forced widespread evacuations and a massive ground and aerial response

Events

13 h. ago Londoners warned not to have barbecues this weekend because they could cause wildfires

The Met Office has imposed a rare amber warning for fire severity across parts of England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland as temperatures soar to 22C (72F).

Events

13 h. ago 'We have lost a very special soul': Emotional tributes to mum

'Words cannot truly capture the devastating loss that we as her family and friends are currently experiencing'

Politics