4 h. ago ‘Filling in these gaps’: Paul McCartney’s recently rediscovered photographs

A new exhibition at the Los Angeles Gagosian showcases previously unseen pictures taken by the musician during the rise of BeatlemaniaHe is not drowning but waving. John Lennon’s arms stretch at angles like the sails of a windmill. His face wears a toothy, incandescent smile. Beads of water dance around him like an upside-down waterfall as he swims off Miami Beach.“He’s so carefree,” says Joshua Chuang, director of photography at the Gagosian art gallery. “It’s almost like you’ve never seen him like that; he’s always kind of joking around or brooding or being sarcastic. He’s so happy. It’s his best friend at the time capturing that and, when you know about what happened, it’s so moving.” Continue reading...

Culture

5 d. ago Britain needs houses, and Labour’s bold plan will address that. But it may require more migrants | Polly Toynbee

Ministers are ready to be relentless over planning reform. There is a skills gap though – and they must be brave enough to fill itAmid the shock of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) halving its growth forecast last month, one remarkable finding gets too little attention. It predicts housebuilding will rise to its highest level in 40 years, adding 0.2% growth or £6.8bn by 2029-30, potentially rising to more than 0.4% by 2034-35. The government has said that housing scores the biggest positive growth effect from a “zero-cost policy” the OBR has ever forecast.This is especially remarkable given that 2024 saw the fewest planning permissions granted for new homes for a decade, and the worst on record, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF). Planning applications plummeted when the last government scrapped councils’ mandatory housing targets, but since Labour reimposed a national planning policy framework, applications in the works have risen by more than 160%.Polly Toyn...

Events

7 d. ago The row over huge Stevie Wonder and Alanis Morissette gigs in Cardiff

Cardiff Council said having live music events at Blackweir Fields will help the city fill a gap in its events offering, but park users and sports teams are concerned

Politics

7 d. ago The dream Nintendo Switch 2 ports we want – From Diablo to Halo and more

The Switch 2 will see a bunch of third-party ports and Nintendo's own games when it launches in June, but here are the gaps we want to see filled in the coming months

Politics

8 d. ago EU will struggle to fill gap left by USAID as European countries cut their budgets

NGOs warn of ‘some difficult years’ ahead as increasing humanitarian needs meet shrinking financesThe dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has captured headlines, but “very regrettable” reductions in European aid budgets are also contributing to a void in support for some of the poorest people in the world’s most fragile states, according to MEPs and NGOs.Isabella Lövin, a deputy chair of the European parliament’s development committee, said USAID cuts would have “very dramatic consequences around the world”. But she also criticised recent decisions by EU member states to reduce their aid budgets as “very regrettable” and “wrong”. It would be impossible for the EU to fill the gap, she added. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago The Beatles fans believe they know real reason Paul McCartney left band 55 years ago

The Beatles split for good in April 1970, with Paul McCartney confirming he was no longer working with the group on this day 55 years ago, and fans believe they figured out the 'real reason' he quit

Politics

1 week ago Plea for health chiefs not to put brakes on Bridge of Weir mobile treatment centre

The medical bus has been filling healthcare gap but is currently off the road and could be axed.

Politics

2 w. ago Rugged Scottish landscape inspired Beatles hit that ended up 'splitting the band'

Paul McCartney has spoken about the inspiration he has drawn from the country's landscape in his songs

Events

2 w. ago Being a librarian was already hard. Then came the Trump administration

Already facing burnout and book bans, librarians face a ‘catastrophe’ for institutions deemed central to democracyFor many librarians, the stakes of the job are high – they’re facing burnout, book bans, legislation pushed by rightwing groups, and providing essential resources in an effort to fill gaps in the US’s social safety net.Now, as Donald Trump’s administration rolls out their agenda, many librarians are describing his policies as “catastrophic” to accessing information and the libraries themselves – institutions considered fundamental to democracy. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Sir Paul McCartney reveals unexpected way Buddy Holly inspired The Beatles

New book Words Of Love celebrates the life of the late rock and roll musician and songwriter Buddy Holly as Sir Paul McCartney reveals how he inspired The Beatles

Politics

2 w. ago Hey DJ, got any Kanye? Yes. It’s on my ‘do not play’ list | Oliver Keen

I get why wedding DJs are increasingly discerning. Our job is to spread joy on the dancefloor – not upset and divisionI have DJed at some impressively esoteric weddings in my time. I started playing clubs in 1999, but in the mid-2000s I started advertising myself as a wedding DJ on the era-defining digital noticeboard Gumtree. One heroic couple only wanted the music of abrasive Manchester geniuses the Fall for the entirety of their nuptials. Another sweet couple wanted to evoke the night they met at 5am at the London gay club Fire – so hired me to bang out punishing hard house from 5pm in a hotel function room.From experience, people who hire wedding DJs are usually fairly clear about what they like. They may provide a short list of songs they love, usually across a few genres, and trust a DJ to fill in the gaps. It’s rarer that people are clear what they explicitly don’t like. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Paul Mescal 'will undergo drastic lifestyle change' to play Paul McCartney in Beatles biopic

The Normal People star will appear in the Beatles biopics in April 2028

Politics

2 w. ago Paul Mescal 'told to get less ripped' as he gears up for role of Sir Paul McCartney in Beatles biopic

It was announced this week that the actor will be starring in the movie alongside Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.

Politics

2 w. ago 120,000 people have filled national insurance gaps to help boost state pension

People have just days left to take action to fill gaps going back as far as April 2006.

Politics

2 w. ago Death in Paradise has finished, here's what you should watch instead

The crime drama you can watch to fill the gap left by Death in Paradise

Events

3 w. ago Beatles biographer Ian Leslie on John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s ‘erotic’ bromance

Fascinated by psychology, Ian Leslie found much to sink his teeth into in the relationship between the two greatest Beatles. Nick Duerden speaks to the writer about his new, critically acclaimed book exploring pop music’s most tumultuous, competitive and ultimately loving friendship

Politics

3 w. ago John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison deserve their own biopics. But not Ringo Starr, he isn't on the same creative level, says PHILIP NORMAN

It's often wearing to be the Beatles ' biographer. Such is the enduring fascination of the Fab Four that at parties, rather like a doctor, I try to keep my occupation a secret, writes PHILIP NORMAN.

Politics

3 w. ago Netflix blasted as 'useless' by fans as it removes seven wildly popular shows this month

Netflix is removing a range of fan-favourite 'comfort shows' this month in a move viewers are calling 'sacrilege,' but plenty of long-awaited hits are coming the fill the gaps over April

Culture

3 w. ago Deadline looming to take action which could boost state pension entitlement

A deadline of April 5 has been set for people to fill gaps going back to 2006, but people can also fill in a callback request form by this date.

Events

3 w. ago The actors who will play The Beatles: Inside the new Fab Four

The films will have an April 2028 release date.

Politics