7 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

10 h. ago Inside Sydney Sweeney's wild boozy night out as she continues to blow off American Eagle controversy

Hollywood's latest 'it' girl wore a farm-girl style white cotton crop top that flashed her toned tummy as she added oversized blue denim jeans and white sneakers. She was surrounded by pals.

Politics

18 h. ago ‘We made it our catwalk’: the photos showing Black British women’s Saturday night fashion through the ages

Archivist Deborah Carnegie has gathered 70 years’ worth of photos of women from the Windrush generation to the present day getting ready for a big evening out – and changing the face of fashion in the UK as they wentBefore the beat drops, there is first the bedroom. A hot comb sizzling fresh from the stove, the gentle whirring of a sewing machine. A group of women cross-legged on the floor, swapping clothes and gossip: who got turned away at the club door last weekend? Who might show up tonight?For the London-based archivist Deborah Carnegie, there is something atavistic and sacred about the pre-night out ritual, in particular for Black British women. It is the subject of her latest work, a photography archive spanning 1950 to the present day, chronicling Black British women’s Saturday night fashion across the decades. Continue reading...

Culture

55 h. ago Newborn baby is among 27 dead after migrant boat capsizes off the coast of Italy

The tragedy occurred 14 miles south of the island of Lampedusa on Wednesday - with a search continuing into the night for people still missing.

Events

61 h. ago Sydney Sweeney breaks social media silence with first post since American Eagle controversy

Sydney Sweeney has broken her social media silence with her first Instagram post since her recent American Eagle campaign sparked global outrage.

Politics

3 d. ago Foot traffic at American Eagle stores is down 9% after controversial Sydney Sweeney ad: report

The week spanning from August 3 to August 9 took the biggest hit, according to the report, which said foot traffic dropped 9 percent compared to a year earlier.

Politics

3 d. ago Thousands evacuated in Spain as deadly heatwave fans Mediterranean wildfires

Boy, four, dies of heatstroke in Rome as scientists say high temperatures and fires are reminder of climate emergencyThe deadly heatwave fanning wildfires across the Mediterranean region has claimed at least three lives and forced thousands of people from their homes.Firefighters continued to battle blazes on Tuesday and authorities braced for further damage as temperatures in some areas surged well past 40C. In Spain, a Romanian man in his 50s died after suffering 98% burns while trying to rescue horses from a burning stable near Madrid on Monday night. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Reflective Sha’Carri Richardson vows to seek help after airport arrest

Sprinter arrested after dispute with Christian ColemanSays she will pursue help, self-reflection and growthIssues public apology to boyfriend, fans on InstagramOlympic gold medal sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson said she plans to seek help following her 27 July arrest, which stemmed from a physical confrontation with her boyfriend, US sprinter Christian Coleman, at an airport.“I’m taking this time to not only see myself but get myself a certain level of help that overall is going to reflect who I truly am in my heart and my spirit and not allowing this moment – but accepting this moment – to be more,” Richardson said in an Instagram post Monday night. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Machine Gun Kelly awkwardly dodges Sydney Sweeney dating rumors

The rapper appeared on Sunday’s episode of ‘Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen’

Events

4 d. ago Machine Gun Kelly breaks silence on Sydney Sweeney romance rumours

New dad Machine Gun Kelly and Sydney Sweeney have stayed in touch since appearing in Downfalls High together back in 2021 and it has now been claimed they are dating

Politics

5 d. ago Maga mouthpiece makes weird claim that Sydney Sweeney should marry Trump's son

Fox News host Jesse Watters said Barron Trump and Sydney Sweeney could get married "and create a political dynasty" after Donald called the actress "hot" on social media

Politics

5 d. ago Simon Rex claims Matt Damon started ‘laughing’ during doomed Good Will Hunting audition

Actor reflected on his first ever acting audition as he prepares for the release of his new film ‘Americana’, in which he stars opposite Sydney Sweeney

Politics

6 d. ago Sydney Sweeney could rake in $10M if she inks a deal to be face of Bud Light after trans fiasco

Sydney Sweeney can raise a glass to bumper publicity this week - but she may soon be toasting with beer rather than champagne if she signs as the new face of Bud Light.

Economics

6 d. ago ‘You have to ruffle feathers’: a history of controversial jeans adverts

American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney ad is the latest in a long line of provocative campaigns striving to ‘cut through’There aren’t many advertising campaigns that elicit responses from the US president and vice-president, the senator Ted Cruz and the rappers Doja Cat and Lizzo. But the Euphoria actor Sydney Sweeney’s recent ad for American Eagle denim has done just that.Critics have interpreted the campaign as promoting eugenics, defenders have taken the backlash as evidence of so-called “woke” culture in the extreme and scrutinising it has taken on the trappings of a cottage industry. “Clocking in for my shift at the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle opinion factory,” the journalist Hunter Harris wrote on her Substack. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Zelensky warns on 'decisions without Ukraine' after Trump and Putin announce 'peace summit' in Alaska next week

Zelensky ruled out ceding any territory to Russia as Putin continued his offensive last night, killing four civilians and wounding 10.

Politics

7 d. ago Amsterdam nightclub scheme becomes flashpoint in Dutch city planning rows

Heritage concerns overruled as developers say planning approvals too slow in nation aiming to build 1m more homesAmsterdam was once famous for its alternative nightlife but now a planned new multi-storey building that will be home to a club, cafe and apartments has become a flashpoint in the battle between preserving heritage buildings and rowdy entertainment.In the latest urban planning tussle to hit one of Europe’s most densely populated countries, neighbours of Amsterdam’s planned “Institute for Night Culture” (INC) fear it will shake their foundations. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Fox News whips up another Sydney Sweeney ‘controversy’ by claiming left is ‘melting down’ over old ice cream ad

Without showing any criticism from liberals or progressives over a Baskin-Robbins ad featuring Sydney Sweeney, Fox News ran an entire segment that pushed the narrative that the left was outraged over it.

Politics

7 d. ago Stars share memories of Alex Jones as she marks 15 years on The One Show

The Welsh presenter has interviewed a number of Hollywood stars including Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore, Jackie Chan and Sydney Sweeney.

Politics

7 d. ago SHANNON MILLER: 'Sydney Sweeney's jeans ad isn’t cheeky branding, it echoes a dangerous past'

From wartime posters to 1930s magazines, the 'ideal woman' has always been eugenics coded but I think the American Eagle ad is the worst as it mirrors a disturbing past of beauty ideals shaped by racism

Politics

7 d. ago Billboard in LA vandalized with message declaring ‘Proud Boys love Sydney Sweeney’ as jeans ad fallout continues

A billboard in Los Angeles has been vandalized to declare, “Proud Boys love Sydney Sweeney”

Politics