33 m. ago Cristiano Ronaldo begs for Lamine Yamal privacy as Barcelona prodigy feels the heat over reaction to trophy lift

Spain star Yamal was filmed walking away from Portugal's trophy lift but CR7 wants narratives to be quashed

Politics

41 m. ago Israeli military intercept 'Freedom Flotilla' Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

‘Freedom Flotilla’ organisers accuse Israel of ‘forcibly intercepting’ the Madleen and acting with ‘total impunity’

Events

54 m. ago Artists, Siblings, Visionaries by Judith Mackrell review – the remarkable lives of Gwen and Augustus John

Gwen’s talent vastly outshone her brother’s – but both are treated with subtlety in this outstanding dual biographyA young woman sits reading, a pot of tea to hand, her blue dress almost the only colour in a still, sandy room. Gwen John’s painting The Convalescent shows a subdued yet happy moment, for this woman is free to think and feel. That, we see in Judith Mackrell’s outstanding double biography of Gwen and her brother, was her ideal for living: to be at liberty even if that meant existing in deepest solitude.The quietness of a life spent largely alone in single rooms, reading, drawing, painting and occasionally having wild sex with the sculptor Rodin, is counterpointed in this epic narrative by the crowded, relentless, almost insanely overstimulated life of Augustus John. Lion of the arts in early 20th-century Britain, he was a bigamist, adulterer, father of so many children you lose track (so did he), and an utterly forgettable painter. Continue reading...

Politics

1 hour ago Greta Thunberg accuses Israel of ‘kidnap’ while carrying aid for Gaza

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has accused Israel of “kidnapping” her and 11 others aboard the British-flagged yacht Madleen in international waters, according to a video released by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).

Politics

1 hour ago There’s an invader turning huge swathes of Britain into deserts – and these dead zones are spreading | George Monbiot

Vast areas of land are now dominated by one species – purple moor-grass – and good luck with seeing a bird or insect there. How do we revive these habitats?Deserts are spreading across great tracts of Britain, yet few people seem to have noticed, and fewer still appear to care. It is one of those astonishing situations I keep encountering: in which vast, systemic problems – in this case, I believe, covering thousands of square kilometres – hide in plain sight.I realise that many people, on reading that first sentence, will suspect I’ve finally flipped. Where, pray, are those rolling sand dunes or sere stony wastes? But there are many kinds of desert, and not all of them are dry. In fact, those spreading across Britain are clustered in the wettest places. Yet they harbour fewer species than some dry deserts do, and are just as hostile to humans. Another useful term is terrestrial dead zones. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Israeli forces take control of Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

The British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to GazaActivists accuse Israel of ‘forcibly intercepting’ ship – liveIsraeli forces have taken command of a vessel that tried to challenge its naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, with the boat and its crew of 12 including activist Greta Thunberg now heading to a port in Israel, officials said on Sunday.The British-flagged yacht Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza later on Monday and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago British pension policy is finally stepping in the right direction

Consolidation of funds makes evident sense, bringing economies of scale and scope

Events

4 h. ago Greta Thunberg Madleen boat branded 'a selfie yacht' as Israel hits back at activists

After Greta Thunberg said she and the 11 other activists on Madleen had been "intercepted and kidnapped," Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs took a swipe at the campaigners

Politics

5 h. ago Greta Thunberg's Gaza flotilla 'intercepted and kidnapped' by Israeli speedboats

Israeli military vessels are said to be circling a Gaza-bound ship carrying the Freedom flotilla, which has vowed to defy a blockade and deliver aid, with Greta Thunberg aboard

Politics

5 h. ago Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez 'dial down the bling' on Venice wedding after furore around THAT all

The eyes of the world will inevitably be on Venice later this month when financial colossus Jeff Bezos marries fiancee Lauren Sanchez.

Politics

5 h. ago Greta Thunberg's 'freedom flotilla' boarded by IDF troops: Israel confirms it has intercepted Gaza

The activists onboard started reporting 'attacks' around 2am local time, and Israel quickly confirmed it had boarded the 'selfie yacht'.

Politics

5 h. ago Gaza aid ship activists accuse Israel of ‘forcibly intercepting’ vessel as Israeli foreign ministry says ship heading to Israel – live

Freedom Flotilla Coalition says ship’s communications were jammed after Israeli defence minister threatened to ‘take all necessary measures’ to prevent the humanitarian ship from reaching GazaIDF ordered to stop Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Greta ThunbergIn a statement just released, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has accused Israel of “forcibly intercepting” the Madleen and acting with “total impunity”.It says that at 3.02am CET, the ship was “unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo—including baby formula, food and medical supplies—confiscated.”These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade—their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately.”While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1,200 aid trucks have...

Politics

6 h. ago 'Israeli speedboats and drones' are circling 'freedom flotilla', claim activists

Several vessels were said to have been surrounding the Madleen causing the crew to raise the alarm, but in an update, Freedom flotilla dubbed the incident a 'very unlikely false alarm'.

Politics

6 h. ago Gardeners urged to mix 59p kitchen ingredient with soap and apply to plants

If slugs, flies and ants are plaguing your garden this summer, no need to pick up a bottle of pest-killer - this handy household item can make a great and effective pesticide instead

Events

7 h. ago Madleen aid boat LIVE: Greta Thunberg attempts to reach Gaza despite Israel threat

Greta Thunberg and other activists are on the Madleen, a British-flagged boat operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, on which they intend to reach the Gaza Strip

Politics

7 h. ago Madleen aid boat LIVE: Greta Thunberg says she's been 'intercepted and kidnapped'

Greta Thunberg and other activists were hoping to reach the Gaza Strip on the Madleen, a British-flagged boat operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, this morning

Events

7 h. ago 'Israeli speedboats' are circling the freedom flotilla after vowing to intercept vessel and stop 'Greta Thunberg reaching Gaza'

Several vessels were said to have been surrounding the Madleen causing the crew to raise the alarm, but in an update, Freedom flotilla dubbed the incident a 'very unlikely false alarm'.

Politics

7 h. ago Starmer’s welfare cuts will see 340,000 more people in poverty than previously predicted, charity warns

340,000 more people in disabled households could face hunger and hardship by the end of the decade, new report says

Events

8 h. ago Uriah Rennie, first black referee in Premier League, dies aged 65

Trailblazing official battled rare neurological conditionRennie oversaw more than 300 top-flight matchesUriah Rennie, the first black Premier League referee, has died at the age of 65. The Jamaica-born official grew up in Sheffield and oversaw more than 300 top-flight matches, starting with his breakthrough appointment as Derby hosted Wimbledon in August 1997. The game was, however, abandoned due to floodlight failure.The Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association posted on X: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former chair and trailblazing referee, Uriah Rennie. Uriah made history as the Premier League’s first black referee, officiating over 300 top-flight matches between 1997 and 2008. He broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come. Our thoughts are with Uriah’s family and friends at this difficult time.” Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Trailblazing Premier League referee Uriah Rennie dies aged 65

Rennie officiated over 300 top-flight matches and was the first black Premier League referee

Events