68 m. ago ‘I tried to be nice. Sometimes I would explode’: John Fogerty on Creedence, contracts and control

As the driving force behind Creedence Clearwater Revival, he wrote some of the 60s most enduring songs. But a poor record deal followed by years in the wilderness drove him to the brink of breakdown. Now 80, he looks backThere were once two brothers from an Irish background, living in the outer suburbs of a hip city. They got in a band and one of them turned out to be a genius songwriter and arranger. For a few years everything they touched turned to gold. Then they fell out, bitterly, each blaming the other for everything that had gone wrong.It’s the story of not just the Gallagher brothers, but also John and Tom Fogerty. Like Noel, John was the brilliant songwriter, arranger, lead guitarist and producer – but he was also like Liam, the frontman with one of the great rock’n’roll voices. Whereas Tom Fogerty, who had been the original lead singer of the group that eventually became Creedence Clearwater Revival, had nothing without his brother’s genius. Continue reading...

Politics

68 m. ago Loneliness is rife among young men. It’s time to get offline and talk to each other | Alexander Hurst

It’s tempting to scoff, but don’t dismiss the data. Modern man’s failure to forge real, meaningful friendships is bad for everyoneAt first I was startled when the psychologist Angelica Ferrara told me that most of the time it’s women, not men, who want to write about her research into male loneliness. But this is the crux of the issue, isn’t it? That we men need to talk, and we don’t: not nearly enough, anyway.Since 1990, there has been a sharp decline in how many people men say they are close to, says Ferrara, who is a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford and a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics. In the US, two-thirds of men aged between 18 and 23 think that nobody really knows them; one third haven’t seen anyone outside their household in the past week; only a fifth say they have friends they can really count on; and a staggering 69% of young men think “no one cares if men are OK”.Alexander Hurst is a Guardian Europe columnist Continue reading...

Politics

98 m. ago Russell Grant's horoscopes as Capricorn finds themselves struggling

Today's horoscopes are brought to you by astrologer Russell Grant

Politics

3 h. ago ‘Historical amnesia’: Indonesia’s fight over plan to amend history books

Anger the controversial plan coincides with anime flag movement, seen as a critique on the decline of democratic freedoms under President PrabowoIndonesia has delayed plans to publish a set of controversial history books amid backlash from historians and activists who have accused the project of being an attempt to downplay past atrocities, and represents “historical amnesia”.In May Indonesia’s culture minister Fadli Zon announced the planned release of a 10-volume “official history” project. The set of new books would remove colonial bias, feature updated research, promote national pride and have a “positive” tone, he said. Continue reading...

Culture

3 h. ago Amid the chaos after the fall of Kabul, two men became my lifeline | Shadi Khan Saif

Exactly four years later, our reunion in the safety of my new home in Melbourne was sweetSitting cross-legged on a richly patterned Afghan rug in a Melbourne living room, we chatted for hours, reflecting on the fall of Kabul four years ago that brought us together and nurtured a bond of friendship across continents.We had first connected in the chaos of August 2021, when the fall of Kabul shattered decades of fragile progress towards democracy, freedom and peace in Afghanistan. Our reunion this winter in Melbourne should have been pure joy – a celebration of survival and friendship – but it began in the quiet rows of a Muslim graveyard. We were there for the funeral of our mutual friend, Barez. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago Wallet travelled 150,000 miles under Ford Edge's bonnet after it vanished 10 years ago

Richard Guilford lost his tri-fold leather wallet — stuffed with $15, his driver's licence and work ID — had turned up under the bonnet of a car in a repair shop in Lake Crystal, Minnesota

Politics

5 h. ago Gavin Newsom just launched his unofficial 2028 campaign for the White House

California governor may have just defined the boundaries of the Democratic primary in 2028 by firing the first shot, writes John Bowden

Politics

7 h. ago Braun shaver that shoppers say 'shaves as close as a wet shave' £260 off on Amazon

The Braun Series 9 PRO+ is a top-tier wet and dry foil shaver, now £239.99 on Amazon, offering a close, comfortable shave

Economics

7 h. ago Trump joint bookies favourite for Nobel Peace Prize at 5/2 ahead of Putin meeting

The US President may not be many's first choice for the prestigious award, but a surge in betting odds suggest he could be crowned over the likes of Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough

Politics

8 h. ago LEONARD QUART: Memories of Hampstead Heath and other London parks

LEONARD QUART: Memories of Hampstead Heath and other London parks  The Berkshire Edge

Politics

8 h. ago Fantasy Football fans will use AI to gain an edge in their teams – here's who it picked

The fantasy Premier League is back, and so is the battle to win the title - with two thirds of fantasy football players set to use AI throughout the season to get one over on their rivals

Sport

8 h. ago Judge strikes down key parts of Florida law that led to removal of books from school libraries

A federal judge has struck down key parts of a Florida law that allowed parents to remove books they found objectionable from public school libraries

Events

9 h. ago USA Network is bringing back scripted TV. First up? John Grisham's 'The Rainmaker'

After getting out of the scripted TV business in 2021 for reality TV and sports coverage, USA Network is returning to air scripted originals with the legal drama “The Rainmaker."

Politics

10 h. ago John Boyne says LGBTQ+ fiction prize backlash brought him ‘close to the edge’

Gender-critical novelist urges writers to re-enter prize they boycotted and may ask judges not to shortlist his novellaThe gender-critical Irish novelist John Boyne has said he has been brought “very close to the edge” by the backlash to his inclusion on the longlist for a literary prize for LGBTQ+ authors.Ten authors and two judges withdrew from the Polari prize and more than 800 writers and publishing industry workers signed a petition calling on Polari to remove Boyne’s novella Earth from its longlist. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Two miraculously survive as speeding Mercedes driver leaves cars mangled wreck

John Wilds ran a red light and drove at up to 80mph before ploughing into another vehicle

Events

11 h. ago BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Tom Skinner hits back at 'hate' after backlash over signing

The Apprentice star Tom Skinner has hit back at the 'hate' he has received after being announced as a contestant on the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing

Events

12 h. ago Strictly Come Dancing's Tom Skinner responds to fierce backlash after BBC announcement

The decision by BBC to announce Tom Skinner as a Strictly Come Dancing contestant has been fiercely criticised, but the former Apprentice star has now hit back at his haters

Politics

12 h. ago Parents of girl who died in hospital say she had a ‘life of joy ahead of her’

Ruth Szymankiewicz, 14, should have been under constant watch at Huntercombe Hospital in Berkshire when she was left unsupervised.

Events

12 h. ago E.L.F. Cosmetics issues apology after facing backlash over controversial Matt Rife ad

The comedian previously made headlines for making jokes about domestic violence

Politics

12 h. ago ‘Systemic failures’ led to unlawful death of girl at mental health unit – family

A jury inquest ruled the death of Ruth Szymankiewicz, who was left unsupervised at a children’s mental health ward, as unlawful killing.

Society