19 m. ago A star who loathed the limelight, Gene Hackman and his pianist wife lived as recluses for decades in their sprawling mansion

The bodies of 95-year-old Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, a 63-year-old classical pianist, were 'partially mummified' -revealing the extent to which the couple had isolated themselves.

Politics

20 m. ago Keir Starmer’s wins and losses during crunch White House summit with Donald Trump

Meeting between the Labour prime minister and US president touched on Ukraine, tariffs, trade deals, the Chagos Islands, Nato and a historic state visit invitation from King Charles

Politics

31 m. ago Women’s Super League to consider scrapping relegation in major revamp

Proposal for more teams in new-look top flight Championship set to be rebranded as WSL2The Women’s Super League is considering abolishing relegation as part of a radical proposal to grow the sport that will be discussed by the clubs at a meeting on Friday.The Guardian has learned that the 23 WSL and Championship clubs have been called to a strategy summit by the newly formed company that runs both competitions, Women’s Professional Leagues Ltd, who will ask them to explore a range of options to increase the profile, sustainability and profitability of women’s football. Continue reading...

Politics

32 m. ago Social Security Administration could lay off up to 50% of its workforce, source says – live

Social Security Administration expected to lay off at least 7,000 people, but a source tells Associated Press reduction could be as high as 50%As Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk work zealously to slash tens of billions in federal spending by axing thousands of jobs and gutting some government agencies, Musk faces mounting claims he has conflicts of interest and no oversight, legal and ethics experts say.Trump’s largest campaign donor and the world’s wealthiest man, Musk was tapped by the president to lead the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) in a radical and opaque cost-cutting drive that allows him to keep control of SpaceX, Tesla and other huge companies with billions of dollars in federal contracts.We expect that today’s meeting will be the first in a series of such expert consultations that will bring us closer to overcoming the disagreements that have arisen with the American side, strengthening confidence-building measures. Continue reading...

Events

34 m. ago The São Paulo connection: a Brazilian gang is spreading its cocaine business into Australia

The PCC – First Capital Command – formed in a Sāo Paulo prison but is now spreading its tentacles around the worldIn September 2020, the Australian Border Force intercepted 552kg of cocaine concealed in 2,000 boxes of frozen banana pulp that had arrived at the port of Sydney on a ship from Brazil.Two years later, a diver was found floating dead next to 52kg of cocaine near the port of Newcastle, in New South Wales, Australia. Police later discovered that he was a Brazilian national who had been attempting to retrieve drugs from a cargo ship’s hull. Continue reading...

Events

38 m. ago An uncertain future for agricultural students at Black colleges after Trump cuts: ‘a clear attack’

The 1890 National Scholars program gives full rides to HBCU students in fields like botany, forestry and food safetyDr Marcus Bernard was shocked to learn last week that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had suspended the 1890 National Scholars program that funds undergraduate students’ education in agriculture or related fields at about 20 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).Bernard is dean of the college of agriculture, health and natural resources at one of those institutions, Kentucky State University. At Kentucky State, close to 40 of the scholars have enrolled since the project’s inception in 1992. Nationwide, the program has supported more than 800 students, according to the USDA. Continue reading...

Politics

42 m. ago Haunting details from Jesus Guerrero's last days leave more unanswered questions about his death at 34

Jesus Guerrero, 34, died in hospital after falling sick with a mystery illness, his sister, Gris Guerrero, revealed on Tuesday. Guerrero died days after working with JLo in Dubai.

Events

43 m. ago Soucek extends West Ham’s revival and Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester woe

It has been a midweek of Premier League certainties being secured at both top and bottom. Place Leicester in the certainty category. Defeat at West Ham extended Leicester’s doomed, zombified lurch towards relegation to 11 defeats in 12, 11 from 16 since Ruud van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper in November.If Cooper was the wrong man at the wrong club then so is the Dutchman. Perhaps no manager had a chance with the squad Leicester assembled to attempt survival. Graham Potter, previously linked with Leicester, has meanwhile restored order to West Ham. Jarrod Bowen made things happen for both first-half goals, involved in the move for the first from Tomas Soucek, the second an own goal from Jannik Vestergaard the Hammers captain’s zest had enforced. Continue reading...

Politics

44 m. ago Chris Eubank Jr doubles down on egg incident as war of words with Conor Benn continues

Tuesday’s press conference descended into brawl after Eubank Jr slapped Benn with an egg

Events

44 m. ago Small Town, Big Story review – Christina Hendricks is terrifying in Chris O’Dowd’s wacky Irish comedy

Hendricks plays a Hollywood producer who returns to her home town to shoot a show in this whimsical comedy drama – and she is not someone you want to crossHow much you enjoy Small Town, Big Story will depend on how you feel first about whimsy and second about genre mashups. If your appetite for both is large, then Chris O’Dowd’s creation (he wrote and directed) has plenty to make you happy. If not, you might find the whole thing a little too underpowered to keep you going.Christina Hendricks, of Mad Men fame, plays hard-bitten TV producer Wendy Patterson. She is in charge of her first big Hollywood production and returns to her tiny home town of Drumbán in Northern Ireland (after 25 years in Los Angeles surrounded by fat-cat bosses and patronising colleagues) to shoot it there. This follows shenanigans by Drumbán’s more colourful and eccentric characters to keep the location scouts from choosing a more tax-advantageous site across the border; these shenanigans include a pig’s head o...

Events

60 m. ago Trump administration quietly shutters online form for student debt repayment

Removal comes after court decision pausing Joe Biden’s Save program, leaving millions of Americans in the lurchDon’t let a billionaire’s algorithm control what you read. Download our free app to get trusted reporting.The Donald Trump administration has taken down the online application form for several popular student debt repayment plans, causing confusion among borrowers and likely creating complications for millions of Americans with outstanding loans.Those seeking payment plans are unable to access the applications for income-driven repayment plans (IDR), which cap what borrowers must pay each month at a percent of their earnings, as well as the online application to consolidate their loans on the US Department of Education website. Continue reading...

Politics

68 m. ago Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death undetermined as family declines autopsy

Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor, 39, died this week after being found unresponsive at her apartmentMichelle Trachtenberg’s natural talent shone in everything from Harriet the Spy to BuffyThe cause of Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Michelle Trachtenberg’s death will remain undetermined as her family has reportedly declined an autopsy.According to Deadline, the actor’s family have chosen not to go forward with an autopsy because of religious reasons. As no foul play is suspected, the decision was not overruled by the medical examiner. Continue reading...

Events

89 m. ago Trump praises Starmer’s ‘hard’ lobbying as he again suggests UK will be exempt from US tariffs – live

Trump calls Starmer meeting ‘tremendously productive’ and says ‘we have a very good chance at arriving at a very good deal’Trump-Starmer visit: the key takeawaysEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, the European Commission has just confirmed. Jakub Krupa has more on his Europe live blog.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has confirmed that President Trump has the ability to veto the deal that the UK has negotiated transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Isands to Mauritius. Speaking on ITV’s Peston last night, Lammy said:If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal. Continue reading...

Politics

93 m. ago Woman, 73, reveals the plastic surgery procedures that made her look '20 years younger'

Pamela Allyn, 73, who goes by 'Aunt Pam' on social media and shares 'skincare and life tips to look fab into your 70s,' revealed the procedures that have her aging backwards.

Politics

98 m. ago Conor Benn ‘deserved embarrassment’ of egg hit, says Chris Eubank Jr

‘If I had an opportunity to do it again then I would’Egg hit during Tuesday press conference sparked brawlChris Eubank Jr said Conor Benn “deserved the embarrassment” of being hit with an egg during Tuesday’s Manchester press conference after his two failed drug tests in 2022.The World Boxing Council stated a “highly elevated consumption of eggs” was behind Benn’s failed tests which led to his original fight against Eubank being cancelled at short notice – an offence the Essex fighter has since been cleared of. The rivals are now preparing to meet each other in a highly anticipated middleweight clash on 26 April and, during their on-stage face-off in Manchester this week, the IBO champion Eubank smuggled an egg inside his jacket and hit Benn on the side of the head with it, sparking a brawl. Continue reading...

Events

98 m. ago EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Locals hit out at plans to fell trees at George Michael's London home

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: The £10million Hampstead house was left to Yioda Panayiotou following the Wham ! singer's death on Christmas Day 2016 at the age 53.

Events

1 hour ago Finn Russell backed to handle Calcutta Cup flak as Scotland team

Glasgow star reestablishing himself for club and country

Politics

1 hour ago Emmerdale 'confirms' another shocking death as Joe Tate's secret 'revealed'

Emmerdale viewers have worked out another big death looming on the ITV soap following scenes with Joe Tate on Thursday night, as a new character hinted at someone's demise

Events

1 hour ago Chiefs’ Travis Kelce commits to play in 2025: ‘Got a real bad taste in my mouth’

Kansas City star tight end returning to play in 2025Kelce confirmed return with tweet to ESPN pundit Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is returning to the field next season.Kelce made his intentions known with a text to ESPN’s Pat McAfee, who promptly shared it on his show Thursday. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Millions of immigrants to be surveilled under Trump, largest US immigration contractor says

Geo Group, an Ice partner, is moving at ‘unprecedented speed’ to build out its monitoring, executive chair saysThe Geo Group, the largest single private contractor to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), said it is building out its surveillance business to be able to monitor hundreds of thousands or millions more immigrants than it already does.The Geo Group, a private prison corporation and parent company of BI Inc, has contracted with Ice for nearly 20 years to manage the agency’s electronic monitoring program. It currently tracks approximately 186,000 immigrants using devices such as ankle monitors, smart watches and a facial recognition app, according to public Ice data. Due to increasing demand from Donald Trump’s administration, which has promised mass deportations, company executives said that they expect that number to grow past its previous peak of 370,000 to 450,000 immigrants within the next year. The remarks were made during the company’s fourth quarter earnings...

Events