72 m. ago Sadiq Khan boosts funding to combat hate crimes and radicalisation

Mayor admits hate crimes in the capital remain ‘far too high’, while stressing the need to help Londoners ‘think critically’ in face of online extremism

Events

2 h. ago Péter Erdő is a strong candidate to be the next pope – and that’s reason to be fearful | Alex Faludy

The archbishop is traditionalists’ preferred candidate for a reason: his papacy would wind back the progress made under Pope FrancisWho might be the next pope? The question is famously difficult to answer. But we can be reasonably confident that if the successful contender comes from the traditionalist camp – as opposed to the reformists – then he is likely to be Hungary’s most senior bishop, Péter Erdő.If you follow Hungarian politics then you will know of Erdő – a highly cultured man, respected for his broad learning well beyond his specialism in church law. His expertise has made him a valued consultant to Vatican bodies, while his sermons and interviews abound with historical and literary references. Yet he’s also a remote figure, lacking the common touch that defined Francis’s papacy; ascetic-looking, he’s rarely pictured smiling.Alex Faludy is a British-Hungarian freelance journalist based in Budapest, specialising in religious affairs Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Elon Musk’s xAI accused of pollution over Memphis supercomputer

Hearing scheduled for Friday as residents say AI company has distributed leaflets that downplay pollution dangersElon Musk’s artificial intelligence company is stirring controversy in Memphis, Tennessee. That’s where he’s building a massive supercomputer to power his company xAI. Community residents and environmental activists say that since the supercomputer was fired up last summer it has become one of the biggest air polluters in the county. But some local officials have championed the billionaire, saying he’s investing in Memphis.The first public hearing with the health department is scheduled for Friday, where county officials will hear from all sides of the debate. In the run-up to the hearing, secretive fliers claiming xAI has low emissions were sent to residents of historically Black neighborhoods; at the same time, environmental groups have been amassing data about how much pollution the AI company is likely generating. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Automakers focus on the global market, chide the US over tariffs at Shanghai's auto show

Booths of big Chinese, German and Japanese automakers are bustling at Shanghai's auto show as the industry keeps its sights on the wider global market not subject to steep U.S. tariffs on imports of cars and auto parts

Economics

4 h. ago ‘They excavated a nightclub!’: uncovering Black British history beyond London – podcast

From struggles over miscarriages of justice to groundbreaking music, Lanre Bakare looks at the places and events that shaped Black Britain in the Thatcher yearsWhen Guardian arts and culture correspondent Lanre Bakare was growing up, he learned the same Black British history as many of us did. It was a series of singular events: the docking of the Windrush in 1948, unrest in Notting Hill or Brixton, the murder of Stephen Lawrence. All important, but all firmly focused on the capital.Now Lanre has written a book about the Thatcher years, looking at the stories that are less often told: those that took place outside London, in Liverpool – with the oldest Black community in the UK – or in his home town of Bradford. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago TOM UTLEY: It's ironic but my abject failure to match my father's stellar university career set me up for life...

One of my late father's proudest moments came when the Cambridge authorities posted the results of the history finals on the notice boards outside Senate House.

Events

5 h. ago Row breaks out over Bayeux Tapestry after historian claims he's found an 'extra penis'

Seven years ago, Oxford academic Professor George Garnett claimed to have identified 93 depictions of male genitalia. But now another scholar believes he has found another appendage.

Politics

5 h. ago Trump orders Justice Department to investigate Democratic fundraising group ActBlue

Trump memorandum names ActBlue as an online fundraising platform that is used ‘to improperly influence American elections’

Politics

5 h. ago Trump signs executive memorandum to investigate major Democratic fundraising group

Trump memorandum names ActBlue as an online fundraising platform that is used "to improperly influence American elections’

Politics

6 h. ago New online safety rules spark angry backlash from campaigners who say they will put children and danger and have put the profits of Big Tech firms first

New online safety rules put the profits of Big Tech firms ahead of children's safety, campaigners warned last night.

Economics

6 h. ago Grand jury declines to indict man arrested in connection with Texas apartment fire that killed 5

Prosecutors say a grand jury has declined to indict a man who was arrested in connection with a Texas apartment fire that killed five people in 2018

Events

7 h. ago Inside Ransom Canyon star Josh Duhamel's 'doomsday cabin' that's 40 miles from civilization

'We're about 40 minutes from civilization,' Josh told the magazine. 'It's an exhale whenever we get here. And then after that you venture even deeper into the forest,' he added.

Politics

7 h. ago Premier League and FA Cup semis: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Chelsea to give youth a chance, Ipswich look to prolong the inevitable and Jamie Vardy begins his swansongTyrique George has caught the eye since breaking into Chelsea’s first team. A homegrown talent, the 19-year-old winger has done well in his Conference League outings and is in contention for his first start in the league when Enzo Maresca’s side host Everton in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off. Fast, direct and sharp on the ball, George has quickly become a favourite with supporters and he lifted some of the pressure off Maresca after coming off the bench to score an excellent equaliser in Chelsea’s comeback win at Fulham last weekend. Thrown on as a striker, George made it 1-1 with a fine shot from the edge of the area. It was the latest in a series of positive contributions from the teenager. His enthusiasm could make a difference against Everton. Jacob SteinbergChelsea v Everton, Premier League, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)Brighton v West Ham, Premier League, Saturday 3pmNew...

Politics

7 h. ago Historians dispute Bayeux tapestry penis tally after lengthy debate

Two Bayeux scholars at loggerheads over whether dangling shape depicts dagger or the embroidery’s 94th phallusIn a historical spat that could be subtitled “1066 with knobs on”, two medieval experts are engaged in a battle over how many male genitalia are embroidered into the Bayeux tapestry.The Oxford professor George Garnett drew worldwide interest six years ago when he announced he had totted up 93 penises stitched into the embroidered account of the Norman conquest of England. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Parents outraged after ‘whites’ and ‘colored’ signs are posted above water fountains in Georgia elementary school

‘To me, that’s not a history lesson,’ one parent said

Events

7 h. ago Famous stunt pilot Rob Holland dies in horror plane crash at Langley Air Force Base

Rob Holland has been described as "one of the most respected and inspiring aerobatic pilots in aviation history," having been World Freestyle Aerobatic Champion six times

Events

8 h. ago Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pay tribute to children 'who have died due to harms of the internet' unveiling a poignant monument in New York

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle unveiled a memorial in New York City last night, which is dedicated to 'honouring the lives of children lost to online harm'.

Politics

8 h. ago Online streamer busted for carving ‘KICK.COM’ into historic Grand Canyon landmark

Exclusive: ‘The damage caused by carving this inscription into the rock is permanent and cannot be undone,’ according to a National Park Service affidavit reviewed by The Independent

Transport

8 h. ago Port Talbot chapel up in flames as Historic building's roof engulfed in blaze

The emergency services have been called to the scene of a huge blaze at the grade II listed Bethany English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel in Port Talbot, South Wales

Politics

8 h. ago Trump targets Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue with memorandum

President directs attorney general to investigate supposed foreign contributions, an unsubstantiated rightwing claimThe Republican president is taking aim at a Democratic fundraising platform, issuing a presidential memorandum to crack down on supposed foreign contributions to elections, an unsubstantiated claim from the right..Donald Trump announced the memo on Thursday, directing the attorney general to investigate, and report to the president, “concerning allegations regarding the use of online fundraising platforms to make ‘straw’ or ‘dummy’ contributions and to make foreign contributions to US political candidates and committees, all of which break the law”. Continue reading...

Politics