3 d. ago Magnificent, rare worm with its own campaign song: the giant Gippsland earthworm

This immense worm moves slowly and gracefully underground and can grow to the length of an outstretched armMore fantastic invertebrate nominations hereThe giant Gippsland earthworm already has an upbeat campaign song.“I am a real worm, I am an actual worm,” bangs the chorus of Doctor Worm, a late-90s novelty hit by the American indie rock band They Might Be Giants. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Lucy Dacus: Forever Is a Feeling review | Alexis Petridis's album of the week

(Geffen/Polydor)The Virginia songwriter gets lost in understatement on a loved-up album about her relationship with bandmate Julien Baker, shrouding sharp lyrics in shy melodiesLast February, the American “indie rock supergroup” Boygenius – AKA Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus – announced an indefinite hiatus. The announcement came a couple of weeks before their solitary album, The Record, won three of the seven Grammys for which it had been nominated. This was a suitably triumphant ending to a project that had been garlanded with acclaim, both for their music – “at the vanguard of keeping rock alive,” as one US magazine editor put it – and their willingness to indulge in attention-grabbing gestures, frequently designed to prick at the male domination of rock history.Their debut EP came in a sleeve that referenced that of Crosby, Stills & Nash’s eponymous 1969 album. They dressed as the Beatles for an appearance on Saturday Night Live and as Nirvana on the cover of R...

Politics

6 d. ago Woman tells court Gérard Depardieu groped her buttocks and breasts on set

Film assistant says actor groped her several times in three incidents while filming Les Volets VertsA woman accusing Gérard Depardieu of sexual assault has told a landmark trial in Paris that the actor groped her buttocks and her breasts several times in three separate incidents on a film set. Depardieu, 76, is accused of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during filming in 2021 of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters). He denies any sexual assault. The third day of the Paris trial focused on the testimony of the younger plaintiff, who said Depardieu had first groped her bottom when she was alone with him for a brief moment between the backstage area and the film set. “Out of the blue, he put his hand on my butt,” she told the court on Wednesday, adding she was in shock, “petrified” and said nothing. In a second incident, she alleged, Depardieu had suddenly put both his hands on her breasts. “I said no; I was scared,” she said. She also said she had told D...

Events

6 d. ago Former Citibank exec settles maternity discrimination case for £215,000

Maeve Bradley, who worked for Citibank in Belfast, lost out on expected promotion after having a babyA former Citibank employee has received £215,000 in a discrimination settlement after she lost out on an expected promotion when she returned from having a baby.Maeve Bradley, who had worked at the American bank’s offices in Belfast as an assistant vice-president of derivatives since March 2021, took maternity leave in 2023 and said she was devastated to be offered a different role on her return. Continue reading...

Economics

7 d. ago Serial harasser arrested for groping young woman aboard American Airlines flight, feds say

Exclusive: Cherian Abraham was charged Monday with one count of abusive sexual contact, which carries up to two years in federal prison

Events

7 d. ago Serial harasser banned from American Airlines for allegedly groping young woman aboard flight

Exclusive: Cherian Abraham is no longer welcome aboard American’s planes, a spokesperson told The Independent

Events

9 d. ago United pilot attacks passenger for taking too long in the bathroom, lawsuit alleges

Yisroel Liebb of New Jersey claims pilot broke lock and pulled him out with his pants down, leaving him exposedAn Orthodox Jewish passenger says a United Airlines pilot forcibly removed him from an airplane bathroom while he was experiencing constipation, exposing his genitalia to other flyers during a flight from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston.Yisroel Liebb, of New Jersey, described his trip through allegedly unfriendly skies in a federal lawsuit this week against the airline and the US Department of Homeland Security, whose officers he said boarded the plane upon landing and took him away in handcuffs. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago United pilot attacked passenger for taking too long in the bathroom, lawsuit alleges

Yisroel Liebb of New Jersey claims pilot broke lock and pulled him out with his pants down, leaving him exposedAn Orthodox Jewish passenger says a United Airlines pilot forcibly removed him from an airplane bathroom while he was experiencing constipation, exposing his genitalia to other flyers during a flight from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston.Yisroel Liebb, of New Jersey, described his trip through allegedly unfriendly skies in a federal lawsuit this week against the airline and the US Department of Homeland Security, whose officers he said boarded the plane upon landing and took him away in handcuffs. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Woman charged with drowning pet dog in Florida airport bathroom

Alison Lawrence allegedly killed her miniature schnauzer after being told the pet could not fly with her to ColombiaA woman who was told she could not bring her dog aboard her international flight drowned the animal in the bathroom of a Florida airport, according to authorities.Alison Lawrence, 57, of Kenner, Louisiana, faces a felony charge for what police described as the “cruel and unnecessary death” of her white miniature schnauzer, Tywinn. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Furious Americans rip apart Heathrow as they're trapped across the world after airport meltdown: 'We should never have come!'

Travelers have criticized Heathrow Airport and airline staff for their 'confusing' messages, with some alleging they weren't informed their flights had been cancelled until they turned up at the airport.

Society

2 w. ago Furious United Airlines passenger punches airport worker in cancelled flight chaos

Police arrested Christopher Crittenden, 54, after he allegedly assaulted a United Airlines gate agent at Dulles International Airport in the Washington DC-area, US

Events

2 w. ago Trump to ‘deal with’ TikTok ahead of April deadline, Commerce Secretary vows

ByteDance has until April 5 to either divest from TikTok or see its platform banned from American app stores. It’s hazy if Trump will extend the deadline

Politics

2 w. ago Passenger convinced 'demon is on plane' attacks flight crew and swallows rosary beads

Delange Augustin, 31, is alleged to have attacked the plane crew on board an American Airlines flight to Florida after believing he was being pursued by 'Satan's disciple'

Events

2 w. ago Pakistani sex attacker who groped woman after living illegally in Britain for 11 years avoided deportation by claiming he is gay

The sex offender, 53, had been living in the UK illegally for 11 years but was granted refugee status after arguing he was homosexual and would face persecution in his home country.

Events

2 w. ago Ecuador enlists founder of Blackwater private army as ally in ‘war’ on crime

Daniel Noboa, who is seeking re-election as president, announces partnership with Trump supporter Erik PrinceEcuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, has announced a “strategic alliance” with the Donald Trump-supporting founder of the private military firm Blackwater to supposedly reinforce his controversial “war” on crime.Noboa, the rightwing heir to a South American banana empire, announced the partnership with Erik Prince on social media on Tuesday night. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Netflix bans documentary about American music icon after major complaint

Netflix has halted a nine hour in depth documentary that was being made about music icon Prince, after the streaming service struck a new deal with the musician's estate

Culture

3 w. ago Moment passenger starts screaming about 'Lord Jesus' while being pinned down as terrified Brit tourists watch on during flight to Canary Islands

Footage captured aboard Jet2 flight LS307 and since posted to TikTok showed a man shouting loudly from his seat as passengers tried to intervene

Events

3 w. ago Sex Pistols recall Vietnam vets with cattle prods hired to keep them in line on tour

The infamously fraught American tour concluded with John Lydon announcing the band’s break-up

Events

3 w. ago Iconic 80s rock band call off Las Vegas residency just weeks before first gig as lead singer is hit by surgery news

The chart-topping American band were due to play at Park MGM on the city's famous Strip between March 28 and April 19 but the run of gigs will now begin on September 12.

Events

3 w. ago Martin Compston triggered by Rangers takeover as Celtic daft actor vows to ban American father in law from his house

The actor has been delighted with what he's seen from his own team this season especially in the Champions League

Society