3 h. ago The Hunger Games: On Stage review – thundering fight to the death in a dazzling dystopia

Troubadour Canary Wharf theatre, LondonEye-popping visuals and a strong lead performance energise Matthew Dunster’s production – but the emotion gets lost amid the actionA luminous bow hovers in the darkness as if suspended in the sky while the arena-like stage is filled with smoke. A figure emerges: Katniss Everdeen, the girl from District 12 in Suzanne Collins’ post-apocalyptic universe, played by Jennifer Lawrence in the film franchise. With her appearance, the 74th Hunger Games begin – and no special effect is spared.Closely following the plot of Collins’ first book in the young adult series, and the Lionsgate film of 2012, Matthew Dunster’s production is a grand-scale manifestation of dystopian Panem. It is a place in which the haves and have-nots are divided into districts, and in which children are pitted against each other as “Tributes” in a deadly TV gameshow, forced to kill for prime-time entertainment. The last one standing wins the prize of survival. Continue reading...

Sport

5 h. ago Smallville actress Allison Mack who went to prison for role in sex cult speaks out for the first time: ‘I was mean and I was forceful’

The 43-year-old actor was released from federal prison after serving 21 months of her three-year sentence

Events

3 d. ago America’s men’s grand slam drought is not Taylor Fritz’s burden to carry

Back at the ATP finals one year after reaching the last hurdle, Fritz remains a top-five talent. It’s a reminder that a certain major-title drought is not his burden to bearI would like to have some words with ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler about what he said after Novak Djokovic beat Taylor Fritz, for the 11th straight time, in the US Open quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is American, Fowler is American – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was appropriate. Instead, Fowler invoked the continued drought of American men at the majors: none of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.We all love a narrative, myself included. But come on. Even if Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik...

Politics

8 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy visits troops near embattled Pokrovsk

Deep Ukrainian drone strikes hit petrochemical plant 1,300km inside Russia and Lukoil refinery east of Moscow. What we know on day 1,351 Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops in the Pokrovsk area of Donetsk oblast on Tuesday. “I met with our warriors at the command post of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine Azov, which is conducting a defensive operation in the Dobropillya sector,” said the Ukrainian president, referring to a town about 20km (12 miles) from Pokrovsk.Russian forces had pushed further into Pokrovsk and its environs, though much of it remained beyond firm control of either side, mapping by the Ukrainian project DeepState indicated on Tuesday. “The situation remains critical,” said Deepstate, adding that in some districts Russian forces were digging in and building up positions.The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its most recent assessment at time of writing, posted on 3 November: “Russian forces continue to advance in the Pokrovsk direction and ap...

Events

9 d. ago MSP visits Lanarkshire Veterans’ Friday Café at Wishaw church

Clare Adamson met with members of the veterans’ community, volunteers, and supporters who dedicate their time to supporting those who have served in the Armed Forces.

Politics

1 week ago Tennis beauty forced to retire young in cocaine scandal defying time with unmistakable looks

Martina Hingis was one of the most talented tennis players of her generation, but her career was cut short by injury and a doping scandal - here's what she's been up to since

Politics

1 week ago Viktor Gyokeres injury update from Mikel Arteta as Arsenal fans' fears confirmed

Mikel Arteta has given an update on the condition of Viktor Gyokeres after the striker was forced off at half-time of the Gunners' win against Burnley

Sport

1 week ago Glasgow firework control zones in force for first time after Bonfire Night carnage

A firework control zone (FCZ) was meant to be in place in the Pollokshields area of the city last November however it did not go ahead.

Events

1 week ago Now Andrew has been fired from the Firm, a nation wonders: who'll be next? | Marina Hyde

The king is reduced to a blustering CEO, Prince William to his head of HR. This de-princing could leave the entire House of Windsor facing redundancyIncredible news for residents of the likes of Prince Andrew Drive and Prince Andrew Way, who in recent years have sought name changes from their local councils to remove the unfortunate association with You Know Who. Thanks to last night’s historically dramatic action by the king, the dignity of those aforementioned small stretches of Britain has been restored. (If anyone happens to live in Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Close, my commiserations.) But has the dignity of the British monarchy – current custodians: the House of Windsor – been restored? No, I reckon. In fact, this has made it worse.By way of background, the royal family’s crises have not been external for some time. It is not beset by marauding forces, or rival claimants to its throne, or parliamentarian revolt. All its greatest crises in the past few decades have come from wit...

Events

1 week ago Radio Free Asia suspends news operations amid cuts and US government shutdown

RFA will begin closing overseas bureaus, as well as laying off and paying severance to staff members, with the hope that it could return in the futureRadio Free Asia (RFA) has said it is suspending its news operations due to the US government shutdown and the Trump administration’s cuts to government-funded news services.“RFA has been forced to suspend all remaining news content production – for the first time in its 29 years of existence,” said Bay Fang, RFA’s president and CEO, in a statement. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce apologises on air after Prince Andrew blunder

Question Time host Fiona Bruce was forced to apologise after making a huge blunder about Prince Andrew during Thursday's live broadcast, following the ex royal's title removal

Politics

1 week ago BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce apologises on air after Andrew blunder

Question Time host Fiona Bruce was forced to apologise after making a huge blunder about Andrew during Thursday's live broadcast, following the ex royal's title removal

Politics

1 week ago Revealed: ICE violates its own policy by holding people in secretive rooms for days or weeks

Guardian analysis finds ICE increasingly keeps people in holding rooms with little oversight, as some facilities see a 600% rise in detention lengthImmigration officials have been increasingly detaining people in small, secretive holding facilities for days or even weeks at a time in violation of federal policy, a Guardian investigation has found.These holding facilities – located at ICE offices, in federal buildings, and other locations around the country – are typically used to detain people after they have been arrested but before they are transferred or released. In many cases, they consist of small concrete rooms with no beds and are designed to only be used for a few hours.ICE has used at least 170 ICE holding facilities nationwide, including at 25 ICE field offices.The Trump administration and its campaign of mass deportation has led to a near across the board increase in the time people are forced to spend in detention in holding rooms. After Donald Trump’s inauguration, the...

Events

2 w. ago Stirling boss insists side deserved win in Braves classic despite "crazy" period

The Binos were forced to go through extra time to squeak past the Lowland League outfit after conceding twice in stoppage time in East Kilbride.

Politics

2 w. ago William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli to miss Arsenal’s Carabao Cup tie

Saliba was forced off at half-time of the Premier League win over Crystal Palace, while forward Martinelli limped down the tunnel in the second half.

Politics

2 w. ago BBC Strictly Come Dancing star makes admission after unexpected exit

Strictly Come Dancing professional Nikita Kuzmin has opened up on his "devastating" time on the show after Dani Dyer was forced to pull out of the BBC competition

Events

2 w. ago Rugby League Ashes live: Underdogs England thrashed by Australia at Wembley in first Ashes Test for 22 years

Shaun Wane’s England face huge challenge against the Kangaroos, rugby league’s dominant force, as Ashes returns for first time since 2003

Sport

2 w. ago Rugby League Ashes live: Underdogs England trail Australia at Wembley in first Ashes Test for 22 years

Shaun Wane’s England face huge challenge against the Kangaroos, rugby league’s dominant force, as Ashes returns for first time since 2003

Sport

2 w. ago Rugby League Ashes live: Underdogs England face Australia at Wembley in first Ashes Test for 22 years

Shaun Wane’s England face huge challenge against the Kangaroos, rugby league’s dominant force, as Ashes returns for first time since 2003

Sport

3 w. ago BBC reveal future of Amandaland as Absolutely Fabulous stars to reunite

Two stars of one of the BBC's biggest series of all time are joining forces once again

Politics