19 h. ago Falling palm trees and a faltering Palme d’Or director: how Cannes 2025 went – and who will win

In a Cannes film festival where the greatest movies were about dictatorships and political cruelty, our chief critic shares his picks for the prixCannes this year had a lot to live up to after last year’s award-winners, headline-grabbers and social media meltdowners Anora, The Substance and Emilia Pérez. It makes reading the signs now that bit more difficult: the bizarre event on the Croisette boulevard this year was a palm tree falling over. If it happened in a film, the metaphor would be unbearable.Whether 2025’s Cannes movies are going to spark a new burst of overwhelming excitement remains to be seen, though this year’s vintage feels good – often excellent, although even the biggest names can get it wrong: former Palme d’Or winner Julia Ducournau presented an incoherent drama called Alpha. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Why El Salvador President Bukele's foreign agents law is fueling democratic concerns

Human rights organizations, politicians and experts have sharply criticized a law approved by El Salvador’s Congress this week that seeks to limit foreign influence and corruption

Politics

56 h. ago Paul Mescal's 'sexless' gay romance The History Of Sound is branded 'Brokeback Mountain on sedatives' and 'too polite' by critics after nine minute Cannes ovation

The film was very well received at Cannes, receiving an impressive nine-minute standing ovation - but critics haven't been so convinced.

Economics

63 h. ago Trump administration accepts jet from Qatar for possible use as Air Force One

Plane offer set off a firestorm of bipartisan criticism of Trump and raised questions about Qatar’s motivesUS politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration has accepted the controversial gift of a Boeing 747 jetliner from the government of Qatar, and directed the air force to assess how quickly the plane can be upgraded for possible use as a new Air Force One.The offer of the jet has set off a firestorm of bipartisan criticism of Trump, particularly following the president’s visit to the country last week to arrange US business deals. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Springsteen doubles down on political criticism with a digital EP that includes anti

New recordings, and a golf ball “striking” Bruce Springsteen

Politics

3 d. ago Heating firm partners with digital marketing experts to boost online presence

FlexiHeat UK aims to enhance Scottish market reach with new digital strategy. A leading provider of high-efficiency heating solutions has forged a strategic partnership with a digital marketing specialist to strengthen its online visibility throughout the UK, including the Scottish market.

Economics

5 d. ago If Keir Starmer is not robotic enough for you, his AI twin is ready for your questions

Leon Emirali has created digital versions of all UK MPs, including a Wes Streeting avatar who is unabashedly frank about who the next PM should beIf you are one of the few people on the planet who fancies a chat with Keir Starmer, then there’s a new AI model for you.A former chief of staff to a Tory minister has created Nostrada, which aims to enable users to talk with an AI version of each of the UK parliament’s 650 MPs – and lets you ask them anything you want. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Britain has dropped down Europe’s LGBTQ+ rights rankings. Good – now we might have to face reality | Jason Okundaye

In 2015, the UK placed first on the rainbow map. But even then, as an 18-year-old gay man, I knew that wasn’t the whole storyIt should surprise no one that the UK has dropped to its lowest ever position on the annual “rainbow map” of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA), which ranks the best and worst European countries on the basis of laws and policies that affect LGBTQ+ people. The map assesses each country through seven categories, including equality and non-discrimination, legal gender recognition and asylum.The supreme court’s ruling last month that a person’s sex in the Equality Act 2010 refers only to “biological sex” – a redefining of trans people’s rights to their detriment, and a political and cultural victory for the gender critical movement – will have played a key role in the downgrading. Senior politicians immediately capitulated to the ruling, interpreting the implications of the verdict beyond the scope of the court, with t...

Politics

9 d. ago Jake Tapper admits it’s ‘fair’ for conservatives to bash him over past coverage of Biden following bombshell book

‘I think some of the criticism is fair, to be honest,’ Jake Tapper said on Wednesday. ‘I look back at my coverage during the Biden years – and I did cover some of these issues, but not enough’

Politics

9 d. ago Israeli bombing wave kills dozens in Gaza including at least 22 children, say reports

Bombardment signals new escalation after Netanyahu said Israel would ‘go in with full force to complete the operation’Middle East crisis – live updatesAn intense wave of Israeli bombing has reportedly killed dozens of people in Gaza, including many children, signalling a new escalation at a critical moment in regional politics.The exact number of deaths from the attacks was unclear, with estimates ranging from about 30 to more than 50, making it one of the highest tolls in a single morning for many weeks. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Rupert Lowe: Threats investigation against ex Reform MP dropped

Rupert Lowe insisted the accusations, and his suspension from Reform, were a politically motivated retaliation for his criticism of leader Nigel Farage

Events

1 week ago Backlash to Starmer’s immigration speech ‘overblown’ – minister

Sir Keir’s comments have been likened to Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘rivers of blood’ speech.

Politics

1 week ago Starmer ‘completely rejects’ claims he echoed Enoch Powell in migration speech

The Prime Minister warned the UK risked becoming an ‘island of strangers’ if migration controls were not tightened.

Politics

2 w. ago Head of ONS quits job over ‘health issues’ amid criticism from politicians

Sir Ian Diamond is Britain’s most senior statistician

Politics

2 w. ago UK politics live: Kemi Badenoch talking ‘rubbish’ over trade deal criticisms, say Indian officials

New Delhi officials say Tories previously agreed to a two-year national insurance exemption which Kemi Badenoch now claims amounts to ‘two-tier’ tax

Politics

2 w. ago Everything you need to know about Trump’s bizarre plan to reopen Alcatraz

Trump has directed officials to reopen a ‘substantially enlarged and rebuilt’ prison on Alcatraz Island - but is it really viable?

Politics

2 w. ago Anas Sarwar admits Labour government must go 'further and faster' to counter surge of Nigel Farage's Reform

Anas Sarwar has warned his Labour colleagues at Westminster need to better deliver on election promises to counter the surge of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Politics

2 w. ago Trump feels tug of political gravity as economy falters and polls plunge

The president started his second term fast and furious with a flurry of activity – much of it legally dubious – but analysts say the honeymoon is over“Not just courageous” but “actually fearless” said Doug Burgum. The “first 100 days has far exceeded that of any other presidency in this country ever,” said Pam Bondi. “Most” of the presidents whose portraits adorn the Oval Office – which include George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan – were mere “placeholders” who were not “men of action”, mused JD Vance.Before the TV cameras on Wednesday, top cabinet officials took turns drenching Donald Trump with praise that some critics found evocative of politics in North Korea. Yet beyond the walls of the White House, the mood was shifting. New data showed the economy is shrinking. The national security adviser was about to be ousted. Opinion polls told of a president whose unpopularity is historic. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Space Invaders on your wrist: the glory years of Casio video game watches

Their tech may have been primitive, but for 80s schoolchildren of a certain kind they had a glamour to equal any modern iPhone Over the last couple of weeks I have been tidying our attic, and while the general aim has been to prevent its contents from collapsing through the ceiling, I have a side-mission. My most valued possession when I was twelve was a Casio GD-8 Car Race watch – a digital timepiece that included a built-in racing game on its tiny monochrome LCD display. Two big buttons on the front let you steer left and right to avoid incoming vehicles and your aim was to stay alive as long as possible. I lost count of the number of times it was confiscated by teachers at my school. I used to lend it to the hardest boys in the year, thereby guaranteeing me protection against bullies. As a socially inept nerd, this was invaluable to my survival. I’m pretty sure I still have the watch somewhere, and my determination to find it has been augmented by a recent discovery: these things...

Events

3 w. ago Kneecap row: police assessing ‘kill MP’ and ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah’ footage

News comes as artists including Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream defend Irish rap trio from criticismCounter-terrorism police are investigating footage that appears to show Kneecap calling for politicians to be killed, and shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, while dozens of artists – including Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream – have defended the Irish rap trio from staunch criticism from politicians on both sides of the Commons benches.On Thursday, detectives said videos of the two incidents had been brought to their attention in late April, and had been referred for assessment by specialist counter-terrorism officers. They had “determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos”, officers said. Continue reading...

Events